KEILAH
Morning arrived, but I hesitated to open my eyes. I knew Ralph was sleeping beside me, and I couldn’t bear to face him. I feel deeply ashamed and embarrassed for giving myself to him, considering all the terrible things he has done to me. Sometimes, I wonder if I’ve lost my sanity. OH, LORD HAVE MERCY, for I enjoyed everything he did to me last night.
I cautiously placed my hand on my neck where he had touched me last night, and my entire body responded to his every caress. Suddenly, an electric sensation jolted through me, causing me to jerk my hand onto Ralph’s side of the bed. To my surprise and relief, his side was empty and cold, which meant he’d woken moments ago.
Quickly, I sprang out of his bed, wrapping myself in the sheet as I navigated through his room and into mine, sidestepping the discomfort between my legs-it was bearable this time, not as jarring as the first time. Upon entering my room, I noticed something different – the window had been replaced.
Discarding the sheet onto the bed, I carefully removed the thread Dahlia had given me and placed it on the small table. Uncertain whether I should keep it on my wrist while showering, I opted to set it aside; after all, Dahlia hadn’t provided any specific instructions. And I’ve been taking my baths without it.
As I headed towards the bathroom, a shadow caught my eye, drawing my attention to the window. Whirling around, I found myself startled by the sight of a handsome man hanging outside, his expression inscrutable as he gazed at me. A scream rose in my throat, but the sudden awareness of my nakedness halted it mid-breath. Hastily, I retrieved the sheet and wrapped it around myself.
“Who are you?” I demanded, my voice quivering with a mix of fear and confusion.
He began to speak, but his words were lost to me. Seeing my inability to hear him, he gestured urgently towards the window. Reading his lips, I discerned his plea: “Help, help, open the window.”
Reluctantly, I approached and slid the window open, a chill seeping into the room and causing shivers to run down my spine. “Who are you? How did you get there?” I questioned, my voice trembling.
“I’m a member of this pack,” he replied. “I was working up here when I lost my balance-I nearly lost my life. Thank God you came when you did. Can I come in?”
The urgency in his voice and the sincerity in his eyes compelled me to relent. “Yes,” I said, stepping aside to let him in.
As soon as he stepped into my room, the door burst open, revealing Ralph, his expression a mix of fear and anger. Before I could fathom Ralph’s reaction, the stranger swiftly lifted me into his arms, his strength surprising me, and then, with a swift movement, we vanished from the room.
The sensation of being lifted off the ground and the sudden disappearance of my surroundings left me disoriented. I clutched onto the stranger’s shoulders, feeling a mixture of fear and curiosity coursing through me.
“Where are we going?” I managed to rasp out, my voice barely audible over the rush of wind.
He didn’t respond, his gaze fixed ahead. The world around me blurred as we moved swiftly through the air, his grip on me firm yet gentle.
“Let this be a dream,” I whispered to myself, unable to comprehend the reality of soaring through the air like a gust of wind. “There’s no way this is real. It can’t be.”
“Let this be a dream,” I muttered to myself over and over, though deep down, I knew it wasn’t. The existence of werewolves like Ralph and witches like Dahlia had already shattered my perception of reality. If they were real, then perhaps this man and his extraordinary ability were too.
Minutes passed in silence until finally, we came to a stop in a secluded clearing, a mansion larger and more stunning than Ralph’s. It stood like a magnificent castle against the backdrop of the rising sun.
Setting me down gently, he turned to face me, his expression inscrutable. “Welcome to your new home,” he said with an air of authority.
“Huh, I beg your pardon,” I stammered, utterly flabbergasted.
“You heard me right. Don’t make me repeat myself,” he replied, his tone turning menacing. But I remained unfazed; Ralph had given me plenty of experience dealing with all sorts of intimidating characters.
“First of all, you suddenly appeared at my window, and like the pervert you are, you took in my body without batting an eye,” I retorted, my frustration bubbling over. “I only helped you because it seemed like you needed it. But now, you’ve brought me here against my will. Did Ralph order you to do this?”
