Richard trudged back home, his shoulders slumped in defeat, his eyes castdownward as if the weight of his argument with Dahlia was crushing him. Hedragged himself through the front door, only to be greeted by theinfuriating sight of Harrison and their mother engrossed in a livelyconversation. Richard snorted in disgust - what did they have to talk aboutanyway? Harrison was always loafing around, never busy with anythingmeaningful, unlike Richard who was constantly swamped with work.
He flopped down on the nearest chair, his hands clasped over his head, andlet out a dramatic sigh, craving attention and sympathy. After all, itseemed like Harrison had been hogging all the attention lately, and Richardwas determined to steal some back.
Hannah's concern was etched on her face as she asked, "What's wrong, son?"But before Richard could respond, Harrison chimed in with a smirk, "Isn'tit obvious, Mother? He got rejected."
Richard's eyes flashed with anger, his fists clenched. "Stay out of mybusiness, Harrison, or I'll punch you again."Hannah intervened, her voice firm but gentle. "Harrison, stop annoying yourbrother. Richard, what's wrong? You can tell me."
Richard's response was curt, his emotions simmering beneath the surface."Nothing, Mother. It's personal. I'm fine."
Hannah's eyes narrowed, her skepticism evident. "If you say so, dear."
Just then, Harrison piped up, his tone casual. "Hey, Mother, I forgot totell you... I was at Dahlia's house last night."
Richard's gaze snapped towards Harrison, his eyes blazing with warning.
Hannah's interest was piqued. "And? How was it?"
Harrison's expression turned wistful. "It was really nice. Being with herfelt different, and she was kind to me."
Richard's anger boiled over, his words laced with venom. "Someone sent medeath threats."
Hannah's eyes widened in shock, her voice shrill. "What?! Who would do sucha thing?"
Richard's gaze locked onto Harrison, his accusation clear. "Not just me.Dahlia too."
Harrison's expression transformed in an instant, his playful smirk replacedby a sharp, intense gaze. His eyes locked onto Richard's, his focus laser-sharp. He sat up straight, his FBI mode kicking in, as he honed in on therevelation. His mind raced with worst-case scenarios, his protectiveinstincts on high alert.Harrison's eyes blazed with intensity as he grilled Richard for answers."When did you receive the death threat?" he demanded, his voice low andurgent.
Richard replied, "Tonight."
Hannah's eyes darted between her sons, her concern palpable. "Who wouldwant to send you death threats, Richard?" she asked, her voice laced withworry.
Harrison's gaze never left Richard's face. "Did you leave Dahlia aloneafter receiving the threat?"
Richard nodded, "Yes, why?"
Harrison's expression turned grim. "This is a vampire thing, and she's anew vampire, probably still struggling with her thirst. You left her aloneand vulnerable, a sitting duck for whoever is threatening you."
Richard looked at him in surprise. "How did you know she's a vampire?"
Harrison's voice was laced with a hint of pride. "She said she didn't havea heart anymore, and her connection to you was a wild guess, but it wasright."He continued, his tone serious. "You didn't tell me you were going aroundturning people into vampires, huh? I was so surprised to see my partnerdrained of blood right in front of my eyes. We thought you were the onlyvampire currently existing."
Richard rolled his eye "Does that make any sense? They are obviously otherslike me, and the bite I gave Dahlia was a mistake. Unlike her friend,Lucita Waters, who's expanding the community..."
*
Dahlia's body trembled like a leaf as she sat frozen in her bed, the deaththreat seared into her mind like a branding iron. But it wasn't evendirected at her - it was her family who was in the crosshairs. Her handsshook as she grasped the picture frame containing the smiling faces of herloved ones, her eyes fixed on their happy memories. She had planned to keepher dark secret hidden from them, thinking distance would protect them fromher new reality. But the vampire lord's sinister ultimatum shattered thatillusion. He would recruit them, manipulate them, if she didn't surrenderto his will. The thought sent a chill down her spine. And to make mattersworse, he knew where they lived, where she lived.The memory of his firm grip on her arm, belied by the intimidation thatradiated from his calm demeanor, still haunted her. He had taken her homewith the gentleness of a gentleman, his soft "goodnight" a stark contrastto the fear that gripped her heart. It was the most terrifying moment ofher life, and it played on repeat in her mind like a macabre melody.
Dahlia's anger towards Richard burned fierce, her mind racing with thethought of the vampire lord's sinister intentions. She swiftly grabbed herphone, her hands shaking as she initiated a video call to her family. Shehad to know they were safe.
As her mother's face appeared on the screen, Dahlia's anxiety momentarilysubsided. "Mom!" she exclaimed, trying to sound cheerful.
Her mother's warm smile and reassuring tone calmed her nerves. "What's theoccasion? You called today."
