Chapter 14: Welcome To My World
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3rd person:
The night hung heavy around them as Winter's request to "walk with her" left Karina feeling as if she had no choice. The moon cast an ethereal glow on the surroundings, and the crisp air nipped at Winter's short hair as they ventured further into the campus.
Karina followed mindlessly, almost as if this walk was slowly turning into something akin to a kidnapping. The atmosphere was thick with suspense, and she couldn't help but wonder if Winter even knew where they were going. She felt like a pawn in a game, her confusion mounting with each step they took.
Their path took an unexpected turn as they entered a dark dense forest that seemed to materialize out of nowhere. The trees stood tall and imposing, their branches stretching overhead, the moonlight struggling to pierce the thick canopy. The forest was a living entity, filled with rustling leaves and the symphony of night creatures.
Karina couldn't suppress her growing unease. She called out to Winter in a hushed voice, "Winter?" She shushed her softly, hher grip still guiding her further into the mysterious darkness. But Karina had reached her limit.
"Winter, stop," she demanded, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and frustration. When Winter finally did halt, it wasn't in response to her plea but due to something else. Karina, not expecting her to stop, stumbled slightly.
"Look," Winter urged, her gaze turned upward. Karina hesitated, her eyes slowly lifting to follow his. The night sky, filled with countless stars, appeared through the gaps in the trees. It was a breathtaking sight, the cosmic wonder of the universe laid out before them.
For a moment, Karina's fear ebbed away, replaced by a sense of awe. It was as if Winter had pulled her into a magical world, juxtaposing her dread with the stunning celestial display. Despite her uncertainty, she couldn't deny the beauty of the moment.
The night was alive with the brilliance of a full moon, casting its enchanting light across the landscape. Karina couldn't help but scoff, a wry smile playing at her lips as she gazed up at the celestial sphere. She then shifted her attention to Winter, who was already observing her with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine.
Caught off guard by Winter's unwavering stare, Karina flinched slightly, her heartbeat quickening with a sense of unease. "Is it nice?" Winter inquired with a smile, her voice as silken as the moonlight itself.
Karina hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. "I suppose," she replied warily, her eyes still locked onto Winter's. The peculiarity of the situation wasn't lost on her, and she couldn't help but question Winter's motives. "What's the point of this?" she asked, her curiosity tinged with suspicion.
Winter shifted her gaze back to the radiant moon, the silvery glow casting an almost ethereal aura upon her features. As Karina watched in amazement, she saw something extraordinary happening. Winter's eyes, bathed in the moon's luminous light, began to change color, shifting from their previous hue to something otherworldly.
Karina muttered in disbelief, her voice barely more than a whisper, "What?"
Winter turned to look at her, the gleam of the moonlight dancing in her transformed eyes. It was a mesmerizing sight, a manifestation of something mysterious and far from ordinary. Her hair seemed to elongate, tendrils of dark beauty caressing her shoulders.
"What's with that face?" Winter chuckled, her tone taking on a seductive quality, despite the surreal nature of the moment.
Karina, still grappling with her astonishment, fired back with a trace of humor, "What's up with yours?" The two of them stood beneath the full moon, their encounter taking a fascinating and unexpected turn, each harboring secrets that defied the boundaries of the ordinary world.
As Karina backed away from the unusual situation, she took in her surroundings. The forest was a realm of shadowy serenity, with towering trees creating an intricate web of interwoven branches. The leaves above created a natural canopy, their rustling filling the night air with a gentle symphony.
Winters' eyes remained fixed on her, urging Karina to confront the undeniable truth. With a deep breath, Karina finally spoke, her voice trembling slightly, "Okay, so you're a real vampire."
Winter nodded, her expression both pensive and enigmatic. "But why are you on Earth?" Karina inquired, her curiosity driving her to uncover the mystery that had descended upon her life.
Winter sighed softly, as if debating how much to reveal. "I'm here to retrieve something," she replied, the words hanging in the air like an unspoken question.
In the midst of the night, as the trees rustled around them, Karina sought clarification. "On Earth?" she prodded.
Winter's nod was accompanied by a sense of gravitas. "Yes, on Earth," she confirmed. Karina was left grappling with the lingering uncertainty of how her life had become entangled with a vampire's quest.
