Scarlet Curse

Crimson Eyes

I couldn’t make sense of what had just happened. Vampires? That was absurd. They were myths, stories parents told to frighten children into behaving. Yet, the glowing eyes, the unnatural speed, and the cloaked figures—there had to be some explanation, though vampires wasn’t the one I was ready to accept.

Magnus stood a few feet away, his imposing figure casting a long shadow under the moonlight. His expression was calm, too calm for someone who had just fought off glowing-eyed monsters in the middle of the forest.

“You shouldn’t go back there. It’s dangerous. Come,” he said, his voice firm with authority.

“What? No!” I blurted, crossing my arms. “I can’t just leave my cottage. My things are there—I just bought some of them!”

Magnus raised an eyebrow at my outburst but didn’t falter. “Forget your things. Your safety is more important.”

“I’m not leaving everything behind just because you say so!” I shot back.

Without another word, he grabbed my wrist and started pulling me along. His grip was firm but not painful, though it left no room for argument.

“Wait, where are you taking me?” I protested, trying to plant my feet in the ground.

“Somewhere safe,” he replied without looking back.

“Safe?” I yanked my hand, but he didn’t let go. “I’m not going anywhere with you until you explain what’s going on!”

His jaw tightened, and he finally turned to look at me. His eyes, though calm, held an intensity that made me pause. “You’re in danger, Carmilla. Do you understand that? If you stay here, they’ll come back for you. Is that what you want?”

“No, but—”

Before I could finish, he bent slightly, one arm slipping under my legs while the other supported my back.

“Wait—what are you doing?!” I exclaimed as he lifted me effortlessly.

“Making sure you don’t argue,” he said flatly.

I barely had time to react before he started running. But it wasn’t normal running—it was impossibly fast, the trees and moonlight blurring into streaks of color as the wind whipped past us.

“How are you able to run so fast?” I managed to ask, clinging to him out of instinct.

Magnus didn’t answer, his focus locked on the path ahead.

We came to a stop before a massive stone structure, its towering spires piercing the starry sky. I blinked, realizing we were standing in front of what had to be a palace. The air was cooler here, the silence heavier.

“Where are we?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Magnus didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he carried me inside, moving with a confidence that suggested he’d done this a thousand times.

The halls were grand, lit by dim sconces that cast flickering shadows across the ornate walls. I glanced around, the sheer opulence of the place making me feel small and out of place.

Finally, he stopped in front of a door and set me down gently.

“This is where you’ll stay for now,” he said, opening the door to reveal a lavish room with a large canopy bed and intricate furniture.

I stepped inside hesitantly, turning to face him. “Why am I here? Why are you doing this? And who were those people chasing me?”

Magnus sighed, his broad shoulders rising and falling as he crossed his arms. “They’re vampires.”

I stared at him, waiting for him to continue. When he didn’t, I let out a frustrated laugh. “Right. Vampires. You’re serious about this?”

“Yes,” he said simply.

I scoffed. “You expect me to believe that? Vampires aren’t real!”

His gaze darkened, and he took a step closer, his towering presence making the air around us feel heavier. “Do you think I would joke about something like this? Those men weren’t human. You saw them. You saw how fast they moved.”

“That doesn’t prove anything!” I snapped, crossing my arms. “There could be a hundred other explanations for what I saw!”

Magnus’s lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, I thought he would leave the conversation at that. But then his expression shifted, a flicker of something almost... apologetic crossing his face.

“Fine,” he said quietly. “You want proof? I’ll give you proof.”

He stepped back slightly, his hands at his sides. I watched in confusion as his eyes began to glow—a deep, eerie crimson that made my breath catch.

And then I saw them. His fangs. They extended slowly, sharp and gleaming under the dim light.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I stumbled back, pressing myself against the wall. “No... no, this can’t be real,” I whispered.

Magnus remained where he was, watching me with an unreadable expression. “Believe me now?”

I shook my head, panic clawing at my chest. “This... this doesn’t make sense. Vampires don’t exist. They can’t—”

“They do,” he interrupted, his voice calm but firm. “I am one.”

The words hung in the air, suffocating me. My legs felt weak, and I sank onto the edge of the bed, staring at him like he’d just grown a second head.

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked finally, my voice shaking.

“Because you deserve to know what you’re dealing with,” he said, his eyes dimming back to their normal color. “And because you need to understand the danger you’re in.”

“What danger?” I asked, my fear laced with anger. “Why are they after me? What did I do to deserve this?”

Magnus’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn’t answer. Then, he said quietly, “You’re... important. More important than you realize.”

I stared at him, his vague explanation only fueling my frustration. “That’s not an answer!”

“It’s all you need to know for now,” he said, turning toward the door.

“What?” I shot to my feet, my fear giving way to fury. “You can’t just drop this on me and walk away!”

“I can and I will,” he said, glancing at me over his shoulder. “You need time to process this. I’ll come back when you’ve calmed down.”

With that, he stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the door in disbelief. My hands were shaking, my thoughts spinning like a whirlwind.

Vampires. Magnus. Danger. Me.

I sank back onto the bed, burying my face in my hands as a shudder ran through me. What had I gotten myself into?

As much as I wanted to believe it was all a bad dream, the memory of his glowing eyes and sharp fangs told me otherwise. This was real. Terrifyingly, impossibly real.

And the worst part? I had no idea how to escape it.