The King's Moonlight Kiss (R-18)

Chapter 1 - Dream

Dream

"Ahh," I moaned when something pierced painfully on my neck. I felt something strange that seems right but feels wrong. It was warm yet painful but addicting.

My knees started to wobble. I couldn't take it anymore. The pleasure I'm feeling is too much. I want it to go on but I also want it to stop because of the pain.

My eyes were closed when someone whispered on my neck. "Don't move," he said. I couldn't open my eyes properly, I tried but my vision was blurry. I tried to open my eyes again hoping to see what's happening.

Slowly, my eyesight is getting clearer. The first thing I noticed is the statue on the wall. I roamed my eyes around the room and noticed more ancient statues. There are huge candles on each corner of the room. It gives a luminescent light.

"I said don't move," said the stranger. I was in a strange room with this gorgeous — no a stranger. Who is he? What did he do to me?

"W-who are you? Y-you, you molested me!" I shouted at him. I pushed him with all my strength even though my knees are shaking.

I looked at him and saw his lips with the traces of blood, his fangs that brought pain and pleasure on my skin... and his glowing eyes filled with hunger and love.

He's a vampire.

"You are my queen," he whispered in my ears.

"I've been waiting for you for so long, Elara Chantria Amore. Please hurry, I've been dying to taste your blood, mi amore..."

I got up from my bed sweating and having a hard time breathing. Another strange dream. I keep dreaming about a vampire biting me and telling me I am his queen. Is this because I read too many fantasy books that I keep dreaming about it? I quickly got up from my bed and got a pencil and a paper.

I dream of the same scenario again and again. I always try to draw what I see in my dreams. From the room to the person who bit me. I started concentrating and tried to draw the room.

The room has a lot of decor. From antiques and ancient things to the candles on the corners of the room. The chandelier that I saw on the ceiling of that room has a very unique design.

After drawing the room, I tried remembering the face of the person who bit me. But his face is blurry every time I try to remember him. This is the fourth time I'm drawing him but I still can't remember his face. I opened the drawer of my table and got the three papers where I drew him but without his face. I remember the shape of his face, his hair, neck, the way he stands, and his fangs. Those sinful fangs.

"Why can't I remember you?" I asked the papers where I drew him.

After an hour, I got up from my seat and took a shower. I am Elara Chantria Amore, seventeen years old and living in a boarding house here in Manila. I have two part-time jobs — a cashier at a convenience store, and a waiter at a restaurant. I’ve been an orphan for twelve years. I only finished high school with the help of an orphanage. I became an orphan when my mother and father died in a car accident. I’ve been living alone for six months here in Watsinkon boarding house. Mrs. Watsinkon, our landlady, is a widow and has no children. She is in her early 40’s.

After changing into my uniform, I went down and greeted Mrs. Watsinkon. I saw three boarders eating on the table. The boarding house I’m living in right now is a two-story house. If I am not mistaken, Mrs. Watsinkon has five boarders including myself. What I love here is we have separate rooms; we don’t need to share a room with anyone. This is also an all-girls boarding house, no men allowed, just girls.

"Elara, are you going to the convenience store already?" Mrs. Watsinkon asked.

"Yes, Mrs. Watsinkon," I replied.

"But you didn't eat your breakfast yet. Come and eat!" she insisted.

"I'm okay, Miss. I will eat in the convenience store. I can't be late today,” I ran to her and kissed her cheeks. “I gotta go. Thank you, Mrs. Watsinkon!" I quickly ran to the door, looked back, and gave her a flying kiss.

I owe her everything. When my orphanage abandoned me, I didn't have a home, she saw me wandering on the street and asked me if I have a place to go home. When I said that my orphanage abandoned me, she let me stay in her boarding house. She's the kindest woman I've ever met.

Even though the world threw rocks on me, I am very thankful that she came into my life. She's like my mother already.

I was walking in an alley and saw our convenience store. It is located in the center of the city, so it has a lot of customers. The door chimes of the convenience store moved and made a sound when I entered.

There are four shift works at the convenience store. I am scheduled on the early morning shift from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. As I entered, I saw Mavy adding some products to the chips section.

Mavy Santiago, a breadwinner of her family with 3 siblings, is my one and only genuine friend. She lives in Pasay and has two part-time jobs and one freelance work. She is 18 years old, and a very good artist. She accepts commissions.  

"Hi Mavy. Thank you for your hard work today!" I greeted Mavy.

Her eyes widened when she saw me and looked at her watch. "Oh! Hello Elara. I didn't realize that my shift is already finished!"

"It's okay, Mavy. You're always hardworking as ever," I smiled at her. She finished putting products on the shelves and gave me the apron.

"Thank you. Have a good day at work today, okay? I love you!" she said and kissed my cheeks before going out to the convenience store.

I have 6 hours shift here and 6 more hours work at a restaurant at the mall. Little by little, I am saving up for my dream degree in college.

After my shift at the convenience store, I ate my late lunch on a fast-food chain. It's already 1:00 p.m., I have to go to my next work at 2:00 p.m. So, I hurriedly finished my food because I don't want to be late for my next work.

"Good afternoon, sir," I greeted Sir Aaron when I saw him in the kitchen. Sir Aaron is our manager, he is very responsible and kind. One time when I accidentally broke a wine glass, he forgave me and didn’t deduct it from my salary. “Accidents happen all the time,” he said to me smiling that time.

"Good afternoon, go change your clothes and work already," he greeted back and smiled.

"Yes, sir."

Today was a very tiring day again. It's already 8:00 p.m. and I just finished my work at the restaurant. I was walking on my way to the jeepney station when I heard a faint voice.

I looked back to see if there is a person but I saw no one. My forehead furrowed. Am I hearing things?

"Elara," the voice was clearer this time and I was so scared when I looked back and saw no one. My hands started to shake.

But something caught my attention. At the narrow alley that I passed, I saw a red glowing light. I want to know what it is, so I went back and peeked on the dark alley.

"Ahhh!" I shouted when three bats flew over my head. I was so shocked that I tripped on my own feet.

I got goosebumps all over my body. My breathing became heavy. So, the bat's eyes were the red glowing light I saw back there. Why are there bats in the middle of a city? This is not a f*cking cave! I almost got a heart attack.

I got up and shook off the dirt on my pants. I think the voice I heard a while ago was just my imagination. I am hearing things because of reading too many fantasy books.

"Yes, that's it," I whispered to the air trying to convince myself.