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The dusk was falling in the background among the canopies of trees, as Syrena drove through them. The twilight in the sky was her favorite part, which she never missed watching almost every day since childhood. The twinge of the oranged sky slowly faded to a dull silent night. The chirping of the birds reduced to the crickets starting their tunes.
The work in the library was done after a few hours of neatly identifying a new book, recording its name and pasting the labels. Her librarian, Mrs. Delacourte was helpful in the scene.
Syrena drove through the dark road now, with only the headlights of her car illuminating the pathway. The silhouettes of the trees danced in the wind on either sides, their branches moving with the tune of breeze.
Various petty thoughts such as list of things to do after going home ran in her head as she focused on the steady highway. She was lost for a moment that she gave an abrupt gasp as the blowing sound of a tyre reached her ears. The vehicle veered out of control slightly before she slammed the brakes and came to a halt, screeching by the edge of the road. She caught herself to not crush her ribs from the forceful impact. And then she became aware of it.
A tyre puncture.
In the middle of the pitch black night.
In the middle of the woods.
Immediately, Syrena reached for her phone in the dash board and punched some numbers into it. Ofcourse she already knew the signals did not co-operate among the tree population of the forest. This got her to bite her lip in frustration. Eyes narrowed, she gripped the steering wheel, looking into the endless night through the windshield of the car.
'I swear that mechanic will be sued in my hands.' She thought angrily. "Si mademoiselle, the vehicle is perfectly in service. We have checked everything from from tyres to engine." She muttered the service man's words with delegate fury.
Her heart started thudding slightly now. What would she do? There was not even a civilized area nearby to get any help. She went rigid for a moment.
She took a deep breath and opened the car's door.
The cold wind hit her like a blast, making her to pull the blazer tighter around her. She did not stop to notice the surroundings which would obviously make her panic. She wrapped her arms around herself and made her way back to the trunk of the car.
Pulling it open, she groped around for the torch light, which she was sure she had it in there. Her fingers closed around the round long body of it, she fiddled with it to switch on. Syrena flashed it around, examining the flat tyre. Sure, it needed a tyre change. But she couldn't do anything in this darkness. She leaned her back to the glossy body of her car. The moonlight was the only source to make anything visible.
Teetering her eyes around, she took notice of the natural landscape now. Yesterday she admired the same kind, tonight she felt out of luck. She hasn't imagined this situation before. Being helpless, that is.
There was always an emergency backup, her way of upbringing made sure of it. She never even had to think of the word 'distress' two years back. Any inconvenience in things, and the people around her saw to it without further ado. She pursed her lips at how she needed that now.
No…what was she thinking? If she really was a free princess out of her cage, she wouldn't repent about her present difficulties. Every next person faces these in their regular lives. And so does she have to, now. It was her decision after all.
With that strong determination she stood straight, marching around to see if there are any kind of vehicles that may pass by her. Syrena fisted her fingers in both frustration and impatience. She suddenly remembered the dirt pathways into the forest she had seen before. It was used by small workers who did woodcutting. They even lived in the cabins up ahead.
She squinted her eyes, flashing her light in the direction she thought she knew. She was right. The narrow passage stretched into the tall trees, directed her. Trying to keep her face straight, she huddled further into the forest. It was a cold night for sure. The branches were only thing visible if she looked up at the sky. She made her way quietly through the trimmed earthen path. After thirty minutes of walking, she breathed when she spotted a light emitting from the shape of a small house. An inhabited wooden hut, it looked like.
However, she slowed her steps cautiously. After she heard voices. The window was open. Walking over below it, she peered inside with one eye. It was calm at first. Nothing came into view. Until she glanced to the corner. Her eyes widened, that she almost tumbled. She could not believe what she saw.
There was a man hunched over an unconscious figure, bent with his mouth attached to the person. He seemed to be sucking. Sucking the….blood?
The figure did not move an inch, lying limp unless he was dead. He was dead! Syrena gasped silently when the man finally lifted up his upper half, large canines protruding from his teeth. Like an animal, he released a low growl. He had large fangs extended out and deathly pale skin.
'No. It can't be' she thought. She couldn't believe this. 'Can creatures like these exist? Was he..was he a….'
