MY GOLDEN BLOOD - JossGawin FanFiction

CHAPTER 23: STRIKE

It was late, the kind of stillness where every creak of the floorboards seemed to echo louder than usual. Tong sat at his desk, trying to concentrate on the paperwork in front of him, but his mind kept drifting back to the strange occurrences of the past few days. He couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was closing in on him.

His apartment felt too quiet tonight. He thought about calling a friend, just for some noise, but decided against it. He didn't want to explain the strange feeling that had settled in his chest, or the weird encounters with shadows that seemed to follow him. It would sound ridiculous.

Still, the silence was unbearable. Tong stood up, rubbing his tired eyes, and headed toward the kitchen for a glass of water. As he reached the sink, the hairs on the back of his neck prickled. He felt it again—the unmistakable sense of being watched.

His breath caught in his throat.

Before he could react, the kitchen light flickered violently and then went out. The sudden plunge into darkness froze Tong in place. His pulse quickened as his eyes darted around the now pitch-black room.

Then, a sound.

It was faint at first, like something brushing against the walls—something that didn't belong in his apartment. It grew louder, a slow and deliberate dragging sound that sent chills down his spine.

"Who's there?" Tong's voice cracked, barely more than a whisper.

No answer. Just silence.

And then, from the corner of the room, a figure moved. 

Not a shadow this time. No, this was real. A tall, menacing silhouette detached itself from the darkness and started toward him. Tong's heart thundered in his chest.

He stumbled back, his hands searching blindly for anything to defend himself with, but the figure moved too quickly. 

Before Tong could react, the vampire was on him, its hand around his throat, slamming him against the wall.

The vampire was unlike anything Tong had seen before. His eyes glowed red in the darkness, and his face twisted into a cruel smile. His grip tightened on Tong's throat, making it hard to breathe.

"You smell like him," the vampire hissed, leaning in closer. "You've been marked."

Tong struggled, panic surging through him, but the vampire was too strong. He could feel the sharpness of the creature's fangs grazing his skin, the cold breath on his neck.

Just when he thought he was about to lose consciousness, a blur of movement erupted from the shadows, and the vampire was ripped away from him, crashing violently into the far wall.

Mark stood between Tong and the attacker, his eyes glowing with fury. His body seemed to hum with barely contained energy, his stance tense and ready to strike.

"Kael," Mark growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You shouldn't have come here."

Kael smirked, unfazed by the impact. He stood up slowly, dusting himself off like it was nothing. "Oh, come on, Mark. You can't expect to keep him all to...  yourself.?"

Mark's muscles tensed, and for a moment, Tong could see the animalistic side of him—the side that was barely holding back from tearing Kael apart.

"You have no idea what you're playing with," Mark warned, stepping toward Kael. "He's not like the others."

Kael's eyes gleamed with amusement. "That's why I'm interested."

Tong, still gasping for breath, watched the two vampires square off. He didn't understand everything that was happening, but it was clear that Kael wasn't just another threat. He was something worse, something more dangerous.

Kael lunged at Mark, fangs bared, but Mark was faster. The two collided in a blur of motion, their strength shaking the room. Tong could barely follow the fight, but it was brutal. Kael struck with vicious speed, his attacks relentless, but Mark countered each blow with equal ferocity.

The air was thick with tension, each strike echoing. At one point, Kael managed to pin Mark against the wall, his claws digging into Mark's shoulder.

"You can't protect him forever," Kael hissed his face inches from Mark's. "And when you fail, I'll be there to take what's mine."

Mark's eyes burned with fury. He shoved Kael off, sending him crashing through the glass balcony doors. But when Mark rushed forward, Kael was gone, disappearing into the night like a shadow.

For a moment, the apartment was deathly quiet, the only sound Tong's labored breathing. Mark stood there, his body tense, scanning the darkness for any sign of Kael's return.

Finally, he turned to Tong. His gaze softened, but there was still a shadow of worry in his eyes.

"Are you hurt?" Mark asked, his voice low, almost gentle now.

Tong shook his head, still too shaken to speak. He didn't realize how badly his hands were trembling until Mark took them in his own, steadying him.

"You need to leave," Mark said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're not safe here anymore."

"But—"

"I can't protect you like this," Mark cut him off, his tone firm but filled with regret. "Not with Kael around. He won't stop now that he knows you're here."

Tong wanted to argue, to ask why this was happening, but the fear in Mark's eyes told him everything. This wasn't a fight he could be part of. This was something beyond him—something darker and more dangerous than he'd ever imagined.

Mark's grip on his hands tightened, and for a brief moment, Tong saw the pain behind Mark's calm exterior. He wasn't just trying to protect him—he was terrified of losing him.

"I won't let him take you," Mark whispered, his voice breaking just a little. "Not again."

And with that, Mark pulled Tong into his arms, holding him tight as if it were the only thing keeping him from falling apart.