Chapter 6: Metamorphosis

She started running as her heart beats faster and faster, in fear of what she might see on what lies ahead.

"Father!" She opened the door on the office but found no one.

With that, she started running again.

Then opened another door, "Father! Where are you!?" She called but not a soul can be found.

She started to panic and ran once again. It really seems strange since they came back the palace.

It's awfully quiet. So quiet that it will bring chills to your spine. That made the princess worry for the first man she had in mind.

"Father!" She called and opened the doors of the king's chamber with all her might.

And in front of her, she saw the most horrible thing she could've ever imagined. The king's throne was filled with blood: splattered on the walls, tainted on the carpet, and flowed on the marbled floor. Despite all these horrors, the princess took few steps forward as she trembled.

"F-father..?" She whispered, with a hope that she'll be able to find the one she's looking for.

But how she wished she never went closer. What she saw next terrified her the most.

The king, seated on his throne, bathed in his blood with a sword stuck in his chest, is now nothing but a corpse.

What's worst, she can't see the king's head anymore!

When she moved forward, she felt something on the floor. She gasped and trembled seeing the king's head under her feet.

Her legs gave in and she knelled on the bloody floor.

"N-no... F-father..." Almost like a whisper as tears start streaming her eyes.

Slowly, she picked the king's head with her trembling hands. She hasn't given her proper mourning when someone approached her from behind, raising his sword.

"Farewell, princess!"

Soon as she turned around, she was beheaded by the unknown soldier. And everything went dark and blurry in her sight.

It seems like time stopped moving the moment she heard those words from his mouth.

"W-what... did you say?"

She wasn't deaf or anything. She just wanted to confirm if he's bluffing or not. But the seriousness in his eyes confirms the latter.

"Josh... is a vampire. I can feel it..." He repeated.

And with that, Yana suddenly ran going back to where they last saw them.

Everything went blank for her. She didn't even get to hear what Rae said after she ran so fast.

All she cared about is Ella, her best friend. She's in danger, she has to help her! Why does something falls apart when everything seems fine?

'This is my fault! I should've doubted more. Why did Ella have to be involved in these creatures?'

She kept blaming herself that and didn't notice she happened to pass by the small bat who's been looking for them all around.

"Wait... that's the human girl... That means..." Primo turned around and saw Rae following Yana.

"Young master! I'm so glad I've found you!" He flew towards the lad.

"Primo? What are you doing here?"

"I was watching over you when I got lost! But... why are you running, young master? Where are you going?"

"I'll explain later, Primo. For now, we have to follow Yana. Her friend's in danger!" Rae said and kept on running.

"What? You're not going home yet!? I'm exhausted!" He complained but still followed him around.

The sun just sets to welcome the night. It was not long before when they bid their goodbyes to the other.

"They're such a lovely couple." Josh complimented as they started walking.

Ella chuckled, "You're right." She agreed even she knew the truth that they're just pretending.

"I wonder if we'll be like that too." He said and held her hand.

She was surprised and blushed at what he did.

"I-I'm sure we will." She giggled.

Josh chuckled, "You're right. We share the same interest in almost everything. Oh, that reminds me! You said you love horror movies, right?" He asked and glanced at her.

The lass nodded, "What about it?"

"I just discovered the cool place where they shoot the movie we've just watched. Wanna check it out?"

Ella became hesitant, "Uhm, I don't know... Don't you think it's late for that?"

"The night is still young. Besides, I don't want to spend an adventure if I'm not with the person I like." He smiled and glanced at Ella which means he's referring to her.

And with that, the lass blushed and finally gave in at his request.

It was not too far away when they reached the said place. It was an abandoned hospital, with broken window glasses, walls with cracks and pieces of rocks scattered everywhere. The silence is deafening, and the place is darker for there are no lamp posts around.

"Woah! This looks like the real deal!" Ella said who seems amazed at what she's seeing.

"See? I told you it's cool." Josh said as they entered the abandoned place.

They went to check the rooms in each floor when Josh's phone suddenly went out.

