It was my twenty-eighth birthday. Pink and gold balloons, weightless with helium, floating in the living room of my apartment. The smell of freshly baked chocolate cake and snacks filled the air ready to be enjoyed. I sipped on a glass of red wine while I waited for my friends and boyfriend, Tristen, to arrive. About halfway through my wine I received a photo from my best friend, Layla of Tristen with another girl, I was shattered - we actually had plans to move in together and get engaged by Christmas, I was under the impression that we had a wholesome relationship, but obviously I was wrong. "What a birthday gift," I thought to myself.
Moments later Layla arrived. She was dressed up in a sparkly short dress with her hair and makeup done to perfection as always, however she was even more dressed up than usual - I could see that she had planned something extravagant.
"Happy birthday, Mila! or not so happy I presume, I always knew that guy was trouble," Layla said rolling her eyes, handing me a birthday gift.
I could feel my mascara dripping down my face, leaving my eyes a burning mess.
"O sweetie don't cry, we'll make tonight the best birthday you have ever had. I got us opening tickets to Club Noir, I heard people buzzing about that place's opening for months now," she said excitedly, attempting to console me.
"Layla, I appreciate you trying to cheer me up, but I made all this food and honestly I don't feel like going out tonight," I said wiping away my tears.
Layla being Layla didn't take no for an answer. She made me redo my makeup and chose a dress out of my wardrobe for me to wear.
"You are a free woman now, maybe you'll meet someone interesting tonight," Layla laughed squeezing my hand as we were on our way to Club Noir.
The club was buzzing with people and bouncers alike. We made our way into the club where neon lights illuminated the dancefloor in a kaleidoscope of color. We danced and had a few drinks, however after a while, the picture of Tristen flashed in my head once again. I moped to the bar to get another drink while Layla enjoyed the company of a man on the dancefloor.
"One shot of tequila, please," I asked the bartender.
As I waited for my drink I could feel someone's eyes on me, but I made nothing of it as it was packed, and eyes were everywhere.
"Here's your drink with compliments from mister blue shirt over there," the bartender said shaking his head, having seen this a million times, knowing all to well how these endeavors usually end. I looked across the bar and saw a tall man with a blue shirt stretching over his muscular chest and broad shoulders. I smiled and lifted my shot glass as a thanks. He smiled back - dimples appearing on his cheeks. He was stunning.
I waited for him to introduce himself, however after taking my tequila a strange sensation came over me - the music faded, the lights seemed sharper almost blinding me, my head spun faster and faster. I knew my drink was spiked. I tried to search for Layla, the people blurring by me, but I couldn't find her. I slowly went to the exit, clamping on each and every railing, chair and holding space I could find. I tried communicating for help, but people just looked at me and rolled their eyes in disgust thinking I was drunk or high.
Eventually I was on the sidewalk, the air cold on my face. As I walked to find a taxi, I could hear footsteps behind me. I refused to look back but it seemed as if though they were getting closer, as if the footsteps were intentional. I decided to turn around, but by then I felt my body collapsing on the hard cement. The last thing I saw was the concrete jungle swaying before everything went dark. Someone carried me...
I woke up in a room that smelled of cold stone, leaving me breathless with its thick earthy undertone - it was the aroma of forgotten centuries turned to ash. The room was engulfed in darkness, even my hands were clothed in mystery before my eyes. I sat up using my sense of touch to determine my whereabouts. I glided my hands over the floor - earthy residue gathered at my fingertips. Suddenly my hand bumped into something metallic, causing an echo as it rolled over the cracked stone floor. I gently followed the sound and picked it up. The object felt like a candleholder, luckily a candle was already inserted. Realizing that it may have been placed there intentionally, I scurried to find something like matches to pierce the darkness. Behind me I felt a single match, using the stone floor I attempted to ignite the match, however the dampness made it difficult. After a few tries I was able to light the candle, but what I experienced made me regret illuminating the room...
It wasn't just an ordinary room, I was placed inside of a crypt - the ceiling hung low over my head, loculi safeguarding the dead was emphasized by the warm flicker of the candleflame, broken relics and cracked sarcophagi stood lifeless withered by time.
I jumped up in agony. Obsidian corridors lined in different directions, each leading to an unknown stillness. How was I supposed to know the way out?
