Chereads / Vampire Marquis / Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Fragments of Memory

Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Fragments of Memory

Chen Shanyi had not slept a wink all night. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, with fragments of images flashing through her mind. Every time she tried to make sense of them, they seemed shrouded in a thick fog, unclear and indistinct. She remembered Siska's gaze, full of tenderness yet tinged with sorrow; she recalled the deep concern in his words, but everything felt like a fleeting illusion in her memory, impossible to grasp.

Instinctively, she reached up to touch her forehead, feeling a sharp headache. It was as if she could sense something, a deep secret buried in her heart, forcing its way to the surface. But every time she tried to hold onto it, it vanished without a trace.

Chen Shanyi sat up, her mind still circling around Siska's words: "You once vowed to be with me forever, to walk through all the years together, until eternity." Those words were like a lightning bolt, splitting the calm of her heart, making her realize that she was being pulled into an unknown abyss by a force beyond her control.

She took a deep breath and grabbed her phone from the bedside table. The time displayed was already 4 AM. Her life seemed to have been completely altered by Siska's appearance. Even the memories she once trusted no longer felt reliable.

"What should I do?" she murmured to herself, her gaze turning distant.

Suddenly, the phone screen lit up. Without thinking, Chen Shanyi picked it up and saw an unread message from Siska. Her heart skipped a beat, and her fingers trembled slightly as she clicked open the message.

"Shanyi, I know you're confused right now. I won't let you face this alone. Tomorrow night, I will take you to a place that will give you some answers. Trust me, all your questions will be answered."

As she read the text on the screen, Siska's silent yet gentle face appeared in her mind again. She wasn't sure if she should feel reassured or even more anxious. She had started to realize that this wasn't just a coincidence; Siska's appearance held a deeper, more profound meaning.

Her emotions were complicated—she both longed to understand the truth and feared the reality that might be too overwhelming to face. She set the phone down and closed her eyes, trying to calm her breath. But that sense of calm seemed increasingly impossible to maintain.

The next day, sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting soft spots of light on the vase by the bedside. Chen Shanyi got up mechanically, going through the motions of washing up and dressing. Everything felt like a routine. She gazed out the window, watching the busy street below, but still felt a sense of loneliness. She had thought many times about whether she should just give up and return to her simple, ordinary life, far from Siska and the incomprehensible past. But she knew that avoiding it wouldn't solve anything. Eventually, she would have to face this unavoidable destiny.

As evening approached, the sky darkened. Chen Shanyi prepared herself early and went to the place where Siska had arranged to meet—an old yet mysteriously atmospheric café. She pushed open the door and stepped inside. The dim, soft lighting inside and the rich aroma of coffee filled the air. Chen Shanyi stood by the door, looking around, but she did not see Siska anywhere.

Just as she was about to sit down, a warm voice came from behind her: "You're here."

Chen Shanyi turned quickly and saw Siska standing behind her, smiling as he looked at her. He was still dressed neatly in a black suit, which accentuated his inherent elegance and nobility. Though he still looked like a stranger, Chen Shanyi could feel a sense of familiarity she had never experienced before, as if everything had been predestined.

"I'm late," Siska said with a smile, his gaze soft yet comforting. "Don't worry, we have plenty of time."

Chen Shanyi nodded, though a slight unease lingered in her heart. She had been hoping to quickly understand the truth, yet feared that once the truth was revealed, there would be no turning back.

Siska gently took her hand and led her to a quiet corner of the café. The corner was peaceful, with the night view outside bathed in soft lighting, rendering the world outside a calm blue, as if completely detached from the noise of the streets.

"Please, have a seat," Siska said as he sat down across from her. His gaze was tender, filled with an undeniable affection. "Shanyi, I know you have many questions right now, but I hope you'll be patient and listen to what I have to say."

Chen Shanyi didn't respond, merely nodding quietly. She knew that tonight might be her last chance to uncover the truth behind everything.

Siska took a deep breath, and his eyes grew even more profound. "What you want to know may change the way you see the world, but no matter what, I want you to understand that you are not facing this alone. I will always be with you."

He paused, as though considering how to continue. "Shanyi, do you believe in reincarnation? Do you believe that a soul can transcend time and space, returning to places from the past, encountering people from long ago?"

Chen Shanyi's heart began to race, and her eyes welled up with unshed tears. She opened her mouth, but no words came. Reincarnation? She had never believed in such superstitions, but at this moment, something inside her began to shift.

"I think... I've already begun to believe," she said softly, her eyes filled with confusion and a sense of acceptance.

A complex emotion flickered in Siska's gaze. Then, his voice grew deeper, more serious. "Then, are you ready to face the fate between us?"

Chen Shanyi took a deep breath and nodded slowly. "I'm ready."