06

Stacy's POV

As he fed on my blood, the pain intensified, and my head began to spin. As horrific memories resurfaced, I felt so overwhelmed.

Eventually, he released his grasp on me and ordered me to leave his room.

With no hesitation, I scurried out of his room, trembling in great terror. I haven't been as scared as this in 12 years.

Upon entering my prison room, I collapsed onto the bed and burst into uncontrollable tears, as my perceived strength and special connection with Damon now seemed like illusions to me. 

As I recalled the traumatic incident from 12 years ago, my tears flowed freely. 

After crying non-stop for nearly an hour, I heard a knock at the door. I quickly wiped away my tears and hid any evidence of my emotional breakdown before answering the door. 

As the door flung open, I was met with the same old lady standing outside with a tray of food.

Recognizing the importance of sustenance for my survival, I accepted the food from her and prepared to close the door.

But to my surprise, she grasped the door, took the food tray from me, and headed for the mini bed in my prison room. 

"Come, have a seat, my dear." She said, her voice soothing.

With no reluctancy, I closed the door and joined her on the bed. 

"What's your name, dear?" She asked.

"Stacy Martinez," I responded curtly.

"You're one beautiful lady,"she said, and let out a bright smile. 

Not moved by her smile, I maintained a straight face, and continued to listen to her.

"It's sad seeing you in this situation... Don't think too much, my dear. You've made it this far; trust me, you shall overcome." She uttered, her genuine words abruptly 

 awakening a glimmer of hope within me. 

As she stood to leave, I found myself asking, "What's your name, ma'am?"

"Call me Lauretha, dear," she replied with a warm smile. 

Surprisingly, I was touched by her smile this time, and I didn't know when I smiled back at her. 

"You should eat up before it gets cold, dear." She added, and eventually evacuated my prison room. 

"Huh? What was that?" I thouht, reflecting on my unexpected smile, after her departure. 

Having finished eating my favorite pepperoni pizza that was served, I felt a fleeting sense of comfort. 

But the good moment only lasted a few munite, as my mind abruptly returned to the earlier encounter with him-the Mafia lord. No, I'd rather call him the Vampire lord. 

It's so unbelievable how I've known about vampires' existence ever since I was a child. Thanks to the so-called ruthless lord's bite, my fragmented memories were unlocked, including the mysterious circumstances surrounding my parents' deaths and my entanglement with my Boss D.

 "Hell no! He's no longer my boss!" I fumed, my emotions boiling over.

"They are all the same, equally heartless! I'll forever loathe them-both the mafia bosses and vampires!" I thought, disoriented, as the painful realization dawned on me. 

"I wonder if you were someone like them too, Dad." I opined, heartbroken.

As the memories of the fateful day flooded my mind, feeling like yesterday, the ache within me intensified, and I couldn't control the hurt I felt inside me. 

The memory seemed to open a fresh wound in my heart, and I couldn't control the tears from streaming down my cheeks.

My life had been a mess since my tenth birthday, 12 years ago, at dusk.