“Stop ranting, woman,” he growled, his patience wearing thin.
Ignoring his command, I pressed on. “What are you guys-”
But before I could finish, he swiftly lifted me into the air with a growl, his eyes turning red and his long fangs protruding. Panic surged through me as I realized with a jolt of fear that I was firmly in the clutches of a vampire.
“What in the world has my life become?” I pondered inwardly, a shiver coursing through me. He carried me effortlessly, swift as a shadow, into a grand chamber that took my breath away.
“Clean yourself up,” he commanded tersely, his voice chillingly composed. “I don’t like his scent on you.”
With that, he dissolved into thin air, leaving me trembling in his wake. My legs felt like jelly, betraying my sense of stability, and I found myself collapsing on the floor. As I struggled to regain my composure, the door creaked open, revealing a dark skinned woman who was the same size as me, holding a set of garments in her hands.
She wordlessly pulled me to my feet, leading me into the shower. With a deft motion, she turned on the water and exited the bathroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I took deep breaths, trying to steady my nerves. I quickly washed up and slipped into the clothes she had laid out for me-a pair of high-waisted jeans and a snug black tank top.
Returning to the bedroom, I found her waiting.
“Follow me,” she said, her voice low and commanding, as she began to move with purpose.
“Where are we going?” I dared to ask, my curiosity bubbling up despite the weight of the unknown. “And are you… like him?” Are you a vampire? The words tumbled out before I could stop them, my mind racing with the implications of her actions and the reality of the world I now found myself in.
She halted abruptly, turning to face me with a gaze that sent a chill down my spine. “Listen, woman,” she began, her voice low and dangerous. “If you want to survive here, you need to learn to keep your mouth shut. It’s been centuries since we’ve indulged in human blood, and the thirst still lingers. If you don’t want to become our prey, you’ll heed my warning.”
I nodded quickly, the gravity of her words sinking in. “I understand,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. “But can you at least tell me where we’re going?”
A bone-chilling snarl escaped her lips, reverberating through the air like a warning of impending danger. Before I could fully register the shift in her demeanour, she was upon me, her face contorted into a grotesque mask of primal fury, her fangs bared menacingly mere inches from my skin. The sight of her, so close and yet so otherworldly, sent a shiver of fear coursing down my spine, freezing me in place as I stared into the abyss of her hungry gaze.
“I understand.” I said. Swallowing hard.
With a cut nod, she pulled away, her snarl fading into a low growl of frustration as her teeth turned to normal.
Reluctantly, I followed her lead as we traversed through the wide corridors. Each step we took felt like a journey deeper into the heart of darkness, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom that hung heavy around me.
Finally, we reached a set of towering doors, their ancient wood etched with intricate carvings that spoke of a forgotten age. With a heavy creak, she pushed them open, revealing a chamber bathed in shadow. I hesitated on the threshold, my heart pounding in my chest as I braced myself for what lay beyond.
But as I stepped into the room, my fear gave way to awe, for before me lay a sight that took my breath away. The chamber was unlike anything I had ever seen, its walls adorned with gilded tapestries and jewelled ornaments that sparkled in the dim light. A massive canopy bed dominated the centre of the room, its velvet curtains drawn closed against the outside world.
Yet, despite the opulence that surrounded me, there was something undeniably sinister about the chamber, a sense of foreboding that hung heavy in the air. It was as if the very walls themselves whispered of secrets long buried, of darkness lurking just beyond the edge of sight.
As the woman gestured for me to enter, a shiver ran down my spine, her gaze penetrating the very core of my being. Yet, summoning every ounce of courage I possessed, I stepped into the chamber, the heavy doors closing with an ominous thud behind me.
Before I could fully gather my bearings, a voice, dripping with shadows and darkness, echoed through the room. I whirled around to find the vampire man standing before me, his presence exuding an aura of menace that seemed to suffocate the very air around me.
“I always like to get straight to business,” he remarked, his voice sending a chill down my spine. “Should we get started?”