Chapter 8

Marcus just transformed right in front of me. If not for his face and voice, I would have doubted if the man before me was the same Marcus that I knew.

“What’s happening to you-“before I could even finish my sentence, Marcus suddenly bit me on the wrist. I could feel his fangs sinking deeper and deeper in my skin. It was too painful that before I knew it, my eyes began to water for the countless time tonight. Marcus closed his eyes as if he was savoring my blood on his mouth.

My vision was beginning to get blurry when Marcus finally let go of my wrist. He licked the blood on his lips before he lifted my chin with his hand. “Lucky for you. You’ve been protected all your life that you knew nothing about the real world. But that will change tonight. Welcome to the real world, Candice, the world where the Night Creatures rule.”

“N-Night Creatures?”

Marcus feigned ignorance. But I could tell that he was enjoying this based on the nasty glint in his eyes. “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard about Vampires once or twice in your life?”

“Y-you are a Vampire?”

“Bingo.”

Tonight’s events were beyond revelation that I would not have believed them if only I did not see and experience them myself. So Vampires… exist? I’ve only heard about them in a tale that my father once told me when I was a little girl. Since Dad knew nothing about princes and princesses, somehow, he just ended up telling me about the legend that he said he once heard. And it was about a Vampire who singlehandedly subdued all the Rogues.

That was the only thing I’ve heard about Vampires. Dad was not able to finish his bedtime story back then because Mom came and stopped him right away. All I could remember was the anxiety on her face that night as if she didn’t want me to know about that story. So that was not a legend at all? Did they know about the Vampires’ existence, too?

I feel like my head was about to explode any minute now. There was just too much information that I don’t think I could process them all at once. “I don’t get it. Were you the one behind the ambush earlier? What do you need from me? And what about my husband? Where did you take him? Is he safe?”

Marcus shrugged. “Don’t worry. If he’s lucky, he will live. I will give you a chance to save your life, human. Pledge your allegiance to me and I will stop this at once. Be my ally and I will show you mercy since my team needs you and your blood. Your blood is rare. I’ve never had a blood as fragrant and as tasty as yours. And it has the ability to heal Vampires. We would have found out about you earlier if not for your stupid necklace. No one wouldn’t have died on my team had I found you sooner.”

That was when I realized that my necklace indeed, was missing. It was a white gold necklace which had a pear-shaped diamond pendant on it. My best friend gave it to me on my nineteenth birthday. And since then, I never removed it since I’ve grown fond of it overtime. Besides, for some unknown reason, wearing it gave me comfort. Not to mention that Blake never really asked me for anything except for one. And that was to never remove the necklace no matter what happens.

I did lose the necklace once. I think it happened about two months ago. Someone snatched it from me while I was strolling in the mall. But Luke was able to find it for me. He brought the necklace back. Now, it was missing again.

I shook my head. I’m getting drowsier by the minute. But I have to stay awake. I need answers. “What’s my necklace got to do with this? And where is it? Give it back to me!”