Prologue

London, 2015

A woman is walking in the night of London with increased alertness by several levels. Every second she looked back and then resumed her pace with a pounding heart.

Street lights illuminate the sidewalk where she walks. As far as the eye could see, she did not find a single human being outside the house like herself.

Maybe because tonight the heavy rain had wet the whole city. Moreover with the air temperature feels down to minus degrees.

Maybe they choose to sleep at home by lighting a warm fireplace accompanied by a glass of tea or hot chocolate. It could also be that they were struggling on the soft bed fondling each other.

"Huh, damn it. Where's everyone? I better hurry up before it gets too late," she grumbled. She then tightened her coat.

Crack.

She looked back for a moment. The sound of branches breaking could be heard from behind. Her heart was beating wildly and her throat was dry.

"W—who?" she shouted aloud.

But silence. There is no answer to the question.

"Whoever you are, don't joke! This isn't funny," she grumbled. She was angry with whoever had scared her.

After looking for a few seconds and confirming that there is no one behind her. She continued walking. Her heart was still beating fast and an uneasy feeling enveloped her body.

Until her body felt numb. Her breath hitched and her throat was dry. Even it's just gulping saliva is very difficult.

Klang.

The sound of a branch hitting a metal pole forced her to look back and check for anyone who might be walking alone as well as herself.

There was no one behind her. Empty.

"Maybe it's just my mind," she thought.

But when she turned around, she was startled by a man wearing a black hoodie covering her face. He just stood while leaning on a street lamp post which was 5 meters from where she was standing stiffly.

Judging from the clothes she was wearing, they all looked branded. Well, she knows because the outfit was prominently featured in a catalog from the Louis Vuitton brand last week.

"What the hell! Where did he come from? Suddenly appeared in such a surprising way," she was annoyed.

Gathering all her courage, she slowly stepped forward and resumed her walk. Trying to ignore the mysterious man who suddenly appeared.

Just as she was right next to the man, she suddenly heard his baritone voice.

"Just the right time," he muttered. His hands still faithfully slid into the pockets of the hoodie he was wearing.

She paused for a moment and put on a confused face. She didn't turn or glance at him. But she felt something strange.

She swallowed hard.

"Beautiful nails," he praised her.

She won't know what that means, it's a compliment that scares her. Moreover, he was someone she didn't know.

"Why is he suddenly talking about my nails?" the woman's mind was not calm.

Suddenly she looked at her nails which were polished pink with glittering beads that adorned them. Her nails do look beautiful.

Shouldn't she be happy to hear that compliment?

But again... is that a compliment?

Even though fear began to fill her heart. She tried to answer politely. Just wanted to end the conversation that felt so dreadful to her.

"What if he's a robber? Or is he a rapist? Oh God save me," she thought. She did not stop praying.

"Thank you. Ah, it's very late at night. I'll excuse myself," she said hoarsely.

She gripped both sides of the coat she was wearing to hide her body from his sight. With her body starting to tremble with cold mixed with fear, she continued on her way.

"I want to have those nails," he said suddenly.

Hearing that made her heart pound with fear and wanted to get out of that place as soon as possible.

"I'm not in the mood to talk about things like this. Sorry, I have to go home soon." She didn't look back, intending to walk again.

Just one step, his voice was heard again.

"Let me take you, Miss," he offered.

It succeeded in making her heartbeat wildly and the hairs on her neck snapped. With wide strides, he walked from where he was standing towards her.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Getting closer and closer. Immediately she ran away in fear. Paying no heed to anything, she ran as far as possible from him. 

In between her ragged breaths, she half screamed with her feet busy running. "Stop following me! You idiot!"

Unknown to her, she was heading to the wrong alley. An alley that doesn't lead to her house at all. The streetlights began to fade and she drifted deeper and deeper into the darkness.

When turning and passing through the alley, she immediately stopped running because she saw a man in front of her.

That same man.

Black-hooded man.

"WHAT ARE YOU? GO AWAY FROM ME!" She shouted as she walked backward.

Sret.

He took off his hood. Even in darkness, the moonlight still shines even if only a little. She looked at his face.

Unexpectedly, he was handsome. The lines on his face are perfectly captivated and the irises are slightly sparkling.

"I'll take you. Miss," he said with a faint smile.

She was mesmerized and only focused on his face. The fear she had previously felt seemed to have evaporated somewhere. Now there is only pounding because of the affection for his face.

Coupled with the sweet smile that he presents.

Slowly he walked around while looking at her body closely.

"You showed up at just the right time, and … I can't help but want to touch your skin," he whispered.

For a moment he teased her by bringing his face closer. But once again, he only teased her without intending to press his soft and nimble lips to hers.

Unlike her, she was so enthusiastic when she found out that he wanted to kiss her. She closed her eyes and held her breath.

His face immediately changed. From initially smiling sweetly to a wrinkled face of dislike and disgust with what he saw.

His fingers immediately gripped her neck tightly, while the other fingers pulled her hair so tightly that it made her face look up violently.

"Don't think too highly of it," he scolded.

A sob escaped from her mouth, tears began to stream down her thin cheeks.

"I just need … your blood," he said.

She was frozen stiff with a look of horror.

Is he that creature? Vampire? The voice in her head was screaming in fright.