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Chapter 4

Penulis: Iamfide
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-02-09 07:40:08

Raina's POV 

A cold chill ran up my spine, choking the breath from my lungs. The vampire stood unnervingly still, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that sent my instincts screaming. Every muscle in my body tensed, but I couldn't move, fear rooting me in place.

Mel.

The name curled around me like a whispered curse. I didn't know any Mel. At least, I didn't think I did. But the way he said it—like it was a name that belonged to me—sent a ripple of unease through me.

I forced myself to speak, drawing in a shaky breath. “You've got the wrong person.”

His lips curled, his fangs gleaming under the pale morning light. “No, I don't.”

My pulse thundered in my ears, my mind racing through options. Run? Scream? Attack? None of them seemed wise against a creature that had already proven it could kill. And from last night's research, I was outmatched in strength and speed. I didn't stand a chance.

“What do you want?” I asked, stalling for time.

The vampire titled his head slightly, his blackened veins pulsing as if something dark and unnatural ran beneath his skin. “So the rumors are true?” he murmured, almost to himself, disappointment flickering in his tone.

My chest tightened. “What rumours?”

“Hmm. Was that the price? Losing your memories?”

I gritted my teeth, irritation replacing fear. I hated feeling lost, like I was being played with.

“What the hell are you tal—”

Before I could finish, the vampire moved. My mouth opened to scream, thinking he was about to sink his fangs into me. But the sound caught in my throat as his lips—cold and soft—connected with mine.

I froze, my body suddenly reacting on sheer will. My hands tangled in his hair as I pulled him closer, letting my tongue roam freely in his mouth. The taste of iron lingered, sending a jolt through me.

The vampire abruptly pulled back, pushing me away with a bewildered look. “Something is wrong,” he stated, eyeing me intently.

I barely heard him. My mind was hazy, body aching to close the distance between us again. I moved toward him, but he took a step back.

“What did you do, Mel?” 

Before I could answer, a voice called behind me. “Raina, is that you?” 

I turned to find my co-worker, James, standing at the entrance with a garbage bag in hand, adjusting his glasses. “Who are you talking to?” 

Remembering the vampire, I glanced back—but he was gone. Only a gust of wind remained, whipping my hair into my face.

“What the hell just happened?” I muttered, the burning need fading into an unsettling cringe.

James walked up to me, scanning the lot. “Raina, are you okay? I swear I saw you talking to someone.

“No,” I lied. “Just thinking.”

“Hmm.” He didn’t look convinced. “Well, better head inside. The manager’s been asking for you. I think you might be in trouble this time.”

“Great.”

I quickly closed my gas tank, throwing one last glance over my shoulder before heading inside.

“That's three times this week, Raina.” Frank frowned, leaning back in his chair.

“I can explain. My bike—”

“You told me you had it fixed two days ago.”

I paused, coming up with another excuse. “I did. But haven’t you heard? One of our honorary customers, Miss Agnes, went missing. Since I was the last person to see her, the police had questions.”

Frank scrutinized me. “Always an excuse with you.”

“Hey, it's not my fault things keep happening.”

He shot me a look, shutting me up. I avoided his gaze, focusing on anything but him.

“Fine. You can leave,” he sighed. “But one more strike, and that's it.”

I paused mid-stand. “You'd really fire me?”

“If you’re late again.” He returned to his paperwork, dismissing me.

“Wow.” 

I walked out, heading for the dispatch room. The place was already bustling.

“Look, everyone, the boss has arrived,” Ava called, glancing at her empty wrist. “Over two hours late to give us our orders.”

I rolled my eyes. “Maybe if you saved up for a watch, you wouldn’t have to fake-check the time.”

Laughter rippled through the room, making Ava fume. I blew her a kiss, grabbed my list, and left. Somehow, she had it in her head that Frank and I had a thing. If she’d just talk to me instead of acting like a child, she’d know I wanted nothing to do with him. I wasn’t one to date my boss.

I picked up my packages. The first delivery was to some teenagers, which meant no tip. Great.

