Sanguine Rose

Chapter 18

As Giovanni sat alone in his dimly lit chamber, his mind began to wander back to the past. He was not always the villain that people perceived him to be. Once, he was just an ordinary boy named Giovanni, living an ordinary life. But life was never kind to him. His past was a series of unfortunate events that eventually led him to become the person he is now - a villain, a monster in the eyes of many.

Giovanni's father was a cruel man, a drunkard and an abuser. He would come home late at night, reeking of alcohol and filled with rage. He would take out his frustrations on Giovanni and his mother. His father's wrath was like a storm, unpredictable and devastating. But one fateful day, Giovanni could no longer bear to see his mother in pain. He couldn't control the anger and desperation that was building up inside him. He lashed out at his father, and in the heat of the moment, he killed him. He remembered how his hands trembled, how his heart pounded in his chest, and how his eyes were filled with tears. He was just a child, yet he had committed an act so grave.

After that day, everything changed. His mother, the only person he thought would understand him, turned her back on him. She blamed him for his father's death and detested him. His mother's hatred towards him was a harsh blow. It was as if he had lost his mother on the same day he lost his father. He began to loathe himself, for he had become the monster his father was.

Years passed, and the memory of his past life started to fade away, replaced by the reality of his existence, the notorious villain. He lived in the shadows, feared by many, and understood by none. He was a prisoner of his past, chained by his memories and haunted by his actions.

He also spent his days planning his revenge against Damian's father, the man who had taken his beloved's life. His queen's death was a wound that never healed, a constant reminder of the injustice he had suffered. He trained himself, honed his skills, and prepared for the day he would finally face his enemy.

But as he immersed himself in his quest for revenge, he started to lose sight of who he was. The young, innocent Giovanni who once existed was now a distant memory, replaced by the ruthless unfortunate events he had suffered. He was consumed by his hatred, his heart filled with bitterness and rage.

There were times when he would catch a glimpse of his reflection and not recognize the man staring back at him. His eyes, once filled with innocence and hope, were now cold and devoid of any emotion. He had become a monster, a creature of darkness. But despite everything, there was a part of him that yearned for redemption, a part of him that still held on to the faint hope of finding peace. He longed for a chance to make things right, to atone for his sins, and to find forgiveness. But he knew that the path to redemption was not easy. It required strength and courage, qualities he wasn't sure he possessed anymore. He was a villain, a monster, but he was also a victim, a product of his circumstances.

As he sat alone in his chamber, lost in his thoughts, he realized that he had a choice. He could continue down the path of vengeance, losing himself further in the process, or he could choose to break free from the chains of his past and seek redemption. The decision was his to make. Would he let his past define him, or would he find the strength to change his destiny? Only time would tell. But one thing was certain - Giovanni, the boy who once dreamed of a better life, was still somewhere inside him, waiting for a chance to emerge from the darkness.

"What on earth were you thinking, Giovanni! Has your courage deserted you once again? You still have the duty to bring me back to life. Don't you wish to be with me any longer? I didn't shape you into the most powerful and formidable vampire for nothing!" Isolde's voice seems echoed in the room.

The memory of their first encounter suddenly flashed through Giovanni's mind. It was a dark and chilly night, the moon hung high in the sky, casting long shadows on the cobblestone streets. Isolde, with her ethereal beauty and hypnotic eyes, had appeared before him. He was captivated, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. She had offered him the gift of eternal life, a chance to transcend his mortal existence. He remembered the intoxicating sensation as she turned him into a creature of the night, a vampire like herself. The transformation was agonizing yet exhilarating, changing him forever. His human life was left behind, replaced by the dark allure of immortality.

Upon reminiscing those memories, Giovanni's softer side started to vanish. It was as if Isolde's voice served as a remote control, instantly altering Giovanni's mindset. Her voice, laced with the echoes of their shared eternity, held an undeniable sway over him, immediately transforming his thought process. Like a maestro conducting an orchestra, she had the power to change the rhythm of his thoughts with just a few words.

"Get the woman and bring her to me before the emergence of the blood moon!" Giovanni commanded his vampire underlings.

As the clock struck ten in the evening, the echo resonated through the silent halls of Galería d'Aragon. Lystrana found herself once again the sole inhabitant of the gallery, immersed in the labyrinth of paperwork required for the forthcoming art exhibit. Her body protested against the constant strain of the day, compelling her to sigh. Her gaze drifted towards a vase, a silent observer in her office, adorned with a cascade of crimson roses - a morning gift from Damian.

A smile danced on her lips, her heart fluttering like a caged bird. Her fingers traced the air above her chest, seeking the comforting presence of the pendant Damian had given her, only to clutch at the void. Memories washed over her like a tidal wave, reminding her of the necklace's absence. The necklace, a token of love from Damian, was more than just a piece of jewelry. It was an ancestral heirloom, passed down through generations, from Damian's father, given to his mother and to him, with the instruction to bestow it upon the woman who would captivate his heart - Catarina, who was now living as Lystrana.

With a sense of urgency, Lystrana rushed to the private restroom in her office, hoping she had merely forgotten the necklace there. She scoured every corner, her heart pounding in sync with the ticking clock, but the necklace remained elusive. Frustration etched on her face, she washed her hands, the cold water serving as a momentary distraction. She continued her search in the different parts of the gallery she had visited earlier, but the necklace was nowhere to be found. Feeling defeated, she decided to return home, clinging to the faint hope of finding the necklace there.

As Lystrana navigated through the dimly lit parking area, a chill ran down her spine. She felt an uncanny presence, as if she was not alone, and a shadow seemed to be trailing her. She paused, her heart pounding in her chest, and glanced over her shoulder, but the parking area was deserted. Shaking off the eerie feeling, she continued to walk. However, before she could reach where her car was parked, her world began to spin. Her vision blurred, sounds became muffled, and she felt as if she was being swallowed by the darkness. Moments later, her world plunged into oblivion, and she collapsed, unconscious.

Suddenly, mysterious figures emerged from the shadows, moving toward the unconscious Lystrana. One figure bent down, gently lifting Lystrana's unconscious body. As the figure carried Lystrana away into the night, the parking area returned to its eerie silence, the only witness to the night's strange occurrences.

"The blood moon will rise again tomorrow night, casting its eerie glow upon the world. Who could be the chosen vessel for Isolde's restless soul, handpicked by the enigmatic Giovanni?" Emmanuel pondered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Damian's eyes narrowed as he absorbed the weight of Emmanuel's words. The fate of Lystrana, the woman he held dear, hung in the balance. He knew deep down that she was one of the potential vessels sought after by Giovanni.

"I must go to Lystrana now to ensure her safety. I suspect she is one of the potential vessels Giovanni is eyeing," Damian declared. However, before he could depart, his phone buzzed to life. Seeing Lystrana's name on the caller ID, he promptly answered. But he froze as an unfamiliar voice echoed from the other end of the line. Moments later, Damian vanished from the sight of Emmanuel and Lucas as if swallowed by the shadows.