Blood Bank

A w a k e n i n g - 4

Aera was practically dragging herself as she navigated through the tomb. She had run into many dead ends and was losing hope in finding the safe room. She didn't dare look down at her injured leg as she feared what she may see. She hated seeing blood. Well, hers only.

It was like the world was spinning. She felt ready to collapse onto the cement, but she knew that she couldn't rest. She needed to find the safe room. She walked let out a shaky breath as she leaned against the wall. She tried to regain her balance.

"You're making a mess everywhere you know that?"

Aera fell forward at the voice. She looked back and saw a masked man. He was rather tall and his bright pink eyes stared at her with curiosity. Despite his playful voice, she knew he was trouble.

A path opened up behind the masked man where the fountain should have been. With her fall, she had pulled a certain brick out of the wall. It clicked and she realized it must be the safe room.

She didn't hesitate to cock the gun once more and shoot at his head. She took the chance to sprint into the entrance and ran straight.

The mysterious boy's mask had broken in half, but he didn't fret. He spit out the bullet without paying attention to the burning sensation it left.

Aera ran despite the burning pain coursing through her body, mostly in her leg. She couldn't help but shake off an unsettling feeling as she ran through the hall. She eventually reached a big, steel door. She fumbled to get it open and when it did, she ran in and slammed the door shut. She placed a random stand under the knob in hopes it would stop anyone following her.

She sighed and let herself slide down the wall. The bleeding hadn't stopped and she felt too tired and dizzy to go on. One thing she knew was that she couldn't sleep. It would be too risky. She decided to look around the dimly lit room.

It was eerie, almost like it was a scene from a horror movie. In the middle of the room was a circle of candles that framed some ancient writings. She looked at the other side of the room and saw a shrine. She got up slowly and limped towards it.

Blood...

The temperature in the room dropped, sending a shiver down Aera's spine. She examined the shrine and saw a lone rabbit statue sitting on the table. Through the darkness, she was able to make out the symbol of one wing on it.

Save me...

Aera nearly jumps at the voice. She glanced around the room and saw she was alone. As she was about to relax, the door flew off of the frame. The stand hit her stomach, knocking her back. She tried to catch the breath that left her as she tried to ignore the pain. The rabbit statue had fallen from its place and shattered.

"I found you." The voice sang. The masked boy from before appeared before her, admiring her helpless state. He climbed on top of her, ripping her neck protection off. "How good will you taste?"

Aera didn't bother fighting back. She knew that she couldn't win against a Nightwalker. Tears came flowing from her eyes as she felt the blood from her wound pool beneath her.

Blood...

Aera felt his cold long hands pin her down as he leaned towards her neck. He licked his lips and pierced her skin. The girl whimpered as she felt her blood being drained from her.

"Save..me.." Aera murmured. "Joon... Anyone... please.."

A sudden explosion separated the two. Aera yelped in pain as the Nightwalker's fangs dragged across her skin. The mysterious Nightwalker groaned slightly and touched his lips. He swiped the thick liquid from it and examined it.

"Why is it blue?" The Nightwalker wondered. The usually crimson red was a deep royal blue. Aera knew she could use this chance to escape, but her body refused to move.

Release me...

Aera looked around as she looked for the disembodied voice. What did it mean by release? Who did she have to release? Where?

Blood...

She slowly turned towards the remains of the head of the rabbit statue laid beside her. She noticed the wing symbol on it. She touched her wound and sloppily smeared her blood onto it. Another explosion sent the nearing Nightwalker flying back as the ashes came together. It formed the shape of a person that slowly sat Aera up.

He looked at her weary eyes with his pure black eyes. He was pale skinned, too pale for even vampires. His lips were chapped and blue and his hair was white. He looked like a monster, but Aera didn't fear him.

It licked her wound, enjoying the sweet taste of her blood. As he worked his way up, the wound began to close and his body slowly gained its color once more.

"It's not nice to eat someone else's prey." The masked Nightwalker growled. The boy paid no attention to him and sank his teeth into Aera's skin. He savored each drop as he started to regain his strength once more.

He stopped after a couple of seconds, closed his eyes and let out a satisfied sigh. The blue liquid dripped from his lips as he tilted his head back.

His hair slowly turned into a dark brown that was almost black. His lips restored themselves into its former plump and pink state. He opened his eyes, the neon aqua blue orbs stared forward. He looked down at Aera who looked at him in awe.

He looked ethereal.

She flinched slightly as the wound in her leg let itself be known. The ethereal boy looked down at her wound and back to the masked Nightwalker.

"Did he hurt you?" His voice was cold but melodic. Aera nodded.

"Who are you to protect her?" The masked Nightwalker asked. The ethereal boy disappeared from sight and appeared behind the masked nightwalker. He kicked him in the gut, foot going through his body. He removed his foot and watched the Nightwalker twitch and bleed out.

He turned back to Aera, spots of blood on his face. He approached her once more, but the girl backed up in fear. She felt the cold concrete wall against her back as the ethereal boy towered over her. He leaned down towards her face.

Suddenly she felt lightheaded and her vision began to blur. Before she blacked out, she felt cold lips against her own.

"Thank you."