The Vampire's Wrath

　　I feel strange. It's as if someone was watching me. I must be paranoid again. I must be wrong. No one's watching me. Yes, no one.

　　But then again, the feeling of uneasiness wouldn't just leave my system. I felt goosebumps all around my body and I unintentionally shivered, causing my parents to look at me in concern.

　　"Is there something wrong, dear? Are you cold?" my mom asked worriedly as she noticed my discomfort.

　　I want to tell her what's bothering me. But knowing how precisely she'd react when I told her so, I decided to shut my mouth instead. My mom and dad are quite overacting when it concerns me. I don't want them worrying over a small matter like this. Besides, it's just my hunch. I mean, I don't have a possible stalker, right?

　　Yeah, right.

　　I shook my head and smiled sweetly. "I'm fine, mommy..."

　　Dad frowned and looked at me seriously. I fidgeted my fingers beneath the table as I grew nervous under his gaze.

　　I looked down and pouted my lips.

　　He sighed and stood up and went behind me, placing his jacket over my shoulder. 

　　"I told you to bring a jacket, but you didn't listen to me, sweetheart," he said as he gently patted my head and kissed my forehead.

　　I giggled at his sweet gesture. I realized I've been too paranoid that I was beginning to ruin the mood. We should be happy and celebrate my birthday. 

　　"I'm sorry, dad," I said and flashed another sweet smile to him, which made his eyes soften as he pinched my cheek gently.

　　"I love you, baby girl. Happy birthday," he spoke softly.

　　Mom seconded, "I love you, too, sweetie."

　　My eyes got teary. "I love you, mommy, daddy. I'm so lucky to have you two," I emotionally uttered.

　　I stood up and went towards them, hugging them both. They hugged me back and whispered sweet words in my ear, which made me sob. 

　　We all pulled away when our food was delivered by the waiter.

　　I wiped my tears and giggled, sitting down on my chair across from them. We both uttered a prayer first before we started eating.

　　"Their foods are all delicious!" I exclaimed as I took a mouthful of the desert. Mom reached over me and wiped the corner of my mouth.

　　"Yes, it is. You love it, sweetheart?" 

　　"Yep!" 

　　"I'm glad, you love it. Your dad and I personally went to look for a restaurant who serves the best foods in this city."

　　"Thanks, mom!" I grinned and took another bite of the dessert. 

　　Thankfully, the uneasiness I felt earlier since we arrived in the restaurant, vanished. My parents and I talked about a lot of stuff. It kept me entertained and forget about the feeling of being stalked.

　　"What course would you like to take, Navelle?" asked dad.

　　I hummed and thought for a moment before replying to him, "I like to take a lot of courses, dad, but since I can't possibly take as many courses as I want, I am fixated on taking medicine." 

　　Their smiles widened at my choice of course. Dad spoke again, "We would always support you to whichever course you take, sweetheart. We wish you a joyful college years."

　　"Aww, you're making me cry again, dad!" I whined as I pouted my lips.

　　The both of them chuckled.

　　"Anyway, we've got something for you, dear."

　　My eyes widened as I looked at mom. "Really?! Yay!"

　　She smiled softly and took out something from her bag. She handed it to dad, and dad gave it to me.

　　"Open it."

　　I held my breath as excitement rushed through my system. I excitedly ripped off the thin paper wrapped around the gift they had prepared for me. Seeing the white, velvet box, I raised my eyes to look at my parents who were looking at me expectantly. 

　　Their hands were intertwined.

　　"Hope you'll love it, Navelle."

　　"Whatever it is, I'll surely love it, mom."

　　I flashed a sweet smile to myself before opening the small box. And there, I saw the most beautiful thing in the whole world.

　　I gasped and gazed, eye-wide, at the object that my parents gifted me. It was a beautiful necklace with a pendant of a bow and an arrow. It was crafted through gold. The light from the chandelier above reflected through the necklace, making me see my own reflection. I saw my jet black orbs glinted with happiness and seemed... thrilled.

　　I looked at my parents once again. "I-It's... beautiful..."

　　Mom stood up and went behind me. "Should I put the necklace on you?"

