It was warm... yet painful... but addicting.

A gentle brushing of my hair woke me up. I'm not surprised by this feeling because grandma used to do this to me often. But how did he get me here?

"I know you're awake Claret." Grandma's hoarse voice woke me up. did he cry

My eyes were greeted by the familiar bath that I grew up in. The dim rays of the two lamps hanging on the bamboo wall gave life to our shadows, which I have witnessed several times every time the full moon approached.

My whole body is currently soaking in a bamboo bath containing pure milk. Its warm embrace seemed to bring not only comfort but a strange strength that I could not understand until now.

I absent-mindedly glanced at the full moon from outside the window. I can't help but admire how beautiful it shows me. Its beauty has never faded from my eyes.

But despite my admiration for the beauty of the moon, I suddenly thought of the people who went to our house earlier. I tried to think that they were just part of a strange dream, but what happened was so clear...

"Grandma, did we have any visitors earlier?"

Grandma is starting to lift my long hair.

"Guest? We don't have any guests."

A smile came to my lips. "Then it's just a dream? No Majesty? No second prince? Maybe I'm just too tired for that kind of dream."

I waited for grandma to say something and start scolding me for the strange things I was saying, but she remained silent.

"Lola?"

I frowned when I noticed the unfamiliar mirror in front of me. The big mirror was at the far end of the bath and I don't know why I suddenly felt a shiver all over my body.

"Grandma, why did I just see that mirror now?"

Despite the dim light from the two lamps, the large mirror did not fail to show my clear reflection.

"Spade?" I said taking a closer look at the design of the glass on the top.

Suddenly I thought of the man they call His Highness in my dream. Especially when I remember some words he said, "I may not have a spade birthmark..."

What does my dream mean? Why are the details so clear? Is it possible that grandma is not telling the truth and what I saw is true? Those people are interested in my blood.

I was about to get up from soaking my body in my bath when I heard the loud sound of our old clock, signaling twelve o'clock.

"Happy birthday, Claret, my dear granddaughter..." I smiled as grandma kissed the top of my head.

"Thank you..."

"Look in the mirror, I'll give you my gift."

I followed what grandma said, and my smile grew even wider when she put on me a simple necklace with a black stone.

I gently touched it while staring at the reflection in the mirror.

"It's beautiful..." I didn't think grandma would give me a necklace.

"Promise you will never remove that from your body no matter what." I quickly nodded.

"Give it to me grandma, I will never remove it from my body," I said happily as I watched myself wearing grandma's gift.

"Can I get lost?" I asked jokingly.

"It's possible..." my mouth almost fell open at the unexpected answer from grandma.

"Grandma...?" I said with surprise.

Grandma left me for a moment to take my clothes that she had also prepared.

"Do what you want, you're an adult." I snorted and didn't speak. Instead, I looked at the full moon again.

But what I thought would remain beautiful in my eyes caused me to suddenly scream.

The moon turned red!

"Grandma! The moon!" I tried to grab grandma's attention.

"So?"

I violently pointed out the moon to him, but when we looked at it together, not even a hint of color greeted us.

"Claret..." grandma stared at me as if she was questioning my actions.

"Grandma, I saw it. The moon turned red! Like the eyes of the woman in my dream. It turned--" I was stopped from saying anything because the milk that was hugging my whole body turned into blood.

I screamed again and violently stood up. I didn't care about my complete nakedness just to get out of my bath full of blood.

"It turned into blood..." my whole body began to convulse and forcefully turned away from where I came from. What is happening to me?

"Pure blood... What are these things I'm seeing? I'm scared..." even my voice started to crack.

"What's happening to you, grandpa? Blood? I can only see pure milk. Come and I'll wash you off." I forced myself to look into my bath, and like the moon, it showed me nothing to fear.

I bit my lower lip. What is happening to me?

When grandma finished helping me rinse my body, she wrapped my body in a white towel.

"Come and I'll dry you in front of the mirror." I didn't speak and just followed him.

I was currently sitting on an old chair with grandma behind me brushing my hair. It's not new to me that he sees my nakedness he memorizes every curve of my body better than me.

While grandma was busy wiping my hair, I tried to find something to criticize me for. Are my breasts small?

My eyes rolled as I remembered what the woman had told me and what the prince wanted, saying they needed my blood.