After that, I avoided a fight with two other rude customers before returning for my last package. On my way out again, I bumped into Ava. She smirked, brushing me on the shoulder as she walked past.

Suspicion gnawed at me, but I had bigger things to worry about. Like whether the vampire would still show up after our weird encounter this morning.

I secured my package, hopped onto my bike, and took off. Today's traffic was heavy, but I weaved through, glancing at my watch. I wasn’t behind schedule yet.

I pulled up to a bungalow, a German shepherd chained to the porch, It barked but wagged its tail.

“Hey, Max. Want some treats?” I tossed him a bone from my pocket. He devoured it without hesitation. “Good boy.” I scratched behind his ear, then rang the doorbell.

After delivering the package—and receiving a generous tip—I climbed back onto my bike. Loosening my ponytail, I let my hair flow in the night breeze.

The bridge road was open. No speed limits.

I set a timer, smirking as I took off. The wind rushed past, hair whipping behind me, my cap keeping it in place.

“Whoo!” I shouted into the wind, letting go of the handle bars for a split second. 

This was the best part of my job.

I laughed to myself, raising my face to feel the wind in it.

Then I heard it.

A horn. Blaring.

No headlights. No sign of where it was coming from.

I hit the brakes—nothing. 

I tried again. But it didn’t work.

My heart lurched. “Damn you, Ava!” 

The truck came into view, barreling toward me. The driver was distracted, arguing with his pregnant wife.

“Hey!” I waved frantically.

Too late.

I swerved, crashing into the bridge’s side. The impact flung me over the edge.

A scream barely escaped my lips before the river swallowed me whole.

I couldn’t swim. 

Lower and lower, I sank, swallowing mouthfuls as I struggled.

The water stung my eyes. My lungs burned.

Then—something fell from the sky.

A splash.

I reached out, fingers brushing against something solid. My vision blurred, but I recognized the eerie, empty void of nothingness staring back at me.  

I blinked, trying to hold onto him, just as the last of my air escaped. My grip faltered, and I slipped away, drifting into the comforting embrace of darkness.

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    Raina's POVI opened my eyes with a start to see the vampire leaning over me, his lips pressed to mine—again. “Eww,” I jumped, shoving him away. “Stop doing that.”“Doing what?” he asked, looking genuinely taken aback.“Kissing me! It’s rude to do that against someone’s will.”“You were unconscious. I don’t think you would've answered if I had asked. I only did it to save your life.”“Oh.” I rubbed my arms, the wind biting against my soaked skin. “I didn’t know vampires could give CPR.” He raised a brow. I shrugged. “You’re dead. How can you give me oxygen when you don’t even breathe?” “I’m a wind vampire. I manipulate air.”Okay. That wasn't in any of the research I did last night.“So, there are different types of vampires?”“Yeah. Reaper, Augustine, wind—wait, you seriously traded your memories for this?” His gaze scanned me.“Hey! This”—I gestured at myself—”is Windshade’s fastest and strongest fighter. I can have you on your ass in less than a second.” I bluffed.He smirked.

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  • Fangs of Windshade   Chapter 6

    Raina's POVThe wind howled between us, rattling the bridge like a warning, its steel frame groaning beneath our weight. For a split second, I thought it might give way, just like the control I had over my own shaking limbs while I tried to get up.Liam picked himself off the ground, wiping the blood from his mouth. His eyes gleamed with fury as he glared at the other vampire. “What are you doing?” he growled, his voice dripping with venom.“Stopping you from making a mistake.” The newcomer—still standing between me and Liam—retracted his fangs, his claws sliding back as if he hadn’t just tossed aside someone just as deadly, like it was nothing. “I know how you feel, Liam. But she’s not Mel.”Liam stiffened. For the first time since this nightmare began, his rage wavered, like a fracture in glass. “What are you talking about?” “It's just her lookalike. She’s not the one. Don’t harm someone innocent just because her doppelganger hurt you.”Silence stretched between them, thick and suff

