Chapter 1| Boiling Red

After shots of costly vodka and cheap talks, time seems to have left these two strangers craving for more than chips and drinks. The woman kept throwing her head back and forth, letting out her giggles as she leaned each wall and room door they walk past. She then pulled herself towards Raverine, who was placidly walking as if no one was with him and clung to his left arm. Raverine halted and turned his head to face her wasted look. He sighed and displayed his facetious smirk when he stared down at the woman’s chest rubbing close to his sleeves. She placed her chin on top of his broad shoulder and curled her lips outwards.

"Hello, Reverend..." she whispered, trying to keep her eyelids up.

Reverend, he ridiculed and scoffed. Raverine pulled his arm out of her embrace and run his fingertips through her cooper-like hair, amorously stroking her neck. His hands traced the curves of her youthful body but daring eyes are pinned to the woman’s face. Finally, he wrapped his arm around the drunk woman's waist.

“Hello, lovely,” Raverine played along.

"Aren't you just hot for this night," she whispered to his ears causing his lip to lift his cheek further.

He drew his mouth close to her lips and teased, “Aren’t you as well? With your plump lips and inviting eyes...” Seductive and such mannerism in his voice tickled the woman’s body.

Raverine swiped the card and opened the door. He then pulled her inside and pushed her to the door once it was close. She took the lead by pressing her lips to his, a bold move that was countered by Raverine’s caresses to her nape. Their fervent kiss melted their clothes off, leaving them top naked. Raverine made low growling sighs each kiss he left on the burning skin of the woman. Orchestrated with greater lust, Raverine saw the woman waltzing in pleasure. He lifted her to the bed and single-handedly squeezed her breast while his other hand drenched inside the woman’s sex. He laid her down slowly and licked her neck.

"Can I…” Raverine whispered, “…drink your blood?" The woman, who has no control over her mind and body, moaned softly with her eyes closed.

She then mumbled her answer without hesitation. "My body is yours, darling... Yours…"

Her last lustful sigh tickled Raverine's appetite and a playful grin of his pale red lips suddenly appeared. His pupil shrank as his iris bled into bright red. Raverine blinked and his eyes turned back to its natural dark color. Raverine intensified the enjoyment she felt, it was the least he could give as a farewell gift. Raverine quickly opened his mouth and his two sharp, upper teeth came out. His fang pierced through the nerves of her neck, letting out the blood he has been craving. The woman screamed out of pain and shock. Raverine, whose eyes are flaring red once more, covered her mouth and buried his fangs deeper. His heart throbbed rapidly as he sucked all her dirty blood out of her withering body. Like an apple, squeezing out all its juices until the only part left is its seed, peel, and stem.

The woman tried to push him but could not compete with his strength and lost all her energy. Raverine let out a sigh, strands of his coal-like hair falling down his forehead, and stood. He pulled her feet and let her slide down to the floor with her dead eyes wide open. Raverine combed his hair back while viscous blood is sliding from his lips down to his chin. He looked at the dead woman in an unexplainable posture below him and hissed.

"Your blood is fucking disgusting," he seethed. He moved away from the body and went into the bathroom to clean himself. Once done and dry, he reached for his phone inside his pocket and dialed Diego Monterey. The phone rang for a while and Diego finally answered.

"Raver? What's up?" Diego responded on the other line of the call.

"I am getting tired of sucking dirty blood," he complained and wore his blue shirt back and picked up his black blazer.

"Unfortunately, Raver, clean blood is nowhere to be found. Hopeless sucker, aren’t we?" Diego joked.

"That’s only you, don’t count me in that thought.”

“Oh-ho-ho, looks who’s very denial.”

“I need your help.” Raverine flopped to the bed, placed his arm atop his aching eyes.

“No, Raver, not this time. I’ve got a business to save and yours is done. I ain’t entering another hide and seek game with you and your rival. I’m done, dude, got to ditch you in this. Your third Michelin star can wait until, probably, three more years.”

“What the fuck are you blabbering --?”

"Raver, you don't need to rely on our vampire abilities. You are the best chef here in Pinephil, I believed in you. Besides, that guy? He cannot, I repeat, he cannot match the level of your cuisine!" Diego cheered, "You are born to be a chef! A vampire chef... cool, right?"

Raverine cursed and rubbed his nape before answering Diego's exaggerated words of wuss-dom. “Shut up now, will you? Whatever you say, my plans will push through before the year ends."

Diego laughed at the other end of the call and responded to Raverine's undefeatable pride, "Come on, man! Forget about it. Why don't you enjoy life?"

When he sat upright on the bed, he remembered that there is a dead body with him and heaved out an annoyed sigh. "I need you to come here, bring a can of gas and matches," he grumbled before continuing, "I poisoned another woman with my fang, I need your help to burn her and remove all the scraps."

"Oh... Looks like someone had fun." Diego teased.

"She's bitter," Raverine complained and turn the TV on, "Must be from smoking and alcohol addiction."

"Nothing new, who is she?"

"I barely know her. I met her at the bar earlier and she smelled nice but still, she’s not clean like everyone else." 

Diego hissed then chuckled, "Alright, where are you right now?"

"The same. Saint V. Hotel, Jolly Road."

Diego cracked up when he heard the name of the hotel and replied, "That's a minus point on heaven."

Raverine shook his head. "Hurry up." Raverine moved his phone away from his ears and ended the call.