Bride of the vampire
Chapter fourteen

She stared at them in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. The revelation that they needed her blood sent a wave of fear coursing through her veins. Would they really kill her for Damien's sake? As much as she wanted to save him, she couldn't sacrifice her own life. The thought of leaving her mother behind was unbearable.

"We only need a little blood from your finger. We ain't killing you." he said impatiently, his tone lacking any sympathy.

She reluctantly extended her hand, her fingers trembling slightly. The man's gaze met hers, and she could see the determination in his eyes. With a swift motion, his finger elongated and cut her own finger, causing a sharp pain to shoot through her.

"Ouch," she whined, unable to hide her discomfort.

He positioned her hand above Damien's mouth, and she watched as her blood dripped into his open mouth. Just three drops, that's all it took. Suddenly, Damien gasped, his body convulsing violently. A dark cloud of smoke emerged from his trembling form, filling the air with an eerie presence.

"What's happening?." Crystal yelled, her voice filled with panic.

"Why is he behaving like that?" she asked again, her voice trembling with fear.

"Oh no!" a voice exclaimed from behind them, causing them to turn around in surprise.

"Hazel, what is wrong with my son?" the man demanded, his voice filled with concern.

Son? She couldn't believe her ears. This man was Damien's father?

"How many drops did you give him?" Hazel asked, her voice filled with urgency.

"Three drops," she replied, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"No, no. One drop was enough. Three drops is too powerful," Hazel exclaimed, her face pale with fear.

"Everyone, move back!" she screamed, her voice filled with urgency.

Before they could react to her warning, a powerful force pushed them back, causing Crystal to lose consciousness immediately.

A few hours later, everyone was already awake, but Damien was nowhere to be found.

"Damien will be extremely dangerous now. I'm uncertain if he will have any emotions left," Hazel stated.

"Why is that?" Mr. Anthony inquired.

"Based on how he woke up, I believe he was betrayed for his trust. And he's a vukodlak. His dark side will take control once he's overwhelmed by emotions like love and trust. He will become even more powerful and merciless. The more they try to kill him, the stronger his dark side will become. If we don't handle this carefully, his dark side will completely take over him," Hazel explained.

"Are there any solutions?" Anthony asked.

"She is the only solution," Hazel pointed at Crystal.

"What do you mean? Am I the only one confused here?" Crystal asked, feeling lost and confused.

Nothing was making sense to her. What is a vukodlak? What is this dark side? How can killing someone make them more powerful?

Various questions raced through her mind.

"You won't understand right now. Just stay by his side," Hazel said.

"Max, you are always the one standing by his side. He will be ruthless now, so be careful not to do anything that will anger him. He won't hesitate to kill anyone," Hazel said. Max felt immediate fear. If Damien discovers his relationship with Aiden...

Oh no! He will definitely be in grave danger.

Hazel began reciting some spells while looking at Crystal.

Before Crystal could say anything, she fell into a deep sleep.

"I put her to sleep. I'm not sure if she can be trusted. She won't remember what happened here. Please send her back before sunrise," Hazel said before heading to her room. "Max, do what needs to be done," Anthony said, also getting up.

Max nodded and carried Crystal on his back.

As he quickly made his way to her house, he was able to track her phone.

A few minutes later, he arrived at her doorstep, only to replace it locked.

How did she manage to get out then? He wondered, he watched her until the sun began to rise.

Max knocked on Crystal's door three times before quickly leaving.

"It's so early in the morning. Who could that be?" Adrian yawned loudly.

"Oh my gosh Crystal, why are you outside?". He shouted.

"Um, Adrian". Crystal blinked twice.

"I think I sleepwalked". She couldn't recall how she ended up outside.

"Just get up". Adrian assisted her in standing.

"Yuck! Your breath smells bad". Adrian said, annoyed.

As Crystal intentionally breathed into his nose again, they both laughed

*****

It has been three long weeks since Crystal last laid eyes on Damien, and it felt as if he had vanished into thin air. Despite her best efforts to locate him, he remained elusive and untraceable.

During this time, Crystal had crossed paths with Max on a few occasions, but he seemed determined to avoid any interaction with her. It was disheartening, as she had hoped for some answers or at least a clue about Damien's sudden disappearance.

On a brighter note, her friendship with Liam was blossoming. She had initially been sceptical about him, but he had proven himself to be a reliable and trustworthy companion. Unlike Damien, Liam didn't vanish without a trace or engage in foolish behaviour. Although he persistently asked her out on a date, Crystal politely declined, emphasising the importance of preserving their friendship.

She was in the dressing room, preparing as usual. She slipped into a top that resembled a net adorned with beads, and paired it with a matching skirt embellished with braided beads at the hem. The beads created a delightful sound as she walked. She gathered her hair into a ponytail and confidently stepped out.

"It's showtime, Jae," she whispered to herself.

With each step, she moved towards the pole with a seductive grace, her heels and beads creating a symphony of sounds. Even before her performance began, every man in the room was captivated by her stunning outfit.

The DJ played a new song, and the crowd erupted in cheers, eagerly anticipating her dance. Their eyes were fixated on her body, devouring every inch.

She started swaying her hips, running her hands sensually down her body, perfectly in sync with the music's rhythm.

The men howled with desire, their eyes ravenous for more.

They began uttering crude remarks.

"Shake that ass, baby."

"Hey, sweetheart, let us see those boobs."

"Strip naked, darling."

Although she was accustomed to such comments, they still irritated her.

Ignoring the offensive remarks, she continued to

dance seductively until the music came to an end.

***************

Crystal immediately entered the dressing room once she finished dancing. She closed her eyes nervously, taking deep breaths to calm herself. It required great self-restraint for her not to express her frustration and anger.

Ever since her mother fell into a coma, Crystal had to quit her university in order to care for her and support herself. The expenses of rent, hospital bills, medication, and groceries were overwhelming. Despite Adrian's assistance with the rent, it still wasn't enough.

Grace announced that Angel had mentioned Crystal being a private show. Crystal sighed, dreading the situation.

After Liam and Herb became friends, Liam stopped coming to the club and Angel took over again. Crystal took a deep breath, attempting to calm her nerves.

"Which room?". Crystal asked.

"Room 347," she replied.

"The special room?" Crystal inquired.

She nodded. It was the most expensive room in the club, and no one had ever booked it before.

A blast of icy air from the air conditioning welcomed Crystal as she opened the door to the room. She felt a shiver running down her spine.

She looked around as she walked inside. She realized it was totally different from the other rooms. The room was huge and beautiful.

Everywhere was silent, only the clank of her heels could be heard. Without a second thought she turned on the music player, as a seductive song started playing.

"There is no one here," she thought, her voice echoing in the empty room.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered as a door burst open, and a figure emerged. It wasn't just any man; it was the man she had yearned to see for what felt like an eternity. Damien.

He stood there, leaning against the doorframe, his piercing dark green eyes locked onto hers. In that moment, it felt as if he could see straight into the depths of her soul. His gaze spoke volumes, filled with a mixture of desire, longing, and a hint of mischief.

A mischievous smile played on his lips as he spoke, his voice dripping with anticipation,

"Did you miss me, princess?"