"Good to meet you, Fiera," he said, flashing a sly grin that revealed fangs mirroring mine.
I jumped up, startled and unsure if I felt more shock or fear.
He's a vampire. Just like me.
I tried to pull away, but he held me firmly, drawing close until there was no space between us. Leaning in, he whispered, "You're not going anywhere." His voice sent a chill through me.
Standing straight, he quickly settled me back into my seat and sat down beside me. I glanced around, but no one noticed us; it was as if we were invisible, as if he had compelled everyone around to ignore us. How did he do that? I had no idea.
Then I spotted Aljon heading back toward us with a bottle of water, only to stop mid-step, turn, and walk away as if under a spell.
What is going on?
I glanced at my mysterious companion, casually sipping his tequila, legs crossed and unbothered, a subtle smirk dancing across his lips. "You're newly turned… newly bitten," he said, mouthing the words silently. When he looked at me, his grin deepened.
"You're around seven months old," he guessed confidently, not once letting go of my hand.
I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek.
He's like me, but stronger, sharper, and more powerful. He knows I'm newly turned, barely seven months since my life changed—and somehow, he has control over everyone around us.
"Don't be afraid," he said, releasing my hand. "I won't bite."
I wanted to respond with a sarcastic laugh, but I couldn't. We're both the same—creatures with a thirst for blood and fangs to match. Yet, there's something about him that feels far more monstrous, leaving me shaking and speechless.
Maybe moving here was a mistake. I thought Esperanza, small and quiet compared to Manila, would be my escape. But with him here, my hope for a peaceful life might just be a lost cause.
I held my hand where his had let go, still feeling the chill that seemed to linger—a coldness far sharper than my own. It felt like an icy burn.
"W-who are you?" My voice shook, almost childish, like I was grasping for control in a situation way beyond me.
Should I try to leave? But what if he follows and does something worse? I remember in vampire movies, older vampires hate the newly turned ones. But if I stay here, he has the power to manipulate everyone around us, leaving me just as helpless.
"You're thinking of leaving or staying but you're scared of what I might do to you, no matter what your choices are." His voice held that knowing edge, as if he could dive straight into my thoughts. "I don't need to read your mind to know it." The casual way he said it made me take an instinctive step back, feeling cornered.
"What do you want?" I asked, forcing strength into my voice even as panic blanked out any escape plan.
"Nothing. Just making sure you don't act foolishly," he replied calmly, his gaze intent, as if daring me to make the next move.
"What do you mean by that?" I demanded, keeping my voice steady, though I was shaken.
He tilted his head, studying me with a hint of mockery in his eyes. "Don't give me that innocent look," he scoffed. "There's no such thing as innocence for someone newly turned. Especially not for someone with a face as pure as yours."
He smirked, as though he saw through every defense I could put up. The way he watched me felt like he could see right into the darkest corners I hadn't even confronted yet.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about..." My voice trailed off as he lunged, pushing me down onto the couch with a force that left me gasping. In an instant, he was over me, his fangs dangerously close, and his grip was as unyielding as stone. I fought back, trying to shove him off, but his strength was beyond anything I could counter.
"I smell blood on you," he snarled, his voice a dark, low growl that felt like it could tear through me. "Don't pretend you haven't killed for it."
His words struck me cold, a shiver creeping up my spine as his gaze drilled into mine, challenging every lie I could possibly think of. Did he really believe I had taken a life?
"You don't know what you're doing," he continued, his tone hardening as if to drive the warning deeper. "The blood you take has consequences—ones you clearly don't understand."
Anger flared up in me at his words, a spark that somehow pushed me to shove him with all my strength. His eyes widened in shock as he was nearly thrown back by the force of my push.
Everything around us suddenly froze—the people, the music, everything as if time itself had stopped. He lunged again, but I held my ground, barely able to absorb the impact as I staggered back.
"I never killed anyone!" I yelled, my voice raw with defiance.
He didn't respond, but the intensity in his gaze spoke louder than words—doubt, mistrust, and something deeper that I couldn't quite read.
"Let's take this somewhere else," he muttered before I felt a sudden pull, like a rush of wind that blurred everything around us. We moved so fast it felt as if we were gliding, passing by people who seemed oblivious, barely flinching as we breezed past. Within moments, we were in an empty, open lot under a gray sky, surrounded by nothing but silence and barren land.
The weight of his grip loosened, but he still held me firmly as if to remind me I had nowhere to escape. I glanced around, heart pounding as I took in our new surroundings—a place far from any watchful eyes or help. He let go, stepping back just enough to give me a false sense of space but still close enough to strike if he needed to.
"Now," he said, his voice eerily calm, "no more lies. Tell me, what are you really hiding?"
I could feel the chill in his words, pressing down on me like an invisible force.
I could feel my eyes shift, turning a vivid red, and my fangs fully emerged as I caught my breath, still reeling from how fast he'd moved with me. Under any other circumstances, I might have enjoyed the thrill of moving at that speed—it was incredible, the way he manipulated everything around us, almost freezing the people we passed without them even noticing. I didn't even know vampires could do that.
But there was nothing enjoyable about our situation. This vampire was like me, yet he had powers I didn't, making it painfully clear he was a danger to me. I had to set things straight before he decided to act on whatever twisted ideas he had about me.
"I haven't killed anyone," I repeated firmly, hoping he'd finally listen.
"Bullshit!" he barked, his voice so loud I flinched.
He wasn't letting this go. "You're the only freshly turned vampire here. You reek of blood—don't tell me it's from anything but a kill!"
"You're such an idiot, aren't you?! If you don't want to believe me, then fine! Yes, I'm a newly turned vampire, but I've never taken a life just to drink blood. I buy blood to sustain myself, okay?!"
Frustration coursed through me as I shouted, my voice echoing in the empty space around us. His doubts felt like a weight pressing down on me, and I wanted him to grasp the reality of my situation. I wasn't some ruthless killer; I was simply trying to survive in a world that had become foreign and terrifying.
"You what?" he asked, his eyebrows shooting up in disbelief.
"I found an illegal blood dealer where I've been buying all my supplies." I snapped, irritation bubbling to the surface.
"Then that blood dealer is the one killing those people."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. "What do you mean by that?"
"You're new, so you're clueless. But the blood I smell on you is from one of the victims."
My jaw dropped as the weight of his accusation settled in. I had heard chilling reports of the murders sweeping across the country, the latest victims right here in this very area. The realization washed over me, turning my blood to ice and making my heart race with fear and disbelief. How had I unknowingly become entangled in such a horrific web?