"Ugh! I forgot to charge my phone. Ella, can we use yours for now?"

"Sure." When the lass switched the torch of her phone, she suddenly realized that it was only her standing on the hallway.

"Josh? Josh, where are you?" She looked around but found no one.

"Alright, if you're fooling around, you'd better stop now. It's not funny." She laughed nervously as chills started to creep inside her.

She kept on walking and walking until she saw Josh standing at the end of the hallway.

"There you are! C'mon, let's get out of here. Playtime's over." Ella said and when she pointed the light to him, she saw him grinning.

"Leaving? But you're not going anywhere..."

"W-what are you saying, Josh? This isn't funny." She took few steps backwards when Josh slowly walked towards her.

"Ella, I'm so glad I met someone like you..." He mumbled and showed his glowing red eyes.

"Girls who are easy to fool by such lies... are my best prey." He showed his fangs.

Ella was terrified at what she saw and began to tremble.

"Ella, you said you wanted to be my girlfriend... Now, come here and hug me."

"No!" Ella screamed and ran downstairs.

When she reached the lower floor, Josh was already in there so she ran on the other side.

"Ella, where are you going?" He crackled as he followed her.

Ella turned to the other stairs just in time she caught Yana heading towards her.

"Yana!" She hugged her best friend as tears fell on her cheeks.

"Ella!" Yana hugged her back and pulled her away when they heard Josh nearby.

"This way!" She whispered and they hid inside one of the rooms.

Ella was still trembling as she cried, "Yana... If I just... If I just listened to you..."

Yana hushed, "It's not your fault... Don't blame yourself."

She gently patted her best friend's shoulder, "We'll get out of here, okay?" She whispered and made an assuring smile to calm her down.

Ella sniffed, wiped her tears away and nodded as a response. Seems like she has finally calmed down a little.

With that, Yana looked around the room to search for a possible weapon they can use.

And then, she saw the fire extinguisher near the doorway. That made her come up with a decision.

She turned to her friend, "Ella, when you manage to get out, run as fast as you can and ask for help outside."

"What about you?"

"I'll distract him so you can escape." She replied and took the extinguisher.

Ella shook her head, "No! I won't leave you here!"

"I'll catch up with you, I promise!"

Ella didn't get to respond when they heard Josh's creepy voice, "Oh Ella... come out, come out wherever you are..."

"Please Ella, you're the only one I can count on this!" Yana seriously said which finally convinced the lass as she slowly nodded.

Suddenly, Josh broke the door in one kick.

"Found you!" He grinned in an evil way but when he glanced at his side, Yana suddenly slammed the extinguisher on his head.

"Now!" She exclaimed and Ella rushed on the doorway and ran as fast as she could.

Blood dripped from his head when she hit him. And Yana, lost her balance in such impact.

'L-looks like I overdid it...' She nervously said as she can feel the death's door opening for her.

"You..." Josh glared at her with his sharp red eyes that made the lass flinched in fear.

Soon, his ears became pointed and much bigger, his fangs grew longer so are his claws. He became taller as his body built became larger and his face turned horrifying than ever.

And with that, Yana slowly moved away from the room. Her legs are shaking that she can barely stand and run.

"You'll... pay for this!" He raised his arm and was about to attack her with his sharp claws when Rae suddenly came from the window and kicked him from the other side.

"Get your filthy hands off her!"

The walls crashed as he made an impact.

Then Rae glanced at Yana, "Sorry I'm late." He said and offered his hand.

Yana shook her head, "No worries." She was about to reach his hand when she saw Josh behind him.

"Look out!"

With his big arm, he punched Rae as strong as he could and he flew outside the building and hit the tree as it crashed down.

"RAE!" The lass screamed.

Then Josh laughed, "I knew there's something more about you, human! I don't know what it is..." He jumped high towards where Rae landed.

"But I'll make sure you'll regret facing me!" He raised his arm again and was about to punch him when Rae got up and dodged his attack.

