Chapter Twenty Two: The Shadows of Black Şehir

They finally arrived at Black Şehir (City of Dark)—a place shrouded in darkness, where no sunlight ever reaches. Towering black stones surrounded the area, and atop these formations stood large mansions. A thin mist covered the land, but even so, the darkness remained unshaken. Wherever they looked, tall trees loomed, as Black Şehir was nestled deep within the remote Obsidian Welry (Death in West) Forest.

Inside Lord Draegon's vehicle, he noticed Elysia looking around curiously. The young woman had noticed the presence of many women standing along the roadside.

Most of them wore revealing black outfits, barely covering their bodies. Others smoked and drank as they walked. Elysia couldn't help but wonder why so many women were gathered in this place. A thought crossed her mind—was this a city meant only for women?

Suddenly, a woman knocked on the car window in front of Elysia. She was about to open it, but Lord Draegon stopped her.

"Don't..." he said briefly.

"Why not? My lord—" Elysia started to ask but was immediately interrupted.

Lord Draegon pressed a kiss to her forehead. He smiled at her and gently caressed her cheek. However, Elysia noticed a change in his demeanor—his eyes had turned red as he watched the women outside. It was as if something inside him had been triggered. His grip loosened from Scarlett's hand as if he was losing control of himself.

Elysia grew worried. She looked at him and called his name.

"Draegon?" she asked.

But Lord Draegon didn't respond. He seemed lost in his own world. Alarmed, Elysia did the only thing she could—she held him tightly and touched his cold face.

"Draegon... Draegon..." she whispered, her voice trembling.

Finally, Lord Draegon snapped out of his trance. He turned to see Elysia, her eyes brimming with tears. That was enough to bring him back to his senses.

"My love... I'm sorry," he said, gently wiping away her tears.

"This won't happen again," he promised.

The redness in his eyes faded. He hugged Elysia tightly, regret washing over him. He had hurt her once again, and he despised himself for it. He didn't want to lose control, but the Blue Moon made it difficult.

During this time, vampires were driven by an overwhelming urge to reproduce. The heat in his body burned fiercely, demanding release, but he restrained himself. He didn't want to hurt the woman he loved. He longed to share an intimate moment with her, but he was waiting for the right time. Elysia was the only reason he fought against the temptation of the Blue Moon.

---

They arrived at Ernyl's Mansion. Elysia looked up—it was massive, towering so high it made her dizzy. The entire mansion was made of black stone, surrounded by flying ravens. The eerie sight unsettled her. The structure looked ancient, as if it belonged to a forgotten era.

Despite her unease, this was where she would be staying with the other vampires. A sense of dread filled her heart. Something about this place felt wrong.

Lord Draegon led her inside. They were greeted by Vlood, Sophie, Ernyl, Damien, and Lama, who had also arrived. As soon as they entered, the mansion's Majordoma (head servant) and the other attendants welcomed them. They bowed in respect.

"Tina, prepare some Lugu (Blood Wine) for us at the dining table," Ernyl commanded.

"As you wish, my king," the Majordoma responded.

She and the other servants left to fulfill the order. The remaining staff remained standing, heads lowered. They all understood why Ernyl had requested Blood Wine—he and the others were thirsty.

As they prepared for dinner, Elysia turned to Lord Draegon.

"My love, can I help prepare your drink?" she asked.

"Alright," he agreed, "but after that, go straight to your room. The servants know which one I mean. Wait for me there—I won't be long."

Lord Draegon kissed her forehead once more before heading to the dining hall. The mansion's dining table wasn't overly large, just enough for their group. It was, after all, a family residence. The windows were covered with heavy, gray curtains, and a crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. Paintings adorned every corner of the room. The walls were white—a stark contrast to Ernyl's palace—but still elegant.

At the end of the table sat a woman, sipping Lugu (Blood Wine). She was surrounded by Lord Draegon's cousins, who had already taken their seats. Following tradition, they gathered whenever they visited the mansion because their Babu (aunt) lived there. She was the last of their elder family members and one of the the oldest vampire alive in Drakheholt (Dark World).

