CHAPTER 1- VAMPIRE

Living in a faraway land with only few neighbors is not really a problem with me. I’ve been living this way ever since because my momma is really complicated. She always want us to migrate to different places which I don’t understand and whenever I ask why, she’ll tell me it’s for my own good. Why will it be for my own good if it is me who always adjust whenever I transfer school?

Tomorrow is my 18th birthday. There will be no classes too. I always celebrate my birthday with my momma. I have no genuine friends and all I meet is just my acquaintances. No girls want to befriend me and I don’t want boys as my friends. Tonight, I and my momma will sleep in one bed again. This is our way of celebrating, spending more time with each other. We have no means to prepare a grand party whenever we celebrate. The money that we spend is from the wealth of my late father. Momma also came from a rich family but she was disowned when she chose to stay with dad.

“I have to do the laundry tomorrow,” momma said after a minute of silence while we were lying in her bed next to each other.

I turned to her in question. She sighed, “I informed the neighborhood that I can wash their clothes in exchange of money. Someone asked me to do their laundry tomorrow that’s why,” momma explained.

I breathed heavily. “When did you start, mom?” 

“Just last week, Rose. I just realized that I should do something to gain money and not depend to your father’s wealth that are left…”

I looked away when I noticed how my mother’s face crumpled in pain when she mentioned my father. Her lips quivered and her eyes glistened in longing. Ever since that night, it have etched my mind that I am the reason why my father died. The droplets of my blood means danger. I should take seriously what my mother had always been reminding me. 

“Why did father died again, mom?” 

Mom was startled at my question but she immediately relaxed after awhile. Her breathings labored and she had this faraway look, as fi she’s reminiscing the time where she last saw my father.

“He’s gone, Rose. He will remain in our hearts,” my mother simply answered and brushed my hair with her fingers. 

“Am I the reason?” I remembered my dream.

I felt her froze, her breathings stopped and her hands fell on my head. Did I got it right? She pulled me towards her and lifted my face so I can face her.

“What are you saying? What reason?” Her eyes wandered around, she’s tensed.

So, I am correct. “I am the reason why he’s gone,” I said, very sure. Her reaction confirmed it all. I am the reason why my father died. 

“You are not. You are still very young that time, Rose. It was because of our negligence,” she said weakly.

She is not blaming me, that’s for sure. She just seem regretful. She’s doing everything to keep me safe. That’s why she always remind me to not let a drop of my blood touch the ground. 

“And it was because of the drop of my blood that fell on the ground,” I unconsciously blurted out. 

My mother rose and irritatingly gripped my shoulders. Her hands are shaking and her eyes are misty from piled up tears.

“It’s not your fault!” she exclaimed and her chest bobbed up and down due to her intense outburst.

I looked at her sadly. “Yes, mom. It’s not my fault.” I wish, it’s not. “Let’s sleep.”

I turned my back on her. I felt her slowly lying on the bed and turning her back on me too. For the very first time, we slept together in one bed with our hearts full of resentment and pain.

I woke up on the bed without her by my side. I ate alone on my birthday with a note from here commanding me to fetch some water on a wheel far from here. I walked away from our house very pre-occupied. I only bought a jar and a small back pack. I might go hungry while on my way so I prepared a food and put it in a tupperware. 

It was too late for me to stop on my track and go back when I was awakened in my thoughts by a growl. I saw a big wolf staring dangerously at me. I was thinking of climbing up in a nearby tree when all in a while, his form changed and it turned into a muscular man without any clothes covering himself. My eyes widen and averted my sight away from him. Escaping left my mind and all that registered to me was his naked glory that I saw. Momma will probably scold me if she knows this! 

His grip on my arms awakened the fear in me and I remembered the wolves that killed my father. I flinched and touched his broad shoulders and I jumped to escape from her hold. He seemed shocked at what I did so I was freed but he immediately got over it and fought me. We exchanged punches and kicks but we can’t hit each other. I was catching my breath when he suddenly made a kick in the left while I am assuming it to be in the right.

“Ahh,” I screamed in pain. My momma taught me to fight but she never hurt me. 

I stepped back three times and didn’t noticed the coming punch from him. The last thing I remembered was the blood coming out of my nose and all went blank.

My mind is awake but I can’t open my eyes. I cam feel someone tying me and based on what I feel, the rough surface is a big tree. They tied me tight until my skin was scratched and I can feel the blood coming out of it.

“Yeah, blood. More blood. I want more of it flowing on the ground,” I heard a voice and suddenly a sharp object pierced on my legs as I shuddered because bloods suddenly flowed right after. I felt the heat from my tied hands and feet, I wiggle weakly to let them notice that I am awake. 

