Chances, Stakes and Fangs

Chapter-1

A burning light pierced my eyelids, forcing them to open, only to make me hiss in pain as I regained consciousness.

Looking around, I saw the innumerable hues blend in a fiery rainbow that stretched across the sky. The peaks of the tallest mountains in the distance reflect the lights' splendor back at them. Looking down, I realized I was laying on a white floor. I got up.

So that was heaven, huh? But well, I thought I was destined for hell. Never mind.
Well, the plot thickened when I saw a small golden lamp engraved with intricate designs and encrusted with pink jewels, right beside me on the ground. It was so polished that I could see my reflection.

And there my reflection showed my face, still as gorgeous as before. My choppy black hair braided down the right side, myself donned in a white gown.

Suddenly, everything came back to me. The scenes before I was tortured to death replayed in my head and as such was pictured on the lamp, with me trying to comprehend my situation at that time.

I began to ramble around but all I saw was nature's beauty. I mean, there had to be someone to welcome me in my afterlife, right? Any procedure, administration, anything?

"You're right. You did quite well in your past life that is ought to bring some good in your next." I looked behind towards a man in a white toga, that covered every inch of his body. He had a hoody-like cloth that covered his lower face. He was a pale man with his ivory skin and dark, ebony hair similar to mine, who just scuttled out of the darkness behind. Strange place.

"Who are you? Where am I? An-and what am I doing here? What do you want?"

"Oh, sweetheart. Too many questions."

"Just four, you idiot." I rolled my eyes.

"Nice. So, I don't like rolling around in circles, so I'll just get to the point. You are Ambrosia, the greatest and the youngest vampires to get into battles. Tell me if I'm wrong. Continuing, you have been officially murdered by the CBC Troupe on 16th December 2018. Your family has performed your funeral. So-"

"Just get to the damn point instead of rolling around in circles with facts that I already know. So, am I IN heaven? Pretty sure it looks like it." I stuffed my hands in the gown's pocket and smirked.

"Not so easily, you know. Beauty is pain. So as I was saying-"

"Oh, I get it! You are one of the god's assistants, who questions the dead people! Right, GA?"

"Wait, wait. What do you-? Alright. You can...say that. But who's GA?"

"You. It's simple. G for God's, A for assistant." I smiled for 2 seconds, just after which it dropped.

He pulled up his head, laughing.

There was some sort of calmness in his voice that should've made me feel at rest, but it just sent alarm bells ringing in my head as there may be a hidden intent behind them.

He normalized and proceeded towards me. Then he walked back and forth, inspecting me like a priced cattle.

" You have to familiarize yourself with things, already."

"Wha-what do you mean?" I stuttered, my eyebrows furrowed.

"You got lucky, recently. But tell me, do you not want to live more? I mean, you are just 116 years old."

"Of course. But I tend to readily accept nonsense ."

"That's impressive. Well, I've got an offer for you."

A strange mix of emotions was flooding me as his mahogany eyes adjusted.

"The offer is pretty simple. You get to live again. Once again in that world of tints and shades. So, what's your thought?"

I blinked too many times to count, "Excuse me? Ar-Are you being serious? Or is it some joke for hell dwellers before they are actually sent to hell?"

He laughed again, "No. I'm serious. So tell me, do you want to live again? Face the world with an alive body? Be yourself again?"

My head was hurt in confusion. There was a wicked glint in his eyes as I glanced skeptically. He couldn't be serious.

"By that, I'm sure you mean you are capable of resurrecting the dead?"

"Precisely. Except it's a special treatment." His eyes squinted, which referred to him smiling. He was smiling at this moment. Totally.

"Well, I would want to live again." I knew what I was doing, I just didn't stop myself despite knowing I didn't want to do it. I had to, in order to figure out what the purpose and fidelity of this eldritch being was.

"Good decision."

"What are the conditions?" I firmed my expression to show a much bold look.

"I thought you wanted it free."

"Even though I'm not in that world, I know nothing sells free, especially not in this case. So drop your act and tell me what you actually want."

"Nice. Nice. Impressive, in fact. You are smarter than I thought."

"I think I'm supposed to take that as a compliment, so thank you."

"But the intention's pure. Being the so-called god's assistant, I am a pure creature." He said, flinging in arms in the air.

"I don't give a shit about that. Just tell me what the fu-" He then instantly placed his hand on my mouth, preventing me to speak further. I looked up at his taller frame, then into his eyes, that seemed as if they dripped morphine and opioid tears. They seemed to remind me of the colour of innocent taffy sunsets mixed with hellish tomatoes. Funny. As much as they screamed virtue and purity, unholy thoughts trickled in those orbs.

"Jeez. It's a sacred place. No bad language." He then let go, blinking away his eyes and avoiding eye contact.

The corner of my mouth quirked up, "Interesting. As I said, what are the conditions?"

"Fine, I'll say. But before that, I have to say something crucial. You now have two options. Think carefully." He said, as I put focus more, "You either get to live as human, or as that same old vampire."

"Hu-human?" My eyes could not get any wider from the consecutive astonishment. Before he could or I could utter any more nonsense, flashbacks of unwanted scenarios replayed in my mind.

"You cannot wear that, u insolent child!"

"You are destined to fight."

"Crying makes you weak."

"Don't be such an emotional wreck like a human, you witch!"

"You are useless. Fight!"

His hand raised up, to hit me, "GROW UP!"

I shook my head to get rid of those toxic thoughts and returned to the present situation.

"What are the benefits of being a human?" I asked politely.

"Well, depends on what you want and the type of country. Basically, you get to decide your life. The pressure of family is there at the beginning but later as you grow to adult, it's all your life. And since you don't have any human family. It's just you and your life. Fighting is an option, unlike vampires."

Pausing him with gestures, I walked forward, forehead furrowed. I nibbled on my bottom lip.

If I could turn into a human, I won't be pressurized into fighting since I couldn't possibly have my powers.

"What about my tribe? Won't they find me?"

"Life is short, but the world is big, sweetheart. If your family lives in the south, then moving you to the north would make it impossible for them to find you. And anyway, why would they? They know you're dead."

I nodded, taking things into account. There were so many things I wanted to do that I couldn't as a vampire. Perks of being one vampire have its cons.
Maybe, being a human, I can do all those.

"Maybe, life wouldn't be perfect as a human, but it can be better than being a vampire, you never know." He shrugged and I turned backside again.

Maybe he was right. Although I had a bigger lifetime as a vampire, I could try out being a human.

"Are you alright?" He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I looked with a sideways glance and holding his hand, I toppled him over.

"Don't. Touch. Me."

I turned my sight again from him. Smaller lifetime, but worth it. No powers, but peace. Lived once as a vampire. Maybe, it's time for a change?

"Fine. I want to live. Again. But this time as a human." I thought; a slight excitement, by means of what it is followed by uncertainties and strangers.

"Awesome. So first things first. From now on, you are Ambrosia Wen, from a faraway village, who is a 16-year-old human girl and is now admitted to Leaside High School in Toronto of Canada." His eyes glimmered in the sun, which suddenly showed up. Well, never mind.

"Cool." I simply smiled, "I'll consider any condition unless it is from my past or anything I'm unknown of. Don't forget my status and rank among warriors."

"Why not, Ambrosia Wen? Shall we begin?"