Death in the Form of a Rose [2/5]
Death in the Form of a Rose - Chapter 1
I didn’t know how long I was knocked out but what I was sure of was the fact that darkness engulfed me. I did all that I can to move but it was all futile. I couldn’t move, breathe, see, or sense anything. Surprisingly though, it didn’t feel like I was dying. I felt like my body was stranded in time, floating in space. I succumbed to it, exhausted with the vain efforts I was doing.
I tried to open my eyes but my eyelids were almost glued to each other that it was not an easy task to force them apart. My fingers twitched, much like in movies where a patient would wake up from a long-term comatose. Though my muscles were strained from immobility, I could almost move every point of my body slowly. I inhaled through my nose and felt the cold air wash through my whole body. My throat was dry. I tried to swallow my saliva but nothing went down my throat.
When my eyes were fully opened, I could see darkness. No, it’s not that. I could see through darkness. I could see, or rather feel that something was beyond this darkness. My hands groped for something, unsure of what I could find, but then I felt something soft, silky in front of me. I could make out ruffles intricately woven and studded into some piece of wood. I pushed it away with full force and to my surprise, the lid of my somewhat container flew off, hinges and all. But I was more surprised was that I was inside a coffin.
“It looks like the transformation is complete.” Vincent muttered to himself.
“W - What are you talking about?” my voice croaked.
“Took you long enough though. Now it’s time you orient yourself with the life of the undead.”
“Undead?”
He moved towards the only window of what seemed like a dungeon to me. In one swift motion of his hands, the windows opened. Outside, the blue moon shone. “You were out cold for a year.”
“A - A year?!” I abruptly stood up.
“I don’t need to repeat myself, Kei. By that time, the transformation had been completed. Your body has adjusted to the venom now circulating in what once was your bloodstream.”
“Venom? Wait, what are you really Vincent-san?”
He cleared his throat. “I know you know what I - we are Kei.”
“No. I’m not one of you!”
Suddenly, Vincent was in front of me, grabbing my throat and slamming my body against the brick wall. His hands were constricting around my neck but I didn’t feel much pain. Actually, there wasn’t any pain; it was more like a discomfort.
“Like it or not, you’re a member of the undead now Kei. Live - or well, be undead with it.” he smirked. “The desire for flesh and blood will be your instinct. It will be your life.”
He loosened his grip on my neck and instead made them crawl on my skin, making everything in me rise. I bit my lip and made him take over me. I knew that something in me wants it to happen, something that craves for flesh. It was something Vincent said, the desire for flesh. I closed my eyes and felt it cover my whole body, waiting for Vincent to suffice my appetite.
“Hello.”
“Oh, hi.” I said. “Is there anything I can help you with, ma’am?”
“Actually, there is.” The woman who wore a blue cocktail dress said as she peered over the display of diamond necklaces and earrings on the counter. She probably was in her early twenties. She was beautiful and young, though her face was covered with thick make up. “Can you hand me that one? The one with the black diamond as the pendant.”
“Sure ma’am.” I worked as a salesperson in a jewelry store after my classes at the university. Vincent was insisting that I shouldn’t be really studying at a school, not because we don’t have the money to afford the tuition, but he says that I could just read books at home since we have a lot of free time. And as much as he insisted home studying, I resisted the idea. I was 18 by then. “You do sure have great taste ma’am.”
“Of course.” She smiled as I handed her the necklace.
“That’d look good on you ma’am. It suits you well.”
“You thinks so, sweetie?”
I nodded.
“Okay, I’ll take it.”
“Cash or card, ma’am?”
“Card. Oh, and stop calling me ma’am.” She winked. “I’m Tsuchiyama Kumiko.”
“Okay, Kumiko.” I turned and wrapped her necklace.
She blushed and I could just smell her blood going wild under her skin. I inhaled and held it there. I pushed back the feeling of feeding my insatiable hunger. No, not tonight.
“What time will your work end darling?” she whispered.
I grinned before turning around, the strands of my hair moving with my every motion. “In three minutes.”
“Can I take you out for dinner young man?”
“It would be my pleasure, Kumiko.”
“I - Inoo-kun? W - What are you doing?” she mumbled, lying on the floor. I was standing over her.
“It’s nothing you wouldn’t like Kumiko-chan.” I smiled. Slowly, I knelt on top of her, making her feel my limp member becoming hard one more time.
“You’re good at what you do, sweetie. But Inoo-kun, I’m already tired.” She tried to smile.
I grinned and I could feel that there was no stopping me now. I licked my teeth and bared my fangs. My eyes were beginning to turn red, I could say since I was starting to be blinded by immense thirst and lust. The lust for that warm substance in my mouth, to once again satisfy my need for food.
“Inoo-kun…?” her eyes were wide with shock and fear.
“Hush, and you won’t be hurt,”
I dug my fangs on her fragile skin and fed on her blood. She screamed so loud but no one would hear us. She screamed until she couldn’t scream anymore.
“Wake up, Kei.” Vincent stood before me, the lower part of his body covered by linen.
“What?”
“I’m leaving.”
I rubbed my eyes. “Okay. You don’t have to wake me for that.”
“No, I’m leaving. I’m leaving everything to you.” He grinned as he started dressing up.
“Oh. You mean, you’re leaving Maria’s mansion to me?”
“Yes. And everything that comes with it. Do anything you want to with it.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going back to France. I have some business to attend to.”
“What about our community? What are your plans?”
“I told you, I’m leaving everything to you, right?”
“Oh…”
“I think I trust you enough to leave the leadership into your hands. But don’t be too full of yourself. I’ll still be checking with things from there.”
I nodded.
“I’ve already told the elders about this and they agreed with it. Though you’re still young, they find your decisions very mature. I guess I shouldn’t regret making you.”
I winced at his statement. He was always pointing it out that I was his creation, his masterpiece. “Go away already.”
“Don’t be so hasty. The undead should be dressed appropriately when he arrives at France.” He cackled and stared at me. “Do not disappoint me… or else.”
With that threat and a stunning smile, his body shimmered and vanished in thin air.
“I won’t be a disappointment Vincent, that’s because I’m better than you.”