Sanguine Rose

Chapter 19

"Mr. Guevara, we immediately rushed to Galería d'Aragon upon receiving a call from the gallery. The night shift guard informed us that a group of men, seemingly servants of darkness, had abducted Ms. Lystrana. We also obtained a copy of the CCTV footage, which the guard showed us," Sonya explained. Damian wasted no time and played the CCTV footage on a laptop. There he has witnessed a group of shadowy figures, masked by darkness, swiftly snatching Lystrana away. The sight filled Damian with a mix of anger, fear, and a burning desire to bring Lystrana back unharmed.

As they watched the footage, a flicker of recognition crossed Damian's face. He recognized one of the figures, a man whose loyalty was with the vampire king. The revelation sent a surge of determination through Damian's veins. He knew that time was of the essence, and he had to act swiftly to rescue Lystrana from Giovanni's clutches.

"We have already reported the incident to the police, Mr. Guevara. We'll go back at the police station tomorrow to get some updates," Karyo, from Damian's back said.

Damian gathered his thoughts, contemplating his next move. He knew that time was running out, and he couldn't afford to waste a single moment. With a heavy heart, he made the difficult decision to keep Lystrana's employees in the dark. He believed that revealing the truth to them would only heighten their distress and potentially hinder the rescue mission.

"Have you informed Mr. and Mrs. de Aragon about this?" Damian inquired.

"No, we haven't yet," Sonya replied hesitantly.

"In that case, can you please refrain from informing them for now? It will only escalate the situation. And I would prefer if you don't involve the police either," Damian stated, a request that Sonya immediately opposed.

"But, Mr. Guevara?! Ms. Lystrana's life is in danger. We cannot keep this from her parents. How could you even say such things?" Sonya's voice rose slightly.

"Look, I know we are all worried. But trust me, please. I won't return here without the woman I love most. I cannot allow any harm to come to her," Damian asserted, his words filled with determination.

The room fell into a tense silence as the weight of the situation settled upon them. Each person grappled with their own fears and uncertainties, unsure of the best course of action. In the midst of darkness, a glimmer of hope flickered within Damian's heart, driving him to protect Lystrana at all costs. The battle between love and danger raged within him, as he sought a path that would lead to her safe return.

Sonya, torn between her loyalty to Lystrana and her duty to the de Aragon family, grappled with conflicting emotions. She understood Damian's reasoning, but the weight of the secret burdened her conscience. Nevertheless, she trusted in Damian's unwavering love for Lystrana and his commitment to her safety.

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Lystrana's eyes fluttered open, her surroundings cloaked in an oppressive darkness that seemed to suffocate her every breath. Panic surged within her as she realized she was confined in an unknown, foreboding room. The air grew heavy, making it difficult to think clearly. A sense of impending danger loomed, causing her heart to race.

Suddenly, the door to the room creaked open, casting a sliver of dim light into the murky space. Lystrana's senses heightened as she detected the presence of someone entering the room. Fear gripped her as the figure stepped into the feeble illumination. It was Giovanni, his silhouette radiating an aura of malevolence.

"Mr. Tchaikovsky?" Lystrana's voice quivered, her words barely audible in the suffocating silence.

A sinister smile curled upon Giovanni's lips as he approached her, his steps deliberate and calculated. He took a seat beside Lystrana on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixated upon her like a predator stalking its prey. The room seemed to shrink in his presence, the darkness intensifying.

"You recognize me by my silhouette alone," Giovanni remarked, his voice dripping with a chilling mixture of amusement and malice.

Lystrana's heart pounded in her chest, her instincts urging her to flee from this malevolent presence. She tried to avert her gaze, but Giovanni's icy grip on her chin forced her to meet his haunting gaze.

"You possess a beauty that is unparalleled. It is perfect," Giovanni whispered, his voice laced with an unsettling adoration.

A shiver ran down Lystrana's spine as she felt his touch linger upon her cheek, leaving a trail of coldness in its wake. She longed to escape from his grasp, to break free from the clutches of this darkness that threatened to consume her.

"Why have you brought me here, Mr. Tchaikovsky?" Lystrana's voice trembled, her eyes searching for answers in the depths of Giovanni's sinister gaze.

Giovanni's lips curled into a knowing smile, his eyes gleaming with a malevolent glint. "All will be revealed tomorrow evening, Ms. de Aragon."

Desperation etched across Lystrana's face, she pressed further, her voice laced with fear. "What do you want from me? Is this about the painting?"

Giovanni chuckled softly, his amusement echoing through the room. "I have told you before, I would go to any lengths to obtain that painting. And now, it is within my grasp, right before my very eyes."

A surge of adrenaline coursed through Lystrana's veins as she realized the depth of Giovanni's obsession. She knew she had to escape, to fight against the encroaching darkness that threatened to consume her soul. But, before she could formulate a plan, Giovanni's demeanor shifted, his eyes gleaming with predatory intent. He lunged towards her, his hand clamping over her mouth to stifle her cries. Panic surged within Lystrana as she felt a sharp pain in her neck, a piercing sensation that sent waves of dizziness crashing over her. As her vision blurred, Lystrana caught a glimpse of Giovanni, his lips stained with her blood. The scene played out like a macabre dance of shadows, intensifying the horror that gripped her.

"Hmm... Sweet," Giovanni murmured, sliding his thumb across his own lips to wipe away the blood that had stained them. He then proceeded to lick and suck his thumb, savoring the taste of Lystrana's blood once more.

Before leaving, Giovanni gently laid Lystrana back on the bed and covered her with a blanket. "Sleep tight, Catarina. You need to regain strength for the ritual."

In the midst of her fading consciousness, Lystrana's mind raced, searching for a glimmer of hope amidst the encroaching darkness. She knew that the battle for her very existence had just begun, and the stakes had never been higher.

Unbeknownst to Lystrana, a group of unlikely heroes were gathering, drawn together by a shared determination to rescue her from the clutches of Giovanni. The stage was set for a thrilling confrontation between light and darkness, where the shadows would tremble and hope would ignite like a blazing inferno.