Chapter 19: The Vampire Ball

"You seem tired Primo." Rae said after they've finally found his small bat friend.

Yana blinked, "Why? Do you have trouble sleeping last night?"

Primo sighed, "Yeah, I feel so sleepy these past few days."

"Sleepy, you say?" Rae held his chin for a moment, "It must be because of the Red moon."

"Ah!"

"Red moon?" Yana echoed.

"You must be right, young master! Why didn't I ever think of that?"

"That's the only thing I could think behind your sleepiness."

"Uhm, excuse me? Can you please tell me what's about that Red moon?" Yana rebutted.

"Ah, sorry about that." Rae chuckled, "Red moon is an annual phenomenal where the full moon becomes bloody red. And when that happens, vampires become stronger."

'Sounds scary...' The lass thought.

"In short, that's the day of Vampires." Primo said.

"And Primo becomes sleepy a week before the Red moon. It happens every year." Rae added.

"I just don't get sleepy, I'm regaining my memories and power every red moon." The small bat defended.

'Whatever that is... I swear I won't come out of the house on the night of that Red moon!' Or so she thought.

Everyone from the Van Helsing mansion fell silent upon finding the news. A letter just came from the Tepes family. And it's not just any other letter. It's an invitation with the Tepes' royal seal.

"A vampire ball?" Rae mumbled after reading the invitation.

"Edward Dominic Tepes III, the current head of the Tepes family, as well as my brother, conducted this party to welcome the son of the vampire queen, which is you, your highness." Damien explained.

"Woah! A royal ball? I've always dreamt of attending one!" Rin excitedly said.

"Tch! That would be boring! Wearing dress and gown? Yuck!" Ren frowned.

"But that's what makes it magical!" Rin argued.

Ren rolled her eyes, "Tss... Whatever!"

"I never thought vampires do have parties too." Yana mumbled.

"Only the nobles." Ran said, hearing what the lass just mumbled.

"Is that so?"

"What's your decision, your highness? Are you coming?" Damien asked.

After a moment of silence, Rae looked at them and said, "I'll go."

Calcifer rose from his seat, "But young master, please think this over again! If you go to that ball, it's like announcing to the whole vampire clan that you exist, the son of the vampire queen. Even the Alucards will know your face if you attend the party."

"That's what I'm planning, Cal." The lad glanced at him, "I won't hide anymore. I won't wait for them to hurt innocent lives because of me. It's time to show myself."

His eyes tell him that he has finally made a decision and it would be impossible to stop him.

"Besides, I will also do this, for my mother and grandfather, who risked their lives for the Van Helsing family." He smiled gently.

"Oh my! I can't wait to see the young master wear a formal attire!" Rin squealed for joy.

"I'll go with the young master!" Calcifer said but Damien shook his head.

"You may but you can't come inside since you're not part of the royal family. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

Damien snickered, "Unless you'll be Rae's partner. But just imagining you wearing a disguise as a woman, that would be very weird." He teased.

"Pft! I can't even!" Ren and Rin tried not to laugh.

"There's also another way." Damien added, "That is, if you'll escort a noble lady."

"That's impossible." Ren said.

"Lady Lucy isn't around." Rin added.

"Why do you think I'll ask that old hag to be her escort!" Calcifer said.

'Get a clue! It's obvious that Miss Lucy likes him!' Yana thought.

"Then, who will accompany young master to the ball?" Primo returned the almost forgotten question.

Suddenly, all necks craned at Yana. The lass flinched in surprise.

"M-me?" She pointed herself and blinked few times.

"Guys, you shouldn't force her like that." Rae said but deep inside him, he wanted to invite her to that ball. Just by thinking about it makes his heart leapt in excitement.

Calcifer heaved a sigh, kneeled in one knee and suddenly held Yana's hand.

"Miss Yana, you're the only one I can count on this. Please accompany young master to the ball." He swallowed his pride and pleaded to the human girl.

"B-but... that's a party for vampires... If I go there, they'll immediately find out I'm a human." Yana said.

"Oh, don't worry about that." Damien laughed victoriously.

"I got just what you needed." He opened his case and took a ring.

"If you wear this ring, it will hide your presence as a human and will turn it into a vampire." He explained and wore the ring on the lass's finger.

Everyone blinked fast.

"Woah! It's true! I don't sense Yana as a human anymore!" Rin exclaimed.

"It feels like she's one of us now." Ran added.

"I won't get any fangs on this, right?" Yana confirmed.

"Nope. It will just create an illusion that you're a vampire like us." Damien replied and that made the lass sighed in relief.

"Nice job, nerdy!" Ren chuckled and patted Damien's back in which he almost cough.

"I told you, it's Damien." He sighed and fixed his glasses.

"Thanks for complying, Yana! I owe you one." Rae smiled.

"Uhh, sure. When is the vampire ball again?"

"Three days from now." Rae replied.

"That reminds me! Isn't that the day of Red moon?" Primo confirmed which made the lass froze.

'Red moon? The day of vampires? I promised I'll never go out on that day. And now... I'm going to the vampires' den on the vampire night?!' She thought and panicked deep inside.

She was about to decline but when she saw Rae's smiling face when she agreed, she has decided not to tell her concerns.

'You're his friend, Yana! Are you just going to let him go to that scary place alone? Absolutely not!'

And thus, the night of the Vampire ball has come. The triplets took care of Yana while Calcifer and Rae waited on the living room.

"Cal, don't make that face..." The lad chuckled seeing his anxious expression, "It makes me more nervous."

"Right, I'm sorry, young master. I should be the first one who'll give you strength in this kind of situation."

Rae smiled, "Don't worry. It'll be fine."

