What Are You?

Soon, she heard the noise again.

Aurora followed it, slipping deeper into the bushes. Her mind felt absent...like something was pulling her forward, and she didn't know why.

She walked for what felt like miles, ignoring the rustling of animals and the eerie sounds of the night. Her focus was sharp, locked on the direction of the noise.

Eventually, she reached the old church...the same one she and Mateo had stayed in before. But now, it looked different. Darker. Haunted.

The sound had stopped.

She stood frozen, staring at the worn-down building. A shiver ran down her spine.

Still, she stepped inside.

Lamps had been lit and hung around the abandoned church, casting eerie glows on the walls. Aurora crept in, her steps slow and silent. Her instincts screamed at her to leave...but her curiosity pushed forward.

Then she saw it.

A man, hunched over a girl.

He had his teeth sunk deep into her neck. His eyes glowed red, and blood dripped from his mouth as he fed.

Aurora gasped.

The man snapped his head toward her.

His eyes locked onto hers. He dropped the lifeless girl and growled, eyes wild and monstrous.

Aurora ran.

She sprinted through the church doors and into the bushes. Behind her, the man followed—fast. Inhumanly fast. He blurred through the trees like wind, and Aurora's breath caught in her chest.

She dove behind a tree, crouching low, praying he wouldn't find her.

Her thoughts spiraled.

What was that?

Was she dreaming again?

No. She couldn't lie to herself this time. She'd seen it. The blood. The eyes. The fangs.

She was still trying to process when something flew out of the bushes and landed in front of her.

It was him. The monster.

"You think you can run far?" he sneered, flashing his bloody fangs.

His eyes glowed red, his smile wicked.

Aurora trembled.

She opened her mouth to scream—but didn't get the chance.

The man was suddenly launched through the air and slammed into a tree.

He growled, turning quickly.

"Who the fuck—" He charged at whoever hit him.

Aurora turned, heart pounding—and froze.

It was Mateo.

But not the Mateo she knew.

His eyes were glowing, bright red. His face twisted with fury. He looked dangerous. Powerful. Untouchable.

The rogue vampire lunged.

Mateo moved quickly, blocking every attack like he had done it a thousand times before. His strikes were brutal, and within seconds, he had the man pinned by the collar.

Aurora could only watch...paralyzed—as Mateo's hand pierced the man's chest.

He yanked out his heart.

The rogue vampire dropped, lifeless. Mateo tossed the heart beside the body and calmly wiped the blood off his hands with a kerchief.

Aurora stood still, heart thudding so loud it echoed in her ears.

He turned to her.

She pinched herself—hard.

But she didn't wake up.

This was real.

"What... are you?" she whispered, backing away.

Mateo's voice softened. "Are you scared of me, Rora?"

Her heart clenched.

She had never heard him call her that.

But she couldn't forget what she just saw.

"You... killed him," she said shakily, tears slipping down her cheeks.

"He would have killed you," Mateo said calmly. "He's a rogue. He's killed before. I had to stop him."

Aurora shook her head. It didn't make sense—none of this did.

Her hands trembled. "Will you tell me what you are?"

Mateo's lips curled slightly.

"Yes."

—

"I'm back," Mateo announced, stepping out from the trees.

Aurora was still sitting under the one he had left her by, arms wrapped around herself, staring blankly.

He took a seat beside her.

"Are you still scared?" he asked quietly.

"Yes," she admitted.

He sighed. "Why were you even out here this late?"

Aurora didn't answer. She was still in shock.

—

Earlier that night...

"I'm going for a walk," Mateo had told his friends.

"Be careful," Jennifer said, barely glancing at him.

No one cared much. They were too busy drinking—blood from humans, laughter loud and careless.

Mateo passed the church and smiled faintly, remembering Aurora. Her curious eyes. Her quiet stubbornness. She fascinated him in ways he couldn't explain.

A noise broke through his thoughts.

His vampire senses sharpened immediately.

He followed the sound—silent, fast.

That's when he saw him.

A rogue vampire trying to attack.

He crept closer—and froze.

The victim was Aurora.

Rage exploded in his chest.

He kicked the rogue, sending him flying.

But his fury didn't stop there.

No one touched what was his.

Especially not her.

Mateo attacked, deflecting every strike, and when he was done playing, he grabbed the rogue by the collar and whispered so only he could hear:

"See you in hell."

Then he drove his hand through the man's chest.

And killed him.

Turning around, he saw Aurora. Trembling. Shocked. Hurt.

He clenched his fists. What if he hadn't arrived in time?

She could've died.

That thought alone made his blood boil.

He had to control it...for her.