Temptation In The Dark

CHAPTER 1

Arizea Pov

The air was icy from the falling snow, so cold it seemed to chill me from the inside out.

But i couldn't stop here, I kept running through the dark hallway, where the light of the moon couldn't penetrate.

The air wafting in from outside was thick with the dizzying scent of blood, mercilessly making my heart race.

But i had to run. And run, and run, and run.

I was pulled toward whatever lay at the end of this hallway. Once there, I stepped into the room and went to open the closet door.

Warm tears flowed from my eyes as i pulled the door open.

"Ah!"

Wait.. was that just a dream?

I slowly sat up and looked around, the familiar surroundings gradually became clearer.

My room was filled with the soft light of the morning sun, which pulled me out of my dreams and safely back to reality.

I wiped my wet cheek with the back of my hand as I sat, trying to figure out my dream.

I had been a strange dream, but it had been so vivid and felt so real that my heart still founding.

It reminded me of the dream i had the first night I'd come to this mansion.

My dream that Sebastian said was a warning.

I'm sure the reason I dreamed that was because--

Suddenly, there was a knock on my door, and my thoughts were interrupted.

"Morning, Zea"

"Napoleon! What are you doing up so early?"

"You're usually the one who wake me up, so i decided to return the favor"

"Just let me do something special for you today" he said as he stepped closer to me.

Napoleon, the charismatic leader. Napoleon has a natural aura that drives people to him. He strongly feels that all people are born equally, and should be treated as such.

Unlike the others he has no idea why he ended up in the mansion.

"Your leaving the mansion today, after all" he smiled but I knew behind that smile he was also sad at the thought of me leaving.

His words made me recall that first night. That bright crescent moon was still fresh and vivid in my mind.

"What are you doing there?"

"Uhm.. Whos there?"

"Pardon. Uhm, Do you know how to open this door? I'm trying to get back to the museum." I spoke to the handsome charismatic guy in front of me.

" What's that? 'Get back?' Your not telling me you come through that door?"

It's been exactly one month since I'd wondered into this world. And today i would go through that door once again. Back home.

It's so strange gusto ko ng umuwi, pero ngayung nandito na, i don't want to leave everyone.

The hand which had protected me that first day here now reached out to comfort me, and tousled my hair.

"H-Hey!"

"Don't be sad Zea, Let's spend the rest of your time having fun together"

"Hmm?"

"Isn't that you always say? It's better to try to be happy than wallow in sadness. Anyway, lets go. Everyone's waiting."

"Okey!"

I spent another peaceful day with the residents, but the moon rose in the sky before i knew it.

I'm standing in front of the door that connects these two worlds, with nothing but one bug in my hands.

"Are you crying, Newt?, Soooo adorable" Arthur teased Isaac.

Arthur Conan is the frivolous Playboy, And he's known for his writing. Arthur has a quick wit, but his flippant keeps him from forming deep relationship. A Playboy by nature, he's instantly attracted to you. His reasons for coming to the mansion seem to be tied to his own writing.

"I-Im not crying! You look pretty sad yourself anyway, Arthur." Isaac known as the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.

This brilliant physicist deeply resent being associated with apples. A little awkward, and ever the contrarian, Isaac initially keeps distance from you. He follows a unique set of rules when i comes to 'meal' and become a different person when he show he's fangs.

"Heh. Sorry that these guys can't get their acts together even on your last day, cara mia" ngumiti ako kay Leonardo.

Leonardo is The Indigenous Deceiver. He usually spends his days sating his curiosity by investigating anything that catches his eye. A bit of a lone wolf, he appears to be hiding a deep secret.

I shook my head and smiled. I looked at each of them at the same time, trying to commit their faces to my memory.

To these man who would live for close to eternity, the time they spent with me probably felt like nothing more than an instant.

But i would never forget it. Not ever.

I bowed my head deeply or else i knew i would burst into tears.

"I know it was just a short time, pero gusto ko parin magpa salamat sa lahat ng ginawa nyo para sakin! Please take care of yourselves, everyone."

"All right, it's time to open the door now." Cain Germain said.

Comte De Caint Germain. The Hedonistic Nobleman. A greater pure blood vampire shrouded in mystery. He is responsible for offering the inhabitants of the mansion a 'taste of eternity' and granting them their second lives as vampires. Saint-Germain has graceful poise and elegant smile, but there's the faintest hint of sadness somewhere in his eyes.

Comte Germain turned the doorknob and slowly opened the door, but..

