Chapter 3

Ivy

I walked back toward the house, my mind racing, my body still trembling from the headline I’d just seen. Mrs. Tessa… dead. The words clung to me like cobwebs, refusing to let go.

And there he was.

Mr. Dante stood outside, his tall frame shadowed by the flashing lights of police cars parked by the curb. Two officers hovered near him, notebooks in their hands, pens ready. His face was calm, too calm. His lips moved smoothly, like every word had already been rehearsed.

“When was the last time you saw Mrs. Tessa, sir?” one of them asked.

Dante’s jaw flexed slightly, but his voice was steady, casual. “Around nine last night. She said she was going to visit her family.”

The same words. Exactly the same ones he had told me this morning.

My stomach tightened. He didn’t even flinch. He was lying straight to the police—like it was second nature.

I kept walking, my gaze dropping to the ground, pretending I hadn’t heard. My pulse was pounding in my ears as I slipped past them, into the house.

The second the door shut behind me, I exhaled shakily. My chest ached from holding my breath. I didn’t stop in the living room or the kitchen. My feet carried me straight upstairs, straight into his room.

I perched on the edge of his bed, waiting, my leg bouncing nervously. Every sound from downstairs made my heart jump. I told myself I had a plan. I told myself I wasn’t afraid. But my palms were sweaty, my mouth dry, my chest rising and falling too fast.

My eyes roamed the room, desperate for something to distract me, something to calm me. That’s when I saw it.

On the shelf, half-hidden, sat a leather-bound book.

I stood slowly, my fingers trembling as I reached for it. The cover was old, worn, no title. Curiosity burned me alive as I cracked it open.

The first words my eyes caught sent a chill down my spine:

“To become human, you must have sex with many humans and drain their energy. This will make you human. And stop drinking human blood.”

I froze, staring. My throat tightened. What the hell is this?

Is this a Vampire's dairy or what? 

Couid he Mr Dante be a vampire? No way! What I'm i thinking?

The letters swam in front of my eyes, heavy and strange, like they weren’t meant for me to read. I tried flipping to the front, desperate for answers. My fingers were still on the page when a voice thundered behind me.

“What the hell are you doing here?!”

I jumped so violently the book nearly fell from my hands.

Mr. Dante’s tall frame filled the doorway, his eyes sharp, his face twisted in anger. Before I could react, he strode across the room, snatching the book from my grip.

I froze, my body stiff, my throat dry. He was too close, his anger radiating off him like heat.

His gaze bore into me. My knees almost buckled. My stomach churned with fear.

The second he saw me shrink back, though, something shifted in his expression. His brows furrowed, his anger softening into confusion. He looked at me like he wasn’t sure what to make of me.

But I didn’t care. I wasn’t here for that. I had come here for something else.

“I’m sorry for yelling,” he muttered after a moment, sliding the book back into its place on the shelf. His voice dropped, smoother now, almost controlled. “Rosa’s with her boyfriend tonight, isn’t she?”

My voice cracked. “Y-yeah.” I shrugged, forcing myself to sound careless.

He nodded once. “Alright. I’ll make something for us to eat.” He turned toward the door, but I grabbed his wrist.

His eyes narrowed instantly, sharp as knives. “What is it?”

I swallowed, my grip trembling. “I saw you and Mrs. Tessa last night.”

His expression didn’t change much, no guilt, no denial. Just the faintest curve at the corner of his lips.

“So you were the one watching,” he said, almost amused. “Messed the front door, didn’t you?”

Heat rushed to my face, humiliation mixing with anger. But I stood my ground.

“Why did you lie?” My voice was sharp, almost accusing. “She didn’t leave by nine. I heard you tell the cops that.”

His eyes darkened. He stepped closer, slow, deliberate, his height towering over me. His voice dropped low. “What exactly are you trying to do here?”

I clenched my fists, gripping the hem of my dress to stop my hands from shaking. “I don’t want to expose you. I don’t care about that. I just… I need something from you.”

