Chapter II: The Fate of the woman who possesses ‘Sweet Blood’

[At the Clemente's Mansion, Akira's House]

The lights were flickering the moment Akira entered the house. Her white sneakers had blood on them. There were no sounds; everything was dead silence aside from her heavy breathing. Tears started to stream down her cheeks, along with the cold sweat from anxiousness and fear.

The white-colored house was covered with blood; stains were everywhere as if marking the agony and despair of the humans that were killed. Her trembling knees didn't give up until she arrived at the house's back garden.

It was then that her already trembling hands covered her mouth. And as if her feet became numb, she fell on her knee. Her eyes were wide open at the scene in front of her. The scenery that used to be beautiful in her memory was now painted red.

“A-ah! N-no! No! Rue!---”

Akira opened her eyes, cold sweat streaming down her face. Her eyes were blurry, with tears visible as if she had a nightmare. It took her a minute to recover from the scene in her dreams. She then gazed at her side only to find her maid—her friend who woke her up. Alisson Roman. 

“Ali…” her voice rasped, but she still managed to smile sweetly. 

Sadness is visible on Alisson's face. She knew that Akira had a nightmare again. Even though it happens all the time, she still can't get used to seeing her friend crying while sleeping. It's been five years, and until now, her friend's heart hasn't healed.

“Thanks for waking me up.” Akira mouthed while moving her hands in a motion to converse with Ali. Since Ali couldn't speak, they had to converse in sign language.

Ali smiled and motioned back, “Good evening, Akira. I'm sorry for waking you up, but the clan leader wants to speak with you.” She explained. It was a half-lie. Ali had been in the room all day long. She intended to wake her up as soon as she noticed Akira was having a nightmare again. She's been doing it for years now and will keep doing it until Akira doesn't have nightmares anymore.

Akira nodded and responded, “Alright. I'll get ready now.” She gets up and stretches. 

Her silky black hair waved as soon as she got up, along with her white night dress. Her eyes had clear golden eyes as if the sunset was sparkling through. It appeared golden that shined even brighter when she smiled. Ali's mouth opened slightly in awe at her friend's beauty. It took her seconds to wake up in reality.

“I'll get going now. Just call me if you want my help.” Ali smiled and looked at Akira. She's hoping to help her, but since Akira doesn't want to and wants to do her things alone, Ali exited as soon as Akira nodded.

When Akira was left alone, she immediately slumped on the ground with her weakened and trembling body. She let out a sigh followed by a small sob that only she could hear. The scene in her nightmare flashed like a film in her mind.

[At the office of the clan leader]

Akira stood for a while in front of the huge black door. Her expression was grim because of the headache that always followed her along. The two guards were glancing at her since she had been standing there and not entering. They were anxious and uneasy with the presence of Akira—the villainess successor of the Clemente clan. They want her to leave immediately, but who would like to mess with her? Only one would be crazy to make her leave. 

Akira Yumi Clemente, the only successor and the next clan leader of Clemente. She possesses everything—be it strength, wealth, or beauty. There's only one thing she lacks, kindness. She's the evil of evil, as they said, but no one would dare to punish her because she's sly—before you could even speak of her sins, your life would be over. 

“Open the door.” Akira's cold voice woke up the already scared guards. They hastily opened the door and tried hard not to make eye contact with the villainess Akira.

When Akira was in the room, the door was closed immediately. The big window is open, filling the room with moonlight and letting a cold breeze in. Akira's hair waved as she gazed to the side where the old man was seated, with his attention only focused on the documents in front of him.

Akira walks to the old man's location. It had been a long time since she had last been in the room, so she just stood there for a short while. When she's content, she then places her fist to her heart—a sign of respect and greeting.

“I've arrived, clan leader.” She uttered in her normal voice—not too cold and not too affectionate. It was then that the old man, Clemente's clan leader, noticed her arrival. 

The once grumpy expression of the clan leader softened as soon as he gazed at Akira. He immediately set aside what he was doing, stood before Akira, and tapped her shoulders. 

