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52. Handling Affairs
Last Updated:
2022-05-27 00:30:09Related chapters
Bloody Full Moon 53. The Summit of the Alphas
Paul - The alpha summitAs I dress in my new suit, Laura watches me in the mirror. Something is still bugging me as to how she has handled the matter with Bogdan.“Are you sure he’ll stop trying to kill me and kidnap you?” I repeat the question for a dozenth time.“Humans, especially those with unstable minds, are easy to coerce.” She sighs. "I took care of Bogdan Badea. He’s not hurting anymore and has let go of his plan for vengeance. I was surprised when you gave him back his family business. He’ll surely move forward with his life now."“Ok, I’ll end any talks about Bogdan here and now.”My red tie rests on the edge of the chair. It has the same perfect shade of copper as Laura’s hair. I take it and start preparing myself for the meeting.Laura approaches. She takes my hands off the tie. I smile and let her do it for me. Even though the knot she creates is a little crooked and much duller than my Windsor knot, I keep it.Smirking, I watch Laura tilting her head.“It’s a bit crooke
Last Updated : 2022-05-30Bloody Full Moon 54. Pushing Away
Laura - The alpha summitMy efforts in preparing for this event have paid off. Everything is sparkling under the chandeliers, from the colorful roses to the neatly arranged ballroom.One by one, members of Paul’s pack come forth and vouch for me in front of the alphas. Some faces I know all too well, like Maria and even Alin. Some I know less about, like that guy from the tech department whom I helped with that hidden love letter. Even Radu speaks in my favor.I don’t know why, but every word shakes me to my very core. I’m not worthy of their trust, and I’m not here to stay. Fate brought me here, carrying me like a leaf in the wind. But I wanted a single thing, and that wasn’t to find a family or a place to belong.To what lengths is Paul willing to go just to keep me by his side? Isn’t he scared that he’ll eventually lose everything just for me?I feel a twinge of guilt for making him do so much, for making him do all this for me. He shouldn’t have to bear this burden.My soul craves
Last Updated : 2022-05-31Bloody Full Moon 55. A Heart to Heart
Paul - A park in BucharestWithout my knowledge, my feet brought me into a park, not very far from the hotel where the summit takes place. My knees feel like they will give way soon under the weight I feel inside my soul.The night is cold and gloomy, the stars hiding behind thick clouds. The wind blows, making me shiver.I sit on a bench. A post next to a tree sheds light between the branches, the leaves creating shadows on the asphalt in a mesmerizing pattern.“Paul!”“Lexa,” I mutter, watching her coming closer.“I’m glad I found you.”“What are you doing here?” I ask, looking up at her.Her chestnut hair shines a dark red under the tree, and I wonder why I keep getting in love with red-headed women.I tilt my head back. "Have you heard what happened in the hotel room between me and Laura?"“How— How do you know that I—”“I sensed your perfume on the corridor when I left the room.”“Ah, yeah. I’m sorry, but not really.” Lexa sits next to me. “Paul, I know you better than anyone els
Last Updated : 2022-06-02Bloody Full Moon 56. All Alone
Laura - Outside the hotelLike a marathon runner on the last part of the race, I drag myself toward the hotel parking lot. My brain wants me to leave, but my spirit wants me to stay.Why the hell would I stay? Nothing good can come out of this. We’re worlds apart, yet the image of his eyes when I told him to end it remains etched in my memory.Paul’s car is still here, so he can’t be far. Maybe I should go and find him, at least to know he’s fine. Wouldn’t that be an admission that I care about him?My heart is shattered, and my soul is broken. Why would anyone want to fall in love?Love is brutal. A simple brush of fingers sends you into delirium. The slightest touch rips your skin open, and thus, a simple push becomes fatal. Simply put, it’s a ticking bomb. Why am I searching for it instead of letting it go?If only I knew what to do. I keep walking, my feet taking me closer and closer to the street. I have no idea where I want to go or what I hope to achieve by going there.People
Last Updated : 2022-06-06Bloody Full Moon 57. For the Love of Hearing
