Obscurity

𝔉𝔦𝔣𝔱𝔢𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔥 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯: in the depths of Lan Zhan's past ☾part 3☽

Loud, unbalanced footsteps interrupted the serenity of the lush hill. They were so loud, that even birds seized to feed their offsprings, and the crickets shut their melodious sounds. Followed by the racket, faint, but breathy pants echoed in the tranquility of the dim trees. 

The lone hill stood in the middle of the magical forest.

Two pairs of footsteps followed one after another, tripping and falling, but running as fast as they can. They ran closer to a kneeling, high-posture sculpture; both knees on the trimmed grass, hands neatly placed on the knees; looking as mighty as ever. It was facing two tombstones, placed high on the hill, close to each other. 

On one of them were carved words with 'Beloved Mother' and on the next, 'Senior Leader'. 

An ashen-faced younger vampire fell to his knees in front of the statue and bent his head as low as humanly possible. His hair resting on the wet grass. He was slightly trembling as he pushed his hands in front of his head, in a triangle shape, and spoke in a breathy tone, "Leader."

Lan Zhan opened his ebony eyes, turned his head over his shoulder, and maliciously glared at the younger. The eyes, screaming deadness, and indignance made you want to dig yourself underground. 

The atmosphere and the tranquility on top of the hill made anyone restless, except Lan Wangji. The hillock was his sanctuary. This was the place where he buried his deceased parents' remains. He always came to pay his respects and spent half the night kneeling in front of the tombstones, in complete silence. And the silence, as well as, Lan Wangji's unapproachable appearance, made the surroundings frightening even for the other vampires.

The air around the hill was frigid like ice daggers that would slowly but surely penetrate the sky, and at any moment, the sky would collapse with big chunks of snow falling to the ground, covering the lush with its white, frisky droplets.

But the season would always stay the same, and winter wasn't in the dictionary. All over the year, the flowers would still bloom, the sun would still linger, the trees would still produce leaves and other edibles for the stray.

Lan Zhan's gaze didn't linger long on the vampire, who was trembling like a leaf in front with his head stuck on the ground and returned his attention to his parents. He spoke in a deep, coarse voice, "Speak."

The younger glanced at his friend, who was also shaking tremendously and stayed far behind, and then with a shaky voice announced, "Leader... A human girl is wandering deeper down the woods... Doesn't look younger than who we usually turned... Should we b-"

"No need, I'll deal with it," interrupted Lan Wangji. He gracefully stood up, turned around, and swiped his hand in the air, gesturing them to leave. 

Both the subordinates glimpsed at each other with confusion in their eyes, but bowed down and sprinted down the hill, one of them almost tripping on his own foot. 

Worthless, thought Lan Zhan, watching the two run down the hill with their tails between their legs. When he was left standing on the hill alone, Lan Zhan's eyes flickered and the irises changed to dark yellow. His body quickly turned to the side from where a faint feminine scent came from and vanished in the darkness of the night.