Bloodlines of Shadows

Bracing for the Danger

“Was that supposed to be a joke," I ask, trying to loosen the seriousness that emanates from him.

“No, it's not," he replies bluntly, not sparing me a glance.

“So what do you think is absurd about me? The fact that I can make your heart flutter?" I tease, sauntering towards him with a seductive smile.

Expecting him to be further drawn to me with my charm that I didn't know I possessed, shockwaves washed over me as he recoiled, sealing his nose with his arms, and peering down at me. “What's that smell?" He asks, meeting my gaze.

Umm... Umm, it's nothing, I am not smelling anything" I say, knowing exactly what he is talking about–the smell of my urine

“But.... Do you have a bathroom?" I inquire, looking away from him while trying to mask my embarrassment.

“Yes, yes, yes. It's upstairs," he stammers, still covering his nose and looking at me peeringly.

Scanning my eyes through the whole house in search of the stairs, I finally locate them but my excitement turns to shock immediately as I spot the lifeless body of a girl on the stairs.

“What is that?" I ask, my voice trembling.

“What is what?" he asks, turning in my direction as he chuckles immediately when he sees what I am talking about.

“It's nothing to be scared of; she is my friend and you can call her food, She's quite tasty," he remarks, smacking his lips and moving towards the staircase where the body lies.

Bending down, he kisses her on the forehead and my heart aches momentarily, to my astonishment, the girl stirs.

She mouths something, but her voice is faint. Squinting through the candle flickers and the dim lighting, I see her mouth the word "Master." I just stare at both of them in shock. Max looks at me, a sly smile curving on his face.

Still contemplating on what to do, a piercing sound echoes through the whole room and I can hear my pulse pounding in my ears.

“Phew," it's just Max's phone," I say in my head.

Watching him as he helps the girl stand while bringing out the phone from his trouser pocket reminds me of my phone immediately. Putting my hands into the pocket of my short skirt, my mind flashes back to when I left it at the table before coming to meet Max.

"I mutter to myself, berating my foolishness.

Trying to avert my gaze, I was taken aback by the bite marks adorning the girl's neck; they resembled numerous bite marks on a piece of chicken. Despite the dim lighting, the intermittent flashes from Max's phone, held to his left ear while receiving the call, with the girl by his side, illuminated the scene, granting me a clearer view."

Still trying to take a closer look at the bite marks on her neck, I feel Max's gaze on me, piercing into my soul. Turning my attention to the darkened corners of the house, I strain to hear the conversation between Max and his caller. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierces my ear.

The sound hits me abruptly, sharp and piercing. It's high-pitched, almost like a whistle, but much louder and more intense. It grates against my ears, making me wince, like metal scraping against metal. I tilt my head, hoping it will stop, but the noise is so thin and loud that it slices through everything around me, demanding my full attention.

Clutching my ears with both hands, I collapse to the ground, wincing and trying to make it stop. I try to scream, but it feels like the sound is screaming in my head, and before I know what's happening, everything goes blank.

She is in front of me, the silver-haired woman from my dream, what am I going to do? looking around where I lay, it's a dimly lit cottage with the same type of drink Max served to me.

“Welcome, once again," she says, this time, with a broad smile reminding me of how I look when I am smiling in my mirror.

“what am I doing here? where's Max?" I ask, standing up from the rock bed and staring into her eyes.

“I know this is hard for you but you have to believe everything I say so that the cycle can be broken. You mustn't end up like me," she says, holding my arm and I vanish away from her sight.

My mind slowly starts to clear, everything feels hazy and disoriented. My senses gradually return, and I feel a heavy, groggy sensation weighing on me. The cold is intense on my body, and I force my eyes open.

Reminiscing on what the woman from my dream said, I know that there is a battle that I am involved in but I don't know how to go about it. This is not just a dream it is the real deal.

Forcing my eyelids close, I try to see if I can get back to her but it isn't possible, I need to be unconscious to be able to see her.

