CHAPTER 5
1964 Words
Hunter Aurelios Blood
I was busy eating ice cream when my brother, Blade, appeared.
“I heard you found another one who looks like her?” he said with a grin. I didn’t answer him and just kept eating my ice cream.
“What will you do, Hunter? Same as before—protect her even though she’s not the one you’re waiting for?” he asked, still smiling. I stopped eating, sat up properly, and looked at him seriously.
“No. I’m not that pathetic, Blade,” I replied coldly.
I saw his fist clench and the playful smile disappear from his lips. This time, I was the one who smiled before speaking.
“I’ll kill the woman you love and I’ll watch you become miserable again, Hunter,” he said, glaring at me with malice.
“You’re pathetic, Blade. You’re still angry at me even though I’m not the reason our mother and father died… it’s you, Blade. You’re the reason,” I said icily.
He glared at me harder, then suddenly vanished from in front of me. I clenched my fist, then continued eating my ice cream.
He’s the reason we lost our parents, but I’m not angry at him. What shocked me was that he’s the one who’s angry at me. I still can’t believe it.
After everything I sacrificed—he’s the one who hates me.
I looked outside the ice cream parlor. It was already 9 in the evening, and ice cream was the first thing that came to mind after Cassandra left my room earlier. I needed to freshen up—especially since her beautiful face had been haunting me since last night.
My eyes drifted to the huge moon, perfectly full…
No wonder I felt strong—because the moon is full tonight.
Then Blade’s words suddenly came back to me, and the moment they sank in, I shot to my feet.
Shit. Cassandra is in danger!
I ran fast—not a normal kind of running—so I could reach her house immediately. I just hoped Blade wouldn’t hurt her… but knowing Blade? He’d probably kill her just to watch me become miserable.
Damn it. She can’t get dragged into this—she doesn’t know anything.
‘Don’t you dare harm an innocent, Blade.’
Cassandra Williams
“What happened? Why were you there?” Khaila asked me after we got home from the hotel.
I took a deep breath and took a sip of the strong coffee I was holding. My head still hurt.
“Tricia’s people brought me there last night. I think they went to the wrong room, because as far as I know, she planned it in Director Dave’s room,” I explained quietly.
I saw her frown before she walked closer and sat beside me.
“If that’s the case, then if Tricia’s people hadn’t made a mistake, Director Dave would’ve already taken your virginity—because we all know what kind of person he is!” she said angrily.
I hugged myself. For the first time, I was grateful there was an i***t like that involved. If not, I’d be completely ruined right now and wouldn’t even know what to do.
“But are you sure Mr. Stranger didn’t touch you?” she asked suspiciously. I shook my head and glanced at my portrait.
“I don’t think so, because I didn’t feel any pain anywhere when I woke up earlier—except my head, which probably hurts because of the drugs Tricia put in my drink,” I said, then took another sip of coffee.
“Then why did you go back there?” she asked sharply.
“Because I had to talk to him about what Manager Cha and I are going to do. I need to clear my issue. The issue with Nathan isn’t even finished yet, and now I might get tied to Dave too?” I answered.
I saw her expression turn serious before she cleared her throat.
“Based on how serious and sad you are right now, he rejected you, didn’t he?” she asked, sounding sure. I frowned.
“Why are you happy he rejected me?” I asked, sulking.
She laughed loudly and patted my back.
“Don’t worry, I’ll help you—but tomorrow, okay? I have to go home and we have a pictorial tomorrow,” she said with a smile.
“Go sleep and rest. Manager Cha isn’t here, so don’t just go out of the house, okay?” she warned. I only nodded with a pout. Was she seriously leaving me like this?
I had no choice when she really left. She was rushing like crazy—well, she can’t stay up late because they have a photoshoot tomorrow.
“Ugh… I didn’t think we’d ever meet again…” I murmured to myself as I looked at my large portrait.
The man who saved me thirteen years ago and the man who saved me today… were the same person. And it was strange that he didn’t seem to have aged at all.
‘Didn’t age?’
I jolted upright and ran to my bedroom upstairs. The moment I opened the door, I went straight to the part of my room where my mini-library was—something I rarely used because I usually went to the house’s main library.
I slid my hand quickly across the books, and when I found what I wanted, I grabbed it at once. This book was all about Urban Legends. I flipped to the page where the topic about the creatures in my mind was.
If it wasn’t plastic surgery keeping him young, then he had to be one of them.
I finally opened the book and skimmed it quickly, frowning as I read:
“Vampires are evil mythological beings who roam the world at night searching for people whose blood they feed upon. They typically drain their victim’s blood using their sharp fangs, killing them and turning them into vampires.”
