002

"I was never ready. I mean, how could I ever be ready to give myself to the monster who brings me nothing but sadness? Who reminds me of the failure I was? Who reminds me of how powerless and stupid, and foolish I once and have been? But he would never take no for an answer… Two weeks later, I found out that… I was pregnant. Fate really is cruel, isn't it?"

"Maybe… maybe… I could give birth to it and not need to have any relationship with him again in the future. I could also secure my title with it… Isn't that what everyone wanted? But why?! Why…! Why would she do that to me? Why would she hurt my child? Why?!!!"

"Quinn… Quinn… calm down." The man held her tighter in his arms, gently patting her head in a soothing manner.

Tears had started to appear in her eyes, and the wail of her sorrowful voice filled the room.

He could feel his own heart breaking at the sound of her mournful cries.

Her soft body struggled in his arms as if trying to break free.

"It's okay, baby. It's alright."

"No! It isn't! They killed my child! They killed my baby before it could even come into the world! She visited me, looking all glamorous while I'm here, looking nothing less and less like myself everyday. Do you know what the world says about them? They call them the Golden Couple, while I'm here, at home, his lawful wedded wife. After all my sacrifices! After everything! I was never appreciated, and now I've lost my baby! How dare they?! How dare she?! How dare he?!"

"Who is she, Quinn?" The man asked, his voice calm but his eyes filled with seriousness. "Give me a name, Quinn. Give me a name. Whoever hurt you, I won't let them go… I swear it. So, Quinn, just give me the name."

Quinn stared into his eyes. She could see what he felt for her—how deeply he cared. If only he could be the last person she ever saw…

"Can I see your real face, friend?"

He stilled, like he always did whenever she made such a request.

Their meetings were as strange as anything in the world. It started from when she saved him after finding him lying injured on the road. She had taken him in and cared for him for a short time. He hadn't needed much care, of course, because he healed on his own about some hours later. The only thing she did for him was to allow him to drink from her.

He is a vampire.

Yes, as unbelievable as it seemed, it was true—a creature of the night that could never appear during the day lest he burn to ashes.

He always visited her at night after he had recovered and had drunk liters of blood from her. From the beginning to now, she realized she knew nothing about him. Not even his name or his real identity.

"If you don't want to…" she said softly, gently rubbing his masked cheek as her head rested on his shoulder. "It's okay, too…"

Before she could finish, he held her hand and whispered into her ear, "I will show you."

"What?" Quinn's eyes widened in surprise as she searched his expression. Then a smile tugged at her lips. She had always been curious to see what he looked like beneath the mask.

She wanted to know him, to be able to recognize the vampire who always visited her room when all souls were deep in dreams.

"I will let you look," he whispered into her ear, his eyes never leaving hers as his fingers slowly lifted the edge of the mask.

She maintained eye contact the entire time, watching his hesitant movements.

She couldn't help but let out a weak chuckle. "Even if you're ugly, you'd still be my friend. Forever."

"Are you sure?" he whispered, his hoarse voice brushing against her ear.

He was so close that she could count his eyelashes. But she wasn't intimidated—not even a bit. In fact, she craved this closeness. She had always wanted someone to be there for her the way he always was.

"Of course," she replied without hesitation. She gave him the answer he wanted. He was definitely like a big puppy.

"All right then…" He lowered his gaze slightly, hesitation clinging to his mind harder than ever, and he felt his hands turn colder. He was scared.

No matter how much he tried to deny it, he feared what she would think of him if she saw him.

He longed for her to see and know him, but he was also terrified his greatest fear would come true—that she would come to hate him, just as she hated her scum of a husband.

Those earthy green eyes of hers, like Mother Nature herself, overflowing with love and protectiveness—he couldn't bear to imagine them turning to fear at the sight of him.

He was truly worried.

He had thought about it—would she send him away? Would she see him as a monster too? Would she glare at him with hatred and talk about how their kind were but killers and freaks? Would she call the police on him? Would this be their last meeting—the last time he could hold her, feel her warm body against his, and listen to her beating heart?

"Are you really that worried?" Quinn asked, breaking the silence. Seeing his hesitation, she gently placed her hand on his head, her touch warm and reassuring. She spoke softly. "I wasn't even scared when I discovered you were a vampire. Why would I be scared of what the most lovely, awesome, and best person I've ever met looks like beneath the mask? No matter what's under there, I promise I'll still treat you the same."

Her firmness and sincerity made him lower his gaze in shame.

It was now or never.

Finally, his fingers raised the edge of the mask.

And then… the mysterious face underneath the mask was revealed.