"You will continue to wipe your body, hija." I reached for grandma's towel and started to wipe myself.

When I started to feel cold, I wrapped myself in a towel and left it in front of the mirror. Grandma gave me my long black and thin dress that I always wear every time I go to sleep.

"I don't have school later, grandma, let's go for a walk when I wake up," I said energetically, noticing that grandma was still lethargic.

"Alright, grandson..." I was surprised when he suddenly hugged me. I also hugged him back.

"Grandma loves you very much. Always take care of yourself. Follow my instructions to you, Claret..." I suddenly felt a pain in my chest while hearing grandma's words.

Why don't I feel good anymore? Why does he seem to be saying goodbye to me?

"Grandma... are you going to leave me?" he shook his head at me.

"Sleep now, grandpa..." grandma kissed me on my cheek before she led me to my room.

Even though my previous dream and the strange behavior of the grandmother kept bothering me, I was still easily swept away into a deep sleep.

***

I thought I was going to continue my sleep, but I woke up from a man's voice calling my name.

I behaved weakly which could be the reason for me eating chili as soon as grandma hears it. I fought the voice and forced myself back to sleep, but it only got louder calling my name.

I got up irritated, took my lamp, and got the courage to go out of my room to face the man.

"What do you need from me?" The irritation quickly turned to nervousness. Courage immediately dissolved in the middle of the darkness.

The light of the lamp seems to have dimmed.

"Claret..." I immediately turned back and put my lamp on, but no one was there. The heartbeat in my chest.

"Claret..." I was called again. This time it came from the bathroom.

I closed my eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and made my way to the bathroom with itchy hands and feet.

As soon as I opened the bathroom door, the big mirror showed me my entire reflection. My mind told me to just run and hide in my room, but the mirror seemed to have hypnotism that was pulling me to keep walking.

I thought I could only see myself, but my hands spontaneously let go of the lamp when I saw a different image in the mirror.

One man. Man with bowed head while both hands are chained.

Both of my itchy hands flew to both of my cheeks to wake me up.

"This is a hallucination..." I convinced myself.

When I blinked, in an instant I was seeing myself again.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I turned away from the mirror to go back to my room, but my feet instinctively took a step back when I recognized the two familiar faces currently facing me.

They both grinned at me. The ones in my dreams!

"Happy Birthday!" the two guests in my dream greeted me at the same time, the woman and the man with gray hair.

their hands simultaneously pushed me on my shoulders. What I felt was a quick fall in my body.

I'm falling...

But how did I fall? Is there a big pit in our bath? Pit? There is no pit there!

Is it possible...

I gasped at my thoughts. Glass...

I tried to raise my right hand as if I could hold on to something to stop my fall, but I couldn't hold on to anything. Is this a dream again?

I felt like my fall lasted for a minute until my body collapsed. I thought that I would not live anymore, but it seems that I was lucky and I landed in the water.

I tried to look at the whole environment, but it was too dark and I couldn't see anything. Especially since I don't have glasses or a lamp in my hand. I struggled to stand up to see if I could still walk properly, I was very thankful that my body was not injured.

A gust of wind grabbed my full attention. I hugged myself. I tried to walk at the same time as I could hear the slow dripping of water from one direction.

"W-where am I?"

I couldn't help but think that I was in a horror show and at any moment someone would suddenly appear in front of me.

I shook my head violently. I shouldn't have scared myself.

Even though I couldn't see anything, I went to myself, I felt strange. It was too late before I realized that the seat I was sitting on was wet.

My uniform is wet! I immediately stood up and tried to find my phone in my pocket. I almost jumped for joy when I saw that it was still alive, but there was no signal.

I just turned on the flashlight and as soon as the light came to life, my entire being was shaken because of what I was seeing.

My tears began to fall spontaneously from the intensity of the fear.

"Blood..." my feet were covered in blood.

What kind of dream is this?

I tried to step on my feet but they were like stones. What's going on? Why haven't I woken up yet? I can't have this kind of dream anymore.

Grandma, I hope you wake me up.

I got even colder when I noticed something from the sea of ​​blood I could see.

There is foam.

It was just a bubble at first until it was followed by a series of bubbles like something---

My eyes widened and I took a step back.

The foaming got faster and faster, it was too late before I could give my legs the strength to run.

