Chapter Two: The Thirst of The Night

"Ah! Please, no !!!" the woman screamed in desperation.

"Let me quench my thirst," Draegon said.

"D-d-don—" the woman tried to speak, but her voice was suddenly cut off.

Draegon grabbed her shoulder roughly. In an instant, his sharp fangs sank into her soft, defenseless neck. As his needle-like teeth pierced her flesh, he felt the sweet, honey-like liquid flow into his mouth. He swallowed it greedily, as if he hadn't had a drink in days. He stood upright, pinning the woman against the dark wall.

Her body went pale, lifeless like a corpse. Her breathing became faint, almost imperceptible. She could barely inhale, as if savoring her final breath while his hand tightened around her throat. In her last moments, her body turned rigid like a statue. She no longer resisted. She could no longer speak.

The woman's face showed clear signs of dehydration. Her body withered, aging in an instant. The sharp sting of his bite drained her completely, stealing the last breath from the dark, empty alley.

"You haven't changed, Lord Draegon," a voice spoke as a man approached.

"What brings you here, Ernyl ???" Draegon replied without looking.

"I heard that Tuwa (Grandmother) has gone missing. She's probably looking for your destined mate," Ernyl said.

Draegon smirked at his cousin's words—a wicked grin. His crimson red eyes glowed even brighter in the darkness. Ernyl's words echoed in his mind like a mocking melody. He couldn't decide whether to laugh or be furious at the idea. To him, this was nothing but a waste of time. However, behind his grin, a sinister plan was already forming.

"That girl won't last long. She'll be dead soon enough," Draegon said darkly, a twisted joy in his voice at the thought of killing his so-called fated one.

"Well, the screams of your victims do give you strength and pleasure, don't they ???" Ernyl sneered.

"That old woman… She always interferes with vampire affairs, giving us useless mates !!!," Draegon muttered with disdain.

"That's true, but aren't you curious to see her ??? After thousands of years—"

"That girl will only weaken me," Draegon interrupted coldly. "I won't let that happen, just like what happened with your mate. Didn't she betray you ???"

"The past is past," Ernyl said, his expression unreadable. "Anyway, I'll leave you now, Draegon. The grand celebration in Bahar (Spring) is about to begin. Our cousins will be there, waiting for their next prey."

"In that case, I can't wait to slit the throats of those foolish mortals," Draegon replied, his excitement clear.

---

The Blood Moon Festival

In the southwest, surrounded by towering mountains and dense forests, stood a grand castle. Its foundation seemed to float in the sky, with green bridges connecting it to the highlands. Around the castle, human settlements flourished.

The castle of Bahar was built from the sturdiest stone. Tall spires rose like sharpened quills from its golden rooftops. Outside, the pathways were lined with towering pine trees and lush green grass.

People gathered to celebrate Bahar's rich history. Every ten years, they visited the castle and its surroundings to commemorate their town's origins. Unbeknownst to them, the vampires had been waiting for this moment—a rare opportunity to feast on human blood.

As the hours passed, people entered the castle, eager to witness its historical wonders. Some listened to storytellers recount the town's past, while others admired the grand architecture.

From the shadows, the vampires lurked. Their eyes gleamed with hunger as they watched the unsuspecting humans. As soon as the intoxicating scent of fresh blood filled the air, their fangs and claws emerged.

Suddenly, the vampires seized the castle's doors, slamming them shut with terrifying force. The loud bang startled everyone. The room darkened instantly. Eyes widened in fear as people turned in every direction, searching for an escape. Panic surged through them like wild horses stampeding in their chests.

Sweat dripped down their trembling bodies. Frozen in place, their limbs locked in terror. Their hearts pounded violently as they noticed glowing red eyes piercing through the darkness—watching, waiting, preying.

"Ahh !!!" a woman screamed.

"Please, no !!!" an old man cried.

Then, chaos erupted.

People shrieked in horror as invisible fangs tore into their flesh. A sharp, piercing pain spread through their bodies, making them collapse. Fangs sank into their necks, arms, and legs. Some were dragged to the floor, gasping for air. The vampires mercilessly severed their limbs, ripping out their hearts to devour them whole.

Blood drenched the castle floor. Even in complete darkness, the monsters saw everything—the scattered limbs, the torn flesh, the lifeless bodies.

When the massacre ended, most of the vampires vanished into the night, but a few remained. Among them were Draegon's kin from the west, south, and east of Drakhenholt.

