VAMPIRE DESIRE

WHISPERS

He vanished like a forgotten dream. But that dream was real. It had an impact that I could still feel.

After that heart-pounding encounter, I went to wash my face. I was wearing a short, sleeveless shirt and a skirt. I cleaned my face with a warm towel, but suddenly, I felt a cold hand on my stomach.

I froze for a few seconds. I turned around and saw Hazier with that scar on his forehead.

“Wha—what are you doing?” I asked.

He came closer with a smirk. He was very, very close to me.

“I just came to see you, princess,” he said, still smirking.

He grabbed some of my hair and smelled it. I looked at him through the mirror as I backed away.

“You smell toxic. I will drink you up before I even think,” he whispered.

He put his knee between my legs. I could feel him pressing against me. I knew I should shout, but I didn't know why I couldn't. Part of me didn't want him to stop. It was a strange, scary feeling.

He flipped me around by my shoulders. Now, I was facing the mirror. His head and shoulders were behind me. He looked at my body in the reflection.

He put his hand on my belly. His hand was so huge it covered my whole stomach. Slowly, he started to move his hand lower. He whispered in my ear while looking at me in the mirror.

“If you shout for help, I will do my job. So, you better shout for more, baby.”

His other hand moved to my neck. I could feel his fingers between my legs. I was so wet. I hoped everything would disappear because this was a sinful pleasure.

My eyes were closed. I tried not to moan, but it was so hard to control.

“Stop... sto—AH!” My eyes stayed shut. My body felt like it was on fire.

“Say my name, princess,” he said. He was enjoying this.

Whatever he was doing, it was so fast. It felt so intense.

“Ha—Hazier... sto—stop!”

“I order you to come, baby doll,” he said, kissing my neck. I held onto his arm that was on my neck. My other hand gripped my skirt so tight to hold myself together.

“I’m about tOO—”

Suddenly, in a second, he vanished. I turned around and saw no one. I was alone, breathing heavy, my heart going crazy. What was that?

I went back to my room, my legs feeling like jelly.

I kept thinking about what just happened. My skin still felt hot where he touched me.

What had I done? A vampire just made me lose control.

“What is wrong with me?” I whispered to the empty room. “This is wrong. Very, very wrong.”

This was not supposed to happen. My life has been a dark nightmare since the moment I arrived on this island.

I looked at my reflection. My lips were swollen and my eyes looked wild. I didn't recognize myself.

I finally left the room because my stomach was growling. I was so hungry I felt dizzy.

I walked down a long, cold hallway. I passed a heavy wooden door that smelled like rot and old copper.

It was the smell of death. I had to pinch my nose shut with my fingers to keep from getting sick.

As I walked, I looked at the massive gold frames on the walls.

There were paintings of giant, hairy wolves with teeth like knives. Next to them were kings with cold, hungry eyes.

Then, I stopped. I saw a picture of a beautiful lady.

She was breathtaking. She had thick, wavy blonde hair that fell over her shoulders like gold.

She had tiny, pale freckles across her nose. Her eyes were the color of a frozen lake—the lightest blue I had ever seen.

Everything about her... the confidence in her eyes... those dark eyebrows. But that mark... what is it?

I went closer to get a clear look. Is it some kind of symbol? A tattoo? I don’t know... but it must mean something. It’s likely connected to this place.

And it’s there... right on her neck."

In a second, I heard them—whispers in my ears. They were so loud.

What are they? "Ahhhh!"

I tried to cover my ears, pressing as hard as I could. I didn't even realize I was on the floor. I thought my ears might burst. I screamed:

"Ahhhhhhh... Ah... ahhhhhhh-ah-help—Zaphiton—ah-Zaphi... AHHHHHHHTON! Ahhhhhhh... help... somebody!"

The whispers were so loud I thought I might bleed from my ears.

"Ahhhhhh... my EAR—…… ahh!"

I saw him standing in front of me. He wasn’t doing anything; he was just standing there. His eyes were closed, and his lips were moving. I couldn’t hear it, but I could see him mouthing something.

Then, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at me.

"Repeat what I say."

"Ahh—... help... I can’t bear this pain... ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

I was crying so hard. The pain was worse than any I had ever felt in my life. He closed his eyes again. I could see his lips moving, and now I could hear his voice mixing with those whispers.

"Ariel, love... let me help you. Repeat after me."

I nodded.

I looked at him; his eyes were closed, his lips were moving, and his voice came through the whispers.

"Say: Lords of Hell and Lords of Heaven."

"Ahhhh... Lordsssss of Hell... and... and Lords of Heavensssss—ahhh!"

"I want you to give a curse to these whispers."

"I want you... to give—ahhhh—a curse to these whispers... ahhh!"

"I obey the Lords until death for this gift."

"What? No—ah, NO!"

"DO AS I SAY OR YOU WILL DIE!"

For the first time, I saw worry in his eyes. For the very first time, he looked like he was afraid he would lose me.

"I... I obey the Lords... until death... for this gift."

In less than a second, the whispers were gone. As I was about to hit the floor, I felt cold hands stop me.

Everything went silent and dark.