Beyond Oscar island:A witch's truth

Damien stretched his hand toward Cora, and she hesitated for only a second before placing her hand in his. His other arm slid around her waist, pinning her to him in an almost possessive grip. Cora barely had time to process the closeness, the way his scent wrapped around her like a dark temptation, before she caught the smirk tugging at his lips.

"Close your eyes, little bird," Damien murmured.

But Cora was too distracted to register the warning.

A sudden pull, like her entire body being sucked into nothingness, consumed her senses. The world around her twisted, and before she could comprehend what was happening, the cold, damp air of an alley replaced the warm library. Her stomach lurched violently.

Cora gasped, stumbling away from Damien before doubling over and throwing up against the wall. Her head swam, the dizziness unbearable.

"You—" she heaved, gripping her stomach. "You could have given me a heads-up before teleporting!"

Damien, utterly unbothered, handed her a black kerchief. "You were too busy admiring my beauty to listen."

Cora snatched the cloth, wiping her lips before glaring at him. Arrogant bastard.

The alley they stood in was narrow, the brick walls covered in faded graffiti, the sickly glow of a flickering neon sign barely reaching them. Somewhere in the distance, the wail of a siren cut through the city's restless hum. The air smelled of damp concrete, lingering cigarette smoke, and something else—something old and almost metallic.

"Where are we?" she asked, straightening.

"New Vesta City." Damien adjusted the cuffs of his dark coat.

Cora's breath hitched. They were far from Oscar Island.

Her wide eyes flickered around, taking in the distant blur of towering skyscrapers beyond the alley's exit. Unlike the serene yet eerie isolation of Oscar Island, New Vesta City was alive. She could hear the honking of cars, the distant chatter of people, and the occasional shout from vendors selling their wares under the glow of streetlights.

"Can all vampires teleport?" Cora asked, moving to walk beside him as they stepped onto the bustling sidewalk.

Damien's gaze remained ahead. "No. Only purebloods have unique abilities. Some are useful. Some… aren't. I happened to be the lucky one in this generation."

They weaved through the crowd, passing by a mix of humans and creatures who anyone didn't know of their existence of course except Cora and Damien.A man with unnaturally sharp features haggled with a street vendor. A woman, her coat too heavy for the warm night, glanced at Cora with unsettlingly luminous eyes before vanishing into the crowd.

Cora shivered. This city felt different. Alive, but with secrets buried in its shadows.

It looked like the world felt different to her after discovering night creatures lived amongst them .

Damien hailed a cab, and Cora frowned as a sleek black taxi pulled up.

"Why are we taking a taxi when you could teleport us?" she whispered as they slid inside.

"I'm saving my energy," Damien said lazily. "Unless, of course, you don't mind me taking a bite."

Cora stiffened.

"So teleporting drains you?" she whispered, casting a wary glance at the driver, praying he wasn't listening.

"Hm." Damien leaned back, giving no further explanation.

The ride was silent, aside from the occasional chatter of the radio. Cora stared out the window, watching New Vesta City pass by. The inner parts of the city were modern and polished, filled with neon-lit streets, rooftop bars, and towering financial buildings. But as they drove toward the outskirts, the landscape changed.

The buildings became older, the streets quieter. Fewer streetlights. More abandoned structures covered in overgrown ivy. A heavy sense of unease settled in her chest.

The taxi finally stopped in front of an isolated property.

The moment Damien stepped out, he leaned against the window and met the driver's eyes. "Forget you ever brought anyone here. Drive away."

The driver's gaze turned vacant before he nodded and sped off.

Cora swallowed. Hypnosis.

Turning, she took in the looming villa before them. Unlike the elegant mansions she was used to, this place was… eerie. Its towering walls were dark, almost swallowing the little light from the scattered lanterns. Twisting vines covered parts of the façade, and the iron gate creaked ominously as Damien pushed it open.

Her hands grew clammy.

"Where are we, Damien?" she asked, pausing.

"To see a witch," Damien replied smoothly. "A very old friend of mine."

Cora hesitated before following him inside.

As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, a sharp whooshing sound cut through the air.

Damien moved in an instant, yanking her back just as something embedded itself into the wall beside them.

Cora's breath hitched. A knife.

"Such a lovely welcome," Damien mused, his tone amused. "I almost thought you didn't like me anymore."

Cora's wide eyes snapped to the rooftop.

A woman lounged there, her figure illuminated by the moonlight. She wore a silk nightgown that barely covered her curves, her emerald-colored nails gleaming as she smirked.

Cora's stomach twisted.

She was… beautiful. Not the delicate, subtle kind of beauty—but something dangerously striking, like a siren luring ships to wreckage.

The woman's eyes flickered to Cora as she jumped down ,her expression unreadable. "I didn't know you brought someone."

Cora instinctively moved behind Damien.

"I thought it was time I introduced you to my woman," Damien said smoothly.

The witch's expression darkened.

Cora frowned, peeking up at Damien. What the hell was he playing at?

"Oh, don't tell me you're jealous," Damien taunted. His lips curled in a smirk. "I told you—I would never want you, even if you were the last woman on earth."

The witch narrowed her eyes before sighing, muttering something under her breath. She turned on her heel, disappearing into the villa.

Damien, looking entirely unbothered, followed. Cora, reluctantly, trailed after him.

Inside, the house was nearly empty—no decorations, no clutter. Just a single wooden table, a chair, and a candle flickering on the surface. The walls were bare stone, cold and impersonal.

The woman gracefully sank into the chair, gesturing for them to sit.

"I assume you're here because of her," she said, fingers grazing a row of stones that hadn't been on the table before. "So tell me, Damien. What do you want?"

Cora shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Damien.

His gaze remained unreadable. "We're here to find out what she is."

The air grew thick with tension.

Cora's heart pounded.

Her hands clenched the fabric of her dress . She had known that before they came here but sitting her she couldn't help but feel dread seep into her

And now, she was finally about to learn the truth.

Back at Oscar Island University

Amelia bit her lip, staring at the clock on her phone. An hour had passed.

No response from Cora. No sign of her.

Damn it.

Grabbing her pepper spray and phone, she stormed out of her dorm, her mind racing but making sure the door was locked.

She checked the library first, weaving through students. No sign of Cora.

Her stomach twisted.

She walked further into the library and entered the section that barely had anyone there.

She grabbed her pepper spray even though she didn't know if it worked on vampires but something was better than nothing.

Then, in the dimly lit section of the library, she heard muffled voices.

She turned the corner—

—and froze.

A man's head was buried against a woman's neck.

Her breath hitched. Was he… sucking blood?

Her grip on the nearest book tightened.

Her mind screamed at her to run.

Instead—before she could think—she hurled the book at his head.

The man groaned, whirling around—his eyes dark, lips stained red.

Amelia's blood ran cold.

Leonard… wasn't human.