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    Raina's POVI stood rooted to the ground, my mind unable to comprehend what I was staring at. Ava’s neck was torn open, blood soaking her right side in a gruesome cascade. I wanted to turn away, to erase the sight from my mind—but I had to be sure.Pushing past the sheriff, I reached for the wound, my fingers trembling as they hovered over the blood. I needed to see. I needed proof.“What are you doing, Raina?” Sheriff Grant’s voice was sharp, his grip firm as he yanked me back.Tears burned at the edges of my vision. Ava had been a bully. She’d wanted me dead. But I couldn’t bring myself to hate her—not like this. She was too young to die.I struggled against his grip, desperate to check the wound again, but he was stronger. With a heavy breath, he pulled the sheet over her face, blocking her from view. As if that would make this any less real. As if the image of her lifeless body wasn’t already seared into my memory.“Raina.” His voice grounded me, and I forced my gaze to meet his.

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    Raina’s POVMy head throbbed as I woke up to the early morning sun streaming in through my window. I groaned, flipping over to bury my face in the pillow, willing myself back to sleep. But the events of last night came rushing back, each memory a sharp jolt—Liam’s fangs sinking into my neck, the flash of his silver hair, and the way his expression twisted into something unreadable before he fled. A sting flared against my skin, I winced. I hadn’t looked in the mirror yet, but I didn’t need to. The marks would be there, raw and red—proof for the Sheriff that what I saw wasn’t some delusion.With a deep breath, I pushed myself up, only to stumble the moment my feet hit the floor. The room lurched, a sudden blur of colors and shapes that sent me grasping for the dresser. I clung to it, my fingers digging into the wood until the dizziness faded. Something was wrong. Liam’s reaction last night hadn’t been normal—vampires didn’t flinch from blood. If anything, they latched on harder, feedin

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    Raina’s POVI kept staring, twisting my head at different angles, pressing my fingers against the skin where the bite should have been. My pulse hammered. It had been there. I had felt it—raw, aching.Now, nothing.Sheriff Grant was still watching me, his expression shifting from frustration to concern. His fingers drummed against the steering wheel. “Raina, you wanna explain what's going on?”I forced myself to breathe, but every inhale felt too shallow, like my lungs had forgotten how to work. “I…I don't know.”Sheriff Grant sighed as he lifted a hand to his forehead. “Raina”“Mmm," I answered absentmindedly, too focused on trying to make sense of how a bite could simply vanish to fully register what the sheriff was saying.“I can see you're hardly listening to a word I'm saying, but Raina, you're like a daughter to me and that's why I'm saying this—” he paused looking me in the eye till he was sure he had gotten my attention. “Stop digging.”“You don't underst—” “Don't.” He held up

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  • Fangs of Windshade   Chapter 1

    Raina's POVBlood. It was everywhere—splattered across the walls, pooled on the floor, even smeared across the doors. The metallic tang of it filled the air, sharp and nauseating. My pulse quickened, each beat hammering against my ribs as unease crept through me. Swallowing hard, I began moving through the house, each step tentative, searching for the cause of this horrifying scene.I had come to deliver a package to Miss Agnes, as I did every week. She was always in the backyard when I arrived, waiting with a smile. My routine was simple: knock, enter, leave the package in the kitchen, and then head out back to chat for a few minutes before going on my way. But today, something was horribly wrong. The house felt lifeless, heavy with silence, except for the ominous presence of blood everywhere I looked.I had already combed through the downstairs room, my breath catching at the sight of bloody handprints smeared on the furniture, but there was no sign of Miss Agnes. My instincts screa

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  • Fangs of Windshade   Chapter 11

