Moonlight Lovers

Twenty-one

“RIGGS,” The distressed sound of his editor’s voice pulled Riggs Winters’ attention from his computer screen. When his eyes landed at the face of his editor, Sullivan Boston, he saw that he looked like he was physically exhausted. “Why did I see this story on my desk again?”

Riggs stood from his chair to get the folder his editor was handing over to him. He knew what he was talking about, but he still wants to make sure it is what he’s talking about.

And he was right.

“You told me the day before last week’s digital issue was published that I should work hard on researching my stories. This is the research I did about the killing patterns I told you that I noticed from the victims of the Woodfort serial killer,” he politely and knowledgeably said.

Sullivan sighed. “You know what the people were calling our issue last week? Like some local tabloids from the most remote part of the country. The police had released a statement about these cases, didn’t they? There’s no serial killer. The victims were all attacked by wild animals.”

Riggs chuckled nervously. “And I can’t lay down my theory of what may have happened? I’m a writer. I can give people an insight into the news from a different angle.”

“The readers are interpreting your insights as ramblings of a madman!” Sullivan retorted. “Listen, you’re still an intern, do you want to keep your job? Stop this obsession that you have about these murder cases that the police are already working on and just work on stories that will generate more income, okay?”

Sullivan Boston pushed the folder to his chest before leaving his office cubicle.

Riggs Sat down in his chair. He stared at his computer screen, he was drafting a third story about the recent killings in Woodfort and was supposed to talk about the same patterns in the latest victims of supposed animal attacks in Clairhill and Clearhollow. He couldn’t explain why but he’s got a strong feeling that these are not just coincidences.

Do you want to keep your job?

He sighed. Yes. He saved the file on his computer under his drafts folder and opened the file that their researcher sent him yesterday. Sullivan wanted him to cover a story about a successful farm in Wobrium. He’s from Wobrium, that’s why he assigned the task to him.

He took one last look at the small piece of paper on the side of his desk that started his fascination about the killings and what gave him an idea that maybe it was something far scarier than what anyone would expect.

The Woodfort victims were killed by a vicious murderer, not a forest animal! The letter said in scrawny, poor handwriting.

He shoved the piece of paper inside his drawer and locked it. He will cover the Wobrium story so Sullivan will stop breathing down his neck.

Then, he will look into the murders himself.

ROALD Hosmurg could only stare as Dahlia’s beautiful figure swept lovingly around the house when she said she would get him something to drink. He was sitting on the sofa in the living room.

He clenched his hands that were resting above his knees, silently chiding himself. He’s here to help the woman, not to gratify himself full of her presence because of whatever foolish unwanted attraction he was feeling towards her.

Besides, he’s here because she’s looking for the man from her past. That should be a clear indication that she has no intention to take their association into something more intimate.

In fact, his affection towards Dahlia Merrilea was Roald Hosmurg’s biggest secret.

Roald met the charming young Dahlia in the fall of 1925 when the latter was only twenty years old. She was a theater actress, adored by many for her charm, wit, and beauty. And out of the many fans that showed admiration to her on the night of her first show in the biggest theater in Woodfort, Dahlia went out of her dressing room to meet him, she’s changed into a simple dress but still wearing the same makeup from her performance, the blond wig that she used had been taken off and her beautiful wavy dark hair falls over her shoulders. Her smiles were brighter than the luminous theater on that opening night.

Roald had been a vampire for almost a millennia. It was hard for him to keep up with the newest things that are happening in human society being a busy member of the vampire society’s legislature himself. But he started getting interested in theaters towards the nineteenth century. And when the twentieth century rolled in, he could say that he’s practically present in all theater shows around Clairhill, Woodfort, and Clearhollow.

When he met Dahlia, his attraction towards theaters changed. He never watches the shows the same way anymore, his eyes only look for her. He never focuses or even tries to understand what the rest of the actor’s characters were about, he only sees Dahlia. He had stopped going to different theaters that have different actors and not have Dahlia in their plays. He could not stop thinking about the young woman.

Roald was Changed into a vampire when he was around twenty-seven years old in human age. Still, he was afraid that he’s too old for the lovely actress. Despite wanting so badly to ask her out, he hesitated a lot of times.

Godric Octavius was already under his training at that time. Roald thought it would be a nice idea to introduce the young vampire to a new thing that he might be interested in.

But just like him, Godric wasn’t interested in the play at all. He couldn’t take his eyes off the beautiful actress, Dahlia Merrilea.

Roald thought it was alright. It should be alright. Because that’s how people normally react whenever they see Dahlia for the first time. But one cold winter evening after the theater’s New Year’s play the following year, Roald found Dahlia in Godric’s car, and the two were kissing.