Dahlia's eyes scanned the screen, searching for any signs of vampiricmanipulation. "Where's Florent?" she asked, her voice laced with a mix ofconcern and urgency.Her mother's expression turned quizzical. "Your baby brother? He's asleep.Why?"
Dahlia's heart raced as she requested, "Can you take the phone to his room?I want to see his face."
Her mother's curiosity was palpable, but she obliged, carrying the phone toFlorent's room. As the camera showed her brother's peaceful face, Dahlia'sanxiety spiked. "Show me his neck. Both sides," she demanded, her voicebarely above a whisper.
Her mother's expression turned worried. "What's wrong, Dahlia?"
Dahlia's patience wore thin. "Just do it!" she urged, her voice laced witha hint of desperation.
Finally, her mother relented, showing both sides of Florent's neck. No bitemarks. They were safe.
Dahlia exhaled a sigh of relief, her tension dissipating. "Okay. It'sokay," she whispered, her eyes welling up with tears.
Her mother's concerned voice pierced through the screen. "Is somethingwrong, sweetie?"
Dahlia composed herself, her voice steady. "Nothing, Mom. Just be on thelookout for suspicious activities. And always stay with Florent. Bye."
As she ended the call, Dahlia slumped onto her bed, her body trembling withrelief. They were safe, for now.
As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Dahlia, who had no ideawhen sleep had stealthily crept up and claimed her, stirred on the bed asthe sun burst through the windows, its rays converging on her like a laserbeam. It was as if the sun had veered off course, abandoning its usualeastern route to rise hell-bent on her bed, bathing her in its fiery glow.
As morning dawned, Dahlia's eyelids fluttered open, only to be met with asearing pain that shot through her skin like a thousand fiery needles. Shejolted upright, her heart racing, as the sun's rays burst through thewindows, illuminating her bed like a sacrificial altar. The light dancedacross her skin, leaving behind a trail of smoldering blisters and charredflesh. Dahlia's eyes widened in horror as she watched her skin melt away,like wax in a furnace, her very existence threatened by the dawn's arrival.
Dahlia's nocturnal escapades had gone unchecked, her skin eerily sparedfrom the sun's wrath, thanks to Kingston's perpetually gloomy skies. Butfate, it seemed, had been waiting for the perfect moment to strike. As ifthe vampire lord's sinister influence had cursed the very heavens, the sunburst forth, its golden rays piercing the clouds like a divine dagger,threatening to reduce Dahlia to ashes. The weather, once her unwittingally, had suddenly turned traitor, and she was caught off guard, hervampiric skin now vulnerable to the sun's deadly kiss. The once-cool breezenow felt like a furnace blast, and Dahlia's heart raced with a mix of fearand panic as she scrambled to find shelter from the sun's lethal embrace.With a surge of desperation, Dahlia yanked the curtains shut, plunging herroom into darkness, and burrowed under the blankets, her heart still racingfrom the close call. She watched in rapt fascination as her skin slowlyknitted itself back together, the burn wounds healing with an otherworldlyspeed. But despite her fascination with her newfound vampiric abilities,fear held her hostage, refusing to let her step foot outside. The sun'sdeadly rays still lingered in her mind, a harsh reminder of hervulnerability. Yet, she knew she couldn't hide forever. The siren call ofacademia beckoned, and she had to answer.
Dahlia's hand hovered over her phone, tempted to reach out to Richard, buther anger and frustration won out. Why bother? He was too busy preachingthe virtues of vampirism and self-starvation to warn her about the sun'sdeadly touch. Another crucial detail he'd conveniently omitted, leaving herto suffer the consequences.With a snarl, she tossed her phone aside and crept towards the curtains,her heart racing as she cautiously peeked outside. Would the sun's mercy begranted, or would it continue to taunt her, a constant reminder of hervulnerability?
In an instant, the curtains flung open, and the sun's wrath descended uponher like a razor-sharp blade. Dahlia's skin screamed in agony, the burningsensation reigniting with a ferocity that left her breathless. And then,she saw him - the Vampire Lord, standing before her with a smirk thatseemed to savor her suffering.
"Embrace the sunlight, Dahlia," he taunted, his arms outstretched, his eyesgleaming with malevolent delight. "Feel its warmth, its beauty..." ButDahlia's gaze narrowed, her mind racing with the question: how was heimmune to the sun's deadly touch? What dark magic had he mastered, thatallowed him to stand there, unscathed, while she burned like a creaturedoomed to eternal torment?"Close them," she hissed, her voice barely audible through the pain.
The Vampire Lord's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement, ashe drawled, "As you wish..." And with a languid gesture, he closed thecurtains, plunging the room into darkness, and Dahlia into a desperatesearch for answers.
"Are you insane?!" Dahlia's voice was a barely contained scream, her angerand fear mingling in a deadly cocktail. "Do you want to see me dead?!"