I let the book fall and immediately grabbed the back of my neck—it suddenly felt hot. Something was strange there.
I quickly took my small mirror and checked what was on my neck, but I didn’t see anything unusual—just reddish patches, like a rash.
I slumped onto the soft carpet of my room. I looked up at the window and saw the full moon. It would’ve been a beautiful view if I wasn’t worried right now. Sigh.
I stood up and left my room. I needed to eat because I’d been hungry for a while. Even without an appetite, I had to eat. I couldn’t neglect myself—especially now that no one would worry about me except me.
I stopped while walking down the stairs when I saw Khaila entering. I thought she already left?
“Did you forget something, Khai?” I asked with a smile.
She ran up to me, smiled widely, and spoke. “I’m spending the night here. Come on, let’s eat first!” she said cheerfully, pulling me toward the kitchen.
I was startled by how cold her hand was, but I didn’t show it. She made me sit, set a plate and spoon for each of us, brought out the food we drove-thru earlier, then sat down and faced me with a smile.
“Let’s eat,” she said, smiling… weird.
“What did you eat?” I asked suspiciously. She paused mid-scoop and looked at me.
“We’re just about to eat, sis. Come on, eat already,” she answered, then continued eating.
I tightened my grip on the fork. I knew it was impossible—but better safe than sorry.
“Who are you?” I asked boldly.
She looked at me like I was being weird. “It’s me, sis. Seriously? You’re just hungry and you already forgot me?” she said with a smile and kept eating.
Now I was sure.
I stood up fast, moved behind her, and pressed the fork toward her neck.
“Who are you?” I demanded.
She froze and didn’t answer. I looked—and then I let go in shock.
In front of me now was a doll.
I held the fork tightly and stepped back, but as I retreated, I bumped into something hard behind me.
“I’m going to kill you…”
I spun around and backed away.
It wasn’t Khaila anymore.
It was someone else—a man with sharp eyes and a playful smile on his lips.
“You’re too smart, woman…” he said with a grin, then threw the fork he was holding at me.
He threw it so fast I knew it would hit me—
but I froze when the fork stopped right in front of my eyes.
A hand was gripping it.
Slowly, I looked up to see who it was.
“Aurelios…” I whispered.
He looked at me, winked—then disappeared from in front of me.
BOOGSH!
The sound of the man smashing into the wall. Aurelios had hit him, and the man recovered quickly and charged at him. The two exchanged punches.
What I was seeing wasn’t a normal fight.
My gaze immediately darted to my cellphone.
“When it’s a night like this, you shouldn’t be wandering around, brother…” I heard Aurelios speak.
The man who threw the fork was now slumped on the cold floor, while Aurelios walked toward him.
‘So they’re brothers?’
I stopped thinking and focused on grabbing my phone. When I saw the two clash again, I took a deep breath.
It’s now or never.
Hunter Aurelios Blood
“When it’s a night like this, you shouldn’t be wandering around, brother…” I said seriously to Blade.
He didn’t answer. He just rushed me, and I dodged immediately.
“Where’s her friend?” I demanded harshly when I managed to grab him.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his lip, then met my stare head-on.
“Why are you meddling?” he asked with a grin. “Are you scared to see the look-alike of the person you once loved crying? You still believe she’ll come back, hahaha!” he said loudly.
Fury surged through me, and I threw him out of the house, then ran after him.
I stomped in frustration when I saw he still had enough strength to escape.
“W-who are you really?”
I immediately looked at Cassandra. She was pale, but her eyes were full of courage.
“Go back inside and lock all the windows and doors. You’re a woman, and you built your house in the middle of the forest—tsk!” I said bluntly, then turned my back to leave. I couldn’t understand myself—I was annoyed with her. What if I hadn’t arrived and my brother killed her?
“I remember you now… I remember what happened thirteen years ago…”
I froze mid-step when she said that.
‘She saw what happened earlier… should I erase her memories again?’
I faced her and moved close quickly. I gently held her chin and lifted her face toward mine, then stared into her eyes.
“You will forget this day—what happened thirteen years ago—and me,” I said directly, staring into her eyes.
“Now… go inside and lock all the windows and doors,” I added, then released her chin.
She went inside her mansion in a daze, and I stayed there watching until she disappeared from my sight.
I finally exhaled deeply, turned away from the mansion, and walked away.
I needed rest. Tsk. That bastard brother of mine still escaped.
‘Hiter Aeroll Blood… we’ll face each other again.’
- Writer