His teeth were doused in a red liquid nothing but, blood. The blood of his victim, dripping in small drops leaking from the wound. The creature's eyes were even more terrifying. Absolute crimson covered the pupils proving he was no human at all.
She slightly felt lightheaded at what she was witnessing. She didn't have time to think anymore, as the thing/vampire pierced his gaze on her!
He drew his teeth back into a terrifying grin. He stood up slowly drawing out a chuckle.
Syrena gasped, her chest moving quickly up and down. She got away from the window, and tumbled back.
"Why hello there…little red riding hood. Came to visit grandma, have you?" he drawled, laughing out sickly. His English accent surprised her, sending chills up her spine. He walked towards her, her eyes widened terrified. Cold sweat covered her palms and forehead. His wrinkled pale skin on his face showed his looked ragged and scruffy.
"Why don't you come inside young lady. .." he said calmy, with a mad look in his eye, making her come out to reality.
Syrena turned around, sprinting in any direction as fast as she could. A maniac laugh echoed through the forest, all around her. She ran breathlessly, not caring to turn around.
Between the sky high trees, she could only hear the sound of her heart hammering inside her chest. Until she came into a clearing. She slowed, still running. Trying to catch her breath. She couldn't remember how long and how far she ran.
She looked around wildly, her hair blew all around her face with the wind that carried. There was nothing following her. Her breath came out all shallow and raspy. She bent on her knees, catching herself.
The glow of the full moon in the midnight black sky only made the endless night more frightening. The chilly wind blew the dry, crispy leaves like a wave on the ground. Everything was silent for a while, with only the rustling of the leaves and the insects rattling in their corners can be heard. It was like a scene in a horror film itself.
Suddenly, she froze, gasping out loud. She saw a pair of bright eyes in the dark. Watching her. There was a figure in the trees. In front of her, several feet ahead. No…there wasn't just one pair.
It wasn't until they showed themselves. In almost ten other numbers. The creatures were disfigured, walking. No, dragging themselves like they were zombies. Gurgling out incoherent whispers. Their skin looked sallow and greyish, their faces shriveled of any life. They surrounded in a semi circle slowly moving towards her.
Her body shaking with unmistakable fear, she gave out a shriek hearing that voice from behind, bringing her hands to her chest.
"Do not fear my child. They will not harm you, unless I tell them to" The vampire walked around her, stopping infront of them.
She pulled one leg back in a long stride, utterly horrified.
"Come my dear, let me offer you this power. The very essence of immortality. I have been looking for a human as pure and young as you." He persuaded her.
"Ah.." he sighed. "Just your scent is enough to make me satisfied of this blood thirst. You are perfect. How young and fresh.." he moved forward, his arm stretched out to touch her.
Syrena immediately took a step back, to be away from him. She was numb with the shock. She was sure she going to die tonight. Nowhere to go, impossible to run. Tears threatened to come out of her eyes.
And that's when she heard .…
Heavy footsteps…crunching the leaves on the ground. A tall figure appeared on the high contour of the ground. He stopped there... quietly observing the scene.
Moonlight shone on him like as if he was put on center of stage. His long coat billowed in the wind gracefully. A wide fedora hat covered half his face in shadow. He was dressed in a Victorian style suit and leather boots that came up past his ankles. His dark tresses of hair floated like a halo around his head. He stood calm and poised, unmoving.
What brought him out more was that, blood red eyes peered from his shadowed mask.
So bright, so piercing like they were a pair of flames dancing.
His sculpted mouth stretched wide…slowly….
Long white fangs like sharp daggers were revealed, matching along with his pointed teeth that formed a wolfish grin. But he looked immensely frightening. He appeared so majestic that it astonished her. No doubt…
He was everything but human. He appeared nothing like the first vampire.
If anything…he looked even more dangerous.
"Who the hell are you" the wrinkled vampire questioned, grinding his teeth.
A long pause. Syrena stared at the uncalled savior like she saw the most unbelievable thing ever. The stranger's imposing presence changed the surroundings, making it tense.
And then, as if he sensed something, he directed his eyes into hers sharply.
