Not everything living in the dark wants to kill you

I follow Syrus back to the city outskirts, unbeknownst to me how far I have run in such a short amount of time. I guess the stories are true. Vampires have incredible speed. Already experienced wounds that would kill a mortal. The stab wound in my stomach has already healed. The super hearing enabling me to hear the beating hearts and voices from streets away. I fix my gaze on a bee and direct my concentration, listening to the buzz of a bee’s wings as they hover over the blossoming flowers. What else is real? Super strength?

Syrus leads past the farmlands, reaching a banged-up two-story cabin on the outskirts of the woods. The roof looked broken, missing tiles and scattered pieces on the floor. Wooden planks to be missing on the wooden walls. stones missing from the chimney, black smoke escaping from them. I half expected the house to blow over in a powerful storm.

Syrus opens the door and allows himself in. I follow closely behind, and Syrus closes the door behind me. It looks nicer inside than it does on the out. It was clean, the floorboards still intact, working doors and fixed windows, the perfect illusion. The living space is compact. The fireplace sits to the far right of the room, still burning bright and hot. A small wooden chair sits in front of the fire, a pile of books neatly stacked up next to it on the wooden floor. The stair case is opposite of the fireplace, perfect symmetry of the room.

“Considering you painted yourself in blood, there’s a hot bath waiting for you upstairs, the door next to your room at the end of the hall,” Syrus concludes and sits in front of the fire. I look at my clothes and note the fresh and dried blood mixed with dirt and grime. I can’t think of a time when I last had a bath. There were times I stood in the icy rain. Feeling my toes and fingers go number, shivering as I desperately try to clean myself. A hot bath. I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement in my chest and the threat of tears spilling from my eyes.

Step by step, I make my way up to the second floor, and sure enough, on Syrus’s word, there was another door next to the room I had awakened in. Why didn’t I see that earlier?

Opening the door, there in the middle was a tub, filled with scalding water, steam rising, filling the room with a light mist. A delicate aroma of chamomile and lavender hangs in the air. Questions pop into my head. When did Syrus have the time to draw him a bath? Where did he get the water? Asking myself will never get the answers I need, so I decide to accept it and get in the bath.

The water felt hot, but it didn’t scorch my skin as I expect it too, it felt pleasant feeling the heat. The warmth cocooning my body, feeling weightless in the water. It’s so satisfying, it’s been so long since I felt this. I only sink myself deeper till I’m submerged in the water. I enjoyed staying underneath, realising I no longer needed air and can stay under here for as long as I wish.

Coming back to the surface, wiping the water from my eyes. I see a cloth hanging on the side of the bath. I frown at this rogue cloth, remembering not seeing one before.

Looking around the empty room, I can see no one. The door remained closed. Slowly, I reach for the cloth and begin washing the grime off my face. Enjoying the noticeable aroma of rose and the sound of water pour into the tub rings into my ears. I pull the rag away and skim the room again, still empty. I frown and begin the rest of my body. The water level has clearly risen since I stepped in. Okay, I am going insane. I ease myself back into the tub, trying to relax. Leaning my head backwards, washing my hair in scorching soapy water, scratching the grime out. It’s nothing Rune. It was always like this.

I sit up again and scan the room and see a towel hanging on the doorknob. That was not there before. Okay, time to get out. I already deemed myself clean, but I had to cut my bathing experience short as random items appearing, and rising water is a little too much for me to handle. Stumbling to get out of the bath and wrapping the surrounding towel. I look for my clothes, scanning the place where I had left them initially. Gone.

I open the door and poke my head past the small crack, checking to see if anyone lingered in the halls. Once more, not a single soul. Slowly creeping out, I walk back into my room. I find the bed neatly arranged with new, clean clothes, neatly folded on top of the covers. Did Syrus do this?

Shakily, I get changed into the clothes, and they fit well. They smell clean and soft. I stare down at myself, a smile creeping onto my face.

The light from the outside darkens as cloud black as midnight covers the midday sun, flashes of light emitted from the darkness, rumbling caused by the gods and then rain pouring down. I watch the rainfall slowly against the glass, hearing it bang upon the roof. It’s nice to be on the other side of the elements, warm, clean, and inside a house with a sturdy roof above my head.

A wave of drowsiness crashes up my body. Everything shut down, the brain no longer online and on autopilot, moving my feet to my bed. I gently grab the soft, warm garment. Gently rubbing my thumb against the fabric. I barely remember the last time I laid in the bed. I lift the cover and stare at the clean mattress. My stomach plummets, thinking back to the dream I had before waking up. Nightmares controlled my sleep. I scrunch my nose in disgust.

Sitting on the bed, adjusting to the softness, bobbing myself up and down and enjoying the soft plush feeling. But it was quickly dashed away with dread, drowned out by my inner thoughts, thinking back to that day. It has been so long since I last thought about that memory.

I wanted to resist the urge, but everything was out of my control. I fall back on to the bed, my head hitting the pillow, and the darkness overcomes me once more.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

“Are–are you sure about this, father?” I ask to stutter, standing in the centre of the pentagram.

Shaking like a little lamb.

“I am sure. This will work!” Father assures excitedly, giving me ahead of a goat.