“Akira, my grandchild. You don't have to pay respects like that when it's just us.” He started in a bit of a grumpy voice. He can't accept that Akira, her granddaughter, a cheerful girl in his memories, is now drawing a line and keeping it serious. 

Akira sighed at the childishness of his grandfather but still let out a smile. “Alright, grandfather.” 

The two sat on the sofa with a glass table between them. There's an expensive teapot and exquisite tea cups on the table. It seems that Akira’s grandfather brewed tea for both of them—chamomile tea. 

Akira stared at his grandfather, who was now taking a sip of the tea. The relaxed expression of his grandfather showed, but his face couldn’t hide the tiredness.

Asmodeus Rafael Clemente is the current clan leader and the grandfather of Akira. The great, kind, and respectful leader who took the lead in the war between humans and vampires five years ago. 

“How have you been, Akira?” Her grandfather asked after placing the teacup back on the table. 

“I'm doing good. I just got back from my recent visit to the frontline. There was this case I've been investigating— the general in the frontline was found dead two months ago.” Akira reminisced about the body of the general. It was a horrible scene, a familiar one, actually. The body doesn't have blood, and there were two marks on the neck. 

Asmodeus sighed as his face grew dimmer. 

“We've confirmed that a dhampir did it.” She said with furrowed brows. “There were other cases like this in the city, grandfather. We've discovered that there are an increased number of missing women daily. You know what this means, right?”

Her grandfather doesn't know how to react even though he knows what Akira means.

“I think there was a breach. I believe some vampires have already escaped the Riparian zone and sneaked in to mate with our female citizens to produce dhampir.” Akira muttered but enough for her grandfather to hear. Anger is evident in her voice despite having a cold expression.

Dhampir is a breed of humans and pure vampires who have mated. They will have the same abilities as vampires and are much stronger than normal human strength. But they are much different from pure vampires in terms of controlling their desire for blood. They will suck dry the human body until left with nothing but bones. These dhampirs are later called dark dhampir when they are in the phase of creating havoc—seeking human blood like a hungry monster.

Asmodeus's eyes widen, followed by shaking his head, “There’s no way vampires can easily escape that zone. The Eliad wire we built was high and strong enough to restrict their abilities. And we have an ordinance.”

“If that’s so, how can we explain the increasing numbers of dhampirs in the city?” Akira retorted. “I’m sure that those vampires have found ways to escape.”

Asmodeus couldn’t answer. His expression just darkened at the thought that those vampires might already have found a way to escape. 

Asmodeus gazed at Akira. His expression changed as if it were a sign of pity toward her granddaughter.

Akira noticed it, “Let's change the topic, shall we? So, what is the reason grandfather had called for me?” 

She knows that expression since she has seen it from time to time. 

A silence took over them for a while before her grandfather spoke.

“You’re getting married, Akira.” Her grandfather’s solemn expression and bitter words were the answer she received. 

She didn’t reply, yet the grim expression on her face was visible. 

It was already the middle of the night when Akira's grandfather called to ask for her presence in his office. She thought it was important, yet the topic she’d been avoiding throughout the year was the one she would hear.

Her grandfather continued, “We have no choice, Akira. It's your...fate. I'm sorry.”

It was then that he placed a black envelope sealed with a red color that had a symbol of a crow. As soon as Akira saw it, her eyebrows quickly creased in displeasure. It was a familiar envelope since she had seen it multiple times. The vampire seal.

“It came from the Riparian zone this morning.”

“...”

She bit her lower lip, holding back her emotions. She had a rough idea of the envelope's contents, yet she remained calm despite the burning feeling in her heart. At the very least, she doesn’t want her grandfather to see the sight of her madness toward the vampires or the drastic change in her that was caused by rage. 

“Open it.”

With a heavy heart, Akira took the envelope and read the letter. It took her a while to read the contents, but the change in her expression was undeniably terrifying. She clenched her fist, crumbling the letter and envelope as if they were nothing but trash.

