𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐦

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐈𝐈

Emma awoke abruptly in the middle of a dream after several weeks of fairly tranquil living in Malum. Her cell phone commenced ringing. She snatched up her mobile while reaching aimlessly toward the nightstand.

She murmured groggily, "Hey."

"We must head to the Toll Bridge, Emma. As soon as possible," Graham stated, while informing her, "I'll pick you up with the truck in just a few minutes," then disconnected up.

She was suddenly quite alert, it swiftly roused her up mainly since emergencies were infrequent in Malum. What on earth was going on, she pondered.

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Emma's heart began to race as soon as they pulled up to the precise location and got out of the vehicle. Near the river, an unidentified corpse was discovered. They put on their gloves and proceeded to take a look around. However Emma was not really in need to peer into it. She instinctively recognized what she was witnessing.

She murmured softly, slightly above a whisper, "Graham, this is a vampire bite."

Turning at her, he inquired, "What?"

"Miss Swan, aren't you a little too old to harbor any faith in vampires?" The Mayor mysteriously showed up. She possessed a gleam in her caramel eyes that Emma couldn't quite place.

"Oh, look who appeared at the site of the assassination."

"Of course I arrived! It is a matter of the the community! I must be notified if a murder has taken place" , she yelled with fervor.

"And precisely where is your car?"

"What exactly are you implying, Miss Swan?"

"I'm aiming to get at the fact that there's a lifeless body out here in the middle of nowhere, and you just so happen to be here... Quite odd, don't you think?"

"Miss Swan, for the love of God! Graham contacted you first, then he called me -I'm the goddam Mayor! In order to avoid creating irrational conclusions, I would much appreciate if you would instead, commence conducting an investigation into what actually happened." Regina hissed and walked up to the corpse. It's not like she had to. The blonde had a point. Indeed, a vampire attack took place here.

Emma proclaimed, "I'm done with the body. I already checked and there are no traces. It appears as though he caused it to himself. He didn't, though. It was a vampire." She swallowed forcefully. "Those creatures are extremely difficult to identify since they don't leave evidence."

"Emma, there are no vampires in Malum," Graham whispered softly.

She shrugged, "Well, apparently now there are!"

"Isn't that bizarre, Miss Swan?" The Mayor burst into laughter "Just when you showed up in my city, someone died."

"If you wish, I'll have an appetizing cheeseburger right in front of you. Blood is not something I devour. And to be straightforward, Madam Mayor, I still don't know where your vehicle is, so I'd remain quiet if I were you," Emma snapped back. She was outraged. She despised vampires and the mere accusation that she could be one of them made her stomach twist. "However, I'm pleased that we've finally come to the conclusion that a vampire is to blame."

"I said no such thing!" Regina hissed.

"Okay! Deny it as much as you like. But where I come from, it was prevalent. I am cognizant of the appearance of a vampire attack. You can try to cut him, but no blood will leak out. A bloody bite appears on his neck, and he is utterly drained. I mean... are you blind or what?" Emma grinned sarcastically. She would probably assume it was the brunette's doing if she hadn't seen her during the sunlight.