Chapter two:

Three months ago

Do you know that feeling when a lot is happening around you…like you are seeing so many things occur but it’s as though you are watching from the sidelines? It’s as if you are not directly concerned nor affected by those things because let’s be frank, your life is going pretty well, right on track and you don’t give a shit about the world?

Well, if you can relate to that, that’s exactly how I feel.

I have somewhat my dream job, and a dream relationship and so I am happy.

I’m not where I want to be but hell, I’m not where I used to be so a win, is a win!

The Vampire Apocalypse—as termed by the media—that occurred five years ago has nothing to do with my life and I couldn’t care less about it.

I have never come in contact with a vampire and I don’t wish to.

Not that I have anything against them. Ha-ha, let me let you in on a little secret. I, Saratan Credi, the most straight-faced goal-getter in RainCloud Works secretly harbor a fan girl crush on vampire aesthetics.

Crazy, right?

Anyway, so you get the picture.

There were just too many conspiracies surrounding their exposure into human society that it was rather good for me and anyone else to steer clear of them.

I never concerned myself with the protests or the riots.

Instead, I imagined that everything was normal and humans were the only higher animals that walked the earth. It was better that way.

I only wish my best friend would listen to me and stop attending that silly church that ‘campaigned against the Antichrist.’ I knew that church had some dark activities that were carried out in secret. I’ve seen the brochures and pamphlets that Kira hides at the bottom of her desk drawer.

“Stay away from this vampire mess,” I’d warned her after reading through the brochures, “Don’t let this silly church push you into your death.”

“Sara,” she had frowned, yanking them from my hands, “Not everyone would choose to live in oblivion like you and turn a blind eye to everything.”

“Humans are at war and we need to pick sides!” She continued, her eyes gleaming with revulsion, “Besides, if my death means those abominable creatures will be wiped from the surface of the earth, then so be it.”

I’d been speechless at the emphatic hatred in her voice and I’d realized that her soul has been sold to that church and mere words wouldn’t change her mind.

What puzzled me was the fact that Kira hadn’t really been a religious person before all of this. I recalled that over drunken conversations we imagined being tied up by vampires and serving them even before we knew they actually existed. It’d been fun and naughty.

So what went wrong?

I shook my head to push out the thoughts, I had something important to do tonight.

Kira was smart and she was going to be fine without me worrying over her.

My heels made clacking noises against the marble floor as I strolled along the hallway, a bottle of champagne in one hand and my purse in the other.

My long black hair suddenly lifted when an icy air wafted across the hall and the hairs at the back of my neck tingled with nerves.

‘Did Alex rent out the whole penthouse floor? Why is this floor so empty?’ I wondered as goosebumps settled all over my skin through the long black fur coat I had on.

Suddenly a feeling of being watched washed through me and I snapped my head to the side but I was met with empty hallways.

Crack!

A low cry erupted from my lips at the clap of thunder that resounded through the hall and slowly, I began to relax as rain slapped against the glass walls of the top floor of the Nirvana Hotel.

It was going to rain hence the cold chill that swept through me initially.

‘I was just being paranoid,’ I convinced myself, pulling my coat tighter around me.

Slowly, a smile formed on my face as I relaxed, making my way down the hallway.

Everything was fine and tonight was going to be perfect.

Alex just landed the biggest role of his acting career and oh god, was I excited.

We were going to have our little celebration in his penthouse, away from the spotlight and media, just the two of us.

Both of us were in the same acting crew, hence why we have to keep our relationship a secret, to pave way for Alex’s career.

He said it wouldn’t be professional if we were known as a couple in the production company we worked especially with their strict no-frat policy.

Okay, maybe there was a little more as to why our relationship was hidden but Alex promised me all that was coming to an end as soon as he landed the male lead role for Project Lighthouse, and thank God, He has!

My cheeks warmed as I recalled his words. He vowed that after he signed the contract, he’ll take me on our public first date and announce our secret engagement.

And as part of the production crew, I was right by his side as he signed the contract.

I bit my lip to stop a giggle from slipping through, imagining myself as Mrs. Camron, going on movie premiers with Alex and finally being able to pursue my own career.

Lost in my head, I pulled out the spare key from my purse and slipped it into the Keyhole. After the satisfying ‘click’ sound, I held my breath and walked into the living area, my pulse thrumming with excitement.

As I moved closer to the bedroom, I heard the hoarse breathing of a man and a woman coming from there.

“Baby, when are you breaking up with that bitch? I’m getting anxious.” That familiar husky feminine voice filtered through the doors and the champagne slipped from my hand, falling with a small thud onto the carpeted floor.

All the blood in my body instantly rushed up to my head, making my brain go blank.

The whole world spun before me, and I suddenly began to feel light-headed. I gasped, holding onto the stool close by to keep myself from falling.

She already knew about me and Alex?

“Soon baby, what’s the hurry?” I heard his deep voice reply.

“You have dated that thing longer than you have been with me. I am scared you will change your mind. Promises and all.”

“Damn Alecia, how could I ever change my mind? You made me and built my fucking career.” I heard him grunt, “Without you, I’ll be nothing. Saratan is just a mindless little fool wishing for the moon.”

Every words that escaped their lips were like thorns piercing my heart. Not waiting to hear more of their conversation, I barged into the room and a disgusting scene filled my eyes.

“Shit!” he jolted apart from celebrity actress Alecia Kiss, yanking the bedspread over their naked bodies, “What the fuck are you doing here, Saratan?” he hissed.

“I’d come to surprise you but guess I’m the one who got surprised.” I choked out, hating myself for my inability to hold back my tears. “You are a fucking asshole, Alexis.”

“You know this was inevitable, Credi.” He shook his head like he was admonishing me for being wrong.

He was the one cheating on me and breaking his vows to me.

The audacity? Suddenly my despair turned into anger and I held onto it with everything I had. It was better than crumbling in front of them both.

Gritting my teeth, I pulled off the stupid rock from my fingers and threw it at his face, cursing when it missed his head just by a few inches.

“You were always the other woman, Saratan,” The superstar actress, Alecia murmured silkily, running a slender hand over her body as if rubbing her perfect figure into my face, “I think it was rather stupid of you to think otherwise.”

“Shut it, airhead,” I snapped, my fingers curling beside me in a bid to stop myself from hitting her.

She was the celebrity and I was just plain old Saratan. It would be her words against mine in court.

Swallowing the painful lump constricting my throat, I faced him “I’ll let the world know what scumbag you are! It’ll be on every streaming platform and news channel that Alexis Camron slept his fucking way to the top while feeding off his girlfriend’s hard work,” I screamed, too far gone in my agony to care that I was making threats now.

Just as I turned to leave, Alecia pulled away from Alex and slapped me.

Hard! Right across my fucking face.

“You’ll do no such thing or I’ll ruin you.”