CHAPTER FOUR (NEW MOON)
Chapter 4: The Goddess’ Blessed
At that moment, the noble vampire still had a person in his arms. He had his head down while diligently sucking on her neck.
Mallory’s gaze slowly went down and realized how awfully familiar the figure in his deathly embrace was.
Her body lay down on his lap motionlessly as if she were already dead, but the weak rising and falling movement chest says otherwise. Her hand was on the floor, the seashell bracelet scrapping on it. Her face was white as a sheet of paper, and her eyes were staring blankly at her.
Mallory’s pupils dilated and her breathing became heavier. Her mind went blank as her heartbeat accelerated. Deep in her soul, Mallory felt an invisible connection, which was a mysterious power surging through her body.
She felt her body heat up, and she can feel her muscles spasming.
Her head throbs painfully, and she can already hear the madness in her ears.
Mallory was on the verge of losing control.
Finally, the noble vampire noticed her. He raised his head and let go of the body that he was feasting as if it was already nothing but a used sack. He did it so carelessly that the sharp thud of her head vibrated across the room.
His eyes scanned the new arrival and his eyes glinted a disgusting light of greed and lust.
Mallory was seventeen, an age when the werewolves weren’t Blessed by the Goddess yet. Blood coming from them is a delicious treat for the vampires. They knew how vampires go crazy over the Unblessed werewolves, as their blood doesn’t contain the hint of ‘bitterness’ coming from the Goddess’ blessing.
That fact was taken from one vampire after a casualty of ten.
But even though without that knowledge, Mallory knew what was in the vampire’s head just by the great fluctuations in his eyes.
He wants her.
The vampire noticed how his delicious food was trembling. Her hands were turned into fists and her nails were growing rather long.
‘She’s transforming.’ The noble vampire inwardly clicked her tongue. ‘Not good. They don’t taste that good when they’re in their disgusting animal clothing.’
As he thought that, he noticed that his little food was fixated on something. Curiously, he followed her gaze and come to an understanding. His lips stretched.
It was his unfinished meal.
The half-done food was still breathing. Her blood keeps on gushing out from the two puncture wounds on her neck. However, the woman seems to ignore the wound that keeps on stealing her vitality. Instead, her eyes were on the teenager, shaking as if she was warning her to run away. To escape from there.
‘Not under my watch.’
The noble vampire stood up and looked at the teenager fondly. He spread his arms sideward as if he was preparing for a hug.
“Welcome!” He enthusiastically said, his red eyes beaming. “Sorry to start without you. I can’t believe I almost miss the star of the banquet!”
The main course, to be exact.
The teenager sharply turned her gaze at him, making him shiver. She looks like a cattle trying to fight back. The chief wanted her even more. A feisty prey makes his blood boil.
Drunk from his emotions, the vampire didn’t notice the changes in her eyes.
It slowly glowed. The light was soft silver as if the moon was about the descend with her eyes.
The noble vampire looked at the dying woman on his feet and shook his head. “Is she your mother? I apologize for making you see such a horrible scene. Don’t worry, I will not kill her… Under one condition.”
The noble vampire placed his eyes back on her. His eyes resembling the crescent moon. “That is; you replacing your mother. And, oh, a bonus; I will keep your mother alive.”
“Lair!” Mallory almost growled. Her eyes piercing.
Mallory knew Melita’s condition even at that distance. She knew she was dying and that no amount of saving can save her.
The vampire laughed before seriously asking. “Do you know who you are talking to? I am a vampire! An immortal! A part of the species that rules above all! Do you think we lack the ability to save a puny werewolf? Do you really think so?”
-
Mallory wavered. Her eyes flickered back and forth between Melita and the vampire. Clearly, the young werewolf entered into deep thoughts. ‘Is the vampire talking the truth? Or is he conning her? How do I know if he’s telling the truth?’
Lots of kinds swirled in her brain, making it throb painfully.
