Immortal Heart

Chapter 7

When I opened my eyes, I was in an unfamiliar room. It is a simple room, painted in peach with few stuffs that would make it easy to recognize that it is a girl’s room. I roamed my eyes, and I felt an eerie feeling that I have never felt before. I tried to stand up but something was lying on my lap. I looked down to see what it was and my eyes widen as fear and confusion rushed to me.

The woman at the zoo was lying on my lap, lifeless. She was covered in blood as her beautiful sky blue dress was slowly turning into a dark color of red. I trembled in fear as I saw her blood started to crawl down the bed, covering it with its color. I tried to push her away but her body was heavy and I can’t seem to make her budge, not even an inch, even if I tried to. It feels like she was glued to me.

I started to panic when the blood started climbing on the wall up to the room’s ceiling, making the room be coated in its color.

The scent of blood reached my nose, and I almost want to throw up. This scent is different. It’s like something is rotten.

Chills went down to my spine as I felt the woman on my lap moved. I looked down at her, and she just looked up at me and smiled. She was smiling at me in a very disturbing manner that makes me trembled in fear. I want to push her away, but my entire body can’t seem to move.

Then she tilted her head, showing me two teeth marks on her neck. She started giggling, then it gets louder and louder, until she was laughing like a maniac. She then looked at me with an eye that looks like it lost its sanity.

“You finally decided to show yourself!” she said in between her laugh.

With a trembling hands, I pushed her as hard as I could.

“I-I didn’t do it!” I told her while looking at her.

Instead of falling on the floor, she fell on a pile of bodies that wasn’t there before. I looked at them, and they were all covered in blood, like she was. A tear fell down in horror when I saw that they didn’t have faces.

“The demon showed up!” the woman said hysterically, while trying to crawl back up to the bed.

“I-I’m not a demon!” I yelled at her as I moved back to stay away from her.

“You did this! You killed all of them!” the woman said while pointing at me.

“No! I never killed anyone! I would never kill someone!” I said while my entire body is trembling out of fear.

“Just die! Die!” she shouted.

I was planning to run away when suddenly, the floor opened, swallowing me and the bed. The bed disappears as I fell in to the sea.

The water was calm and cold, but it felt eerie that I can’t stop myself from trembling. I tried to swim, but a hand grabbed me. I looked down, but it was nothing but darkness. I tried to swim again, but multiple hands grabbed me, pulling me down.

“H-Help us!” I heard the voices again.

“Save me!” then Tristan’s face showed up. He was covered in blood, and tears were falling down his eyes, but he was smiling at me.

I tried screaming, but nothing came out. Tristan smiled at me before he grabbed me by my neck with both of his hands.

“Just die!” he said while pushing me down.

I was losing my vision, and I can’t even find the strength to grab his hands.

“No!” I shouted as I opened my eyes. I was panting heavily, while my entire body was trembling.

I looked around and found myself lying on Hunter’s bed.

“Raine, what’s wrong?” I looked at him, and I immediately threw myself into his arms.

I was crying while holding onto his shirt tightly.

It’s just a dream, but it felt so real that I can still feel the cold waters covering my body. I am still trembling while panting heavily, trying to catch my breath as if I had lost it.

“You’re fine now. It’s just a dream.” Hunter said while rubbing my back.

Why do I keep having those dreams?

I heard a knock on the door before it opened. I saw Hannah walked in. She was wearing a beautiful black fishtail dress that perfectly hugged her figure.

“Raine, you’re up!” she said as she walked towards us.

I looked at Hunter, and he was also wearing a black suit. His hair was nicely done, which emphasizes his beautiful eyes.

“Why do you look like that?” I asked them.

“Today’s the feast, Raine.” Hannah replied. I looked at Hunter and he just nodded.

“Feast? Isn’t it just..” I didn’t finish what I was about to say when Hunter lightly tapped my shoulder.

“You were unconscious for four days.” He said.

“Four days?” I asked him. I can’t believe that I was unconscious for four days.

“What happened to me?” I asked them.

“You almost went berserk, so I had to stop you. You collapse and were unconscious for four days,” Hunter explained.

“W-What about my classes?” I asked Hannah.

