VAMPIRE'S FAIRY

THE MAFIA VAMPIRE

The voice seemed to answer my thoughts.

It came again, softer this time, though no less unsettling. “Who has entered my inner vampire without my permission?”

I froze. Entered his inner vampire? What did that even mean? Who was he? And more importantly, how was I hearing him without him speaking?

“Ayl! Why are you zoning out? Come on, we’ll be late!”

Ariel’s voice snapped me back to reality. Instantly, the crushing darkness vanished. I felt light again, as though I had just been released from some cold, eerie prison. My eyes darted to the street, where the cars ahead of us disappeared around a corner.

Had I really entered a vampire’s inner self? How was that even possible?

I shook the thought away. Maybe I had simply read too many fantasy novels.

But the rest of the day, my mind remained in chaos. His voice still echoed in my head, haunting every quiet moment. I felt restless, distracted, and deeply unsettled. Ariel noticed, of course, but I brushed it off, telling her I simply wasn’t in the mood for school. She nodded, though the doubt in her eyes told me she wasn’t convinced.

That evening at dinner, my mother studied me carefully.

“Ayl, dear, why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell?”

Everyone at the table turned to look at me, their expressions filled with concern. Their worry only made me more uneasy. I forced a smile.

“I’m fine, Mom. Just a headache. I already took some medicine.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them. It was a terrible lie.

Dad was already on his feet, checking my pulse and temperature. I sat perfectly still while he examined me. Besides being a successful businessman, my father was also one of the best cardiologists in Country S.

“Your pulse is steady, and your temperature is normal,” he said, returning to his seat. “Are you sure you’re not feeling discomfort anywhere else?”

I nodded.

He exhaled, though I could tell he was still concerned. The rest of my family visibly relaxed.

“If you feel unwell again, tell us,” Mom said gently. “And don’t take medicine without letting us know first, all right?”

“Yes, Mom.”

Dinner ended, and I was about to head upstairs when Dad cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention.

“This weekend, we’ll be attending a birthday banquet. Mr. Blackwood is hosting one for the first time, and all the elites in Country S have been invited. Adriel, see to it that your siblings have something elegant to wear.”

“Of course, Dad.”

Adriel, the eldest of the triplets, was an exceptional designer—one of the best, in fact. His room was practically a museum of awards and trophies. There was no one I trusted more with our outfits.

By Friday afternoon, after school, we were out shopping.

The banquet, held on Saturday, was every bit as magnificent as one would expect from the richest man in the country. The entire venue shimmered in gold and black, colors that spoke of power, prestige, and wealth. Fresh flowers filled the hall with a rich, familiar fragrance, and crystal chandeliers cast a warm brilliance over the guests, making everyone look almost ethereal.

I entered with my favorite brother, Adriel. Ariel arrived with Author, while Ayaan came with his girlfriend. Mom and Dad followed shortly after.

Not long after our arrival, the sound of a glass being tapped silenced the room. Everyone turned toward the grand staircase.

“The star of tonight has arrived,” the butler announced. “The music shall begin, and we may proceed to the dance floor. One fortunate lady will be granted the honor of the first dance.”

Soft music began to play.

Then he appeared.

A young man—no, a teenager—descended the staircase with effortless grace. A murmur rippled through the crowd. Every adult vampire remained forever frozen at twenty-five, yet he looked no older than I was.

I leaned toward Dad. “How old is he turning?”

He simply shook his head. “No idea.”

We watched in silence as he descended, each step measured and regal. He carried himself with a quiet authority, an aura that commanded attention without demanding it.

As the guests began moving toward the dance floor, Adriel and I prepared to join them.

Then I heard it again.

I froze.

That voice.

That same cold sensation wrapped around me, stealing the warmth from my body.

“Would you like a dance, my lady?”

This time, the voice was gentle, almost soothing. Yet despite its softness, fear gripped me just as tightly as before.

“Ayl? Ayl!”

Adriel touched my shoulder, jolting me back to the present.

“You’re pale again. Are you all right?”

I nodded, though my heart was racing.

Slowly, I looked around, searching for the source of the voice.

And then I saw him.

Mr. Blackwood was walking directly toward us.

The air around me seemed to drop several degrees. My breathing quickened, each breath becoming harder to draw. Panic clawed at my chest as the familiar tightness set in.

He stopped before me and extended his hand.

“Would you like a dance, my lady?”

My blood ran cold.

It was him.