Sabastian POV:-
"Sebastian Wraith, promise me that you will live. For me. For your family. For her." The words echoed in my mind as I woke up with a start, the memories of that fateful night still etched in my mind like a scar.
I had made a mistake 400 years ago, one that I couldn't shake off. I had sought immortality, thinking it would bring me power and freedom. But it came with a curse—the need to feed on human blood to survive.
I looked at my digital watch, the morning light mocking me as I struggled to come to terms with my existence. I tried to gaze into the mirror, but my reflection was faint, a mere whisper of what once was. The more blood I drank, the less visible I became.
Oh, the irony. I had sought eternal life, but in doing so, I had lost myself. I was forced to drink the blood of innocent people, for the blood of criminals tasted bitter, like vomit. Every night, I slept with regret, haunted by the memories of those I had harmed.
I would hypnotize them, erase their memories, and leave them with a faint sense of unease, a feeling that something was off. But I knew the truth—I was a monster, a creature of the night, living in the shadows.
And yet, I couldn't stop. I was addicted to the blood and to the power it gave me. I was trapped in this endless cycle of hunger and guilt, forever cursed to walk the earth alone.
The words echoed again in my mind - "Promise me that you will live." But what was the point of living when I was already dead inside?
I gaze into the mirror, and a stranger's faint eyes stare back - dark maroon, piercing, and ancient. My body, honed from centuries of immortal existence, is a perfect sculpture of lean muscle and sinew. I flex my fingers, feeling the strength and speed that lies within. My sharp cheekbones and strong jawline frame my pale face, a map of my eternal life. Raven-black hair falls across my forehead, a constant reminder of my dark nature. I am a masterpiece of the night, a being of captivating beauty and terrifying power. And yet, I am cursed to walk alone.
I let out a deep sigh of relief, feeling the weight of my secrets lifting off my shoulders. Unlike other vampires, I am not driven by a hunger for women's bodies. My desires are different, more refined. I have my own needs, my own cravings, but I am saving myself for someone special. Only she has the right to claim me, to own my soul and my immortal body.
I rise from my slumber, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin as I step out into the daylight. I stretch my arms, feeling the satisfying crack of my joints, and smile wryly to myself. Another illusion shattered. Not all vampires are creatures of the night, unable to walk in the sun. It takes time, centuries even, to build up the strength and resilience to withstand the sun's rays. I've had over 300 years to adapt, to evolve.
The myths and legends that surround my kind are amusing, really. Silver, wood, garlic - all harmless to me now. I've lived long enough to see the rise and fall of empires, to accumulate wealth and knowledge beyond measure. Time and money, the two things that are never in short supply when you live forever.
I glance around my luxurious 2 BHK apartment, a hobbyist's playground where I indulge in my love of painting. The colors, the textures, the emotions that flow from my brushstrokes - it's all so... human. My family may be gone, their existence wiped from the face of the earth, but I remain. A relic of a bygone era, a reminder of the secrets that lie just beyond the edge of town.
And then there's the hypocrisy of humans. They devour chicken, sheep, and cattle with abandon, yet condemn me for hunting to fulfill my basic needs. Hunger is hunger, after all. Do I threaten humanity? I think not. I am simply a creature, trying to survive in a world that is not my own.
As I sat amidst my canvas and paints, lost in the world of colors and creativity, I caught a glimpse of someone out of the corner of my eye. A girl, sitting serenely in the midst of a vibrant field, surrounded by swaying mustard flowers that seemed to dance in the breeze. Her attire was unfamiliar, with intricate patterns and hues that whispered of a distant land, perhaps South Asia. But it was her eyes that truly captivated me - deep turquoise orbs that shimmered and changed color with every passing moment, like the shifting hues of a sunset.
My gaze lingered on her, entranced, until my eyes suddenly snapped open, and I found myself back in my studio, staring at the canvas before me. A soft smile played on my lips as I whispered,
"I couldn't see you even today. Who are you?"
Few know that some vampires, like myself, have achieved siddhi - supernatural abilities - through rigorous sadhna, or spiritual practice. I had met a wise sadhu in the Himalayas, his body smeared with crematorium ashes, his face aglow with an otherworldly light. He taught me the ancient Vidya of foresight, and I became renowned worldwide for my predictions. But the thrill of it eventually wore off, and I sought new mysteries to unravel.
Perhaps that's why I found myself drawn to this enigmatic girl. I rose from my chair, seeking answers, and made my way to the bathroom. I filled the bathtub with warm water, adding a pinch of special herbs passed down through the centuries. As I lay back, surrounded by the soothing scents, I closed my eyes, focusing my mind on the girl in the mustard field. Maybe, just maybe, I would finally see her face.
*****
As I lay in the bathtub, lost in the realm of visions and foresight, I failed to notice the passage of time. The hours slipped by, and before I knew it, the clock struck 8 o'clock in the night. Yet, I felt no fatigue, no sense of closure. My mind remained open, receptive to the whispers of the future.
I had glimpsed the destinies of countless individuals, their paths unfolding like threads in a tapestry. But my own future remained shrouded, a mystery I had never been able to unravel. It was as if the universe had deemed me unworthy of self-knowledge, or perhaps, it was simply a curse that came with my immortal existence.
As I emerged from the bathtub, I felt an unfamiliar thrill coursing through my veins. It had been three days since I last indulged in fresh blood, and while it wouldn't make a significant difference to my sustenance, I sensed a restlessness, a yearning for something more.
Tonight felt different, though. A change was in the air, a subtle shift in the fabric of my existence. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I felt an excitement building within me, a sense of anticipation that I hadn't experienced in centuries.
With a newfound sense of purpose, I began to prepare myself for the hunt. My movements were fluid, calculated, as I donned my attire, a blend of style and functionality. My eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief, my heart beating with an otherworldly rhythm. Tonight, I would venture out into the world of humans, and perhaps, just perhaps, I would uncover the source of this strange, thrilling sensation.
*****
I had been stalking my prey for hours, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. A presumably healthy teenage boy, oblivious to the danger lurking in the shadows, walked home alone, his pulse beckoning me like a siren's call. I hypnotized him with a mere glance, my powers of persuasion weaving a spell of compliance. He followed me willingly, unaware of the fate that awaited him, as I led him deeper into the darkness of the alley.
Just as I was about to sink my teeth into his pulse, a sudden collision jarred me from my focus. Someone had bumped into me, shattering the spell of hypnosis that held my prey entranced. I closed my eyes, irritation flashing through me, not because I was angry, but because I had been strictly instructed that no one should know if I hunt. Secrecy was paramount, and this unexpected interruption threatened to expose me.
As I turned around, everything seemed to have stopped. Time itself appeared to have frozen, leaving only the two of us suspended in a sea of silence. And then, I saw her. The girl with those same eyes that had been haunting me, piercing my very soul with their intensity. She looked frightened, her breath coming in short gasps, probably running away from someone, and now she was even more scared of me.
Her expressive eyes hesitantly met mine, searching for something, perhaps a glimmer of hope or a hint of mercy. And then it happened... After centuries of emptiness, my cold, ruthless heart beat for someone. It was agitated with an intense desire to protect her, to shield her from harm, to be her safe haven. And only one word came from my heart, a primal whisper that echoed through the chambers of my very being: 'Mate'.