Chapter 2: The Bloodless Victim
309 Words
The next morning, the town buzzed with fear.
A young man had been found near the cemetery alive, but weak and pale. The doctor claimed he had lost an impossible amount of blood, yet there was barely a wound on him.
Nina couldn't stop thinking about Devin.
She returned to the library and searched through dusty local records. Missing persons. Strange attacks. Witnesses describing pale figures with glowing eyes.
Vampires.
She almost laughed at herself.
Until she found an entry dated 1891.
"The Blackwood Vampire was seen near the cemetery. A dark-haired man with silver eyes..."
Silver eyes.
Exactly like Devin's.
A chill ran through her.
That evening, she heard a knock on her window.
Devin stood outside on the second-story ledge.
Impossible.
"We need to talk," he said.
Nina let him in, though every instinct told her not to.
Devin remained near the window, as if afraid to come closer.
"You've been investigating me," he said.
"And you've been appearing outside my house," Nina replied.
His mouth twitched.
"Fair."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Devin said the words that should have sent her running.
"I'm a vampire."
Nina waited for the punchline.
None came.
"The attacks in Blackwood aren't my doing,"he continued. "Someone else is feeding here. Someone far more dangerous than I am."
"Why should I believe you?"
For the first time, pain flickered across his face.
"Because if I wanted to hurt you, I would have done it the night we met."
He stepped into the moonlight.
His eyes glowed silver. Fangs flashed briefly.
And yet, somehow, Nina felt less afraid than she should have.
"Then help me find who's responsible," she said.
Devin looked genuinely surprised.
"You're either very brave," he muttered, "or very reckless."
"Maybe both."
A slow smile spread across his face.
It was the first time she'd seen him look almost human.
- Writer
