The vampires angel

The board cast and the gathering

The aroma of frying bacon filled Kira's kitchen, a familiar Saturday morning scent. She sat at the kitchen table with her parents, enjoying a leisurely breakfast. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Today was her eighteenth birthday, and a buzz of anticipation filled the air, though for Kira, it was tinged with a subtle, inexplicable unease. Elijah was due over soon to help her set up for the small party she was having later.

The local morning news played softly on the television mounted in the corner, a familiar backdrop to their weekend mornings. But a particular report cut through their relaxed chatter.

"...breaking news out of downtown," the anchor, Mark, was saying, his image filling the screen. "Police are investigating the suspicious death of a young woman, identified as Isabelle Carter, whose body was discovered early this morning outside the popular nightclub, 'The Velvet Room.'"

Kira's fork paused halfway to her mouth. Her mom, Sarah, frowned slightly, glancing at the television. Her dad, David, lowered his newspaper. Isabelle Carter. The name was unfamiliar, but the location of the nightclub pricked at Kira's attention. The Velvet Room was on the edge of town, not far from the road that led towards the Blackwood Forest.

"According to police sources," Mark continued, his expression serious, "Ms. Carter, a tourist visiting the area, was last seen leaving the establishment with an unidentified male. Authorities are currently seeking this individual for questioning."

A small knot of unease tightened in Kira's stomach. The news felt unsettling, especially given the Velvet Room's proximity to the woods. Her dad cleared his throat, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Terrible thing. Poor girl."

"Adding to the mystery," Mark went on, his tone shifting, "sources close to the investigation have mentioned an unusual scent detected at the scene – described as almost sickly sweet, lingering in the air. Police are not releasing further details at this time but have confirmed they are treating the death as suspicious."

That detail. The sickly sweet scent. It was a whisper of something unnatural, something that stirred a deep, instinctual fear within Kira. She glanced at her parents. Her mom's brow was furrowed with concern, while her dad's eyes held a flicker of something unreadable. The Blackwood Forest, the stories Elijah's grandmother used to tell… they all seemed to coalesce around this unsettling detail. Friday after school now felt like a distant memory, the carefree anticipation of her birthday now tinged with a growing anxiety.

She stood abruptly, the scraping of her chair against the floor echoing in the sudden silence. Her parents looked at her, surprised. "Everything alright, sweetie?" her mom asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Yeah, Mom, just… the news is a little creepy," Kira said, trying to sound nonchalant, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her unease. "That nightclub is kind of close to the forest, right?"

Her dad lowered his newspaper completely, his gaze now fully on her. "It's on the edge of town, Kira. Why?"

"Just… some of the old stories Elijah's grandmother used to tell," Kira mumbled, not wanting to fully articulate her growing fear. "About strange things in the woods."

The sound of a car pulling into their driveway punctuated the moment. "That must be Elijah," her mom said, a smile returning to her face. "Ready to get this party started?"

Kira tried to mirror her mother's smile, but the unsettling feeling lingered. "Yeah," she said, perhaps a little too quickly. As she went to greet Elijah, she couldn't shake the sense that the ordinary rhythm of her life had been irrevocably disturbed by the events of the previous night, and the whispers from the Blackwood Forest felt closer than ever.

Kira tried to shake off the lingering unease as she greeted Elijah at the door. He bounded in with his usual cheerful energy, a box of decorations in his arms. "Happy almost-birthday!" he grinned, giving her a hug. "Ready to transform this place into party central?"

Her parents greeted Elijah warmly, the familiar banter between them helping to lighten the atmosphere. As they started decorating, balloons were inflated, streamers unfurled, and a playlist of upbeat music filled the house. Kira tried to immerse herself in the preparations, pushing the unsettling news report to the back of her mind.

By late afternoon, the house was buzzing with the arrival of friends and classmates. Laughter and chatter filled the air as guests mingled, the scent of pizza and snacks mingling with the sweet aroma of the birthday cake her mom had baked. Kira found herself smiling, the joy of the occasion momentarily eclipsing her earlier anxieties.

As evening approached, everyone gathered around the dining table, the flickering candles on the beautifully decorated cake casting a warm glow on Kira's face. They sang "Happy Birthday," the familiar melody filling the room with a sense of warmth and celebration. Kira closed her eyes as she made a silent wish before blowing out the candles, a small puff of smoke rising into the air.

Her dad raised his glass, offering a heartfelt toast. "To Kira! Eighteen years of bringing joy and light into our lives. May your adulthood be filled with happiness, love, and all your dreams come true." Cheers erupted, and Kira felt a surge of affection for her family and friends.

As the party began to wind down, guests started to say their goodbyes, the energy in the house gradually subsiding. Elijah helped her clean up, and by late evening, the last of their friends had left. A comfortable exhaustion settled over Kira as she hugged her parents goodnight and headed upstairs to her room.

She changed into her pajamas, the quiet of her room a stark contrast to the earlier festivities. Climbing into bed, she felt a sense of peace, the worries of the morning fading with the day. Her birthday had been wonderful, surrounded by the people she loved. She drifted off to sleep, the anticipation of being officially eighteen at midnight a gentle whisper in her dreams.

The digital clock on her nightstand glowed a soft green: 11:55 PM. Kira stirred in her sleep, a strange restlessness settling over her. She shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position. Then, a searing, sharp pain erupted in the center of her back, right between her shoulder blades, so intense it jolted her fully awake. She gasped, her body arching against the mattress. The pain was unlike anything she had ever experienced, a raw, burning agony that seemed to radiate outwards, stealing her breath. She cried out, clutching at her back, the joy of her eighteenth birthday dissolving into a terrifying, inexplicable torment.