Her eyes went wide, with her mouth slightly open. She was still panting hard. Her heart, beat like there was no tomorrow, her palms became sweaty that she clutched her skirt firmly.
"I am the very cause of your death, named...Alucard. " his calm velvety voice voice rang in the air like stupor. He stood in the same posture piercing her, his unfathomable expression still there.
"My death? Oh really! Hahahah! How pathetic. ..Kill him!" the aged vampire simply snapped his fingers at his minions while still laughing like a hyena with his head thrown back.
Within seconds, bullets rained down towards him. The monstrous men pulled on their large triggers, sparing none left behind in their pistols. It was deafening.
She covered her ears, bringing up her hands, protecting herself. Nothing was visible in the shadowed smoke for a minute, rooting her to the spot.
Finally it stopped. The dust cleared. No one could have survived that. Debris all around, she focused to look at the target of their same species. And how shocking the result was.
He stood his ground unscathed from all of it. His tall, lithe frame never faltered, standing with his long legs apart. His long red coat was flowing in the wind, making him look like a shadowed nightmare. Chin raised high with such arrogantly confidence. Not a tear on his clothes or a scratch of his luminescent pale skin.
"How can it be" the enemy gasped out, clearly not expecting the outcome.
If anything, the mysterious stranger's deathly grin spread wider. He whispered only two words out;
"My turn"
Syrena watched hypnotized from the unnatural events folding in front of her .
As he put his arm inside his coat, and slowly pulled out a large silver gun.
The smooth, polished metal glinted at the end as he angled it up vertically. An unreadable cursive scripture was decorated to one side of the elongated barrel. The weapon was beautiful. Ancient, like something she hadn't even see in movies before.
And her heart only beat inside like a drum, watching in a trance as he positioned it immaculately on his arms, crossed horizontally like an X, and gripping the trigger in one gloved hand.
Then, it began.
Those red eyes glinting in the darkness like a feral, and still that terrifying smile plastered on his face, he shot them down, one by one, never missing. The heavy bullets stabbed them like a knife through butter, forming a large visible hole in their bodies. And even struck the trees behind with such force.
"No! Impossible!" their leader screamed totally shocked at the way they were getting destroyed with a single bullet.
" The silver cross of Manchester was melted down to make these 30mm exploding shells. Nothing I shoot ever gets back up again" he said after killing the last creature, with his gun that he held so effortlessly between his slender fingers, making it seem as though it was that easy.
There was thickness in the air. Only the two vampires remained facing each other. The aged vampire froze. And then he turned towards her, grabbing her hand and twisted it to her back, she cried out a bit. He gripped her neck from behind, making her immobile in pain.
"Do not take another step. Or I will break the girl's neck. You must have come here for her" the monster snarled at him. " Hahaha! How typical you to defend your food. Just let me go, I will hand her over to you harmlessly." He said.
"You fool. " he smirked showing his sharp canines. "How low of a disgusting creature like you to think, I protect humans. I merely eradicate vermin like you off this earth. You don't even deserve to call yourself a vampire, you pathetic coward" Alucard retorted at him, smirking sardonically.
The old vampire growled, and instantly threw her to side finding her useless of the moment. The force was too much for her. She gave out a cry when she crashed her knee onto a rock and fell on the ground. She winced in pain, clutching her wounded leg.
She shot her head back up when she heard a screeching scream. Alucard striked him down, with his gun, holding it in two fingers lazily. Even when the creature tried to run away a mile from the spot.
A long silence followed. It was over. The trees swayed with the harsh wind blowing in the night. The moon seemed even bigger in the sky, like a haunting light. Alucard still stared ahead, putting away his gun.
He slowly turned his head to the side dangerously, towards her bringing his sight on her disheveled form on the ground. His corner of the mouth lifted into a cruel smirk.
Syrena took in a sharp breath and attempted to move her leg. With much difficulty, she struggled to pick herself off the floor, placing a hand on the bark of tree behind her, she stood herself up. One step and she would fall, she learnt.
Her legs trembled, supporting her weight. But she ignored the pain. She took heavy breaths fast, she could only stare at him walking towards her, like how a lion corners its prey.