    Raina’s POVI kept staring, twisting my head at different angles, pressing my fingers against the skin where the bite should have been. My pulse hammered. It had been there. I had felt it—raw, aching.Now, nothing.Sheriff Grant was still watching me, his expression shifting from frustration to concern. His fingers drummed against the steering wheel. “Raina, you wanna explain what's going on?”I forced myself to breathe, but every inhale felt too shallow, like my lungs had forgotten how to work. “I…I don't know.”Sheriff Grant sighed as he lifted a hand to his forehead. “Raina”“Mmm," I answered absentmindedly, too focused on trying to make sense of how a bite could simply vanish to fully register what the sheriff was saying.“I can see you're hardly listening to a word I'm saying, but Raina, you're like a daughter to me and that's why I'm saying this—” he paused looking me in the eye till he was sure he had gotten my attention. “Stop digging.”“You don't underst—” “Don't.” He held up

  • Fangs of Windshade   Chapter 10

    Raina’s POVMy head throbbed as I woke up to the early morning sun streaming in through my window. I groaned, flipping over to bury my face in the pillow, willing myself back to sleep. But the events of last night came rushing back, each memory a sharp jolt—Liam’s fangs sinking into my neck, the flash of his silver hair, and the way his expression twisted into something unreadable before he fled. A sting flared against my skin, I winced. I hadn’t looked in the mirror yet, but I didn’t need to. The marks would be there, raw and red—proof for the Sheriff that what I saw wasn’t some delusion.With a deep breath, I pushed myself up, only to stumble the moment my feet hit the floor. The room lurched, a sudden blur of colors and shapes that sent me grasping for the dresser. I clung to it, my fingers digging into the wood until the dizziness faded. Something was wrong. Liam’s reaction last night hadn’t been normal—vampires didn’t flinch from blood. If anything, they latched on harder, feedin

  • Fangs of Windshade   Chapter 9

    Liam’s POV I sat alone at the bar, my mind a storm of chaos. A devourer who didn't know what they were—those were the worst kind. I could bet my life Raina had no idea what she was. Not with the confusion in her eyes after I kissed her.I downed my drink in one go, the burn doing nothing to dull the ache gnawing at me. The glass hit the counter with a soft thud. I knew my clan wouldn't take this news well—it was my duty to report anything that could threaten us—but how to deliver it without setting off a bloodbath? I hadn't figured that out yet.The scrape of a barstool broke my thoughts. Another vampire slid into the seat beside me.“I see you're drinking again,” Silas said, his voice laced with dry amusement. “This can't be good.”I didn't bother looking at him. I didn't need to. I was the one who summoned him. Vampires rarely gathered like this—unless there was a problem.“I think we have a problem,” I muttered.Silas arched a brow. “We already do, don't we?”He turned to the bart

  • Fangs of Windshade   Chapter 8

    Liam’s POVThe night clung to me like a second skin—cold, unforgiving, relentless. Even as I moved through the rooftops of Windshade Hollow, the town’s silence gnawed at me. My mind still couldn’t accept the truth. One more second in her presence, and I would have ripped her apart despite Ian’s words.She wasn’t Mel.A blunt reality I couldn’t ignore. Raina looked like her, fought like her—wild, determined—but she wasn’t the woman who turned me, the one who cursed me into this existence. The realization should have eased the tightness in my chest. It didn’t.Even after everything, a part of me still loved Mel. I couldn’t bring myself to forget her face—that was why I hadn’t switched it off. I wanted to remember. Wanted to cling to what it once felt like. I didn’t hesitate—I wanted to find Raina. Maybe, just maybe, if I couldn’t have Mel, then….Morning bled into the horizon by the time I caught a trail of Raina’s scent. I followed her, watched as she moved through the city delivering p

  • Fangs of Windshade   Chapter 7

    Raina's POVI stood rooted to the ground, my mind unable to comprehend what I was staring at. Ava’s neck was torn open, blood soaking her right side in a gruesome cascade. I wanted to turn away, to erase the sight from my mind—but I had to be sure.Pushing past the sheriff, I reached for the wound, my fingers trembling as they hovered over the blood. I needed to see. I needed proof.“What are you doing, Raina?” Sheriff Grant’s voice was sharp, his grip firm as he yanked me back.Tears burned at the edges of my vision. Ava had been a bully. She’d wanted me dead. But I couldn’t bring myself to hate her—not like this. She was too young to die.I struggled against his grip, desperate to check the wound again, but he was stronger. With a heavy breath, he pulled the sheet over her face, blocking her from view. As if that would make this any less real. As if the image of her lifeless body wasn’t already seared into my memory.“Raina.” His voice grounded me, and I forced my gaze to meet his.