Alisa - Two Months LaterMy name is Alisa Cristescu, and I am a perfectly sane and healthy twenty-something-year-old strigoi. My best friend and maker, however, is quite crazy.After living my entire life with my parents, my older sister, her husband, their three children, and a dog named Luna, becoming a strigoi and moving out with Laura was the highlight of my life. It's been a happy home ever since. We had ups and downs like any friends have, but not like this.The loud music coming from Laura’s room pops like firecrackers in my head. Grumbling unheard even by myself, I google ‘where to buy earmuffs near Dristor.’The search comes up with nothing useful, and the delivery may take up to three days. My eardrums don’t have that much time left.Tumbling onto my couch, I close my eyes, wishing for the world to stop exploding. The music gets louder, and my ears feel as though they're bleeding.“Shit! Shit! Shit!"I force my way into Laura's room. Her hand lifts a dart as she focuses on a
Last Updated : 2022-06-07Bloody Full Moon 58. One Last Attempt
Paul - Roaming through the city streetsWhen I was a child, I discovered a baby bird that had fallen from its nest. I couldn't leave it stranded and alone on the grass. It was so frail and vulnerable.I brought it home and nursed it back to health. I fed it worms and wheat and cleaned its feathers. The little thing grew up healthy and strong. I called it "Pigeon" since I thought it was a pigeon. But as spring gave way to summer, I soon came to realize that Pigeon was actually a crow. My grandmother advised me to toss it away because it was a bad omen. But knowing what it was didn't change my feelings for it.Pigeon used to stay perched on my shoulder. I was small, and it was too big for me to carry for a long time. But I wanted to keep it close to me. I had grown attached to the little creature.When it started to try flying on its own, I got scared it would fall and harm itself. It was cawing and flapping its wings. So I kept it in a cage for its own good.I’d always taken good care
Last Updated : 2022-06-13Bloody Full Moon 59. Wrong Together
Laura - Her apartmentI close the door behind me, gulping and acutely conscious of my motionless heart and lungs. Leaning against the cold door, everything I've been holding back for the last several months rushes to the surface.A deep breath."Fuck."My body shakes as I release a heavy sigh.Why do I always end up here? Why does my life keep getting complicated?Every time I think I have it all figured out, I'm surprised by some new twist or turn. Why did my glamour break when he kissed me?For me, pain doesn't come as a dagger. It's something I've embraced and doesn't feel sharp anymore. It just comes to shatter everything around me, showing me the void that's actually there inside me.Before all hell breaks loose, I need to numb myself as much as possible. I sprint toward the fridge and take a look at Alisa’s stash. She obtains blood from a variety of sources, from shady dealers to medical personnel, primarily by bribery since she has yet to master the art of glamour. Nonetheless
Last Updated : 2022-06-15Bloody Full Moon 60. The Frail Girl
Alisa - Her apartment“Laura, where are you going?” I shout right when the door slams shut behind her.Why would she answer me? I let out a mocking sigh and flung back onto the couch. The cigarette rolls over the table until it stops next to the blood bag.Raising my head, I stare into the broken TV screen. My face has cracks all over the place. How did I end up here?Yeah, right, that pesky book. When I was little, I read an old book that turned my perceptions upside down. It was about vampires. Funny, right? Never thought back then that I would end up as a strigoi. The book showed me a glimpse of darkness I could never picture otherwise. My heart broke at the sublime loneliness one can feel, shunned by society. The two options were to live alone and forgotten, hiding from sight, or be hunted down and killed just for existing. I’ve never felt such pity for a being. Growing up, I thought it was all just a story. And then I met Laura. The perfect incarnation of loneliness.Maybe tha
Last Updated : 2022-07-04
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Bloody Full Moon 85. Epilogue