The lass finally managed to stand and was about to run towards them when Primo appeared before her.

"Stop, human girl! We'll take it from here. Go and ask help from Cal. This is a level-C vampire. I don't know if young master can handle this alone." The small bat said and Yana was hesitant to do so.

"Go! I'll distract him. Young master is wounded and only blood can heal him!" Primo said with a painful expression.

Even she doesn't want to go, seems like she doesn't have any choice. Just when she was about to run away, she saw Rae hit through the building's walls.

"You'll pay for what you did to young master!" Primo exclaimed and threw a small shadow ball on Josh.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Josh mocked him.

"Ugh! If I'm in my true form, I'll make sure you won't be able to breathe!" The small bat mumbled grumpily as he continued attacking him.

Josh, being annoyed for wasting his time, tried to catch the small bat.

And while this is happening, the lass was conflicted whether to leave him or not. But remembering the moment Rae told her that she's his friend made her body move on its own and ran towards her friend.

He's wounded, filled with bruises and bloody wounds due to the broken window glass.

"I-I have to do something!" She panicked seeing him in this state, groaning in pain.

'Calm down, Yana! Pull yourself together! How can I help Rae?' She said to herself as she started thinking when she remembered what Primo said.

She gulped and took one shard of the window glass.

"I'm sorry, this is my fault... You always save me. This time... I'll save you." She mumbled and used the sharp shard to wound her palm. The lass groaned in pain, but this is nothing compared to the pain the lad is feeling right now.

She placed her hand near his face and let her blood dripped on his mouth. But since he's unconscious, the blood just kept on dripping on his lips.

'Oh no! He's not drinking it.' She thought and figured of a way to save him.

Yana glanced at Primo who's getting tired fighting Josh on the other side. She was reminded of the limited time they had.

'I have no choice... I have to do this!'

She sucked the blood from her palm as much as she can.

'I have to save Rae!' Then she leaned on his face and closed the distance between them.

Ella didn't stop running until she reached the bus stop where she spotted people going out of the bus.

"Help! Please help me!" She exclaimed and caught the attention of the people.

"What's wrong?"

"My friend! My friend's in danger! Please help her or she'll be eaten by a monster!"

"What are you saying, miss?"

"Are you out of your mind?"

Ella shook her head, "No! No, you've got to believe me! Please save my friend! She's in the abandoned hospital next street! I'm begging you please!"

The people around her started murmuring thinking she's out of her mind.

Then all of a sudden, a man wearing a black coat with a golden cross necklace around his neck came and approached the lass.

"My child, don't be anxious. Your friend will be saved." His gentle voice made her calm.

He placed his hand on her head and slowly, she fell asleep.

"Please bring her to the nearest hospital." He requested from the people around before he took his leave.

He can definitely hear it... the faint sound of Yana calling his name.

He can't open his eyes, his body is too heavy to be lifted up. He felt tired and weak. But this pain suddenly fades away when he felt something... Something warm dripping on his mouth.

The next thing happened, he felt the warmth pressing against his lips and something that's been forcibly making him drink. When he swallowed it, his heart suddenly made a loud beat. He felt his strength going back as well as his wounds getting healed.

But his heart beat, won't stop making heavy and loud thumps.

"Ugh!" Yana groaned when Josh grabbed her hair.

"Since it's your fault that my prey got away... I'll just eat you instead!" He grinned as he slowly pulled her.

"Let... me.. go!" The lass struggled but it's useless.

'Is this going to be the end of me?' By having these thoughts, tears welled up from her eyes.

Josh opened his jaw with sharp long fangs and was about to bite Yana when he suddenly felt something strange enough to make him freeze. The sense of fear came from Rae's direction where there are two glowing red eyes looking at them.

"Didn't I tell you..."

He slowly got up and walked towards them. His silver white hair grew longer and turned into bloody red.

"...to get your filthy hands off her!?"

In a blink of an eye, Rae punched Josh and he hit through walls in a single blow.

And Yana, was shocked at what she saw.

