Chapter 1

Every step I take is fast as I look behind my back. I felt like someone was following me when I got off the bus stop. I came home late from our office. I have a lot of work to complete, mostly pending projects. I reached eleven o'clock at night because of that.

It was dark in the alley. I was walking alone, so I was a little nervous. I feel like someone will just pull me out and take me to some dark corner.

As I walked fast, I noticed that tonight was different from typical past nights. I didn't see anyone walking with me. A while ago, I still saw a few people pass by but as time went by, they became fewer and fewer. The surroundings are also very quiet. Even the dogs are calm. They used to bark when I passed by, but now it's different. The silence is deafening. Cold beads of my sweat dripped down the side of my head. It's cold outside but I'm sweating bullets. I sped up my pace. I had to walk two more aisles before reaching my rented house.

I am alone in life. My parents died for unknown reasons. They were found in the forest, dead and drained of blood. No wounds were found on the bodies, so the autopsies wondered what caused their death. When I was young I did not understand what was happening. The elderly said that animals did that to my parents. But I don't believe it. If an animal did that, why didn't they get any wounds or even scars on their bodies? And what's more surprising, their blood runs out. Like it was sucked in by someone.

I stopped walking in fear when I heard the rustling of dry leaves. I don't know if I stepped on that dry leaf or has someone really been following me since I got off the bus. I feel different. Something bad is going to happen. The wind blowing gives me a chill.

"Lady, the scent of your blood is lingering in my nose" said a voice from my back.

I was shocked when I turned to him. I was even more scared when I saw his red eyes. It was the first thing I noticed, because it was clearly visible in the dark. It's glowing!

"Who are you?" my voice trembled. I remembered the news in the past that there was a serial killer roaming around our place. At first, I didn't believe it. I think they just threatened people with it so they wouldn't go out at night. Now I regret I did not believe the news.

"It seems that you are alone at this time of the night. I feel lucky today. A beautiful young lady with a delicious rare blood smell will be my dinner". His voice was strange for a normal person. It's rough. Even in the dark, I could feel him smiling at me.

"What are you saying?! Are you crazy?!" I shouted. I was more scared of him when the light of the lamp post shone on him. His appearance is very pale. It seemed that no blood was flowing through his whole body. His eyes were literally red. It glared as it looked at me.

"I've been hungry for a long time. I want to eat now. Don't worry, you won't feel any pain". He looked starving and crazy at the same time.

I scream loudly when I see the fang in his teeth. It's very sharp. He slowly approached me, so I ran very fast. I didn't look back at him, he would not catch me. "Help me! Please!" my knees are shaking because of so much fear.

"Your running is useless. I'll still catch up with you" he laughed sarcastically. I don't care what he says. All I want is to escape from him.

"Gotcha!"

"Aaaaaaaaah!!"

He appeared in front of me. How did that happen? All I know is that I ran ahead of him. There is also no shortcut in our area. The surroundings are full of walls, so it's impossible for him to get in front of me right away!

"Suprise?"

"Acckk..." he strangled me by my neck. His grip is so tight that I can't breathe.

"Hmm...the scent of your blood smells good. It gets me hungry as fuck" he sniffed my neck. I cried when I saw his fangs up close.

It's true!

"P-please…spare my life…" I pleaded. Even though it's difficult for me to speak, I still manage to say that.

"I'll be quick that you won't notice it" before he bit me, a strong wind hit my body, it was so strong! It made my eyes close.

When I opened my eyes, I screamed as blood splattered on my face. My eyes widened as I looked into the man's red eyes. Like me, his eyes were also widened, the expression on his face was shocked. The blood gushed from the man's mouth. Little by little, he let go of me until he was lying on the ground. I saw the blood on his stomach. It flows like water! I covered my mouth to stop screaming.

What happen?

"You deserve death, Argos."

I look at the newcomer. Just like the one he called Argos, his skin is also pale, and his hair is a bit messy. The orb of his eyes is the color of the sea. Blueish and deep. Like burning ice.

"M-markus...why did you do that? It's against the law of covenant" said Argos, while holding his stomach full of blood.

"I don't care about covenant law. You violated my property. You touch what's mine" he said dangerously. I feel his anger building up. Even though I can't see it. It seemed to evaporate from his body.

I recoiled when Markus licked his bloody hand.

"Your blood tastes fine for my dinner. Not bad after all…"

"You know I can't die easily by stabbing like this. If the covenant finds out about this you will definitely-" he stopped speaking, without a word. Markus took Argos' heart!

"If you disappear completely, the covenant won't know about it. Do you think I won't kill you after you touch her?" Markus answered with a dangerous smile. Argos's body was gradually blown away by the wind. It turns into ashes.

I can't believe what I witnessed. Are they true? Or is it just a dream? I hope that the latter is the answer, wishing it's all just a dream. I want to wake up now.

I took a step backward when Markus looked in my direction. His blue eyes are the first thing I see. Won't he hurt me too? The tears in my eyes have dried up. I'm so shocked by what happened that even if I cry I can't do it anymore.

"Go home as long as I can stop myself. Your blood is very fragrant to my nose, it tests my temper" he said with a hard voice. His facial expression was serious.

What is he saying? Is he a Vampire or something? I can only watch that in movies, so maybe I'm just dreaming right now. It can't be real. Soon I will wake up too. I'm just having a nightmare with this beautiful creature.

"S-stop staring.." Markus said. Looking away.

I did not move from my position. I think my legs have turned into stone. I can't move. In the blink of an eye, the man's name, Markus, suddenly disappeared. I look for him everywhere. I can't absorb what's happening now. How did he disappear so quickly?

"Let me taste your blood even a little, please..."

I get straight up when I hear his voice in my other ear. Markus is next to me! He is behind me, hugging my waist and his one hand is on my jaw. He lifted my chin gently to gain access to my neck.

"Please, spare me. I don't want to die..." I whispered. I don't want to be Argos who was turned into ashes and blown away by the wind.

"Silly. I won't hurt you. I just want to taste your blood, Celestine. Your fragrance makes me want to. I can't hold back anymore. Just a little bite will do."

"H-how did you know my name?"

"Of course I do. I know what's mine"

"You don't own me. No one owns me but myself," I answered boldly. I am not something that can be taken light.

"Yes, but not today. No one can touch you anymore. I will kill them when that happens."

"I don't agree."

"I don't need your permission. I will mark you mine"

"No-aaaah!" he suddenly bit me on my neck. His fangs sank into my skin. It hurt so much. Markus held me tightly so that I wouldn't slip away from his embrace.

"Markus..." I said his name. It hurts!

He said he only drank a little bit of my blood, but it took him longer. I felt like everything around me was spinning until I felt nothing. I lost consciousness.