She was also a Taligamut (shaman priestess/healer), which meant they gathered to have their future read.

The woman had curly, snow-white hair tied back. Her skin was pale, her lips deep red, and her eyes dark as night—matching the perfect arch of her eyebrows. Unlike the others, she wore a flowing white gown. If one were to guess her age by appearance, she looked around twenty-five.

She scanned the room, observing each of her relatives. Then, her gaze landed on Lama, who was grinning at her—clearly trying to get her attention. Moira, their aunt, rolled her eyes at him.

At that moment, Elysia entered with the servants, carrying Lugu (Blood Wine) in fine crystal goblets. The moment she stepped inside, Moira's sharp gaze fixed on her.

"Aunt, please read my future for next year!" Lama interrupted excitedly.

"Oh, stop acting like a child!" Sophie snapped. "It doesn't suit you!"

Sophie was irritated. Lama always acted this way when their aunt was around. He craved attention.

As Elysia approached Moira to pour her wine, the woman suddenly grabbed Elysia's wrist. The unexpected touch startled her. But what shocked her more was when Moira spoke her name.

"It is not yet your time for me to read your future," Moira said. "This is Elysia's moment."

Elysia froze.

Elysia was shocked by what the woman had said. How did she know her name? She felt nervous, as if the woman was reading her very being. Moira immediately pulled back the long sleeve of Scarlett's clothing and caressed her hand, moving toward her wrist.

"W-what are you doing?" Elysia asked, frightened.

"Moira, stop it! You're scaring her," Lord Draegon interjected.

"Let me be, Draegon. I won't hurt her," Moira replied with a smirk.

"Go ahead, Aunt, bite her," Lama said in thought.

"Can't you smell it or read her mind? Because I can smell her blood, and I can read her thoughts," Moira stated.

"Stop it!" Lord Draegon commanded his aunt.

"Aunt, please don't scare Elysia," Sophie added.

"Let's listen to Aunt. Maybe she just wants to tell us something, so everyone, calm down," Ernyl said.

"Your skin is so smooth. This might be the first time I've seen such flawless skin. You must be quite captivating, even with your scarf covering your face… Draegon, you're one lucky man," Moira remarked, looking at Lord Draegon.

Lord Draegon's eyes glowed fiercely as he stared at his aunt. He disliked how Moira was frightening the woman he loved. His frown deepened when Moira started sniffing Elysia's hand.

"So fragrant… This is the most enticing blood I have ever smelled. Whoever gets to taste it will find it exquisite because of its unique nature," Moira said, eyeing her relatives.

Moira's eyes turned blood red, especially after inhaling Elysia's scent. Lord Draegon immediately stood up and pulled Elysia away from her. But just as they reached the dining room door, Moira spoke, stopping them in their tracks.

"Your birthday is on September first, Elysia. On that day, you'll turn eighteen. It's also the day when male vampires become more aggressive. Be careful, because your birthday is near. If you lose your scarf, you will be in grave danger," Moira warned ominously.

"Don't listen to her, Elysia," Lord Draegon insisted.

And so, the two left Moira's presence completely. They went to Lord Draegon's room in Ernyl's mansion. The fear Elysia felt because of Moira still lingered, and Lord Draegon was well aware of it. To comfort her, he embraced his beloved.

"My love, I will never let anything happen to you," Lord Draegon whispered.

"I know, my love," Elysia replied with a smile, finally calming down.

Lord Draegon sat on the bed, holding Elysia's hand. She stood before him, gazing into his eyes. Suddenly, he lifted her into his arms and placed her on his lap. Elysia was startled, and her cheeks flushed at his unexpected move.

Lord Draegon caressed her cheek while his other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. Elysia instinctively held onto his shoulders.

Neither of them spoke a word. Their intense gazes locked, making it impossible to look away. Slowly, Lord Draegon lifted the lower part of Elysia's bandana, revealing her soft, crimson lips. He kissed her gently yet filled with affection.

The warmth of his lips consumed hers as he closed his eyes. Elysia responded with a kiss of her own, her eyes fluttering shut. The kiss deepened, growing more passionate, as if they had lost control of themselves and each other.