Laura - AliveThe world is teeming with life and sensations I couldn’t see before. The air itself sizzles with electricity, and my skin tingles under the sun’s warmth. My heart is beating so fast that I can hear its thumping in my ears. Oh, how good it is to be alive. But then again, what is death?It’s a void, a nothingness, the absence of everything.So even though death is the ultimate lack of all existence, isn’t it also a state where we are given a chance to start anew?I’m not sure what I expected, but the reality is better than anything I could have imagined. Every day is a new adventure, and I love every minute of my life, full of laughter, hugs, and kisses. I must admit, destiny has one hell of a way of playing tricks on a girl. When I was young and wanted to live, I died. When I was an abomination and wanted to die, I was born anew. Sometimes, nothing goes the way you want it to, but not always what you want is what you get. And maybe it’s for the best. I am free of my c
Bloody Full Moon 84. True Love's Bite
Paul - The Retezat MountainsAuburn leaves fall kissed by the cold winds. A cold mountain that still hasn’t welcomed winter. An owl hoots a few times and, as I pass, flies away, out of reach. I can feel the change in the air, now thick with the scent of incoming rain. The sky above the tree’s canopy is gathering heavy clouds, soon to be released in a torrent of droplets. The first few stars peeking through the dark gray curtains are a sign that I don’t have much time left to find Laura. I know I'm close. To her. And I know why she ran away, putting distance between us. Because I'm possessive and selfish, not wanting to give her what she needs. I can't give her what she wants without losing everything I love. And I love her. But it seems I'm doomed to lose her anyhow.I've lost so much time denying reality, turning a blind eye to the truth. "I'm coming, Laura," I whisper to myself. The trees seem to go on forever, the forest floor stretching into the distance. Laura is nowhere in s
Bloody Full Moon 83. Reading the Future
The Gypsy Witch - Her hutMy nose scrunches. A sweet smell permeates the air, like a mixture of old spices and fresh herbs. There’s a slight vibration below my feet; the ground seems to shake with every step I take. Something will happen soon. Hehe! I should better ask the key. I reach into my pocket and take out the instrument of my favorite art. The key is a simple piece of metal for any ungifted person. But for me, it is a tool that can open the secrets of the future. I turn it over in my hand, feeling the smoothness of its surface. Cleidomancy is one of the most powerful and ancient forms of divination. It is the art of reading the future by observing the movements of a spellbound key. Some say the spirits of the dead are the ones who turn the key and direct the motion. Hehe!A witch never looks directly at the key. Instead, she always studies it from the corner of her eye, making sure she isn't seen peeking. Otherwise, the key won't move.My fingers are tingly as they seem to b
Bloody Full Moon 82. Ticking Clock
Laura - At homeI find myself lying on a bed of black velvet inside an empty room with no windows or doors. The walls are lined floor-to-ceiling with bookshelves, each filled from top to bottom. The books are all different sizes and shapes, but they all have the same purpose: to fill the emptiness inside me. “Because I’m hollow on the inside,” I whisper to myself. Under the blanket next to me, there is a figure wrapped in the same black velvet. I reach out and remove the cover, revealing an old man. His skin is wrinkled and pale, and his hair is entirely white. He looks as if he is sleeping. He slowly opens his eyes and looks at me. His hand comes up to touch my face but loses its vigor halfway through. “Are you real?” I ask him.He sighs, closing his eyes. Only a whisper of a breath escapes his lips. “Don’t be afraid, Laura. I’ll always love you.”“No!” I scream. “This can’t be real. This man can’t be Paul.”His strong features and soft gray eyes are the same. His voice is the sa
Bloody Full Moon 81. Never Let Him Go
Alisa - Stryga Inc, her officeBefore entering my office, I stroll down a short hallway and pass my assistant’s desk. Official-looking diplomas and the like hang on the wall behind her. I catch a glimpse of FB reflected in one of them as she turns off her tablet and looks up at me. Does anyone even consider this company an actual workplace? Every employee is a glorified receptionist, and most of them dawdle their time away in front of their computers without doing any real work. When did I become the most diligent person around? “Good morning, Miss Cristescu,” she says, making a good show of turning toward her computer screen as if she has tons and tons of work to do. Her voice is light and cheerful enough, showing that she hasn’t noticed my mood today. Or that she couldn’t care less.If I were to say anything to her, I would fire her on the spot. But starting to dispose of the people who annoy me would leave me working all by myself. So I just nod and continue on my way. Sighing,
