Chapter 34 Chapter 34
The dark trees surrounding the pavilion were rustling in the slight breeze, and her pulse skyrocketed every time she heard a noise. She would have preferred being at home on her sofa, reading a book while drinking a cup of hot chocolate.
Maybe Mochi would cuddle with her. But no, she was in the creepy dark park where three women had vanished into thin air…
Valerie didn’t like this but knew it was the only way to catch the bastard. She didn’t want to wait forever until that creep found a chance to surprise her when she least expected it.
She would much rather pick the time and place of their encounter herself. Obviously, he would show up here at some point during the night.
Maxwell kept himself hidden nearby, forcing the light to vanish around him, resulting in him becoming one with the darkness. Valerie couldn’t see him, but the slight tingling of her mark told her he was near.
She took deep breaths, and the longer she stood there and waited, the more nervous she became. She hated the thought of offering herself as bait to some random creature.
It was past 10 PM now, and the park was empty. After the crimes had occurred here, people had started to avoid it, which was the smartest thing to do.
Another ten long and draining minutes passed until something happened. Footsteps neared her, the gravel noises loud in her ears. Her heart was pounding, and she almost lost it when a man dressed in black stepped into the light, walking up the steps to the pavilion. He was pale, and his eyes glowed bright red when he looked at her.
“We finally met,” he smiled, showing sharp fangs that revealed his true nature. “I was hoping to talk to you, but you were always running from me.”
“What did you do to the other women?” Valerie asked immediately, knowing she had to find out.
“What do you mean?” he said, cocking his head.
“The women you abducted! Don’t play dumb.”
“Are you trying to play detective, human? I know your demon is hiding over there. I can smell him,” he grinned, and then he moved so fast that his form blurred. Harshly grabbing her wrist, he pulled her in. She panicked. Ice-cold fear seeped into her heart, petrifying her.
“Humans with your blood type taste the best; did you know that?” he smirked, licking his lips. Valerie shuddered in revulsion, regretting the decision to come here with every fiber of her being. She hadn’t known they were dealing with a vampire, and she hadn’t known they were so damn fast.
“If you don’t move away from her now, you’re dead,” she heard Maxwell’s voice growl. He stood at the steps leading to the pavilion, his eyes bloodred, a darker and more sinister shade than the vampire's.
“Do you think you can intimidate me?” the vampire retorted smugly, gripping her neck with one hand to forcefully tilt her chin up. “A demon won’t stop me.”
“Maxwell, now would be the perfect time to do something.” she shrieked. Cold fingers touched her skin, giving her a good idea of what had happened to the other women unfortunate enough to meet him. He must have drained them completely.
“Let her go.” Maxwell spat and narrowed his eyes when the vampire’s fangs closed in on her neck.
The demon saw red, and the light bent to his will. A beam as bright as lightning shot toward the vampire, striking him in the back. He cursed, letting Valerie go, who moved away quickly.
Maxwell strode up the steps and stood between the vampire and the human, light radiating from his hands as he stared his opponent down. The vampire could barely stand, his jacket ripped and singed from Maxwell’s fierce magic.
Valerie had never witnessed the demon using his powers like this, and she would be lying if she said she wasn’t scared. The raw power of light was terrifying—she would have never expected such a pure element to cause so much damage, and to a supernatural being, no less.
“Where did you take the other women?” Maxwell repeated her question from earlier.
His posture was relaxed, but it was apparent he was seething inside. He put his hands in the pockets of his jeans and raised his chin, looking down at the vampire who struggled to get up.
“Are you ignoring me?” Maxwell asked, his tone dripping with malice. The corners of his lips quivered, forming a wicked smile—he looked forward to what was about to come.
He commanded the light to strike the vampire repeatedly without even lifting a finger. It flashed before Valerie’s eyes, blinding her until she had to look away. She heard the vampire curse and scream in agony.
“I will tell you. Stop this,” he pleaded, panting in exhaustion. His body was severely damaged, and while his vampiric strength already began to heal him, it took too long to make a difference. He didn’t get a chance to retaliate. “You’re a sick bastard,” he swore.
“Go on, I’m listening,” Maxwell drawled, his voice holding a threatening edge.
“The women are all dead,” the vampire forced out, coughing up blood. “I left their bodies in an abandoned warehouse not far from here. It’s only… three streets down.”
Valerie shuddered, hugging her own body. She retreated until her hips hit the railing of the pavilion, her repulsed gaze focused on the bloodthirsty monster on the ground.
She had already feared this had happened. Nonetheless, discovering the truth was painful when thinking of the families that would never see their loved ones again. The women’s deaths had been senseless and avoidable. It hurt—it shattered her heart. Her vision blurred with tears.
“Humans are so weak,” the vampire mocked, staring at her without hiding his cruel joy. “Was the truth too much for you to handle?”
“Having empathy doesn’t make me weak,” she spat, wiping her eyes.
The vampire sneered at her, triggering her anger. However, she wasn’t the only one furious at him, and he was rewarded with a hard kick to his stomach.