The painting

I stood there, expressionless while he left, I needed time to understand everything.

"Since I am the reason you're here, I'll take the responsibility….." "No, I'm not gonna marry you," I made things clear before he could finish his sentence.

"That's not the responsibility I am talking about, how delusional?" He scoffed, "And talk respectfully to everyone here, they all are your seniors…. Including me." He straightened his collar proudly.

"Seniors?"

"Yeah, seniors. Everybody who transformed before you is your senior, and unfortunately you'll never become one." He patted my shoulder.

"And why is that?"

"Because transforming had been banned through many years, I was the last vampire to be transformed 199 years ago. But since the vampires are immortals, it led to overpopulation. So, 'the law' forbid us from responding to any soul calls anymore. But unfortunately when I visited the human world, I heard your soul call and despite being under the 'seizure spell' I couldn't control myself." He explained everything but I was still clueless. There were many terms I was unaware of.

"Everything aside, let me just ask you one question. Am I actually dead? Like for real?" I still had my doubts.

"Do you want me to cut your hand again?" He looked serious.

"No, there's no need. I'll try to accept my death as soon as possible." I hid both my hands behind.

"That's good. Since you've partly accepted it. Let me show the world you'll be living in from now on." He pointed at the door.

I nodded my head slightly, gave an awkward smile and walked out to a black corridor with some old paintings hanging on its walls. He showed the way and I followed reluctantly.

As I walked, taking a quick look at every frame hanging, my eyes stopped at an old painting which looked quite similar. It looked like Carla, the rude short brat. I stopped and checked again. It was just like her.

"That's Carla, one of the oldest vampires present here. How old was she again?" He scratched his hair, "some 936 years or something, I don't remember the exact number." My jaw dropped. That must be a joke.

"You mean this carla and this painting are almost a century old?"

"No, not the painting but Carla is surely almost a century old, this painting was painted recently, about 300 years ago maybe. Now let's go, I still haven't had my breakfast."

That's not 'recently' at all. It can be sold for millions in a museum. I had many other questions but I saved them for later as he started walking again.

We passed many rooms and turned left then right then left, climbed a few stairs and used an elevator and… I don't remember the way even after living there for so long. Anyways then finally after walking for an eternity we came across a reception where Xavier greeted a receptionist so I nodded my head as well and we were finally out. It was night already, my god I was unconscious for a whole day.

He continued walking, so I just turned around to see how that huge mansion-like hotel looked from the outside but to my disappointment there stood a broken small hut completely opposite of the palace we left.

"Wait a minute, what's wrong with this place? Wasn't it so lavish inside, why is it totally opposite externally." As always I couldn't hold my curiosity in.

"It's a disguise to avoid unwanted guests. Now, let's go soon shall we? I'm quite hungry and I can't even drink your blood." He said disappointedly, giving me chills. I followed him quietly.

We entered the woods. The forest was dense with little moonlight squeezing its way through the leaves, forming different patterns on the ground. Despite being quite dark, my vision was clear. I could easily see everything.

I suddenly heard a rustle from behind and turned around.

"Just a rat, don't worry." Xavier didn't turn around but he knew I was frightened.

We walked further and stopped near a small cave. He stopped there for a second, looked left and right and then entered.

The moment we entered, a strong smell hit me, as if rotten flesh was stored in bulk. The room was filled with many people sitting here and there with wine in their hand, talking to each other.

Carla was sitting on a table in the corner alone, rotating a glass of wine in her left hand, observing others. How did they allow a minor to drink? A sudden thought occurred to me but then I remembered her age and relaxed.

"Let's go, Carla's saved a seat for us." He pointed at her.

We managed to squeeze through the people and reached her. I could feel people staring at me and whispering. Maybe I was being extremely self conscious but I couldn't ignore their hole bearing stares.

"Thankyou for saving a seat for us." Xavier sat down signalling me to sit as well.

"Don't flatter yourself. It's just that, everybody else doesn't dare to." She rolled her eyes.

"But we still got a seat, thanks to you. Otherwise it was difficult to even find an inch to stand here."

"What would you like sir?" A thin man wearing a uniform that usually waiters wear came near and asked. His uniform was exactly like those that waiters wear in restaurants except that it was completely black, top to bottom.

"A large glass of fresh blood with mint flavoured frozen clots please, as for this lady….." he scanned the menu for a few seconds, "a cup of red blood tea would be okay." I froze for a second. What are these things? Are they even edible or drinkable? My eyes then landed on the glass in Carla's hand. On second thought, the liquid didn't look like it was wine. The colour and texture looked strange.

Author:

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