"I heard that tuwa (Grandmother) is missing," Damien said.

He stared at Draegon with piercing green eyes, his gaze sharp and demanding. His dark eyebrows arched like a demon's glare. A small mole sat beneath his right eye. His nose was straight and defined, his lips tinted like a faded rose. His arms bore intricate tattoos—blue flowers entwined with skulls and beasts. He wore black earrings on both ears, resembling a rogue prince.

His lips curled into a mischievous smirk as he locked eyes with Draegon, awaiting his response. Thorn, another vampire, furrowed his brows, his intense stare fixed on Damien.

"Are you that impatient, Damien ???" Draegon finally spoke.

••••••••

Morwenna gently handed the necklace to Elysia.

It was a necklace she had created—a protective charm to suppress the alluring sweet scent of the young woman's blood. The necklace was made of metal, its surface twisted and coiled like dragon scales.

At its center lay a deep blue gemstone, resembling the eye of a dragon or a cat.

When Elysia wore it, the elderly woman could no longer smell her intoxicating blood. It was as if the necklace shielded her from creatures that might sense her presence. Thanks to it, wandering vampires would no longer be drawn to her, keeping her safe from harm.

"Never take it off," Morwenna warned. "If you do, you'll be in danger."

"I promise, Grandma Morwenna. I won't remove it," Elysia replied.

Elysia smiled at the old woman, feeling warmth in her heart. Morwenna's concern reminded her of a mother searching for her lost child. For some reason, Elysia felt lighter, as if a burden had been lifted. It seemed as though she had known the old woman for a long time, as if they were related.

Elysia had been an orphan for ten years. Losing her parents in an accident at the age of ten, she had been passed around by distant relatives. But she ran away from them, living on the streets instead. Eventually, a nun found her and took her to the orphanage where she now lived.

Despite Elysia's joy, Morwenna noticed the black scarf covering her nose and mouth, even as she smiled. Curious, the old woman decided to ask.

"Dear, why do you wear that cloth over your face ??? It hides your nose and mouth," Morwenna asked.

"Because, Grandma Morwenna... I'm afraid to show my face to anyone," Scarlett answered.

"Why ??? You shouldn't be ashamed of how you look," Morwenna said with a kind smile. "Would you show me your face ???"

Elysia hesitated, lowering her head. Her hands trembled as she slowly reached for her scarf. As she prepared to remove it, her mind drifted back to the past.

"So beautiful! Hahaha! You're mine now !!!" a man's crazed voice echoed.

"Let me go !!!" Elysia screamed, struggling against his grip.

"Shh! Be quiet !!! or the neighbors might hear," the terrifying man whispered.

"No !!! Help !!!Someone help me !!!" she cried desperately.

Elysia squeezed her eyes shut as tears streamed down her face. She didn't know what to do. Then, suddenly—thud! A loud sound startled her.

She opened her eyes, shocked to see the man sprawled on the floor. In front of her stood a woman holding a wooden club.

"Quick! Run! Get out of here !!!" the woman urged.

"Listen, Elysia," she added, wrapping a scarf around Elysia's face. "Hide your face. Showing it will only bring you trouble."

The memory faded as Elysia removed her scarf, returning to the present. Morwenna smiled at her kindly.

The old woman took in Elysia's delicate features. She had an angelic face, with black eyes shaped like crescent moons. Her eyebrows were perfectly arched, like measured lines, and her nose was neither too sharp nor too flat. Her soft, rosy lips complemented her fair, pearl-like skin. Her long, straight black hair reached down to her waist, neatly braided and wrapped around her head.

After admiring her beauty, Morwenna spoke in astonishment. "You are truly beautiful, my dear. Absolutely stunning! But why do you hide your face with that scarf?"

Elysia sighed. "Because many men have chased after me. Even when I was a child, old and young men alike asked for my hand in marriage. If I refused, they would pursue and threaten me. To protect myself, I decided to cover my face."

She lowered her gaze, sadness filling her voice. "That's not all. I almost... I was nearly—" She stopped, unable to say the words.

Morwenna nodded in understanding. "I see. I will keep your secret."

"Thank you, Grandma Morwenna," Elysia said, quickly putting her scarf back on.

Morwenna stayed at the orphanage for over a month, growing close to Elysia. She came to love her like a granddaughter.