At 8:00 at night, the sharp sound of kitchen utensils clanging against each other could be heard as a delicious aroma lingered in the air.
"Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene... I'm begging of you please don't take my man!" Riley sang aloud as she stirred the pasta in the pot, correcting her seasoning. Scooping a little potion, she dabbed a drop onto her palm and tasted it.
She frowned.
"F*ck! I totally forgot to buy salt. Goodness, this pasta is tasteless. Hazel!" Riley called out, slightly covering the pot.
"Yes! Is there a problem, Riley?" Hazel answered softly, stepping into the kitchen. Her black shiny hair which she had let loose cascaded down her shoulders to her waistline, giving off a girlish vibe with her pink pyjamas.
Her hazel green eyes were pure, bright, and had some hint of innocence in them as she pushed her glasses up to the bridge of her nose, staring at Riley.
"Yeah, I forgot to buy salt from the grocery store, could you help me get some from the nearby store? Please my sweet nerdy–"
"Oh, Riley," Hazel sighed, stepping closer to take a look at what's salivating her appetite. Seeing the pasta her smile broadened. "I was reading, we have exams next week but what are friends for...? I'll go get it." Hazel chuckled softly.
She knew Riley couldn't afford to mess up her cooking. She wondered why Riley had refused to attend a catering school, by now she would have started making 6 zeros with her certificate and her splendid method of cooking. She was one of the best cooks she had ever known.
Riley smiled and took out her card, handing it to Hazel.
"Thanks, Hazel. Don't go too far, it's about to rain, and don't forget to take the umbrella with you." Riley urged like a mother looking out for her child.
"Sure, I will," She nodded and quickly strode off, recalling when she had met Riley.
It was in Velmoria.
Hazel recalled living happily with her parents until the time when everything had suddenly turned absurd. She had discovered that her father was the one who took the life of her mother and also attempted to kill her, but she had escaped.
How he did it, no one knew. Even as investigations were conducted by the police, they were not able to trace him.
Up to date, everyone believes or rather assumes her father is dead, or probably he had only gone on hiding after what he had done.
They were such a perfect family before the catastrophe. Up till now, she couldn't understand what had triggered her own father to do such a thing to his own family.
At that time, Riley was the only one who was there to help her. Riley was still living with her parents then, but had told her she would be leaving Velmoria to Nighthollow for the new job she got.
When Riley heard what had happened to her, she felt for her and decided to bring her along to Nighthollow, a town which it's name sounded weird, however, was a free and peaceful place to live.
She had worked hard and enrolled herself in college which wasn't easy, but she was glad her best friend was there to support and assist her with the little she had.
Hazel sighed as she forced herself not to think about what had happened to her once-happy and peaceful family.
She took the umbrella and stepped out of the gate but didn't open it because it wasn't drizzling yet.
By the time she got to the nearby store, it had already been closed. She sighed and decided to go further to check other stores, however, she frowned on noticing that the whole area seemed like a ghost town with not a single soul in sight– it was silent and still.
Every store was closed, shut down as though a silent order had sent everyone home. Turning around, she noticed that she'd wandered too far.
A shiver ran down her spine when the cold, biting wind hit her face hard making her grip the umbrella tight. She decided to head back but a shrill and painful cry which came from a certain direction suddenly caught her attention.
She paused, wondering that maybe someone was calling out for help. Her fingers tightened harder on the umbrella, encouraging herself to go check out the sound, believing someone might be in dire need of help.
***
Somewhere in a dark corner...
A man leaned lazily on a car as he took a long drag from the cigar, puffing out smoke. He wore a white shirt leaving the first three buttons undone, his bare and tattooed chest fully on display.
Strands of his inky black hair tumbled to the side, partly veiling his face as his dark eyes remained fixed on the man on the floor who was begging for his life.
"Yes, I did steal the goods and planned to run away with them the next day, but someone tricked me and stole them from me. He is the one who ran off with the goods instead!" The man cried out fearfully.
A hard punch slammed into his cheek, sending him rolling across the floor as he spat out blood. His face was already badly bruised.
"Such audacity! Who was it?" Kael, one of Vladimir's men asked coldly. His voice sent a cold chill down the man's spine but couldn't be compared with the aura of the man who leaned lazily on the car as though nonchalant about the matter. Who doesn't know Vladimir Vaelmont? He is the devil himself!
Vladimir's other two men who stood beside him stared coldly at the man on the floor as though he were trash while one of them chuckled sarcastically.
Fear gripped him as he begged for his life, watching Vladimir stride towards him with deadly purpose.
Vladimir gripped the collar of the man's shirt and pulled him up lazily.
"I hate it when people with zero sense try to outsmart me." He uttered, seeming to be in deep thought, putting the man in more fear and making him wonder about his next move.
To his greatest shock, he suddenly let loose of his hand on his shirt and spoke, "Anyway, I'll forgive and forget everything." Signaling to his men not to torture him anymore. "Stand up and run away now before I change my mind," Vladimir muttered, lazily.
The man nodded vigorously. Forcing himself to his feet, he dashed towards the exit, running for his life.
Suddenly, like a flash, Vladimir appeared before him, gripping his head tight. His eyes burned red as his fangs slid into view. He sank his fangs deeply into his neck, mercilessly.
"AAAHHHH!!!" The man let out a shrill and painful cry.
Vladimir's grip tightened and with a brutal motion, he tore the man's head off his body.
His head hit the ground with a dull thud, moments before the man's lifeless body crumpled and rolled beside it.
"So quick, thought you would allow him to go further a little." Cassian muttered and shook his head.
"He deserved it anyway, thinking that he could do such and run away freely, tsk tsk." Ezren added nonchalantly.
Kael took out a handkerchief and handed it over to Vladimir who took it and wiped his hands, running his tongue across his lips as he licked off the blood.
Tossing the handkerchief on the floor, he began walking towards his car but suddenly paused when he caught the sound of a fast beating heart.
Someone was close. Someone was watching them.
Immediately, his head snapped sharply in the direction of the person.
From a distance, Hazel watched in horror as the dangerous looking man ripped the man's head from his body with terrifying ease. Fear rooted her to the spot.
Something deep inside of her told her to run, but her gaze still lingered on the scene.
She flinched on noticing the man now stared at her direction, his dark red eyes gleaming in the dark. Hazel's breath got caught in her throat.
He had seen her!
"Should I go after..." Kael was saying but paused when he saw that Vladimir had already gone after the poor bunny.
In the pitch black night, thunder roared as heavy rain began to pour.
Hazel ran, breathlessly. Not knowing the direction she was running to until she felt her head hit on something hard.
It was a wall... No it wasn't a wall... It was a man's chest, the dangerous looking man who had ripped off that man's head.
How did he... How could he have run so fast...?
Hazel gasped, falling on the wet ground as tears began to roll down her cheek, the rain pouring on her body.