I screamed when someone suddenly pulled my legs. I fell and was almost on my own as my whole body was completely covered in blood.

"No! Wake me up! Please..." I shouted while trying to get up from the blood while pulling my legs.

As I pulled, I noticed that we were passing through the light, the walls with hanging lamps. I should have been happy because I could see, but I regretted it. Especially when I saw what was pulling me.

My scream echoed.

Big red eyes, black hairy skin, and its mouth filled with smelly saliva. I feel like I'm going to throw up at any moment.

I stomped my feet to fight back but it did nothing to the monster. I'm starting to feel weak. Is this what they say is a dream?

Am I going to die here?

I tried to hold the necklace that grandma gave me.

"I-I don't think I can go back, Grandma..." I said weakly. I kissed that necklace with my closed eyes.

I think it's still a nightmare that's going to kill me. I didn't even finish school.

I didn't fight anymore, and let the monster pull me. I accepted when my life was about to end in a nightmare. What exactly do I have against the one who pulls me?

I will just die, no matter what I do.

But when I thought I was about to suffocate, my feet suddenly became hot and the moment I woke up, the monster was starting to be consumed by fire.

I pulled my feet and immediately distanced myself from the monster. What's the matter? How did he burn?

I didn't wait any longer for what might happen. I immediately stood up and started running away from the monster.

I have no choice but to follow the path of light. That would surely lead to a door where I could get out. I sped up my running even more when I heard the monster's loud growl.

It's damn alive!

My tears are falling while running. I want to get out of here! I don't want to be here!

But as I run, my forehead begins to furrow, I notice something is not right. There is someone.

My running slowed down to a walk until my feet were nailed and my eyes finally fixed on him.

He's beautiful.

A sleeping naked man in front of my eyes.

My eyes slowly wandered over his body, I swallowed several times.

Grandma, I'm so sorry... I'll just open my eyes under fresh cow's milk.

My attention returned to the man. Where is her top? He's just wearing black pants. And he looked, uhm... s-sexy? Grandma, I will open my eyes for a few hours to fresh cow's milk, I promise as soon as I live.

But why is he chained? Why is he full of scars? Did the creature chasing me catch him too? Should I help him?

His outstretched arms were chained as well as his feet. It is also evident in his whole appearance that he has not been through well.

Even though she was bent over and her face could not be seen, there was no denying her elegance. I slowly approached him to observe him better.

I gasped when I saw him closer. Her eyelashes are so long, the point of her nose and the shape of her red lips seem to make her cringe—

I tapped my cheek several times.

But what happened to him?

I couldn't stop my eyes from admiring her skin. Why does it seem to flash every time the light of the lamp hits it?

He's like a chained angel.

"Hmm... excuse me?" I tried to bring my hand closer to him.

I thought I could handle him but I was the most surprised. I even lost my balance which is why I fell. I crawled backward to gain distance from him.

He's awake, but he's weird and scary.

It's like he wants to kill me the way he's looking at me.

"Scared, huh?" he's struggling against his chain. He wanted to reach me desperately.

He deliberately changed, from an adorable angel to this--- How should I call this? He was very different from the man who was sleeping earlier.

"What is happening to you? Did you get bitten by a furry creature? That monster?" I asked him nervously.

"Cut the crap! Are you the one they sent me? You can't entertain me like that, come near me." My eyebrows knitted.

What?

"Looks like you're going crazy," I said. Maybe he was bitten by a monster and it affected him.

He looked at me dangerously. I took a deep breath. I shouldn't have stopped I should have kept running.

I stood up.

"Fuck! What nonsense are you talking about?" he shouted at me. His veins are coming out on his neck and forehead.

He's really scary.

I closed my eyes and put my two hands together. I should pray.

"Please, I need to wake up. I don't like this nightmare anymore. Please wake me up..." I didn't want to imitate the man in front of me.

"So... they sent me an artist, huh? Good! You've got my interest. You now have a strip." I opened my eyes violently to the man in chains.

Is he serious about what he says?

"Or what else are you acting like? You're my prostitute, right? Now strip!" I hugged myself in no time. It's stupid, isn't it?

"Your mother!" a strong slap hit the man's face.

He stopped and seemed stunned, his face remained tilted as if he couldn't believe that someone had slapped him. But before he could recover from his shock I had already put some distance between us.

"What is your problem?!" he shouted.

