EVOLUTION Vol.2

LUCIEN

Write a story inspired by a song.

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Mariah had been travelling for days, and as she walked down the dimly lit hallway of the Hotel de Choiseul, she could feel the exhaustion weighing heavily on her body. She had come to the Caribbean to escape the stresses of her everyday life, and the hotel seemed like the perfect place to do so. But as she walked past the closed doors, Mariah couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She heard whispers in the air, and footsteps that seemed to follow her down the corridor. She brushed it off as her imagination, telling herself that she was just tired and in need of rest. She reached her room, opened the door, and went inside.

The room was just as she had imagined it would be - spacious, airy, and full of sunlight. But as she sat down on the bed, Mariah noticed something odd - a strange energy in the room, like an electric current running through the air. She tried to shake it off, but the feeling persisted. As she got up to take a closer look, she noticed that the walls were covered in strange markings, like some kind of ancient script. Before she could take a closer look, she heard a knock on the door. Mariah hesitated for a moment, but then decided to answer it. Standing in the doorway was a tall, dark-haired man with piercing blue eyes.

"Welcome to the Hotel de Choiseul," he said, with a smile that sent shivers down Mariah's spine.

"Thank you," she replied, trying to hide her unease.

The man introduced himself as Lucien and offered to show her around the hotel. Mariah hesitated, but something about him drew her in. She accepted his offer and they began to walk through the corridors of the hotel.

As they walked, Mariah noticed that the strange energy in the air seemed to grow stronger. She felt a sense of unease, but Lucien's presence was comforting.

He showed her the hotel's many rooms and amenities, and Mariah couldn't help but be impressed. But as they approached the end of the tour, Lucien's demeanour changed. His eyes grew darker, and his voice took on a menacing tone.

"You're not like the others," he said, "I can sense it."

Mariah didn't know what he meant, but she knew that she had to get away from him. She turned to run, but found that she was trapped - the hotel seemed to have closed in on itself, leaving her with no escape.

As she turned back to face Lucien, she saw that he had transformed. His fangs glinted in the dim light, and his eyes were no longer blue, but blood red.

Mariah realized too late that she had checked into the wrong hotel - the Hotel de Choiseul was known to be a haven for vampires, and she had unwittingly walked into their lair.

She screamed as Lucien lunged for her, and then everything went black.

The next morning, Mariah woke up in her room, unsure if what she had experienced was real or just a nightmare. She packed her bags and left the hotel, vowing never to return.

But as she walked down the corridor for the last time, Mariah heard whispers in the air - voices calling out from the shadows, inviting her to stay just a little longer. She heard the whispers grow louder and more insistent. She quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Mariah, don't go," a voice whispered in her ear. She turned around, but no one was there.

"Who's there?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"It's me, Lucien," the voice replied. "You don't have to be afraid. We won't harm you."

Mariah froze. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was Lucien really speaking to her from beyond the grave?

"Lucien?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, Mariah. It's me," the voice replied. "I'm sorry for what happened last night. I didn't mean to scare you."

Mariah felt a cold breeze brush past her cheek, and then the whispers grew louder. She tried to run, but her feet felt heavy like they were rooted to the ground.

"Please, Mariah. Don't leave me," Lucien pleaded.

Mariah turned around, and there, standing before her, was Lucien. His eyes were no longer blood red, but a gentle shade of blue. He smiled at her, and for a moment, Mariah forgot all her fears.

"I'm sorry, Lucien," she said. "I can't stay here. I have to go back home."

Lucien nodded; his expression sombre. "I understand. But before you go, there's something I want to show you."

He led her to a small room at the end of the hallway. Inside was a large book, bound in black leather. It was filled with strange symbols and markings that Mariah couldn't decipher.

"This is the Book of the Dead," Lucien said. "It contains all the secrets of our kind. I want you to take it with you, Mariah. Study it. Learn our ways."

Mariah hesitated, unsure if she should accept the book. But then she thought of all the adventures that awaited her, all the knowledge she could gain.

"Thank you, Lucien," she said, taking the book from him. "I'll treasure it always."

Lucien smiled at her, and then he was gone, leaving Mariah alone in the small room.

As she walked back to her room, Mariah couldn't shake the feeling that she had just experienced something extraordinary. She knew that her life would never be the same again.

© 3 May 2023