  • Fangs of Windshade   Chapter 6

    Raina's POVThe wind howled between us, rattling the bridge like a warning, its steel frame groaning beneath our weight. For a split second, I thought it might give way, just like the control I had over my own shaking limbs while I tried to get up.Liam picked himself off the ground, wiping the blood from his mouth. His eyes gleamed with fury as he glared at the other vampire. “What are you doing?” he growled, his voice dripping with venom.“Stopping you from making a mistake.” The newcomer—still standing between me and Liam—retracted his fangs, his claws sliding back as if he hadn’t just tossed aside someone just as deadly, like it was nothing. “I know how you feel, Liam. But she’s not Mel.”Liam stiffened. For the first time since this nightmare began, his rage wavered, like a fracture in glass. “What are you talking about?” “It's just her lookalike. She’s not the one. Don’t harm someone innocent just because her doppelganger hurt you.”Silence stretched between them, thick and suff

  • Fangs of Windshade   Chapter 5

    Raina's POVI opened my eyes with a start to see the vampire leaning over me, his lips pressed to mine—again. “Eww,” I jumped, shoving him away. “Stop doing that.”“Doing what?” he asked, looking genuinely taken aback.“Kissing me! It’s rude to do that against someone’s will.”“You were unconscious. I don’t think you would've answered if I had asked. I only did it to save your life.”“Oh.” I rubbed my arms, the wind biting against my soaked skin. “I didn’t know vampires could give CPR.” He raised a brow. I shrugged. “You’re dead. How can you give me oxygen when you don’t even breathe?” “I’m a wind vampire. I manipulate air.”Okay. That wasn't in any of the research I did last night.“So, there are different types of vampires?”“Yeah. Reaper, Augustine, wind—wait, you seriously traded your memories for this?” His gaze scanned me.“Hey! This”—I gestured at myself—”is Windshade’s fastest and strongest fighter. I can have you on your ass in less than a second.” I bluffed.He smirked.

  • Fangs of Windshade   Chapter 4

    Raina's POV A cold chill ran up my spine, choking the breath from my lungs. The vampire stood unnervingly still, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that sent my instincts screaming. Every muscle in my body tensed, but I couldn't move, fear rooting me in place.Mel.The name curled around me like a whispered curse. I didn't know any Mel. At least, I didn't think I did. But the way he said it—like it was a name that belonged to me—sent a ripple of unease through me.I forced myself to speak, drawing in a shaky breath. “You've got the wrong person.”His lips curled, his fangs gleaming under the pale morning light. “No, I don't.”My pulse thundered in my ears, my mind racing through options. Run? Scream? Attack? None of them seemed wise against a creature that had already proven it could kill. And from last night's research, I was outmatched in strength and speed. I didn't stand a chance.“What do you want?” I asked, stalling for time.The vampire titled his head slightly, his b

  • Fangs of Windshade   Chapter 3

    Raina's POV My mind scrambled for an excuse—something, anything—that wouldn't land me in the back of a police squad car.“I heard about the news,” I said quickly, watching as his eyes narrowed, “so I came to see if there were any missing clues. You know, in case what happened to my parents is the same thing that happened to her.” I dropped my gaze, hoping to play pitiful.Sheriff Grant's face softened, but his scowl remained. “Raina, it's been seven years. The police are still looking into your parents’ disappearance, but that doesn't give you the right to go around town playing detective.”I sighed, forcing a regretful expression. “I'm sorry. I.. I should probably get to work then.”Brushing past him, I hurried toward the steps, but his voice stopped me before I could leave the porch. “Raina, did you, perhaps, deliver a package to Miss Agnes yesterday? Maybe saw something?”My stomach clenched, panic clawing its way to the surface. The last thing I needed was a run-in with the law,

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