“Mallory!” But the desperate shout of Melita awakens Mallory from her disheveled thoughts. “I’d rather die than get turned into a vampire!”
Melita’s words jolted a memory in her brain.
Yes! The vampires could resurrect the dead or bring back a dying living being to life! But that is in exchange for their original identity–into being a vampire! Those abominating blood-suckers!
-
Seeing her gain clarity, the Noble vampire felt hatred filling his entire being.
His red-like blood eyes glowed even more. Turning into a terrifying crimson! He sharply snapped his head to look at the dying woman and, without a second thought, raised his feet and–
Splat!
He stepped on her stomach, digging a horrendous hole!
“AAAHHH!” Melita’s scream engulfed the whole room, but it didn’t stop the vampire from repetitively stepping on her body, mashing her flesh even more.
“If you had just chosen to obediently shut your mouth,” the vampire gritted his teeth, and his stomping gradually became more forceful. “You wouldn’t experience this pain before your death!”
-
Mallory watched the scene, her eyes wide. Slowly, she felt like she was outside. Like she was watching the scene through a screen. She can see it, but can’t interfere. She can hear it, but it was distant. Her body trembled, and blood keeps on gushing through the wound from her clenched hands.
Anger fueled inside her, tracing a thin, rope-like connection in her heart somewhere. The rope, red with anger, continued on in an entangled line, until finally reaching a ball source of light in the depths of her soul.
Mallory suddenly felt the fleeting connection earlier strengthen until it was all she could feel.
At that moment, her brown eyes completely turned silver. In those eyes, the moon’s symbol was there, as if they were deeply engraved on them.
CHAPTER FIVE (NEW MOON)Chapter Five: The Unfortunate OneThe vampire suddenly felt a terrible premonition. Before he can process what it was, right below his neck was a glowing silver dagger, ready to separate his head from his body.He didn’t know how and when she did it, but suddenly Mallory suddenly got into his side with a conjured silver dagger. His eyes contracted and his brain almost froze. But out of instinct, he blinked and arrived far away across the room.If he had a heart like them, the Noble vampire feels like it would already burst from beating so fast.The slight comfort in the distance gave him gave him an opportunity to look at the dagger. He can clearly see it shine with silver light and concluded that it was made by silver or at least coated by. Mallory was clenching it in her hand, and the sharp blade of the dagger was pointing towards him.
CHAPTER SIX (NEW MOON)Chapter Six: Losing Two SoulsShe felt like breaking down.She can’t determine what’s real between what she was seeing and the memories in her head. Mallory’s eyes throb painfully that she kneeled down to bear the pain. When she thought that she can’t escape the cycle of pain, a small whimper dragged her back into reality.Mallory gasped at the cold, rusty air in her lungs, finally feeling life breathing into her. The pain disappeared like magic and her memories returned in order. Mallory panted, trying to figure out what had just happened.She heard a weak voice calling, making her entire body whip in that direction.“Melita!” Mallory stood up and abandoned her previous thoughts. She ran towards her while carefully avoiding the dead bodies on the ground. Her heart kept on constricting as she sees familiar faces, but she
CHAPTER SEVEN (NEW MOON)Chapter Seven: Landown Pack, the Halfcrest’s home, and their graveyard.Bang! Bang! Bang!Mallory raised her head in alarm.Far away on a corner, she saw the trapdoor rattling. There was someone trying to push it open. Mallory raised her vigilance and tried to find a weapon to protect herself and found the dagger. However, it was far away from her.She panicked. Mallory released her grip on Melita’s now cold hands.Her sense of self still hasn’t come back. Her emotions were still all over the place. She couldn’t think of anything else, but one thing; escape!She needs to escape. To live. Because by living, she can fulfill her promises–to grow stronger, to take care of herself and Oddny whom she has yet to find, and to live well.Mallory had long
