An artist that she was, an aspiring painter in the making, and also a lover of books. Justine was no stranger to the fiction world and what it offered–it was perfect to escape to when reality became too much to handle and when the surroundings exuded pressure as heavy as boulders that her spine would threaten to break.

Vampires, in particular, were among Justine’s favorite themes–their image in her mind was that of beyond human beauty. Gorgeousness that was not easy to comprehend and when they fall in love, it would be intense.

But this? Justine staggered backward as her ideals about these fanged creatures turned to ashes instantly. “Y…you…” Her voice shook it became hard to form any words.

Joneil appeared…far from the aesthetics and gorgeous ideas Justine had in her head. He stirred fright and got all the alarm bells blaring within her skull. “Yes, me…you’d wonder why people got in but no one managed to leave” He chuckled, his voice almost vibrating as it sounded warped. “I am their one-way in no way out ticket, pretty” He darted his tongue out to lick the protruding fangs above his upper lip. “These rebellious teens and vloggers diving in for the thrill keep me away from being famished, this is why I love this era a lot”

Justine swallowed, she glanced to her left where they walked in from, and without a second thought she sprinted off as fast as she could–however given the skirt she wore today wasn’t free-flowing, it slightly restricted her movements.

Taunting laughter from Joneil and fast as lightning he was in front of the brunette’s way, he wrapped his hand around her neck.

“HELP ME!!! SOMEBODY!!!” She freaked out, squirming frantically in his cold touch.

But her attempts only increased Joneil’s amusement, “You are so adorable, thinking someone will come but I told you, Justine, I made sure no one hears you, this museum had been my lair for a long time and it is under my control. No one is heard outside”

Justine raised both legs and kicked Joneil on the stomach with all her might, she managed to make him loosen his grip on her neck and she pulled away, darting off in another direction. There must be another way out of here! God help me–She wasn’t familiar with the old museum’s layout but surely, there was another exit or some opening she could slip out of. Hallways were so big, corridors with walls with old forgotten decorations and there were many interesting things she could have enjoyed but this day was already blanketed in terror.

What is that…?! A flicker of hope, there was a double door at the end of this endless hallway. With a quickened pace she reached for the doors and pulled them open–Justine winced at their heaviness. “Please let it be a way out–”

Her words were interrupted as she got shoved forward, and the doors opened fully. Justine stumbled, landing painfully on the dark and damp floor. The cold hand was back roaming everywhere on her body. “Got you” Then came a wet thing sliding on her cheek.

Justine knew it was Joneil’s tongue, she whimpered. “No please…spare me” Tears sprang up her eyes, “I won’t tell anyone about this, I don’t want to die yet” Her fear doubled when the doors let out a loud sound of closing automatically and everything became drowned in darkness. She cried frantically, “No! No! No!”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Joneil taunted, his laughter echoing with pleasure in the pitch black around them. He had no trouble seeing things clearly because of his superhuman vision, his new meal’s tear-stained face and attempt to be spared were truly funny.

Vampires are not real, they are fictitious… A small part in Justine’s head but it was easily overthrown by another part hitting her with the truth–right now, this was the vampires’ true nature.

Justine continued sobbing helplessly whilst laying flat on her stomach–the vampire above already pinned her arms to avoid escape, he was close and sniffing her face, neck, and collarbone. “I don’t want to die…” Her life flashed before her, the life she’d leave behind permanently.

She waited for the pain, for the pierce on the neck and slow agony of being Joneil’s meal but none came.

“What the fuck? Who are you, brat?!” Joneil growled annoyingly, baring his teeth at the darkness.

Who was he talking to? Justine remained frozen in fear but she picked on the sudden change in Joneil’s behavior, he was acting like someone interrupted his breakfast. No one replied but the agitation in the vampire ensued.

Joneil growled again, spittle coming out from his fangs. “I am not in the mood to play you stupid shit, I’m busy!”

Rose, Apricot Blossoms, Peonies, and Red Salvia. Those flowers were familiar to Justine and it was what hit her senses, overwhelming and muting the dusty old smell of the dark room they were in.

“WHO ARE YOU?!” Joneil rose up to full height, pissed off.

Meanwhile, Justine was puzzled, she slowly and shakily moved under the looming vampire–it was dark but she could make out some things on their sides–this was an old corridor. There were stacks of old displays and decorations. Maybe a warehouse?

Her eyes widened, and meters from them she saw–the teenager in white. What is she doing here?! And she is the reason Joneil is acting mad?!

Barefooted, dirty white dress and the reason for the floral fragrance–it was still hard to see the teenager’s face at Justine’s current position.

“Me?” She spoke softly, unbothered, and calm, unlike Joneil. “I am your one-way no-way-out ticket”

The surroundings were muted, like a montage or cut scenes in a game or movie–Justine saw a hazy soft white move and sounds of being tackled with grunting.

“AAAAHHH!!! FUCK!!!”

Ripping of flesh, gulping, and the floral fragrance mixed with coppery, pungent scent. Justine no longer felt any weight on her back, she pushed herself up and turned around to where the sounds were coming from. Floating torches lit up the once-dark corridor, giving clarity to the surroundings.

The dark-haired woman wished it did not.

Which was worse? Drowning in the wave of darkness and ignorant or has the light shone the truth?

Joneil lay having spasms on the floor, eyes wide and gawking like a fish while the teenager who barely reached his height straddled his hips and forced his head in an odd angle impossible. Blood spilled out from the deep gashes made on Joneil’s neck.

The girl with long and messy snow hair was bent down to those gashes, gulping loudly but she halted her actions, sensing a viewer; straightening her back, she shifted around and her flashlight crimson eyes met Justine’s ebony orbs.

Justine’s breathing was caught in her throat at the close-up sight. This is…

Blood staining those ivory smooth skin, the face of an angel, and the eyes of a demon. A porcelain doll, with innocent features that contrast the horror of what she could do.

—

“YO DOC, WAKE UP” A harsh slap delivered by Charles that he landed successfully on his target–Faust’s slumbering face, it was enough to wake him and also ignited rage that evening.

Faust sat up with face contorted in irritation, he got back at his companion with a punch. Although it was not the first time Charles used this approach to wake him, he never tolerated or normalized it. “Yes, thank you very much, I’m wide awake already” His words were dripping with sarcasm.

Charles fell backward on the floor of Faust’s room, he rubbed the sore part of his face which received the punch. “Come on, you gotta see our leader, he is acting too cheerful and talking to his garden outside the church”

What was new about this? Vlad was always cheery, even when tormenting someone. “That is not unusual, Charles” Faust stated to the younger vampire, with a deep exhale and still irked at being woken up for something so trivial.

Charles furrowed his eyebrows, “Heck nah, this ain’t one of those regular moments, I can’t even understand what he was monologuing about”

“What is he saying?” Faust raised a brow.

“About his queen coming to completion soon and things are starting to smell different, that the seed of flowers unseen are finally going to bloom” Charles replied with hand gestures. “I seriously don’t know what’s up and worse, he shared some strawberries with me! He almost killed me for eating his favorite fruit before but today he lent it himself!”

A queen? Faust fixed his glasses, lips curled into a solemn grim. He was hearing this for the first time, what was waiting ahead of them?

Chapter 2

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