The Vampire Lord's expression was maddeningly calm, his eyes glinting withamusement. "Oh, no, my dear. I merely wanted to... rouse you from yourslumber. I thought you were still indulging in a morning nap."
Dahlia's glare could have incinerated him on the spot. "You knew damn wellthe sun would turn me into a human torch! You're enjoying this, aren'tyou?"
He chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "I'm simply curious, Dahlia. Tellme, does the sun's touch really burn your skin?" His eyes sparkled withsadistic glee, as if he was savoring her agony.
"That's funny, because Richard doesn't get skin burns," he said, his voicedripping with sarcasm as he nonchalantly picked his nose. "I would havewarned you about it yesterday, but I thought he would have told youalready."
Dahlia's eyes blazed with anger and fear. "How did you know?" she demanded,her voice low and menacing.
The Vampire Lord's smile was a masterclass in smugness. "I checked theweather forecast," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Dahlia's gaze narrowed. "Not that. About Richard being able to resist thesun burning his skin," she pressed, her voice laced with suspicion.
He chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "Oh, he doesn't look like he getsskin burns," he said, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he took her arm."That would leave a scar," he whispered, his breath cold against her skin.And then, his tongue darted out, licking her flesh with a strange,almost... tenderness. Dahlia's skin crawled, yet... she felt a shiver rundown her spine. The burns cleared off immediately, leaving her skin smoothand unblemished. She was both repelled and attracted to his power, like amoth to a flame."Take care of the other parts yourself," he said, dropping her hands likethey were hot coals.
Dahlia's eyes flashed with frustration. "With my spittle?" she asked, hervoice heavy with sarcasm.
He burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the room. "No, withmedication, sweetheart!"
Dahlia's glare could have frozen water at a hundred paces. "Stop laughing.It's not funny. None of this is funny," she snapped, her voice tremblingwith anger and fear.
The Vampire Lord's grin faltered, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "I readthat vampires get sunburns, but I didn't know it was true. What am Isupposed to do now?" she asked, her voice laced with desperation.
He shrugged, his gaze roaming the room like a restless spirit. "Getsunscreen? Ask Richard. I'm sure he'd be delighted to help."
Dahlia's eyes rolled heavenward. "Seriously? Cut to the chase and just giveme some of your spittle," she said, thrusting an empty jar at him like abeggar.
He raised an eyebrow, his expression a masterclass in mock horror. "Excuseme?"
Dahlia's face twisted in distaste. "In as much as it is disgusting, I wantto go out, so I need your spittle."He chuckled, the sound low and husky. "Sweetie, it isn't the spittle thatworks. I just helped heal your wounds."
Dahlia's eyes narrowed. "But I think what you're asking for is this..." Hesaid, his voice dripping with mystery, as he placed a big, shiny ring onher ring finger.
The ring was an exquisite, ancient heirloom, its dark, weathered sidesadorned with intricate etchings that seemed to whisper secrets of the past.The band itself was sturdy, with a subtle thickness that spoke of enduringstrength, like a promise forged in a bygone era. And then, the pièce derésistance: a mesmerizing red jewel, nestled in the center, radiated asoft, ethereal glow, as if it had absorbed the essence of a thousandsunsets. The gemstone seemed to pulse with an inner light, casting ahypnotic spell on all who beheld it. The overall effect was one ofbreathtaking majesty, as if this ring had been plucked from the treasuretrove of a long-forgotten kingdom, its beauty waiting to be rediscovered bya worthy wearer.
She gazed at it, her mind racing. "What's this?"
He smiled, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Step into the sunlight."
Dahlia hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. If she was going to getburned, she was just going to force him to lick her skin anyway. Gross. Butsurprisingly, she didn't get burned. Instead, she felt a strange, tinglingsensation, like her skin was drinking in the sun's rays.
"I don't think the sun is that hot anymore," she said, her voice laced witha mix of wonder and trepidation.
But before she could even finish her sentence, he swooped in and pluckedthe ring from her finger. The pain came flooding back, like a dam had burstopen.
"Oh my God! It's the ring! Give it back!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide withdesperation as she snatched the ring from his hand.
As soon as the ring touched her skin again, the pain vanished, replaced byan overwhelming sense of relief. "Oh, thank you!" she breathed, her eyesshining with gratitude.
He stared at her in surprise, his expression a mix of amusement andcuriosity. "You're...different," he said, his voice low and husky. "Theothers didn't react like this when they got their rings."
Dahlia's face lit up with a radiant smile. "I can go to class now!" sheexclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
And then, he dropped the bombshell. "Actually, we could go together," hesaid, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I'm your project lecturer."
Dahlia's jaw dropped, her mind racing with the implications. "What do youmean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I mean, I can give you a tipon what your next project would be...Insertion Mutation."