Chapter 1: Shadows of the Night

Liyana Vernon, her vulnerability exposed, found herself sitting on the edge of the bed, her naked body draped with a deep red sheet. Across from her, a captivating man sat on an elegant armchair, his piercing light blue eyes locked onto her as she blushed with bashfulness. With his jet-black hair, porcelain skin, and a tall, chiseled frame, he possessed undeniable handsomeness.

Liyana felt a rush of sensations, her heart pounding in her chest, as the man's intense gaze held her captive. She couldn't bring herself to utter a single word or meet his eyes directly, instead diverting her attention to the digital video camera resting on the black carpeted floor. It served as a stark reminder of how she ended up in this bewildering situation—her fiancé, Mark Wooder.

The events leading up to this moment began the previous day when Liyana's phone rang just as she was preparing to retire for the night after dinner. She answered the call to find Mark urging her to meet him at their usual spot, Minni Cafe. Without bothering to change her clothes, Liyana hastily rushed out, clad in nothing but a loose baby pink tee and denim shorts.

Arriving at the cafe, Liyana discovered Mark already waiting, clutching his work video camera tightly. Both of them worked for the same news channel, with Liyana as an anchorwoman and Mark as a cameraman. As soon as he spotted her, Mark grabbed her hand and hurriedly whisked her away. "What's going on?" Liyana inquired, taken aback by his urgency.

Wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead, Mark explained, "I received a tip from a close friend that some mafia-like individuals are gathering behind the Bookworm Library building at 10 o'clock."

"But it's already 10 now, and how can we possibly find them in that maze of alleys?" Liyana questioned, grappling with the gravity of the situation.

"We have to do this, Liyana. Don't you want to make a name for ourselves? Think about our future. We could earn a significant sum and have the grand wedding we've always dreamed of," Mark pleaded, aware of Liyana's hesitations whenever the topic of marriage arose. It was only the second time he had broached the subject, the first being when he proposed to her a year ago.

Mark led her to his parked motorbike by the roadside, and with Liyana seated behind him, they raced toward the Bookworm Library and parked in a designated area. Navigating through dimly lit alleys, their path sparsely illuminated by a few flickering lights, they maneuvered past several houses until they arrived at a central spot where multiple alleyways converged.

Cautiously hidden behind a wall, they peered out, their necks straining to catch a glimpse of the scene unfolding before them. Approximately 26 feet away, two men dressed in black suits stood beneath a tree adorned with a solitary dim lightbulb hanging from one of its branches. One man opened a black suitcase, revealing its contents to the other before swiftly closing it. The second man replicated the process, and they exchanged their suitcases. One of them promptly disappeared down an alley, vanishing from sight. The remaining man opened the suitcase, quickly inspecting its contents before turning around.

As Liyana observed the scene, she noticed Mark positioning himself in front of her, preparing his camera for filming. He called out to her, his voice filled with urgency, "Liyana, come here quickly!"

Confused but compelled to follow, she hurried toward Mark, her eyes fixated on the enigmatic man. In a loud voice, she

questioned him, "Who are you? What are you doing here at this hour? What is inside that suitcase?"

Silently, the man approached, causing Liyana to instinctively step back, fearing harm or a permanent scar on her face. In a burst of adrenaline, Mark unleashed a forceful kick aimed at the man's stomach, but it had no discernible effect. "His strength is incredible! I used all my might, yet it didn't faze him," Mark contemplated, astonished.

Swiftly, the man seized Mark's camera, provoking Mark to resist, but his strength was no match for his opponent. Mark attempted to relentlessly pummel the man, but the tables quickly turned as a powerful punch from the man landed on Mark's face, sending him tumbling to the ground, blood streaming from his nose.

Rushing to Mark's side, Liyana confronted the man with anger, exclaiming, "Why did you hit him so hard? You may have broken his nose!"

As she raised her hand, poised to strike the man, he caught it before it could make contact with his face. Firmly gripping her hand, he swiftly turned her around and placed his other hand on her shoulder, rendering her immobile.

Meanwhile, Mark quickly regained his footing and without sparing a glance at Liyana, sprinted toward the alley. "Mark, save me! How can you leave me behind? I'm your fiancée!" Liyana yelled, her voice strained.

But he neither returned nor glanced back. She was left helplessly trapped in the grip of the enigmatic stranger. His touch sent shivers down her spine, igniting an unfamiliar desire within her.

"Release me! Don't touch me!" Liyana cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The man abruptly released her, asserting, "I'm not touching you."

Liyana gazed at him, noting the warmth in his voice despite his cold exterior. He stood tall, his pale skin radiating in the dim light. His eyes, as blue as the sky, retained their brilliance even in the darkness. Liyana was taken aback, thoughts swirling in her mind. "He's so incredibly handsome, strong, and tall. His eyes shimmer even in the dark. What could he be?"

Regaining her composure, Liyana found herself back on her feet, retrieving Mark's video camera. Asserting herself, she declared, "I will delete your video. Let me go."

Before the man could respond, another figure emerged before her, sharing the same pale complexion. This man possessed golden hair and wine-red eyes—eyes that held an otherworldly quality. Liyana's realization dawned, a mix of fear and anticipation flooding her senses. He was no ordinary human.

Fixing his wine-red gaze upon her, the man gradually advanced, remarking to his companion, "Brother, are you planning to enjoy the hunt alone? Don't forget, I'm here, always ready for a covert chase." Liyana caught a glimpse of his elongated fangs, confirming her suspicion that he was not of human nature.

Terrified and speechless, Liyana found herself incapable of calling for help. Panic consumed her as she desperately sought an escape. "What should I do? How can I evade this predicament?" Her mind raced, searching for a solution.

As the man's hands moved closer, poised to seize her, the man with sky-blue eyes materialized before her, shielding her from harm. "Do not touch her. She is mine," he declared.

Gritting his teeth in anger, the man with wine-red eyes challenged, "Yours? Are you considering her prey? Shouldn't we share,

then, as brothers do?"

"She is my woman," the man replied, unwavering and without a second thought. Liyana was taken aback. Numerous questions flooded her mind. "Does he have feelings for me? Or is he merely protecting me? Why is he safeguarding me? Is he also a vampire? If so, how can I be involved with a vampire? Is he planning to drink my blood? Perhaps that's why he's defending me from the other vampire," she pondered, her legs quivering and her heart racing.

"Do not jest, brother. I smell blood," the man with wine-red eyes uttered, his voice betraying a desperate thirst. "Human blood," he added, his fangs fully exposed, ready to bite.

Without thinking, Liyana sought refuge behind the man with sky-blue eyes, closing her eyes in horror. Vampires, despite her affinity for fantasy books, had never seemed real to her. Yet, she now stood face to face with one, and the situation was overwhelming.

A minute passed, yet no harm befell her. Slowly opening her eyes, Liyana stood up, finding the man with sky-blue eyes restraining the other vampire. Blood stained his hands, but the man's wounds swiftly healed, leaving only the lingering scent of blood.

"What? You're also..." Liyana began to speak, but before she could finish her sentence, she was abruptly struck, her consciousness fading.

...to be continued...