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" The triplets came.

"May I present, Miss Rhiana Jane Valdez!" Rin exclaimed.

Rae's eyes widened as they were stunned upon seeing her.

From the staircase, she carefully went down with that peach floral dress she's wearing. She looked so different. This is the first time he has seen her with curly hair and wearing a make up. And with that, she looks so exquisite in his eyes.

"D-do I look weird?" She asked and blushed bashfully noticing how he stared at her intently.

The lad shook his head, "N-no! Not at all! You look very beautiful!" He blushed as well.

Her heart skipped a beat upon hearing his compliment.

'Calm down, Yana. He must be referring about the dress!'

The awkwardness was broken when Damien appeared on the middle, "Shall we?"

They went out as a black limousine car waited for them.

'We look like celebrities!' She thought.

They remain silent all throughout the ride. They don't know what to say to each other anymore. Why do words fail them today?

"We're here." Damien said as the car dropped them in front of a huge mansion.

Damien escorted them inside where a lot of vampire nobles gathered around.

"Wait here, I'll inform my brother of your arrival." Damien said and left.

And now, it's the two of them again with an awkward atmosphere.

She wanted to compliment him today. He looked so gorgeous wearing that dark blue suit. His hair looks different too. One side has been combed up with wax. Calcifer must be the one who fixed it. But he did a great job that made Rae more handsome than before.

Suddenly, the musicians began to play their instruments. Vampires gathered around the hall with their partners.

"Uhm... Do you want to dance?" Rae asked as he glanced at her.

She looked at him as well and it seems like it was a mistake to do so. Why can't she refuse those ocean blue eyes?

Unconsciously, she nodded and took his hand.

"W-what if I got tripped? What if I stepped on your foot? I'm not a good dancer." She mumbled, having second thoughts.

Rae chuckled, "It's fine. I won't mind if you ever step on my foot. I'll catch you if you ever trip and fall." He smiled sweetly that made her heart felt like it's about to explode.

He placed her one hand on his shoulder while holding the other. Then, he held her waist, drawing her body close to him.

Slowly, they stepped in and swayed in the music. Turning and spinning around from one point to another.

What's common for these teenagers, the beat of their hearts is louder than the music being played. For a moment, they felt like no one else matters but them, as they looked into each other's eyes. How they wished, time would stop. So that they could stare at each other forever as their heart beats play the same rhythm.

Just then, Yana suddenly stepped on his foot and went out of balance. She wasn't used on heels after all.

Quickly, Rae firmly grabbed her waist to stop her from falling which resulted to arching his back downwards as he supported her weight. With that, their faces draw closer. A moment of silence fell on them as they can see their reflection on each other's eyes.

"Yana..." He softly called. And all of a sudden, it feels like there's a force that's been pulling him to lean forward, drawing closer to her lips.

Panicked, the lass suddenly said, "Err... my back..." She refers to their position which the lad realized and pulled her up.

"S-sorry!" He blushed.

"I-I think I'll go to the bathroom."

"R-right... I'll be waiting."

With that, the lass rushed towards the nearest bathroom and covered her face.

'E-earlier... He's trying to kiss me, right???' She glanced at her red face in the mirror and held her lips.

'N-no! I-impossible! Maybe I was just imagining things!' She said and removed the ring to wash her hands.

'I mean, we did kiss already... so it's not a big deal anymore! B-but!'

The lass held her head as she kept talking to herself.

"Stop it Yana! Rae wouldn't do such a thing! You're just his friend, okay?" She mumbled and took a deep breath before going out.

Since she's still preoccupied with those thoughts, she didn't notice someone passed by and they bumped into each other.

"Oh, sorry!" She said and bowed politely before leaving.

The vampire turned around and looked at her as she walked away.

"A human, huh?" He mumbled.

"What's taking Yana so long?" Rae mumbled and started looking for her. But it was so crowded that he's not used to it. So he decided to go downstairs.

But it seems like he has taken the wrong staircase. It looks different than the marbled one they've had earlier while entering the mansion.

This time, the stairs are made of cement. And it was darker down there. The only light are the torches hanging on the walls made of rocks.

'What is this place?' He thought. And the stairs brought him to a hall with cells from left to right.

"Where am I?" He mumbled as he walked forward and looked inside the first cell.

There's someone inside. But he can't clearly see the face.

"Who's there?" It was a male's voice.

The sound of chains being dragged on the ground echoed around the cell as the shadow stepped forward.

And Rae was surprised at what he saw. He's a vampire for sure. And at one glance, he can tell that there's something within this vampire that connects with him. Not only that, he was also surprised at the familiar color he's seeing.

"White... hair?" He mumbled.

Why does he feel like he's connected with him?

"Wait... you looked... familiar..." The vampire said in his manly voice.

'C-could it be that you're..?'

"Fa... ther?" He mumbled out of nowhere.

"Rae!" Damien called from the staircase.

"There you are! You shouldn't be here. Brother's calling you now."

"I'm sorry." Rae said and went upstairs.

Damien was about to follow him when the vampire called, "Damien!"

"That boy... don't tell me he's her son?"

Damien heaved a sigh and looked at him.

"And what if he is? What will you do about it?" He smirked.

"What are you planning to do with him?!"

Damien scoffed, "Do I really have to answer that? Unless... you're his father or something."

"Tch!" The vampire glared at him.

"Don't give me that look. You're making me sound like I'm a bad guy." Damien smirked and walked away.

"If you hurt him, I swear I'll squeeze your neck and break it!"

"Yeah, yeah. If you could break on that cell first." Damien mocked before going upstairs.

The vampire clenched his fist, "I'll make sure of that." He grumbled.