Austin found himself on top of a mountain, the sudden change in altitude leaving him breathless. His chest heaved as he tried to steady himself, his heart pounding wildly as though it sought to escape his ribcage.
The air was thin, sharp against his skin.
The view before him was breathtaking and terrifying all at once.
The sky above was dark purple in color with a little touch of silver that glimmered like molten metal, which wove through the cloud like veins of electricity.
Below, the mountain stretched endlessly, and carved into its face were massive heads resembling Mount Rushmore—but these weren't presidents. These were the faces of vampires. Fangs glinted from their mouths, and their expressions told a thousand stories. Some looked regal, their features sharp and commanding. Others were cruel, their lips curled into sneers, while a few looked sorrowful, their hollow eyes etched with pain. The carvings were so lifelike that Austin almost expected them to blink.
"Follow me!" Leonardo's voice shattered the heavy silence.
Austin turned to see Leonardo standing a few steps ahead.
"Where are we?" Austin managed to say with a trembling voice, but there was no reply.
Austin hesitated to follow as he was having the urge to run away, but where could he go? The mountain was endless, the sky unnatural. He swallowed hard and reluctantly forced himself to follow Leonardo down the slope.
The broken rocks on the ground make Austin stagger as he moves; his every step feels heavier than the last, as though the mountain itself didn't want him to leave.
The vampire led him toward the mountain's base, where a shadowy, jagged opening in the rock awaited.
As they stepped inside, the cold air gripped Austin, sending chills racing down his spine. But the darkness he expected didn't come. Instead, the chamber was illuminated by a mysterious glow. Dozens of gemstones were arranged on the walls, casting bright lights and painting the room in shades of green, blue, and gold.
"This is where I keep the gemstones I have taken," Leonardo said, his voice breaking the silence over the hum of energy in the room.
He gestured toward the center of the chamber. A conspicuous slot stood out among the gemstones, its emptiness stark against the dazzling display surrounding it.
"And this," Leonardo said, his voice heavy with significance, "is where the final gem belongs, and only you can unlock the cage protecting it."
Austin froze and stopped in his tracks, his mind reeling.
"What... what do I have to unlock what you are searching for?" he stammered, taking a step back. "I don't have any key or anything; I have no idea about this whatsoever gem at all."
Leonardo's sharp gaze turned toward him. Your blood is the key to unlocking this vault. I need to pour your blood on the lock's cup."
"My blood?" Austin felt the words catch in his throat; he frowned. "You're kidding, right? There's no way I'm…"
"I'm not asking, Austin," Leonardo interrupted, stepping closer. His voice softened, but his eyes remained cold and unyielding. "It won't hurt. A few drops, no more than what your doctor takes during a routine test. That's all it takes."
Austin's stomach churned.
"And if I refuse?" Austin shot back, his voice trembling despite his defiance.
Leonardo's smile didn't reach his eyes. "You won't. Because you know what's at stake, even if you don't fully understand it yet."
Austin felt the weight of the vampire's words pressing down on him.
"Why must it be me?" he demanded, his voice rising. "Why can't you just ... I don't know, break the damn thing open?"
Leonardo's expression darkened. "If it were that simple, do you think I'd waste time explaining this to you? This vault was designed to respond only to your bloodline. Your father locked it. Only you can unlock it."
Austin's heart sank. All those felt impossible, like as if Leonardo was saying some cock-and-bull story.
"So what?" he asked bitterly. "You're saying my dad set this whole thing up? And now you want me to help you get whatever's in there?"
"You don't have a choice," Leonardo replied, stepping closer, making Austin feel more overwhelmed. "But for the last time, let me say this again: refusing to cooperate won't stop me. It'll just make things unpleasant for you."
Austin glanced at the shimmering gemstones, their light casting brightly across the room, casting patterns on the wall. His voice wavered as he broke the silence.
"How am I to be sure that after I unlock this thing" Austin said, breaking the sudden oppressive silence, "You would just… let me go."
Leonardo's lips curved into a predatory smile. "You have my word. Just follow me on this quest, a couple drops of blood, and you walk away unharmed."
Austin didn't believe him. Especially when he is a vampire, his words crushing any illusion of trust. But what choice did he have?
"I'm not going anywhere with you until you tell me where we are going," he snapped.
Leonardo's gaze hardened, his tone final."I'll tell you about that later. But first, prepare yourself. We'll move in two days."
"Two days…?"
Before Austin could press further, the room began to shift. The vibrant gemstones dimmed, their light fading into darkness. The air grew thick and disorienting, and the ground seemed to dissolve beneath him. Austin felt a sensation like falling, not through space, but through something deeper.
His breath hitched as he gasped.
The oppressive silence shattered.
The noise of the coffee shop flooded back into his awareness, the clinking of cups, the hum of conversation, and the hiss of the espresso machine.
Austin blinked and started looking around at the familiar café he was sitting in that morning.
His heart raced as fragments of the mountain, the chamber, Leonardo, and the glowing gems flooded his mind.
Austin's hand trembled as he reached for his coffee. He froze.
It was as if nothing happened.
"Oh shit," he whispered.