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70. The Blood Traders
Last Updated:
2022-08-23 00:07:13Related chapters
Bloody Full Moon 71. The Lady with the Scythe
Laura - Unknown locationI try to move but to no avail. Silver chains restrain my hands and feet in a vertical position, even though my toes don't touch the floor. My skin burns around the bindings, and it hurts even more whenever I try to move.Nonetheless, I strive and wriggle. At times, I believe I scream, but no sound comes out of my lips, or my ears have stopped working.My back aches and the wounds covering my body aren’t healing as fast as new ones appear. Even so, they will heal. Only the scars of the soul never disappear.After all, I am a strigoi. I can't hear my heart beating in my chest, which makes me feel sick and weak. Focusing all my powers, I glamour myself again. I have to feel human.Footsteps on the rocky floor are steadily approaching the silver door. My torturers visit me once more.My captors always return. No matter when I manage to sleep or how tired I feel, they're never gone for long.The man who enters first is a human. The unchanging rhythm of the man’s he
Last Updated : 2022-08-24Bloody Full Moon 72. Unexpected Guests
Alisa - Her apartmentBrowsing channels at 4 AM is a bad idea. Only subpar porn and disgusting talk shows switch before my eyes. I shouldn’t have bought a new TV after Laura smashed the previous one.Oh, Laura... Where are you now? What happened to you? I can't think of any other method to track you down. I tried everything I could think of. I wish I knew where to start looking for you.I lean forward over the coffee table, one hand rubbing my temple and the other tapping on the wooden surface. A creaking sound notifies me barely a fraction of a second before the table buckles beneath the pressure of my nails.“Ahh,” I scream my frustration in the stale air of the living room.Oh, the irony of being extremely powerful and yet feeling completely powerless. My palm lingers above the emptiness where my coffee table previously stood. I'm upset about the loss of the said piece of furniture, but I'm not sure why. I didn't even like that hideous chunk of wood.I stare blankly at the remains
Last Updated : 2022-08-29Bloody Full Moon 73. Council in Session
Alisa - In front of the apartment blockDamn! The situation doesn’t look good for us. I’m not Laura, and Dan is not Paul. If the strigois find out about our relationship, it will end badly for both of us.A black limousine is waiting at the curb. With my eyes fixed on the vehicle, I pass by Dan without sparing him another glance.“Let’s go. It smells of dog around here,” I scoff, waving a hand beneath my nose as if I want to drive away the stench in the air.“Alisa! What are you saying?” Dan shouts behind me. He takes a step forward, but one of Ion Corvin's men blocks his path.“The lady comes with us,” the man says, unfazed.“She doesn’t go anywhere.” Dan’s nostrils flair. “Alisa is mine.”“Alisa is a strigoi, and all strigois are mine,” Ion Corvin decrees with a smug grin.“The only person I belong to is myself,” I bark out and enter the limousine."Get out of my way!" Dan pushes aside the strigoi who obstructed his path. He takes two steps and stops in front of Ion Corvin. I fear
Last Updated : 2022-08-30Bloody Full Moon 74. Out of the Dark
Laura - Council’s headquarters“Where—” My voice breaks. My mouth is too dry to speak. The brightness blinds me as two strigois carry me outside of my cell. It can't be the sun since my skin isn't heated. My eyes have become used to the darkness of the cage, and even the faintest light blinds me.The sound of people talking echoes as we walk through the corridors. I don't even know where they're taking me.My two guides stop, and I along with them. A soft touch takes the place of their hands on my back. “I got her.” Alisa’s voice is more demanding than I am used to hearing her. “You’re dismissed.”As footsteps depart, I look to the side and see Alisa’s face in a haze. My sight slowly clears, and I glimpse her lips stretching in a smirk.She sits next to me in the backseat of a car and instructs the driver to take off. She hands me a bottle of water, and I drink it all. The cool liquid soothes my parched mouth.Alisa sighs, arranging her hair. "It's so hard to keep you out of trouble
Last Updated : 2022-09-05Bloody Full Moon 75. Stalking a Strigoi
Alisa - Council HeadquartersHere I am, sitting at my new, large desk covered in piles of papers. I am still trying to get used to the fact that now I am in charge of the entire business empire of the Council.It hasn't been easy these past few days. I'm supposed to be in control of all strigois and their assets.A fireplace, the only light in this room, burns brightly, but the room seems to be anything but bright. The fire spreads a warmth we, strigois, can’t retain. The walls are dark; thick shadows move over the dusty old books on the shelves. Posters displaying information about the company, some of them old and yellowed, and others peeling and faded, hang next to the shelves. Old maps are tacked up on the wall but have no meaning for me.This place has seen so much history, and now it's mine. Too bad I'm not a fan of the past.The general gloomy vibe creeps into my mind as I look over the documents on my desk. Years of funding with no discernable progress, investors breathing do
Last Updated : 2022-09-06Bloody Full Moon 76. This Shifter
Paul - In the park“Attacking the blood traders was only a ruse to provide the fake Ion Corvin with a reason to give in. Max couldn’t simply let Laura go. We had to ensure everyone believed the deal was in their best interest.” I pause for a moment, staring at Alisa. She blinks but doesn't say anything.She is still standing in front of us, her arms folded over her chest. Her eyes narrow slightly, her mouth pursed. She doesn’t look happy.“Continue,” she orders. “How did you switch the real Ion Corvin with the fake one?”Her eyes move on to Max. He winks at her, and she immediately returns her attention to me. Her glare chills me to the bone. If I had any doubts before, now I’m confident she’ll be able to keep all the strigois in check. She’s a force of nature, just like Laura. “Alisa, can we do this somewhere more private?” I pause, glancing at a young couple walking by. “These are delicate matters and shouldn’t be discussed in the park.”“You picked this spot and this bench to me
Last Updated : 2022-09-08Bloody 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
Last Updated : 2022-09-09Bloody 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
Last Updated : 2022-09-10
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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