And he stood there, in all his powerful glory. He took a step towards her. Then, another. Stopping a few feet infront of her. He towered over her making her seem small, even for her 5'7 frame. She gripped the bark of the tree, digging her fingers hard. She wanted nothing but to get absorbed into it.
Just the sight of him, screamed danger.
Seeing the hungry expression on his face, he did not come here to save her. It seemed more like, he was the real threat now. She had to erect her head up to keep to keep in level with his fierce gaze. She couldn't take her eyes off his crimson orbs.
They were like molten fire. Good god, his eyes..they were burning into hers with such intensity, that she thought she would turn into ashes right there. It was like how you feel, when you are eye to eye with a lion. That's what it reminded of.
Just.. what was he? A monster? A demon? A…Vampire?
As if he heard her thoughts, he bared his fangs out to her, his mouth twisting into a sinister smile. He was amused at her reaction to him. This made him to lean closer, bending down to her face level, inches away from her. Demanding her attention, with no more escape when she tried to jerk her head back.
Syrena looked away for a second, closing her eyes from the proximity of it. She turned her head to the side, long silky strands falling upon her, curtaining her face. Her heavy breath flared from her nostrils and slightly open lips, making her locks flutter away and fall back again.
He drank her in, observing the tiniest emotion on her face, the sweet trembling of her fragile form. And most importantly, that strong pungent scent of her blood. Which was already trickling down her leg, that it was hard to control.
"You are afraid of me" he stated silkily, in an amused tone.
She still closed her eyes, listening to her heart beat in her ear, like a drum. Digging her fingers into the cloth of her skirt, she finally lifted her head up to his gaze. She paused, unable to find her voice. " I..I am not." She started, her tone faltering a bit. He laughed at her darkly. As if he was mocking her. As if he was revelling in her shaking form.
Her eyes hardened. How dare he? How dare he to rub off his power over her. He was playing with her weakness. On someone defenseless and weaker than him. For a moment, she didn't care he was something, that can kill her within less than a second.
"If you are going to kill me, kill me now. I will not scream and beg for my life from a...a creature like you!" she said gritting her teeth and standing upright, fueled from her newfound bravery.
He simply watched her, he had to admit he was surprised at her sudden feistiness. How interesting of a little human she was. The girl had a knack of self-pride, which he came across as rare in his long years of existence.
Syrena matched her steely purple orbs with his alluring gaze. She fumed, with her blood boiling . But she was also anticipating what was coming at her. Her racing heartbeat was the proof. Her slight shuddering gave away her fear. At some point, something broke with in. Maybe, it was the intense adrenaline rush within her because of the circumstances, or even the tiring of her nervous system from her small wound, that she felt her eyes roll back, blackening everything.
She fell forward, upon him. And came sliding down him slowly, from his chest to his feet. His eyes followed her movement without lowering his head. He did not try to catch her at all. His jaw hardened from the overly contact.
Alucard stared at the sprawled girl on the ground. He bent down on one knee, removing his hat, and dangled his hand over his knee. Her hair spilled out everywhere around her, covering part her face which was speckled with dirt and pearls of sweat. Her cheeks and lips flushed red, her mouth slightly apart.
Her body laid out, one hand bent at elbows upward, and the other laying limp with her palm open. Her legs sprawled apart enticingly, one knee slightly bent. Her pleated skirt bunched up at her thigh. Her knee was covered in the blood from the wound. Alucard didn't waste anymore time when a drop of ruby came down in a line, rolling down slowly.
The red eyed demon lifted the slender leg , holding from the joint and gingerly put his long tongue to the dripping drop of blood and dragged it upwards, savoring the taste. He licked more, lapping out at the meager amount. He nipped and sucked at the tender wound, feeling her smooth flesh on his tongue.
Soon he was in frenzy at the sweetest taste of it that he hadn't felt before in ages. He had to remind himself that she already fainted, being careful not to draw out any fresh blood out. After one last taste leaving nothing, he sealed the wound, with his antibiotic venom, and finally removed his mouth from her knee. A deep sigh went through him, pleased. It was never enough.
Alucard stood up, picking her up off the earth. The king of darkness walked ahead carrying her in his strong arms.
"Until, next time we meet again princess."
A dark musical chuckle reverberated through the silent night.