His gaze flickered, skeptical. “With what?”

The words tumbled out before I lost my nerve. “I want you to break my hymen.”

His entire face shifted, his brows shooting up, his lips parting slightly. For the first time, I had caught him off guard.

He let out a short, incredulous laugh. “You must be joking. What the hell is this? Rosa is your friend.”

“I know,” I whispered. My chest burned with shame, but I pushed through. “But I saw you last night. I just… I knew. You’re the only one who can do what those boys can’t.”

He scoffed, shaking his head. “I’ll pretend I never heard that.” He turned to leave, but I stepped in front of him.

“If you walk out that door, I’ll go to the police.” My voice shook, but I forced the words out. “They’re still outside. I’ll tell them what I saw.”

He froze. Then he chuckled, the sound dark, amused. “Wow. You’re threatening me now?”

“No—” My voice cracked. My throat tightened with tears. “I’m sorry. It’s not that. I just… I’m desperate.”

He studied me, his expression unreadable, before shaking his head. “You’re just a fragile girl. You can’t handle me. I do hardcore sex. You think you saw everything last night? You didn’t.”

Before I could answer, he pressed his palm against the wall. A soft click echoed. A hidden panel slid open, revealing a small room behind it.

I gasped, my eyes widening. Chains, whips, leather restraints, tools I didn’t even recognize, all neatly hung and displayed.

He stepped inside, grabbing a whip, slapping it against his palm. The sound made me flinch.

“This,” he said, his voice low, “is what I do to women.”

He watched me closely, waiting for fear, waiting for me to run. But I didn’t.

“It doesn’t matter,” I whispered, my voice steady even though my body trembled.

His brows lifted slightly, surprise flickering in his eyes. Then a slow, dangerous smirk spread across his lips.

“You’re sure?” He cracked the whip against his hand again, the sound sharp, slicing through the silence.

“Yes.” My voice was firm.

He tilted his head, studying me. “You’re one bold girl.” His fingers moved to his belt, unbuckling it slowly, deliberately. “Show me what you’ve got.”

Panic surged in my chest. This wasn’t how I planned it. My hands shook as his pants slid down, revealing him.

I gasped. My throat tightened. He was… massive. My stomach flipped, my mouth going dry.

“Go on,” he said, his voice taunting, hungry. “Take it.”

I dropped my bag to the floor, my fingers trembling as I reached for him. My hand brushed over his length, the heat of him shocking me. He was already hard. My hands worked slowly, then faster, both of them needed to wrap around him.

When I bent down and teased the tip with my tongue, his lips parted, his jaw tightening. His breath hissed through his teeth. He bit his lower lip, watching me intently.

I took him in, my mouth stretching wide. My saliva coated him as I moved, faster, deeper, my own nerves mixing with strange satisfaction at the way he groaned under his breath.

Suddenly his hand shot out, gripping my neck, pulling me up roughly. His mouth crashed onto mine, his lips hot, hungry. His kiss stole my breath, devouring me like he wanted to consume every part of me.

I was drowning in it, my chest heaving, my body trembling.

And then I saw it.

His eyes.

They weren’t blue anymore. They were glowing red.

Fear shot through me. I tried to pull back, but heat spread through my body. Something burned under my skin, hot and electric.

I gasped, breaking the kiss. My chest rose and fell violently. He stared down at me, his face twisted in shock.

His gaze dropped to my chest. His voice cracked, panic lacing it.

“My crimson stone… Oh no.”

I blinked, confused, trembling. What is the crimson stone? But one thing was clear, I felt stronger. My body buzzed with energy, alive in a way I hadn’t felt in months.

He grabbed me by the shoulders, slamming me against the wall. His voice was a growl now, sharp, furious.

“Who the hell are you? Did they send you?”

My eyes widened, fear gripping me. “I—”

Before I could finish, a voice echoed from downstairs.

“I’m home!” Rosa’s cheerful voice rang out.

What is she doing here, like right now!