I took a few steps forward when a piece of paper scrunched underneath my feet. I kneeled down to examine the smudged ink scribbled in writing over the paper. It was a letter dedicated to me...
"Dearest Mila
I hope this letter finds you well. I know the circumstances seems strange, but my intention is not to hurt you it is quite the opposite. I locked you in this crypt for your own safety and the safety of others, especially your loved ones. You may not understand now, but soon you will comprehend this situation.
P.S. Come find me. Make use of your senses, let them guide you.
Know that I will be waiting.
Yours truly,
E."
I didn't understand what all this was about, what this person meant by me being a danger to my loved ones and how he or she is protecting me by locking me up in a crypt. All I knew is I had to get out of this place...
After a while, the silence got louder and the corridors got longer. Luckily candelabras stood tall lined up against the moss ridden stone walls. I lit some of the half-melted candles in the candelabras as a "landmark" or beacon as to where I've been to make my escape easier. Suddenly I felt out of breath - was it the low oxygen levels in the crypt having an effect on me?
I sat down to catch my breath. I watched the slow movement of the flames flickering up and down. In the distance I suddenly heard the dripping of water. Slowly I got up to make my way to the water as maybe I was dehydrated. As I walked I felt weaker by the second, falling against the walls using them for support. The dripping got louder, but the smell that lingered was awful, rotten, metallic. The strange thing was that I craved whatever I smelled.
I searched for the smell, and eventually I found it next to the dripping water, but what I saw was horrifying...
It was a body, still fresh. I walked over to the body as something seemed familiar. It was Tristen, illuminated by the candlelight covered in blood. On top of his chest another note was delicately placed.
"Mila,
Take this as a little birthday gift, he never deserved you anyway.
You are almost there, unwrap your present...
You know what to do.
Yours truly,
E."
I was shocked and traumatized, but my craving was stronger. I knew exactly what I wanted to do, what I had to do to survive. I fought with everything in me to stop myself from consuming his blood- I even tried drinking the water, but my body was now weak to the point where I could barely keep my head upright. My jaw was in excruciating pain, my body ridden in hellfire. Before I could catch myself, my mouth was filled with crimson plasma, a poison, an obsession, a hunger I could no longer resist. Fangs as sharp as needles started protruding from my gums, relieving the jaw pain.
Suddenly everything was extremely bright, even the candles burnt my eyes. I could see the night as day. My body got stronger, powerful even - I was filled with an energy I have never experienced before...
I turned my back on Tristen's body and walked away using my hand to wipe away my tears and my bloody mouth.
As my vision became clearer the way out was easier. I found the exit to the crypt and miraculously broke open the lock on the door with my bare hands.
Outside, tall trees grew into the sky touching the silver moon. A thick grey mist covering the ground like a blanket. Fresh air filled my lungs, but guilt and despair filled my heart.
Out of nowhere, I heard a man's voice.
"You made it, Mila, well done," he said.
I turned to face the man, and there he was leaning against the crypt. It was the guy from Club Noir with the blue shirt.
I looked at him with hatred in my eyes, but a familiarity rang in my mind.
"Why?' was all I could ask him.
"I didn't do this to you, you know. I saved you. The bartender spiked your drink, it almost killed you. I have to say he was a delicious snack, a bit high on the alcohol side, but never the less, a vampire's got to eat," he chuckled.
"I'm Elijah, but you'll remember soon enough. I never wanted to transform you but like I said, I had to otherwise you would have been a resident of the place you just escaped from. I locked you in there to make sure you safely completed your transformation. But there's something else..." Elijah said changing his tone of voice.
"Once I saw you a few years ago I couldn't believe my eyes. I followed you and made sure that you were her, watched you from the shadows, protected you, even though I almost failed tonight. We were lovers in each one of your lifetimes, but every time I couldn't get myself to drag you into this life, but I just couldn't lose you again as each time my heart crumbled more severing me from my sanity," he explained.
He then lifted his hands and placed his fingertips on the temples of my head.
"Trust me," he said in a hesitant voice.
I wanted to scurry away, but found myself trusting him more than I should've. Suddenly memories of my past lives of us together flashed in my mind, and it was beautiful -a love so true, not even time could tear us apart as we found each other time and time again.
Yes, I felt hurt that my life ended the way it did, but something about Elijah was stronger than my guilt and sadness, stronger than my new ever lasting hunger, and stronger than time itself. A love that was certain, a love that was forever...