His ears became pointed. His body changed like an adult. His nails became longer and sharper, and now, he also has fangs like a real vampire!

But the battle doesn't end there. Josh got up as he coughed some blood.

"Now I know... the reason why I don't like your guts... You're a vampire too!"

In such speed, he attacked Rae but he effortlessly dodged it all. He seems different from earlier who can't even dodge from his punches.

While this is happening, Yana slowly crawled towards Primo who's now lying on the ground. He seems weak and wounded.

"I'm sorry, Primo." She mumbled and held him securely on her hands.

"Are you done already?" Rae said as if he's now bored.

"Are you mocking me!?" Josh used his big claws to hurt him but Rae held his wrist.

"This arm of yours... is really annoying!" With that, he broke it and pulled it away from his body.

Josh groaned in pain as blood splattered around.

"Oh by the way... Let me correct you on what you said earlier..." Rae walked towards Josh with an evil grin on his face.

"Yes, I'm a vampire... but I am way superior than you!" He grabbed his face and crashed his head with one hand.

Blood splattered all over him and Yana saw the grin on his lips, how he enjoyed killing that vampire.

'Is this still you, Rae?' She nervously thought.

And then, Josh's body slowly turned to ashes. Rae looked at his hand filled with blood and licked it.

"Tch! Tastes awful, just like him." He frowned in disgust.

And then he turned to Yana.

"Well I guess, I can still have a proper meal." He smirked and walked towards her.

Yana blinked and gulped, "R-Rae... don't tell me, you're going to drink my blood?" She slowly moved backwards.

But he was so fast that he suddenly grabbed her waist and drew her close to him.

"Of course! I'm a vampire after all." He leaned closer and licked her neck.

Chills ran down her spine as she fight back.

"No! Y-you're not Rae! Rae wouldn't do this! Help!"

The vampire chuckled, "No one's going to come even if you shout." He opened his mouth and was about to bite her.

But the lass struggled all the way more, "Help, RAE!!!" She called.

And all of a sudden, the vampire froze and held his head as he groaned in pain.

He let go of his grip on her waist and Yana moved few steps away. The lass noticed his sudden change and continued to call on him.

"Rae?"

His sharp red eyes suddenly turned blue and gentle.

"Y-Yana..?"

"Rae..." She was about to reach for him when a ray of light suddenly hit him.

The man with a black coat suddenly came and rushed towards Yana.

"Stay away, miss. Let me handle this." He said and came forward.

But Yana grabbed the hem of his coat, "No wait! He's my friend. Please don't hurt him!" She pleaded.

"What?" The man had no time to question the lass more about the situation when Rae suddenly got up.

"Who dares... to interrupt my meal?!" He's back with the scary aura that he had earlier. And now, he's about to attack the man.

Yana shouted, "Rae, no!"

The man's golden cross necklace suddenly glowed.

"By the power entrusted in me... my child, it's time for you to sleep."

A golden cross symbol appeared before him and electrified Rae when he got closer. He fell on the ground and Yana rushed towards him.

"Rae!" She checked him out and saw that he slowly returned to his normal state.

His long bloody hair became silver white again. His ears are no longer pointed, his fangs are gone, his nails are back to normal so is his body.

"Thank goodness!" Yana sighed in relief and glanced at the man.

"Thank you, thank you mister!"

"I only saved him just because you begged me to. Once someone becomes a vampire, it would be impossible for them to go back." He seriously said.

"But Rae is different, I swear Mister! This is the first time he transformed. Please don't kill him!" Yana used her body to protect the unconscious Rae which, the man was surprised of.

She's willing to take this risk after witnessing such horrible things.

"Looks like that young man is really special to you." He mumbled upon remembering someone dear to him too.

"I'll give him a chance. I won't hurt him." He smiled reassuringly and carried Rae on his back.

"C'mon, let me take you home."

Yana was dumbfounded for a moment. She never thought a stranger would be this nice.

"T-thank you, mister..."

"Stephen, call me Stephen. And I'm a priest." He smiled warmly.