Who Said Vampires Don't Exist? Well, I Did, Until Now

Chapter 43: Unique Blood

---- It's been too long, but here I am again. This book will be finished one day; I promise! Things are about to get crazy guys, strap in for the ride. This chapter marks the beginning of the climax of the story. From here, things will amp up for a few chapters before we get our denouement. This story has been so much fun to write, and it has spanned through such a large part of my life. Can't wait to finish the next seven chapters. On we go. ----

Chapter 43

I was getting exceedingly tired of waking up in unfamiliar terrain. As my senses returned, I realized I was in an extremely dark room huddled on the cold damp ground.

Claudius.

The memory hit me like a freight train. Claudius was alive. He attacked me; he kidnapped me.

Seth. He hurt Seth.

I sat up despite the pounding in my head and tried to take in my surroundings. The only light came from a small crack underneath a door to my right. From what I could tell, the room was completely barren.

I crawled to the door and tried my luck with the handle. Locked. Of course.

I pushed my ear against the door, straining to hear anything behind the thick metal surface. There was nothing. Dread trickled its way through my entire body. I was completely alone and completely at the mercy of this murderous vampire.

After feeling my way through the entire space, I became certain the only exit was the one door. I could feel wallpaper peeling from the walls, and it disintegrated in my hands like sand. I found nothing I could use as a weapon; nothing I could use to free myself.

So, I sat. I sat and waited.

As I waited, I thought of Reuban to keep myself from losing my mind to the darkness. I thought of what it felt like to kiss him, and I imagined him bursting through the door to save me.

But he didn't burst through the door. No one did.

----

I couldn't be sure, but I knew several hours had passed since I'd awoken. I began to believe I would be trapped in this blackness forever. At last, I heard a distant tapping from far away. I strained my ears as the sound got louder and clearer, and I realized it was the sound of footsteps.

As the door creaked open loudly, I huddled deeper into the far corner shivering in fear. The door opening let in a flood of light that I had to close my eyes against for a long moment. I was not at all surprised by who emerged from the other side.

"Hello dear, I hope you've enjoyed your stay so far." Claudius smiled at me in obvious enjoyment at my distress. He approached me with small steps, and I forced myself to lift my head to meet his menacing gaze.

"You're... you're just going to kill me, so why lock me in here?" He smirked and shook his head.

"Because I'm not just going to kill you. I'm going to drink your blood, heal you, and then drink your blood again. Again, and again. Until I'm no longer craving it." I visibly shuddered in horror and felt my limbs going numb from the absolute fear coursing through me.

"How... how did you escape the execution?"

"Well, that was easier than you would expect." He paced lazily as he recounted. "The execution is itself designed to allow people to escape. Why do you think they disfigure the face before the actual event? By doing so, a royal or rich vampire can pay to have someone of the lower class take their place. Then, said royal rich vampire can just escape to the other side of the world. As with most cultures, the vampiric law is also designed for the rich and powerful to avoid consequences and the poor and weak to suffer instead."