“Don’t worry, I already informed all of our professors.” She said.

“You should go and prepare yourself. The feast’s about to start.” Hunter said. I just nod at him as an answer.

They left the room, so I head to the bathroom and prepared myself for the feast. I can still feel the fear that I felt in my dream, but I just shook it out. I looked at myself in the mirror.

“Is there something that you’re hiding?” I asked the mirror while looking at the reflection of myself.

I reached for my hand and touched the mirror. I smiled bitterly as I realize how much part of me was missing.

“Should we go find out?” I asked myself again.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before I decided to leave the bathroom and go to the dining room.

I immediately found them. They were talking seriously, but they immediately turn to look at me the moment I stepped in to the room.

“How are you feeling, dear?” Mom asked me.

“I’m fine.” I said with a slight smile on my face.

“Come, join us.” Dad said as he smiled at me.

I walked towards Hunter and sat beside him. I looked at the table. Just like my first feast, everything was elegantly placed on the table. There is a glass of wine that is full of blood. The scent of it immediately reached my nose, and I both trembled in fear and in excitement.

I can’t help myself but be reminded of what happened in my dream. I feel like the owner of the blood that’s in front of me was one of the voices that I heard.

A hand held mine. I looked at Hunter and he just gave me an assuring smile. I took a deep breath and smiled back at him, telling him that I’m fine.

“Is the blood troubling you, Raine?” I heard dad asked.

“N-No dad. I was just wondering where this blood came from.” I answered, trying to be careful of what I say.

“Do think that we’re killing mortals, Raine?” Dad asked me. I felt my heart tighten I felt the anxiety rush through every vein of my body.

“Of course not, dad. I was just w-wondering.” I replied while my eyes were looking at my lap.

“Seems like Hunter didn’t fully introduce you to this world.” Dad said.

I flinched when I heard him tapping on the table using his fingers. I looked up to him to see what kind of reaction he has on his face, but he was void of emotions. He was just looking straight at me, and it’s making me more anxious.

Why whole body was sweating and I don’t even know if it’s because of dad or the blood in front of me.

“I’m sorry, dad. With her current condition, I don’t want to give her all the information about us. I just thought it might be too much for her.” Hunter replied.

“I understand.” Dad replied. The room went silent, so I looked up to him again.

“What’s wrong Raine? It seems like you’re having a hard time.” Mom asked me as she looked at me tenderly.

“I think we should drink first before we continue with this conversation, dad.” Hannah suggested.

“No! We’ll drink after I finished explaining where this blood came from.” Dad replied.

I swallowed hard when I felt a lump in my throat. The scent of blood is getting stronger, and I can’t help myself but crave for it.

“You almost hurt an innocent woman at the Zoo, Raine.” Dad seriously said.

“I’m sorry.” I said, admitting that what happened was my fault.

“That happened because you don’t know how to restrain yourself from the temptation of blood. Now, I want you to restrain yourself, and suppress that thirst that you’re feeling, until I tell you that you’re allowed to drink that blood in front of you.” Dad said.

“Yes dad.” I said before I bit my lips.

I closed my eyes tightly before I took a breath. I need to at least learn how to restrain myself within a few minutes. I don’t want to see the sight that I just saw in my dream.

“I’m sure that Hunter already told you that we’re Leal, right?” dad asked me.

“Yes.” I replied.

“Us Leal, don’t drink blood directly from mortals, and we don’t make a kill either. We bought this blood that we take during feast.” Dad said.

“Bought? Where?” I asked him.

“Immortals like vampires are as many as mortals as you could imagine. Since the majority of us decided to leave amongst mortals, a lot of vampires look for a way on how to feed ourselves without harming mortals.” Dad continued.

I saw Hannah took a sip of blood from her glass. My throat went dry as the urge to drink the blood in front of me intensified. I tightly held both edges of my seat as I forcefully swallowed my own saliva to keep my throat from getting dry.

“Rich vampires started the idea of blood banks.” Dad added.

“Blood banks? Are all of them owned by vampires?” I asked him.

“No, not all of them are owned by vampires. Some were owned by businessmen who knew the existence of vampires.” Mom answered.