　　"Sure. Thanks, mom," I said.

　　She gently took the necklace from me and put it around my neck. I held the pendant placed near my collarbone. I couldn't wipe off the smile on my face. I am beyond happy.

　　"Happy 18th birthday, sweetheart," dad uttered as he and mom looked at me lovingly. 

　　My heart was overflowing with happiness.

　　My parents never failed to make my birthdays special each year even though it's just the three of us celebrating.

　　The celebration soon ended and we're about the go home. We enjoyed our family dinner together whilst celebrating my debut. They showered me with love and care and I couldn't wish for anything else as I felt perfectly content with my life. 

　　"Wait, mom, I think I've forgot my phone," I said. We were about to enter the car.

　　"Huh? Isn't it in your bag, sweetie?"

　　I shook my head. "No. I took it out earlier to take some photos. I think it's on the table we dined at."

　　"I'll go find it, then. You stay here, ladies," dad volunteered to go, but I quickly stopped him.

　　"No, it's okay, dad. I can do it." I smiled reassuringly before I started walking back towards the restaurant. I entered the room and immediately saw my phone atop the table. The waiter was already cleaning the table but it seems like he didn't see my phone as it was hidden under the tissue, thank goodness.

　　I picked my phone and sighed in relief.

　　The waiter looked at me and smiled. I smiled back.

　　"I forgot about it," I explained. 

　　He briefly nodded his head and returned to his task.

　　"You should be careful next time, ma'am..." he whispered. His voice was barely audible. I don't know why, but his tone sends goosebumps on my skin.

　　I gulped. "Yes, I will. Thanks." 

　　With that being said, I trotted my way out of the restaurant with unclear thoughts running in my head. Today was full of happiness since it's my birthday and I got to celebrate it together with my parents, but strangely, I felt somehow... odd.

　　I feel like I'm being stalked.

　　I am so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice someone was walking the same way as me. I just realized it when my forehead was bumped into something hard.

　　I almost stumbled back if it weren't for a hand holding me in place by my waist.

　　Startled, I looked up to see the person whom I bumped with. The hard thing that hit my forehead was his chiselled chest and not some wall. 

　　"M-My apologies. I didn't look at my surroundings," I uttered as I stepped back, hoping his hands on my waist would fall. But it

　　didn't. Instead, he tightened his grip on my waist.

　　I gasped and looked at the man. Just then I noticed how good-looking he is. Tall, lean, and handsome face. He has thick eyebrows, sharp nose, thin red lips, pale skin, dark hair, and rare, crimson eyes.

　　My lips parted in astonishment.

　　His eyes captive mine and I couldn't seem to look away from those mesmerizing orbs. It was so rare to see a beautiful eye colour like his. 

　　'He has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen in my whole life. He's beautiful...' I thought to myself.

　　The man's brows furrowed. "You seem not scared, human." His voice was void of any emotions. In fact, it was cold and harsh. But surprisingly, I find it more attractive. I must be losing my mind.

　　I blinked my eyes. "W-Why do you expect me to be scared?" I retorted, which seems not to be the best choice of words, because I saw his eyes darkened. Figuratively and literally.

　　My eyes widened in shock.

　　"Now, do you?" the man asked.

　　Before I could say something to retort, his head dipped into the crook of my neck and shoulder as he bit on to my bare flesh.

　　I could feel the way his fangs penetrated my skin, making me yelp with the sudden pain. I felt my blood coming out from my wound, and I could hear a gulping sound coming from his throat as he fed on me.

　　My arms went limp on my sides as he sucked the life of me.

　　Fear creeped up to my chest as I stood defenceless against him. My vision began to blur and my consciousness was starting to fade. 

　　"NO! NAVELLE!" I heard my parents' voice calling me in a panic tone. But I couldn't bring myself to look at them. I wanted to ask for their help, but each time I attempted to open my mouth, no voice came out.

　　The man finally stopped sucking my blood. He held my weak body against him and took in my scent.

　　"You got the sweetest blood I've ever tasted, baby," he whispered against my ear. "Unfortunately... you're about to leave this world."

　　And just like that, the darkness engulfed my senses.