VAMPIRE'S FAIRY

HIS FEAR

As the possessed vampire charged toward me, it felt like my soul leapt out of my body. My heart pounded violently against my chest, as though it wanted to break free. For the first time in my life, I wished I could faint. Or better yet, possess a vampire’s speed and strength just long enough to save myself.

Beside me, Ariel stood frozen too, terror written all over her face.

I turned to Lynn for help, but what shocked me even more than Freyana calling him by name was the fear I saw in his eyes. It was unmistakable—raw, deep, and terrifying.

Suddenly, everything slowed.

The movements around me became sluggish, as if time itself had weakened.

The vampire was still racing toward me, but now its movements were painfully slow. I looked back at Lynn, longing to be in his arms. No matter how cold or fierce he was, I had always felt safe with him.

I closed my eyes, certain the vampire had already reached me. I braced myself for the bite that would tear into my flesh.

Silence.

No pain.

No attack.

My eyes flew open.

Lynn was on top of the vampire, his fist slamming into its face again and again. Blood splattered everywhere, staining his clothes and skin crimson. His furious roars echoed through the hall, violent and uncontrollable. No one dared go near him.

Everyone watched in horror as he beat the possessed vampire mercilessly, long after it stopped fighting back. I had never seen Lynn like this before. The man who was always composed and terrifyingly controlled had completely lost himself.

And honestly… I was terrified too.

“Stop him, Ayl!” Luke shouted desperately.

“How do you expect my little sister to stop that monster? Why don’t you do it yourself?” Ayaan snapped back angrily.

“My brother is not a monster!” Luke barked.

“Stop him, Ayl. He’ll only listen to you now!” Freyana shouted as well.

Me?

Why me?

Why would he listen to me?

“Please, Ayl!” Luke and Freyana kept yelling.

I tried reaching for Lynn’s inner vampire again, but nothing happened. Why was it failing now?

Panic clawed at my chest. Why was Lynn acting like this? Why was he so angry, so completely out of control? A man who always mastered his emotions was now drowning in them… because of me?

Then suddenly, I felt it again.

The cold.

The darkness.

The suffocating cellar.

I was inside his inner vampire once more.

Lynn.

The moment I called his name, he froze. His fists stopped midair as he slowly turned toward me. The fury in his eyes vanished, replaced with concern.

My eyes stung with tears at the sight of blood covering him.

Take me away from here. I’m scared.

I didn’t know why I said those words. Maybe because deep down, I knew he would listen.

His expression softened instantly. The dark veins spreading across his body slowly disappeared. He rose to his feet and walked toward me and Ariel.

“Are you scared?” he asked softly, his voice gentler than I had ever heard before.

“So scared… and tired,” I whispered, nodding weakly. “I want to sleep.”

Without hesitation, he lifted me into his arms. I rested my head against his shoulder, surprised by the warmth of his body. Safe. Comfortable. Protected.

“Then sleep, dear,” he murmured. “I’ll take you home.”

And just like that, all my fear disappeared.

I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep in his arms, not wanting to leave the warmth surrounding me. For the first time that night, I felt completely safe.

—

I felt someone moving me and jolted awake instantly.

“Shhh… I was only putting you on the bed. Did I wake you up?”

It was Adriel.

“How are you here? Wait… where am I?”

I looked around in confusion.

“We’re home, Ayl,” he said gently. “Ayaan and Ariel brought you back while you were asleep. How are you feeling?”

He kissed my forehead before sitting beside me. I wrapped my arms around him, relaxing into his embrace. The familiar scent of roses and peaches surrounded me, calming my nerves instantly. It almost made me sleepy again… until I remembered falling asleep in Lynn’s arms.

How did I end up here with my siblings?

“You said who brought me back?” I asked slowly.

“Ariel and Ayaan.”

“No one else?”

“Nope.”

So after I fell asleep, Lynn handed me over to them. I must have been deeply asleep not to notice.

The bedroom door creaked open and Ariel and Ayaan walked in.

“Hey,” they greeted in unison.

I gave them a weak smile as they climbed onto the bed beside me.

“Where’s Lynn?” I asked before I could stop myself.

Ariel immediately burst into giggles.

“We left him back at the company,” she answered teasingly. “He was still dealing with the possessed vampire.”

“Is he your boyfriend?” Ayaan asked bluntly.

“What? No!” I answered almost instantly. “He’s our boss, Ayaan. You know him. Someone like him would never date someone like me.”

“Well,” Ayaan said with a smirk, “his actions tonight said otherwise. Even his own brother had to beg you to calm him down.”

I lay down and rested my head on Adriel’s lap while he gently brushed my hair back.

“I still don’t understand it either,” I admitted quietly. “I don’t know why they asked me… or why he listened to me.”