The First Story-1
The night was like thick, impenetrable ink, hanging heavily and airtight over this ancient and mysterious small town. Every corner of the town was as quiet as a forgotten place by time. Only the occasional hoots of owls faintly cut through the silence, adding a bit more of an unfathomable and mysterious atmosphere to the night. Emily, with a slender and elegant figure, tapped the ancient stone-paved road with her high heels one after another, making clear and lonely sounds that traveled far in this empty night. She had just finished her night shift at the library and was walking home alone. The moonlight was like water, gently pouring down on her, outlining her graceful and picturesque figure and casting a long shadow on the ground.
Suddenly, a gust of bitterly cold wind howled past. Emily couldn't help but shiver, and her delicate body slightly shrank. She subconsciously hugged her arms tightly, trying to get a little warmth from her own embrace and quickening her pace at the same time. Just then, a dark shadow flashed past her at a lightning speed. It was so fast that she momentarily thought it was an illusion caused by her tired eyes. Immediately after, a deep, hoarse growl, as if coming from the abyss of hell, rang in her ears. That sound seemed to be wrapped with endless pain and a bloodthirsty desire.
Emily turned her head in horror and saw a tall and straight figure standing quietly in the shadow beside the street. His figure was slender and full of strength. His black windbreaker fluttered wildly in the night wind, as if it had merged with the thick night. Emily couldn't see his face clearly for a while, but she could truly feel the icy, dangerous, almost tangible aura emanating from him, which sent a chill down her spine in an instant.
"Who... who are you?" Emily summoned up all her courage and asked in a trembling voice, which carried an undeniable fear.
The figure slowly stepped out of the shadow, and the moonlight finally fell on his face. The moment Emily saw him, she couldn't help but gasp. His skin was as pale as paper, devoid of any color, as if all the hues of life had been drained from it. His tall and straight nose was like a steep mountain peak, adding a sense of three-dimensionality to his face. His deep eyes were like bottomless black holes, exuding mysterious and enchanting glimmers in the darkness, as if they could suck in one's soul. And his lips, as bright and glistening as if he had just sucked blood, were slightly raised at the moment, revealing two sharp fangs that glinted with a cold and sinister light in the moonlight.
"I am Leonardo, a cursed vampire." His voice was deep and magnetic, as if coming from a distant time tunnel, carrying the vicissitudes and helplessness of the years.
Emily was so frightened that her face turned ashen, and she turned around and started running. However, before she could run a few steps, Leonardo instantly appeared in front of her, easily blocking her way. His movement was as fast as lightning, leaving Emily with no time to react at all. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you," he said softly, with a trace of gentleness that he himself didn't even notice in his tone, as if he was afraid of scaring this fragile human woman in front of him.
Emily looked at him in horror, her body shaking violently uncontrollably. "What... what do you want?" she asked, her lips quivering, her eyes full of fear and confusion.
Leonardo stared into her eyes, and a complex and indistinguishable emotion flashed through his deep eyes, something like confusion and also like longing. "I have been wandering alone in the darkness for so long, so long that I almost forgot the feeling of warmth. And your appearance, like a brilliant ray of light, unexpectedly illuminated my cold and dead world without any warning. From the first moment I saw you, I was deeply attracted to you. This feeling is something I've never had before." His voice was low and sincere, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from the very bottom of his heart.
Emily couldn't believe her ears. A vampire actually said such words. "Are you crazy? Don't all you vampires live by sucking human blood and regard humans as prey?" Her voice carried anger and confusion, and at the same time, there was a glimmer of hope that this was just a nightmare.
Leonardo gave a bitter smile, full of bitterness and helplessness. "Once, I was indeed like other vampires, chasing the smell of blood in the endless night. But after meeting you, I found that what I deeply desire in my heart is no longer just the satisfaction of blood, but your company, the unique warmth on you, the warmth that can make me feel the existence of life." His eyes were full of sincerity, looking straight into Emily's eyes, as if he wanted her to see through his soul.
At this moment, the fear in Emily's heart was gradually replaced by curiosity. She summoned up her courage and looked at the mysterious and handsome vampire in front of her again. In the moonlight, although his face was pale, he had a unique charm. The temperament of having experienced vicissitudes but still being lonely made an inexplicable sentiment well up in Emily's heart. "You... you really won't hurt me?" she asked doubtfully, with a glimmer of expectation in her voice.
Leonardo nodded solemnly, his eyes as firm as a rock. "I swear by the honor of my family that I will never let you suffer even the slightest harm." His voice was deep and powerful, as if making an eternal promise in this quiet night.
From then on, Emily and Leonardo began to meet frequently. On every moonlit night, they would meet in the forest on the outskirts of the town. The moonlight filtered through the thick leaves, casting mottled light and shadow, just like a dreamy picture. They held hands and strolled slowly along the forest path. The fallen leaves under their feet made a rustling sound, as if softly singing for their love. Leonardo would tell Emily stories of his long years, those pasts filled with the smoke of war, betrayal, and pain. When he talked about the battles on the battlefield, witnessing the betrayal of comrades, and the rise and fall of his family, a trace of pain and sadness would occasionally flash in his eyes. And Emily would share with Leonardo the little things in the library, those warm and ordinary daily routines. She would talk about the interesting readers she met, the precious books she discovered, and the joy of roaming in the world of books. In their sharing with each other, their hearts got closer and closer, and the seeds of love quietly took root and germinated in their hearts.