“Blood banks are both convenient for us vampires and mortals. It provides food for us, but at the same time, it provides blood aid for the mortal patients who needed blood transfusion.” Hunter said as he held my hand that is gripping on the edges of my chair for my life’s sake.

“But of course, this is not for free. We have to buy it. It’s what’s making us like mortals. We earn money in order to survive.” Dad said.

“Then why do Vlads exist?” I asked him.

“They are those vampires who think of mortals as livestock animals. They think they can just go feed on mortals every day, without thinking about the danger it might bring to our world.” Dad answered. He looked at me for a while before he smiled at me.

“What do you mean, danger?” I asked him.

“Same as how mortals feared of how their livestock to be endangered.” Dad answered before he took a sip of his glass.

I gritted my teeth as I reminded myself to hold back.

“What do you mean, dad?” I asked him again, ignoring the thirst that I was feeling.

“What he means is that, when every vampire becomes a Vlad and started to feed on mortals every day, their number will decrease.” Hannah explained after she put her glass down. It’s already half-full.

“When it decreases, food for us would be very difficult.” I said.

“Exactly!” Hannah said as she smiled at me.

“That’s why blood banks, and the idea of feast existed. It’s created to protect both mortals and vampires.” Hunter said.

“You can now drink your blood, Raine. You’ve waited long enough.” Dad said with a smile.

I smiled at him before I took the glass in front of me. The scent of blood was already enough to make me shiver. I slowly drank it, savoring its taste to my mouth down to my throat. I can feel my blood rushing through my entire body. It’s making me feel alive.

“T-Thank you for the meal.” I said as I awkwardly placed the empty glass down.

“You’re welcome dear.” Mom said with a smile.

“Since everyone’s already had their fill, I think we should now go to our rooms and rest.” Dad said as he stood up and walked out of the room.

Mom and Hannah followed him. I looked at Hunter and I saw him drinking his glass of wine.

“Did you wait for me?” I asked him.

“I can’t just drink on my own while you’re fighting your thirst.” Hunter replied, before he winked at me. I just smiled at him as I stood up.

“Let me send you to your room.” Hunter said.

I just nod at him and let him guide me to his room, even if I already memorized the way to it. He opened the door for me before he gently messed my hair.

“Have a good rest.” He said. He was about to turn his back when I grabbed his arm.

“Can you please stay? Sleep here with me.” I said as I looked at him.

“Why? Is there something bothering you?” he asked me.

“No.. It’s just, I don’t have nightmares whenever you’re here.” I replied.

“Okay. Go change, I’ll be back after in a minute.” He said.

I just nod as an answer and watch him walk to the guest room. When his door was closed, I immediately went to the bathroom to change. When I stepped out, he was already lying on the bed.

“Come.” He said.

I smiled before I walked towards him and lay on the bed with him. I placed myself inside his arms as I buried my face in his chest. For some reason, I felt like this was where I should be. I feel like I fit perfectly in his arms.

I heard him chuckled before he started brushing my hair with his fingers. I sigh as I felt that I was relieved to be in his arms. I feel more calm when he’s with me.

“Hunter?” I called him.

“Hmm?” he replied.

“The woman at the Zoo, she burned my skin when she touched me.” I said.

“I know, I saw your wrist while I was taking care of you.” He replied. My face was still buried in his chest, which makes his voice sound like it’s coming from all directions.

“She also called me demon, and even slit her wrist to test me. I think she knows.” I said.

“She might be a witch, or just a normal mortal who had a protection spell on her.” Hunter said.

I looked up at him to see his face.

“Witch? Protection spell? What do you mean?” I asked him.

“Well, witches have their protection spell on them. That protection spell not just protects them, but also alerts them when an immortal is near them. When they are touched unwantedly, the spell acts up, it activates and protects them,” He answered.

“Is that so? I was so scared of what she did.” I said.

“I know. Now go to rest.” He said as he pulled me closer to him and continues to brush my hair.

I smiled before I took a long whiff of his smell. I felt my eyes started to close. I feel sleepy even if I just woke up. It always happens whenever I take blood.

I felt him wrapped his arms around me before I’ve fallen asleep.