He turned away and never came back to the theater again.

A couple of months later, Godric took Dahlia to Roald’s residence in Clairhill and introduced her as his fiancée. Roald congratulated the couple, never showing the slightest indication that he wished he was Godric standing beside Dahlia.

When Roald asked Godric if Dahlia knew about his identity, he confidently said yes. And that he was even surprised that she was very unafraid of him. If any, she was curious to know more about him. And the way she looks at him didn’t change at all.

Roald started to envy the couple. He wanted Dahlia. He was the first to meet her. He loved her first.

Their relationship went on for years. Eventually, Dahlia left her career in theater acting to be with Godric. Like all other couples, their lives were blissful—at first. The couple shortly started having arguments about Dahlia’s decision to be like him so she could be with him forever. Godric disagreed because he knows how terrible it is and he doesn’t want Dahlia to go through the same misery. He promised to love Dahlia whatever happens. But Dahlia didn’t want to grow too old for Godric. By this time, she was already twenty-six. She wanted to marry him after she Changed. But he decided that he will never allow her to turn into a vicious monster like him.

When the couple split a couple of years later, Godric’s brother, Boris was worried that Dahlia would expose their kind. Wishing to eliminate the problem faster, he attacked her…

Roald was furious at what happened. So is Godric. The two brothers fought like enemies. Godric swore that he will never forgive Boris for killing her. At his request, Roald took care of Dahlia’s body and brought her somewhere safe.

When Godric immediately went back to Woodfort to check on Dahlia’s condition, Roald regrettably informed him that Dahlia was dead, and he had buried her in a decent place on a hill near the outskirts of Woodfort. In order to keep away from the attention of other people, they left the grave unnamed. Having a famous celebrity name will cause a flock of people to her resting place. And they want a peaceful final moment for Dahlia.

Except, Dahlia was not really dead… Roald kept it a secret for a long, long time, but he actually Changed Dahlia that night.

A human must be dead before a vampire can Change them. The venom from a vampire’s fangs will be mixed with the human’s blood which will then make the blood poisonous and ultimately shift their DNA.

Roald was able to revive Dahlia into a blood being like him, but there was only one problem—or maybe not at all. Dahlia regained her consciousness with no memory of who she was.

It wasn’t common for new vampires to forget their lives as humans after a Change. In all his years as a member of the legislature, Roald has not seen any case that resembles the situation Dahlia is in. But despite it being unfortunate that she doesn’t remember him, it means that she doesn’t remember Godric, too. All he needs to do is hide Dahlia and he could continue looking after her.

Like Godric, Dahlia became his mentee. He taught her how to properly hunt, how to control her urges, how to behave in front of humans, and resist temptation when they are in a crowd of people. Years and years went by, and Dahlia was starting to warm up to him. Smiling at him the same way she always smiles at Godric before.

But Dahlia started remembering things from her past little by little. And right now, even if she still doesn’t remember the name or the face of the guy she loved so dearly in her life, she knew that she got engaged with someone.

And Roald had been lying to her. Telling her all the time that he doesn’t have any information about her former fiancé. Like he doesn’t know him. He didn’t want her to meet Godric again. He would continue lying if that would mean keeping her in his small little world that belongs only to her for a long time.

“I was excited when you said you were dropping by. I take it you have news about him? Have you at least found out what his name was?” She asked as she placed two glasses of whiskey on the table.

Roald was brought back to his senses. He shook his head apologetically. “I have received news from the council though that a vampire from the time of your humanly death have moved back and forth between Clairhill and Woodfort but they are still acquiring the names.”

“Names?” She asked, disappointed. “There were many vampires around Clairhill and Woodfort at that time?”

Roald nodded.

She sighed. “I just really want to see him again,” she whispered.

Roald cupped her hands. “I know and we will. I promised I would help you find him, didn’t I?”

Dahlia smiled. “Thank you, Roald.”

Roald Hosmurg left Dahlia’s house after a couple of hours, allowing himself more time to talk to her. He returned to Courthall in his office where his assistant informed him upon his arrival that his old friend and mentee, Godric Octavius was in his office.

Ah, right. He remembered. I did send him a summon letter this morning.

It wasn’t serious or anything at all. Despite bearing the official seal of the council, Godric had the choice not to show up, which was what he always did whenever he sent him a summon letter in the past. He was actually surprised that he’s here today. He just wanted to have a small chat with him, maybe ask him about his experience with Asmodeus.

But when the door opened, Roald found Godric standing in front of his desk holding a grayscale photograph in his hands, his brows deeply furrowed.

“Why is a photograph of my dead former fiancée on your desk, Hosmurg?”