The Door
Sleep came to me like a heavy fog, slow and consuming. I remember setting my phone on the nightstand, the faint glow of the screen fading as I closed my eyes. Everything felt so ordinary. So... normal. Until it wasn’t.
I dreamed of a door. A towering, ornate thing with carvings of strange, twisting patterns. It stood alone, shrouded in a dim, bluish light that seemed to come from nowhere. At first, I froze. My pulse quickened, fear prickling at the back of my neck. Something about it felt wrong, like it didn’t belong in my world. Yet, my curiosity gnawed at the edges of my fear. My hand moved on its own, reaching for the handle.
The door creaked open, revealing a blinding white light. Then, as if the ground beneath me dissolved, I stumbled forward—and woke up. But I wasn’t in my bed.
Elise Carter
*staring wide-eyed, frozen in place* (Where... am I?)
I was standing in the middle of a vast, dimly lit hall. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of something metallic. Around me, people darted back and forth in various states of disarray. Shouts and chaos surrounded me, and their movements seemed... unnatural.
???
He’s leaving! Stop him! *burst out from a room, half naked and yelling*
???
You’re out of line! *turns toward the other guy*
???
Come back! *comes out the room, half dressed and dishaveled*
The distinct sound of a punch echoed, and my stomach lurched. These people... they weren’t normal. Their movements were too fast, too precise. Then I saw it—a glint of fangs during the scuffle.
Elise Carter
*stumbling backward, whispering to herself* (Vampires. This can’t be real.)
The whole place was in chaos.
Theo Laurent
Look! She’s here. *points at Elise*
The room froze. Every single pair of eyes turned to me. My heart pounded as the chaos faded into silence. They started straightening their clothes, brushing themselves off as if nothing had happened. The air felt heavy.
Theo Laurent
Apologies! *stepping forward, smooth and composed* Usually it’s not that chaotic here. I am Theo Laurent. I’ll inform the boss that you’re here.
Elise Carter
The boss? *stammering*
Theo Laurent
*nodding with a slight bow* Please wait here. *disappears into a side corridor*
Elise Carter
*sinking into a chair, trembling* (This isn’t real. Vampires don’t exist. This is a dream... it has to be.)
？？？
*cheerfully, approaching with a confident smile* You look like you’ve seen a ghost.
Elise Carter
*snapping her head up, startled*
Adrian Verlais
*sitting beside her, smirking* Adrian Verlais. And you must be Elise Carter.
Elise Carter
*narrowing her eyes, her voice shaking* How do you know my name?
Adrian Verlais
*leaning back casually* We’ve been expecting you.
Elise Carter
*blinking in confusion* Expecting me? Why?
Adrian Verlais
*grinning, voice dipping to a playful tone* You must be quite special if the entire house is buzzing about you. But then again, I can see why. You’re captivating.
Elise Carter
*blushing slightly, unsure whether to be flattered or alarmed*
Before I could respond, another figure entered the room.
Marianne Corwin
*gracefully stepping forward* Miss Carter. I am Marianne Corwin. I speak on behalf of the owner of this house. *her tone firm and authoritative*
Elise Carter
*standing* And who is that? *her voice unsteady*
Marianne Corwin
Our boss. *calmly* He was waiting for your arrival for centuries. You are very important to us. So you are to be treated as an honored guest.
Elise Carter
*frowning* Why me? What does that even mean? *panic creeping into her voice* And when can I talk with this boss?
Marianne Corwin
I’m afraid that is not possible. No one meets the boss.
Elise Carter
Not even you?
Adrian Verlais
*chuckling softly, leaning toward Elise* Trust me, Elise, if she hasn’t met him, none of us have.
Elise Carter
This is insane. I need some air. *overwhelmed*
The daylight was a welcome relief, though its warmth felt surreal after the dark, tense atmosphere of Nocturne Hall. The world outside was luxurious and immaculate, yet suffocating. I barely noticed the human servants flanking me as I wandered through the garden.
High-tech security cameras everywhere and sleek luxury cars on the driveway. Everything screamed wealth and power.
？？？
Another car? Really? *shouting* While the rest of us scrape by? You think you’re better than us, don’t you?
???
*whispering* That’s Donna Perch—she’s… a character.
Donna Perch
*yelling from the gates, pointing aggressively* Oh, great. Another one of their pets. You think you’re special, huh? Living in that big house, doing nothing? Pathetic!
Elise Carter
*burning with embarrassment* I don’t even know what’s going on here. *muttering under her breath*
I turned on my heel. Dealing with vampires seemed preferable to dealing with a Donna.
Adrian Verlais
*waiting in the foyer, grinning* Rough first outing?
Elise Carter
*sighing* Just show me to my room.
Adrian Verlais
*leading her upstairs* Welcome to your new life. And if you get lonely... my door is always open. *his tone teasing*
Alone in the lavish room, I sank onto the bed. No matter how hard I pinched myself, I couldn’t wake up. Vampires were real. And I was somehow part of their world now.
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