"What's going on?" I followed his gaze and my heart skipped a bit.

Ah what is that?

The space beyond the door seemed... twisted somehow, light and darkness oddly intertwining in a spinning maelstrom.

"Everyone, get back!" Comte Germain warned us.

"Zea, Come hear!"

Napoleon reached out to grab me by the arm, pulling me away from the swirling void.

Moments later, Comte Germain slammed the door shut.

"What was that, Germain?" Napoleon ask worriedly.

_____

"Here's some hot tea, Artizea. Go ahead and drink it, it'll calm you down."

"Thank you, Comte Germain"

I sipped on the tea as Comte Germain instructed, but it had no effect on my racing heartbeat.

On the other side of the door should be the hallway that connects the mansion to the louvre.

"Ganito na ba ang hitsura nito sa kabila ng pinto noon, Comte Germain?"

"No. I've traveled through time many times since i made that door, and never once has this happened."

"The door will open again in one month, But.. I dont if it'll be back to normal by then."

No...

So i won't be able to go home in another month?

Nope. I shouldn't think like that.

I didn't want to admit to myself that there was another possibility-- that I might never make it home.

But i felt it in the fit of my stomach, a twisting knot that seemed to mirror the turbulence of that vacant space beyond the door.

"Artizea, when you wondered into this world that day... I promised i would get you home safely no matter what."

"And yet..."

Comte Germain squeezed the words out, and it was only then that i realized something.

I've been so wrapped up with my own feelings i didn't stop to consider how everyone else feels.

If they thought i was anxious, I knew they'd bend over backwards to help me.

But right now, no one could do anything to solve this. It was pointless to worry about it.

All the residents was so strong and kind. Spending this month with them had brought me closer to all of them. Ayokong mag-alala o malungkot sila.

"Please don't be upset, Comte Germain. I just have one favor to ask you."

" What is it?, I'll do anything"

"Can I stay longer here in the mansion?"

Although the door to my world had been slammed shut in my face, time still move forward in this one.

The next day, I went about my work around the mansion as if nothing had happened.

"Im going shopping!!"

Leonardo had an errand to run in town, so he offered to accompany me.

"Alright, cara mia. I gotta get going. Lets meet up here when you're done."

"I'm sure you know by now, but it's dangerous to walk around out here alone, so stay where there are a lot of people."

"I will, don't worry Leonardo."

He took a step forward but then poused. He trained his golden eyes on me and studied my face for a moment.

"Are you alright?"

My heart wavered for a moment, but i was hesitant to let my anxiety show.

"Thank you, Leonardo, but im fine. You know I'm stronger than i look, right?"

"Heh, I sure do. Sorry if i offended ya."

I chuckles

We said goodbye, and once i finished buying everything on Sebastian's list, I stepped back outside.

A cold wind blew my hair in front of me, I looked up and saw snowflakes falling from the sky.

I thought it was just cold this morning.

The snow was really coming down, and the town was covered in white before i knew it.

Passerby begun to open up umbrellas, spreading their colors against the stark white backdrop. Inaabot ko rin ang payong ko, pero-

Huh?

All of a sudden i saw someone standing still in the middle of the crowd.

Everyone was busy to and fro, their umbrellas like colorful flowers blooming in a white world.

But he stood there alone without an umbrella, staring at the sky. Just staring at the snow as it falls on him.

He was frighteningly beautiful. So beautiful he made me think of a snow fairy.

But..

For some reason watching him look up at the sky made my heart ache.

Just looking at him made my heart ache as if it was split in two. Everyone walked right past him, almost as if they couldn't even see him as he stood right there.

It looked as if time was flowing all around him, but just he had been stranded there, forgotten.

It's like he's cut off from the world.

Before I knew what I was doing, I started walking towards him.

I opened my umbrella and placed it on his head, protecting him from the torrent of snowflakes that fell down from the sky.

My bright red umbrella cut through the world of white. The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could even think about them.

"Why do you look so sad?" I ask the crimson eyed man.

The beautiful man slowly turned his face towards me. His eyes were a shocking deep crimson.

And as soon as he saw me, they opened wide with surprise.

What's wrong?

He stared at me so intently it was like he forgot to breathe.

"Um.." i bite my lower lip, hesitating to speak again.

"Hey." Finally! He also spoke.

"Haven't we met somewhere before?" He asked

I tried to remember, but i just couldn't..

Then he left me with a gift.

"I hope I see you again."

To be continued.

;-)