My eyelids flutter open, and I blink a few times, trying to focus. At first, the world around me is blurry and unfocused, but gradually, shapes and colors start to come into view. I hear muffled sounds and, squinting, I see Max and the girl standing in front of me.

They appear to be talking, but without trying to make out their words, I hear them. Surprisingly, I can also hear the sound of the breeze and leaves rustling as if I were close to them.

The smell of the house strikes me—a mix of old wood and damp stone, like an ancient castle. There's a faint, metallic tang in the air, reminiscent of blood, mingled with a musty, earthy scent that suggests decay and age.

Hearing my name jolts me back to reality. I lift my head slightly to see their expressions, but it's too dark to see anything. However, I can smell everything, including their surprising blood.

"So you are telling me that you don't think she is pure human," I listen, lying on the cold wooden floor. I know that the voice I hear isn't from Max which means that it would be from the girl. The coldness of the floor on my skin tells me I'm only in my bra and panties, my whole body exposed.

“Yes, I intend to find out what she is," I hear, I could tell immediately that the voice belonged to Max.

“But what were they talking about?"I question myself, my mind racing. What did she mean by saying that I am not a pure human? If I am not a pure human, then what am I? Does this have anything to do with my dreams?

Confusion and fear grip me. I mean, my mom and dad are humans, so what else could I be? I ask myself again trying to reassure myself but suddenly the realization that my mom has never spoken about my dad hits me like a ton of bricks opening my mind to doubt.

The last time I asked her, I saw her crying near the cemetery near our house. The memory of her sobs and the way she clutched a weathered photograph tightened my chest and knelt on a tomb in the cemetery made me conclude within myself that he was already dead. I decided not to ask her again, since I already knew the answer.

“Could it be possible that he is not a human, since I am certain that my mom is a human? If he's not a human then what else can he be?" I ask myself, still closing my eyes to hear more of their conversations.

“Do you think she's like us," I hear the girl ask, her voice is sharp and tiny and I can feel the hatred in them.

“I...Ummm... I am not sure but a stronger part of me thinks so," I hear Max reply.

“What do they mean by being like them? Are they not humans or is Amelia right?? Are they vampires, "My eyes open wide at the thought of it and I shut them down immediately.

"Still thanking my stars that I wasn't caught, my present situation hits me again, shattering my thin happiness into pieces. 'What am I doing here? How can I be with vampires, Alone? Amelia's words made their way back to my head. The woman from my dream's words sounded like a warning, I don't know who my enemies are“What am I going to do?' I say inwardly, fear crawling its way up to my mind.

“No matter what, I need to be strong now and be sure of what they are before acting," I say again, trying desperately to console myself.

A chill runs down my spine as I consider the implications. "So what could they be talking about? At least I know for sure that he is gotta be a human. It's not like my mom would have children with a beast," I reassure myself, though doubt lingers at the edges of my mind. My heart pounds harder, and I feel a lump forming in my throat. The uncertainty gnaws at me, making me feel even more vulnerable and exposed.

“So what do you intend to do?" The girl asks Max and I can hear my heart beating outside my chest like it was right beside me.

"You can't possibly take her to the castle, can you?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm and raising my head a bit to see his expression, our eyes met. She glares at me immediately and winks at Max as I swiftly lay my head down hitting it against the wooden floor.

Looks like your princess is awake," she says, " I can feel her walking towards my direction because of the smell of her blood. The smell becomes too strong and I stand up immediately rushing towards the door to puke but she holds me back making me puke on the floor, some of it splashing on her black, long gown that covers her feet.

“Trying to run, princess," she says, with a sly smile on her face as she tears me a hot slap.

My brain shivered immediately as the sound landed on my face. Still unsure if I am conscious, I look at her, she looks deadly and her eyes turn red immediately.

Kiara ......... I hear and everything goes blank.

Pls do well to vote and comment 🤭 it means a lot to me