Chapter 102.

Chapter 102.
Andria.
Bran.
Present day. Same night…

“Tell me, Adrian. Who is Anaya and why was I called Anaya when I first came here, at age ten? Why does this page on your diary say you were responsible for Anaya’s death.” I ask again, pleadingly.

His journal dated 1975 is in my trembling hands. Adrian’s back is turned to me. Only his breathing gives him away. He’s as stoic as stone. I need answers. I need to know the reason Adrian has stuff about vampires.

“Who is Anaya, Adrian? What happened to her? Tell me, Adrian, are you a vampire…”

“Yes, Andria! Yes! I’m a fucking vampire! I’m the Alpha vampire of Bran! A 130 year old vampire, Andria!” He roars, sharply turning bloodshot eyes to me.

I shrink back in fear as Adrian transforms before my eyes. His pupils dilate into two and he’s got very vicious fangs as he growls. His skin disappears and is replaced by something clammy and bloodied. The transformation looks painful. The sounds of sinews and skin breaking pierce through the tensed air. It’s as if his skin is inside out. 

I screech and race in the direction of the door, when I suddenly hear this gust of wind and Adrian appears before me, blocking the exit. 

I stagger back in horror. The sight of his face, too frightening to gaze upon. At every moment, he releases this animalistic growl and I shudder; my knees weak.  

I whimper, backing away, looking for an escape route.

“Adrian, please…Please…Don’t hurt me…Please…Is…I wouldn’t tell anyone that you hurt Anaya years ago…I wouldn’t…” 

“Hurt Anaya?” He hisses.

His body is all wet now. And the look of him is grotesque. Fear squeezes me, as he looms closer. The smell of blood from him, assailing my nostrils. 

“I didn’t want to hurt her. They made me hurt her. Those I called family.” He growls.

I shudder, as his fingers climb up my skin. A whimper escapes my trembling lips. 

“I was compelled to bite her. To spread my venom in her.” His growl is like a big and ferocious animal. 

“Adrian…Please…”

“My father was the Alpha vampire. He was making his own rules. When I brought Anaya home to be my wife, a lycan, he was offended. Said I broke the pact. They knew I was going to go ahead and do the forbidden with or without them.” His growl shakes the very earth I stand on. 

“So they both tricked me. Held a fake party in Anaya’s honor, where they pretended to offer her to the Luna goddess. But there was no need for such. I think father became power drunk, after Julius turned us into vampires and the vampire elders permitted him to form his own clan.” A dark grin spreads across what seems to be his face.

He doesn’t look handsome anymore. 

“After Julius turned us into vampires, dad and mum never forgave me. They were angry that I had befriended a man that had eventually stolen our humanity. Only thing was that he wasn’t a human as we had thought. By the time we realized it, he had attacked us and transformed us.” 

I take all he says in. In his words, I see pain. I see his disappointment. I see his self condemnation. 

Then a menacing laugh erupts from his mouth. “Anaya died from my own venom. I wasn’t going to let those bastards infect her with their venom. Dad gave me no choice. It was either I infected her with my venom, or the clan did. And since she was a lycan, she would have died painfully. Whereas, from me, she found peace…” The monster grows grim for a second. 

“I ensured they all got their reward. I paid my entire clan in its own coin. I killed everyone of them, singlehandedly. And when I was satisfied, I assumed the position of Alpha Vampire. No one dares to object me. No one can kill me. I’m immortal. I’ve lived as a vampire for a 100 years and I would continue to live.” He breaks into a menacing cackle. 

Afraid, I take a step back and run in the direction of the exit. This time, he doesn’t stop me. This time, he allows me bolt out of the library, where I blindly head for the direction of the castle’s main door.

It’s dark when I step outside. I’m running without any idea of my destination. The only thing that fuels my resolve is I must get out of the madness that I’ve fallen into. I must leave Adrian. 

The wind hits my face hard, as I continue to run far away from the castle. I’m heading towards a copse of trees. My bare feet burn from the twigs and stones on the ground that break into my skin. The cold snow chills my bare feet.

Tree branches tear my bare arms. The pain from the cuts are nothing compared to the pain in my heart. I’ve heard of vampires before. The vampires, the lycans, all creatures of the magic realm. Mum used to tell me those stories. But I had always thought them myths. Fairy tales. But now I’m living one. 

The frightening monster that had stood before me moments ago, is too horrifying. I can’t think right now. I only have one reaction, which is to run away from everything. Find refuge far away from Adrian. Run from my life. My heart calls to him still, but I’m currently too disoriented to think of anything. 

The darkness envelopes me like a blanket. But I don’t mind it. The night air is crisp and cold. The chill burning into my lungs. Goose bumps break out on my skin. But I don’t feel the cold. I only see the fear inside me. I’m running and I can’t see a thing and then I finally see.

Something gets caught around my right foot. I don’t see it. I struggle to break free. I only see myself fall.