"It's too thick of a face to call me a prostitute! You're stupid!" I replied irritated.

If I had a piece of wood that I could hit him with, it would have been cut off before attacking him.

I jumped again when I heard a growl from behind me.

The monster!

How many times did my eyes go back and forth between what I had just passed and the crazy man in front of me? Where I'm going? I'm stuck.

"Oh, here comes my friend." He said with a grin.

"Will your friend eat me?" I don't know where else I get the strength to ask him.

I'm back to where I was before and the crazy man is behind me.

"Of course, he loves artists." I winced at his answer.

"Be careful, I'm the one you're after. I am scarier than that beast."

I bit my bottom lip when I could see the monster chasing me. Not just one, there are too many of them. They surrounded me.

I screamed when one suddenly rushed. I sat down again in fear.

"I haven't taken a bath yet! I don't taste good!" I closed my eyes. If they eat me, I don't want to see them!

But after a few minutes, I didn't feel anything from my body.

When I started to open my eyes, the roar of the beast exposed me.

"Damn this silver chain! It's going to screw me up again." He said, irritated.

"They're not your friends?"

"Don't get in the way if you want to live." The man pulled me violently and with his great strength I ended up on the right side behind him in a place where the monsters couldn't reach me.

Three more tried to rush us, but they didn't do anything the way the crazy man kicked. If his behavior wasn't bad I might have applauded him.

I thought he was winning consecutively, but my eyes widened when he bit his shoulder.

I heard him scream in pain.

"Get rid of this silver! Shit!" he shouted at me again.

Did I start to panic, how to remove his chain?

"Can you stop them from moving for a few minutes?" I asked him nervously.

"Two minutes will do?" I nodded at him.

"Make sure you do it right." My eyes widened when I saw how his eyes suddenly glowed red.

Suddenly, the monsters surrounding us fell one after the other.

Is he Superman?

"Ano na?!" he snapped at me.

He suddenly became weak and fell to his knees. I quickly came to him and grabbed both chains in his hands.

I also knelt when our eyes were level.

"I hope this will do..." both of my hands tightened their grip on his chains.

"Are you some sort of priestess?" he asked.

"Do not know..."

Before he could open his mouth again to shower me with insults, I stopped him myself.

Against my will, I pressed my lips to his. This must be a dream, that the story will end when the heroes kiss.

I can't see any other man in this dream except the crazy man in front of me. Maybe he can... I hope...

I need to wake up!

But the awakening I was waiting for didn't happen because his hands on my cheeks are what I feel the most.

The movement of his lips was too possessive, and I couldn't help but follow his rhythm. I even allowed his tongue to play with mine.

Grandma... I will churn pure cow's milk when I wake up here.

"Two minutes is over."

When I woke up, the man was standing in front of me while I slightly looked up at him.

All I could see was his sexy back and the melted chains around us. Is he free from my kiss? Why am I still not waking up?

When I looked at him again, he was holding his forehead as if he was going to fall.

I couldn't speak anymore. I just found myself standing and facing the cold wall. How did I get here? Why the speed of events?

He pushed me against the wall.

"W-what are you doing?!" I said sobbing as he started tearing my hair.

I screamed when he destroyed the right part of my uniform. I tried to struggle against him, but he was powerful enough to dominate me. He locked my hands above my head.

"Don't move..." he whispered.

My throat suddenly went dry when he whispered that to me.

Shivers went down my spine when his tongue slowly tasted my right shoulder.

"S-stop!"

I gasped when something pierced painfully on my shoulder. Tears stung my eyes. I screamed, and fought my way against him but as his lips conquered my skin... I felt something strange that shouldn't feel right at all.

It was warm... yet painful... but addicting.

My sight started to waver, my whole body was trembling, and my knees were weakening. I was about to be worn out. It's like he's pulling my strength. What is he doing to me?

I couldn't take it anymore. My knees buckled, and right when I was about to hit the ground, his arms tightened against my whole body.

"Your blood... Who are you?" he asked with his uncertain voice.

Before I completely closed my eyes, the question in my mind was answered on its own, at the same time as he softly whispered in my ear.

His lips with the traces of my blood, his fangs that brought pain to my skin... and his glowing eyes filled with hunger.

He's a vampire.

"I've been waiting for you, Cordelia Amor..."