The last thing she remembered was how sadness had drained the color from Lev’s face, leaving him as pale as a winter morning in Duradel.Consciousness slowly faded away from her, and Vero knew this was the end of her life. Celsi had unintentionally, with sincere intention, plunged her into death.Or so she thought.“Verona.”She heard Lev’s voice in the distance, calling her name with hope, even a hint of force, and faintly, she felt something caressing her face.“Verona, you know I can’t go on a day without you. How dare you close your eyes and not react to my calling?”Sometimes she forgets how arrogant Lev is.Verona opened her eyes as she formed a weak smile on her lips. “What a crafty vampire you are,” she muttered under her breath.She looked into his widened eyes, catching a sliver of shock and relief in his irises. He was about to bend down and sweep her into a hug when someone shouted from the other side of the room.“Lev, what did I tell you before? No touching until I exami
Her heart spread doubt throughout her body as Lev’s fangs slowly pierced and tore through her skin. Vero wrapped her hands around his waist, her fingers digging into his back, suppressing the pain and fear.Not fear for herself, but for him.In the next moment, she could smell and feel the blood saturating her shoulder and neck. Her eyes tightly shut, forgetting even to breathe as her mind was consumed by something else.What if the drug failed? What if her blood became more toxic and killed Lev right now? What if—“Verona.”Her eyes snapped open. Lev was staring at her, no longer sucking her blood. Red stained his lips and chin, and her mouth cracked open, but no sound came out. Only a tremor remained.Slowly, Vero withdrew her hand from his back, moving it to his cheek as her worried eyes explored his face.“How?” she asked.“I—” Lev licked his lips. “I’m not sure. Can I taste it again? Just to make sure.”“Okay.”Vero wanted to embrace him, but he grabbed her hand and held onto it.
He was proposing.“Lev...” She was at a loss for words.The water enveloped them like a cold blanket, but all Vero could feel was the warmth in her chest. Her heart swelled with happiness as she gazed into his eyes, half-thinking that it was just another one of his prank routines.But no. The laughter that had formed on his lips earlier now shifted to seriousness. His gaze locked onto hers.“So... yes or yes?” he said softly.Her mouth cracked open. She was about to laugh, but when she saw the beautiful lips of his, she leaned closer and crushed her lips against his.Dim stars emerged as the sun slowly set. Vero’s body trembled from the cold air and the water that pierced her skin. But she didn’t want this kiss to end. She was reluctant to let go of his embrace.“You’re cold,” Lev whispered against her lips. “Let’s go up.”Vero protested as Lev ended their kiss and led her to the edge of the lake. He lifted her onto land first before climbing up.“That was a su—such an unusual proposa
“Lick my shoes.”“W-what?”Vero arched an eyebrow. Her eyes stared intently and condescendingly at the blonde-haired girl, who was kneeling in front of her. Loud music filled the nightclub, to the rhythm of the colorful lights swirling across the dance floor.“Are you deaf?!” Now Vero shouted. She chuckled and rolled her eyes before slinging one leg wrapped in black pump shoes close to the girl’s mouth. “You spilled a drink on my clothes and shoes! Clean it up!”The blonde-haired girl looked pale. Her eyes widened, and she spontaneously grabbed the hem of Vero’s mini dress. “I didn’t mean to do it! I’m sorry, Vee! Didn’t you promise you wouldn’t bother me if I became a waitress at your birthday party?!”“Hey, get your hands off her!” snapped one of Vero’s friends sitting next to her. Her friend hit the blonde-haired girl’s hand until the girl screamed and pulled it away. “You ruined Vero’s birthday party! Don’t you realize she is the queen of tonight’s party?! How could you mess up he
Vero had nothing to cover the blood on her body. She didn’t know how there was blood on her shoulders and the top of her dress, which was now drying and sticky.All Vero could do was run as fast as she could out of the hotel and called a taxi, then ask the driver to take her to her house, twenty minutes from the hotel.Arriving at the house, two guards intercepted Vero at the gate.“Ms. Windward!” called one of the guards as soon as he saw Vero getting out of the taxi and covered in blood. “Why did you take a taxi home? Where’s your car, Miss?! Did something happen?!”Vero glared at the guard and snapped at him. “Shut your mouth and open the gate!”The guard flinched and immediately ran into the guard post to press the gate unlock button.Vero rushed in, half ran up the stairs, and nearly sprained her ankle. Her parents woke up as soon as Vero burst into their room, crying. Mr. Winward turned on the lamp sitting on the nightstand while Mrs. Winward got up and greeted her only daughter
Vero’s journey was long. The night almost didn’t pass, and not even a second Vero could close her eyes. The figure of a man covered in blood flashed through her mind, and she covered her mouth every time she remembered the incident.The sun formed a faint orange line across the horizon, making Vero realize where she was. The road the car passed was so winding, flanked by mountains full of pointed pines.For a moment, Vero forgot her problem and was stunned at the sight. She pressed the button to open the window and the cool air caressed her, causing Vero to close her eyes for a moment while taking a deep breath.“We’re almost there, Miss,” said the driver who escorted her, Elijah, as the car swerved down and over a bridge.The bridge spans over a ravine. At the bottom of the cliff, there is a river and beside the bridge, there is a waterfall that is so high and flowing fast.“I’ve seen no buildings at all,” said Vero after being satisfied with looking at the waterfall, whose voices we
“What do you mean??”“Don’t trust anyone. Keep your room locked, especially at night.”“Why-““Good morning.”Vero and Elijah jumped until they screamed when they heard the voice of someone saying good morning.Vero jumped beside Elijah and turned to look at the figure that startled them.A woman of unusual height stood tall with a smile. Her eyes were blue as ice, hidden behind square glasses, and her red hair was in a tight bun.“Are you a freshman?” she asked. She glanced at the sheet of paper clutched in Vero’s hand.“Ah… yes,” Vero replied, nervously.The woman held out her hand and moved her head slightly. She glanced at the paper one more time before looking at Vero. Vero immediately understood what the woman meant. She handed over the papers, and the woman accepted it.“Verona Windward,” read the woman aloud. “Welcome,” she said, looking at Vero. “I’m the head of the dormitory building B, Caroline. You can call me Ms. Carol.”Vero tried to smile back at Ms. Carol, but the musc
He’s the guy Vero met on her birthday. She was so sure about it. Vero would never forget that face anywhere. A handsome young man with a distant, cold impression, his pale face was so easy for Vero to recognize. As soon as she saw him, two things happened simultaneously within her. Her memory of the young man covered in blood in the hotel room gave her chills. Then an unstoppable curiosity welled up within her. How could he be here when Vero had to hide and leave her life because she thought he was dead? With no hesitation, Vero stood up from the chair. The sound of her chair creaking caught the attention of her new friends. They stopped chatting and followed Vero with their gazes while she walked towards Lev’s table. “You,” Vero said as soon as she arrived in front of Lev’s desk. She stood straight and folded her arms in front of her chest. “How could you be here?” Lev, who was sitting facing to the side, listening to his friends chatting, glanced at Vero with an expressionless