Bloody Full Moon 80. Love and Fear
Laura - HomeFearing I could drop the puppy from my shaky hands, I slowly set him down on the floor. He immediately starts whimpering and wagging his tail, but I'm too scared to pick him up. I back away slowly, watching him from the corner of my eye as he scrambles to his feet. My legs feel like jelly, and I sit on the couch's edge. Several decades have passed since I've last seen Iustin, my maker. The night I met him was the night I died—the night I became a strigoi. I look at my shaking hands, remembering those times.He was the one who turned me into one of them, holding my dead body in his arms for three days and three nights, keeping my soul trapped inside and forbidding it from going to the other side. For a long time, I thought he lied to me about the process until I did the same to Alisa and turned her into a strigoi as well. He helped me escape the strigoi Council's tight grip, and I owe him my life if my life counts for anything. Iustin covered up my ability to read minds
Bloody Full Moon 79. Serendipity
Paul - At home“We’re leaving the day after tomorrow,” I announce to Dan, sitting in front of him at the kitchen table. “I’ve scheduled a week-long trip to a remote location I don’t want to disclose even to you. I’ve been careful not to go during a full moon. So you and Alin should be fine managing the pack while I’m away. Oh, and the phone signal might be lacking, so don’t try to call me.”“I see you made up your mind already.” Dan sighs. “I knew you would put Laura above all else, but this is too much. Give me at least an emergency contact number to reach you just in case.”“As you said, I’ve made up my mind.”“Fine.” Dan stands and begins pacing through the kitchen. “What about the company? I’m not particularly fond of the idea of taking on business decisions while you’re away.”“Oh, no need. I put Max in charge of the company during my absence.”“The shifter? Why would you do that? Do you trust him so much?”“He’s not doing me any favor. The bastard is charging me for his time and
Bloody Full Moon 78. Lilac Scent
Paul - At home The house I grew up in was always a little too quiet for my liking. Now, the same house is shifting from a place of memories into a cradle for Laura and me. She has brought most of her things to the house. Unwrapping the last of the boxes, she stares at a small album. She opens it and pulls out a picture. I wrap my arms around her from behind, resting my chin on her shoulder. Out of habit, I sniff her hair, inhaling her scent. “Why do you keep smelling my hair?” she asks, still looking at the photo. I lightly touch my lips to the spot where her neck meets her collarbone.“It is said that when two people are fated mates, their scent is like a fingerprint, a unique signature only the other can notice.” I pause to take another sniff. “For me, you smell like lilac flowers in the spring, and it’s driving me crazy.”I nuzzle her neck, breathing in her scent and letting it fill my lungs. Laura doesn’t answer. She sighs, and her fingers shake over a black and white photog
Bloody Full Moon 77. Before the Beep
Laura - At homeDays pass quicker when immortality doesn’t seem like a useless burden. My condition hasn't improved. I am still an immortal strigoi, so basically just another girl in the world, with a few oddities.I fill my time with the things I love most: reading and Paul. He keeps at bay all the pessimistic tendencies that make me want to run away from reality. I know he will one day die. The thought still nibs at the back of my head and sometimes feels unbearable, but I don’t want to give up his company. He gives me hope, and even though we only have a few decades together, I'll make every second count.His presence is a gift to my soul. Even now, when he works in the bedroom while I read a book on the veranda bench, I feel peaceful. Just knowing he is there makes me happy. When we’re closer, things tend to get wild. We share a passion for each other and want to explore every inch of the other. We never get tired of being together. The slightest brush of his skin against mine