Asmodeus's expression is grim. He had foreseen this scene the moment he handed the envelope. He wouldn't want to let Akira know of this letter if it were him. He wants to dispose of it immediately, but doing so would make things worse and more dangerous for Akira. 

“Do you think that I’ll comply with these bastards?” She protested, gritting her teeth in anger. The letter came from the vampire king, saying that the marriage must happen in 4 months!

Asmodeus shook his head despite the sadness in his expression. “You must wed the vampire crown prince, Akira.”

Akira clenched her hand, “Why would I?” She asked with pain in her voice. She doesn't understand her grandfather to let the ‘fate’ of old times corner them when they can just kill those vampires. 

“...”

As if mocking her situation, a feigned laugh escaped Akira’s mouth. “I won’t marry a monster. Fate? There is no such thing as fate, grandfather. It doesn’t exist. Must I wed a monster just because this time, it is our clan’s turn to offer one woman who possesses sweet blood to them?!” She shouted like a madman.

Her grandfather’s eyes widened. It was the first time he had seen his granddaughter's true feelings since she had been hiding them from him. 

It was then that Akira noticed that the golden eyes of her grandfather were dimmer; no hope could be seen in his eyes. Her grandfather in front of her was worn out. The once brave and proud grandfather in her memories was gone as if a withered flower.

‘Are you that tired?’

Akira gritted her teeth and breathed in deeply, “I’m sorry grandfather, but---”

“Then there’s no other choice.” Her grandfather cut her off. “I’ll strip you of your rights as the successor of the next clan leader.”

“What?”

“Akira Yumi Clemente, if you don't marry that man, your rights as the next leader of our clan will be forfeited,” Her grandfather remarked with a serious expression.

Akira’s chest immediately clenched as if she had forgotten how to breathe. Maybe because of shock, she wasn’t able to react right away. That high-pitched sound rang inside her head as she tried to read the expression on her grandfather's face as if he was only joking. However, the reality came to light when her grandfather didn’t laugh nor take back what he had said. 

Akira stood up from her seat, “I'll really die if I marry that vampire!” She protested, “You know that I will never return alive once I enter that goddamn place, I will never return alive!”

“Akira!” Asmodeus shouted, but that wasn't enough for Akira to stop voicing her feelings.

“Please, grandfather… We have soldiers to counter those bloodsuckers. If you let me lead them with my strength, we can wipe their existence.” Akira pleaded, hoping to persuade her grandfather.

But it seems like it wasn't enough.

“You don't understand, Akira.”

Akira bit her lips enough to make them bleed because of anger, “Then make me understand! Tell me your reason. Is this worth my life exchanging for?”

“...”

“Yes, you're always like this,” Akira said with a bitter smile. “But I still can't, grandfather. You know what those vampires are capable of. Do you think his race will stay still once I marry that damn monster? No! They have already broken the ordinance and keep invading our city to increase their kind!” 

Asmodeus closed his eyes. From what Akira had said, there was a sting in his head and heart. He slowly opened his eyes and gazed at Akira. “Let's talk again once you've cleared your mind.” 

“No. This must end tonight ---”

“Escort her out.” 

That’s the last thing Akira heard before she was escorted by the two guards outside his grandfather's office. 

*****

“Miss Akira is going out, clan leader.” The young man with dark brown and forest green eyes reported to Asmodeus. “Should I follow her?”

“No. Let her be. She needs time to think.” Asmodeus replied, looking at the picture frame in his hand. “Do you also think that my decision is wrong?”

“If it were me, I'd also do the same.” The young man smiled, “and if we're talking about the vampire prince… I'll even bet my life that Miss Akira is safe with him.” 

Asmodeus looks at the moon, “It's a good thing that the prince is a half-vampire; at the very least, Akira won't kill him.”

The young man smiled and nodded, “That's right. Miss Akira can't kill the prince since he has human blood in him.”