Someone slapped me and I felt the side of my cheeks swollen while my head hit the trunk of a tree. Warm tears came out of my eyes as I opened it. I saw the man earlier right beside me but it immediately flew to the others near the tree who seemed cautious and waiting for someone to arrive and based on their stance, it’s an enemy.

Just in a split second, I saw a man running in a lightning speed and before I know it, the man beside me flew upto the next tree and I saw how the man with fangs and amber eyes stared at me with worry. His eyes darkened in fury when he saw my situation and all in a while, they fought in front of me. 

The men turned into werewolves and they attacked the man with fangs which I think is a vampire. I thought they only exist in our imagination and on TV but I was proven wrong through it. Why’d it have to be this way? If this is a dream, can I wake up already? I am really scared right now.

I turned my head to them when I heard the werewolves growling angrily. I saw one of them pricked with a sharpen wood right on his chest and someone almost crushed in a nearby tree. They’re dead. Three wolves are now surrounding the vampire and as I look at him intently, my fear of my situation started to vanish and all I can feel is worry for him. I don’t understand myself why I want him to be careful and not be hurt. 

I screamed in terror when I saw three werewolves jumped at the same time towards the center where the vampire was standing. I wanted to close my eyes tightly because of the raging fear creeping into me. My heart was beating erratically in anguish of my weakest situation where I needed my energy more. My throat went dry and hope rose within me when I saw the three wolves wandering their eyes around frantically, as if searching for their enemy. 

I saw a speed of lightning going to one of the werewolf in a faster manner and I held my breathing in anticipation. Don’t look! The wolf looked my way and saw me widening my eyes from behind him. He immediately got what I was eyeing and turned around. Before he could completely face his back, the vampire threw a punch on his jaw. The werewolf wasn’t able to brace the impact of the punch which I think was very strong due to the lightning I saw as it landed on its jaw. My eyes nearly bulged its socket when I saw the werewolf was thrown unto the nearest tree and wasn’t able to protect itself to the impact of its landing.

The two remaining werewolves growled angrily as they eyed their companion. They looked at me and then back to the vampire who is now facing them, his back is on me. The two shared a knowing look before they attack the vampire. Tension rise within me when I noticed that they were not really going to attack the vampire but was aiming at me because they can’t catch with the speed of the vampire. 

I blinked when I didn’t see the vampire on his place anymore while the werewolves are ascending towards me. I pressed my eyes tightly and anticipated for the sharp claws of the werewolf but all I felt was the warm and steel-like arms hugging me. 

I opened my eyes after a while when a grunt and heavy breathings filled my ears. The first thing I saw was his mouth watering parted lips and his bloody fangs. I lifted my eyes and saw his amber eyes glistening with affection as it held mine. He averted his eyes and I saw it darken before leaning in to my ears and gently whispering some words which made my heart hammer.

“Close your eyes, sweetheart. Don’t watch how I take off the lives of these werewolves that hurt you. “

His voice, however cold it sounded sent chills to my spine and I closed my eyes unconsciously to feel his words. A rough breathing fanned my ear and I winced profusely because of the titillating feeling it sent me. 

“Good girl. Now, don’t open your eyes until I say so, ‘kay?” he whispered gently.

I nodded immediately and felt his sudden movement. My chest heaved in distress and before I can open my eyes, a gentle whisper stopped me from doing so. 

“Wait for me,” was his last words before I felt him go away in a lightning speed and all I heard was the rustling of the leaves and some growls and grunts which I don’t know where it’s coming from. 

I kept my eyes close and remember what I always do. My heart flutter and I felt my eyes getting misty as I utter a short prayer to God. 

“Please save me from all these scary beings, God. Bless the kind vampire with strength so he can defeat the cruel werewolves. Keep the both of us safe, please.” I silently sobbed and felt the warm liquid gushing out of my eyes. 

My heart hurt at the thought of the vampire getting hurt while fighting for me. I didn’t know why he helped me… again. Because as I remember, it was also him who helped my father fight the wolves in my dream one night. I thought he was already dead but he proved me wrong by arriving in front of me in flesh. He didn’t age but I was well-informed from the movies that vampires doesn’t age. 

The most important thing is that he’s still alive. Something in me was born with the thought of it but it immediately vanished with the thought that he is risking his life for me again, at this time. Is he my savior when I am in a harmful situation?

Something warm touched my cheeks and wiped the tears flowing from my eyes. I didn’t open my eyes and felt his touch more. Why does I feel so safe right now?

“Shush, sweetheart. You’re now safe. They’re now gone. Shush,” he cooed me and I felt my heart beating again, retreating from the hope that vanished earlier. 

How I wish to hear from him everyday.