CHAPTER EIGHT (NEW MOON)ARC TWO: Re-journey---Chapter Eight: Traveling with StrangersThe unit had traveled a distance away from the scene in silence.Everyone had one way, or another agreed to travel without a single noise except for the sharp stomps of the horses and the crisp sounds of the dried leaves under their hooves. They would stop occasionally to see if they were still on the right track and to take a break.Oddny and Mallory huddled together whenever that happened, and aside from giving them a few rations, the others ignored them. The two were relieved from the lack of attention and ate the small dinner they had in silence.Someone approached them and sat a polite distance away. Mallory looked up and realized that it was the person who shared his horse with her.Sensing her gaze, he smiled at her. Mallory froze dumbly, unsure what to do. Meanwhile, Oddny retrea
CHAPTER NINE (NEW MOON)Chapter Nine: A Fun Person“Mallory…”Mallory raised her head only to see Oddny looking at her with teary eyes.Frowning, Mallory set her fishing rod aside and held her hands. She asked, her voice full of concern. “Oddny? What’s wrong?”Oddny bit her lips, hesitation was clear from her subtle actions. Mallory caught her throwing anxious glances toward the others who were with them by the river.It’s their first week traveling with the Exploration Unit which saved them from the pursuit of their mortal enemy; the vampires. During this week, Mallory had already adjusted to the atmosphere within the group. She thought Oddny did too, but she didn’t. Not even the slightest.As the oldest of them, she did everything to make Oddny comfortable. She hunted, foraged, and fished for
CHAPTER TEN (NEW MOON) Chapter 10: Facing the Truth and Awakening itContrary to her expectations, she couldn’t find the right opportunity to talk with the man. As usual, he was surrounded by others, making it hard for outsiders to enter the circle. She didn’t push it, afraid that she’ll annoy the only person who was kind to them.Although she was a bit dejected with the situation, she was still happy that he kept his word.There was truly no one who bothered them during the trip. The nasty glances they received were already close to none when they entered the last week of their trip back home. This lifted their heavy nerves, and even Oddny started to smile a bit more again.Because of their slowly opening atmosphere, a certain someone started bringing herself inside their comfort zone.“Mallory, Oddny!”The two darted their eyes toward an incoming figure. She was shorter than Mallory by two inches, her hair is colored like the soil, and her skin was tan. She had an amicable smile on
CHAPTER ELEVEN (NEW MOON)Chapter Eleven: ActivationFirst thing’s first—how?Mallory went closer to the clear river, the moon lighting the place up for her to see her face clearly. She looked at her own reflection closely, but no matter how much staring she did, she couldn’t see any changes. She can’t see the patterns she saw in her memories.Mallory sat by the edge of the river; her mind spun to figure out how.Should I… A minute later, an idea surfaced in her head. She looked up, at the glowing moon. Should I try and talk to the Goddess?Mallory had done prayers of thanks to the Goddess. She had done things that others had too to communicate with the Goddess. Rituals, prayers, and meditating somewhere nice and quiet. However, none of these acts warranted a response from their Goddess.Mallory thought hard
CHAPTER TWELVE (NEW MOON) Chapter Twelve: A Step Closer Mallory woke up with a start. As soon as her eyes opened, the first thing she saw was the leather-colored ceiling. It took her a while to realize it was a tent. Mallory's eyes wandered around, confused. After looking here and there, she realized that it was hers and Oddny’s tent. A question suddenly popped up in her head. ‘How did I get here? I don’t remember walking back to the camp…’ When that question passed through her brain, memories from yesterday night entered her brain without warning. Mallory froze after remembering what happened yesterday. Her eyes widened and she sat up, ‘She saw me! Oddny saw me—’ Her vision blurred with how sudden her movements were, but that didn’t stop her from standing up and walking out of the tent. She ignored the dizziness and the slight pain in her legs. She looked around anxiously, trying to find her shadow. She looked around like a spinning top when suddenly someone patted her on her