The atmosphere in the forest grew tense as the trees seemed to murmur secrets among themselves. Karina's curiosity remained undiminished, and she pressed on with another question. "And what's that got to do with me?"
The sound of a rustling within the trees interrupted their conversation, and Karina dismissed it as a mere quirk of the natural world. But when Winter's head whipped around to face the source, Karina realized that something more sinister might be at play.
In that disconcerting moment, Winter took Karina's hand and led her away, their progress cautious and deliberate. Fear began to creep into Karina's voice as she whispered, "What's going on?"
Winter met her gaze, her eyes reflecting the hidden mysteries of her existence. "There might be werewolves," she confessed in a hushed tone.
Karina's face contorted in horror, her voice quivering with disbelief. "Those actually exist!?" she exclaimed, her disbelief blending with a mounting sense of trepidation. Winter pressed her back against a tree, a silent command for silence as the forest around them came alive with rustling, building a sense of anticipation that hung heavily in the air.
The eerie tension in the forest was momentarily broken when a squirrel made its timid appearance, darting out from a tree and scuttling across the underbrush. Karina couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh, thinking it was the source of the earlier rustling. She glanced over to Winter, who, to her surprise, had her intense gaze locked onto the furry creature.
Winter's unwavering attention on the squirrel stirred Karina's curiosity, and she couldn't resist furrowing her brows as she followed their line of sight. As the squirrel suddenly darted away, Karina chuckled, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. "It was just a squirrel," she said with a hint of amusement.
But her amusement was short-lived, as she turned her attention back to Winter, who was now uncomfortably close, pinning her against the rough bark of a tree. The natural feeling of unease returned, as Karina met Winter's intense gaze once more.
"It's a full moon," Winter stated, her voice as cryptic as ever.
Karina acknowledged this fact with a simple, "Yeah, it is."
Winter smiled in response, but there was a sickly quality to her smile that left Karina on edge. The moonlight danced in her hair, tousling it gently as the forest continued to hold its breath in the silent darkness, waiting for the unknown to reveal itself. Karina, oblivious to the significance of the moment, shook her head in reply to Winter's cryptic question, unaware of what implications the full moon might carry in this supernatural world she had stumbled into.
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In the midst of the moonlit forest, Minji and Haerin ventured deeper into the woods. Minji's voice broke the silence, filled with anticipation. "It should be around here," she declared, her eyes scanning the surroundings, while Haerin followed, her cautious gaze taking in every detail.
Minji's keen intuition led her to their destination, and she exclaimed with delight, "Here it is." Haerin peered down at the source of Minji's excitement, a simple nest nestled below the tree branches.
Haerin regarded it with an expression that remained steadfast. Minji, undeterred by her companion's dismissive demeanor, inquired, "What do you think?" Her voice carried the excitement of a discovery.
Haerin couldn't hide her skepticism as she scoffed, "It's rather, foolish." Her straightforwardness was unapologetic, and her practical nature didn't allow for unnecessary sentimentality.
Minji chose not to argue with Haerin's judgment. Her eyes shifted to the wounded black cat that lay within the nest, mewling softly. She looked over Haerin's shoulder at the ailing animal and probed, "What's foolish about it?" Her curiosity was evident, and she desired an explanation.
Haerin's skepticism remained unwavering. "You said Winter had a plan," she reminded Minji. The implications of this discovery concerned her, and she was skeptical of anything related to Winter.
Minji acknowledged Haerin's remark with a nod. "It begins with the cat," she explained with an air of purpose. Haerin met Minji's gaze, processing the information. Her mind seemed to stall for a moment as she repeated incredulously, "The cat."
Minji's nod confirmed the significance of the feline. "That's all she said before she started talking about leaving with her mate or whatever," Minji continued, brushing off Winter's cryptic comments.
Haerin glanced back to the injured cat, which seemed to be pleading for assistance with its pitiful mewling. It was within her power to end the creature's suffering swiftly, but she hesitated.
Her curiosity piqued, Haerin couldn't resist asking, "And why do you trust Winter's words?" She turned her inquisitive gaze toward Minji. The trust that existed between Winter and Minji had always intrigued her.
Minji's gaze shifted to the moon above, her eyes reflecting the silver glow. "I don't know, I just do," she admitted softly, though Haerin detected a hint of reservation in her response. The bond between Minji and Winter remained shrouded in mystery, even to those who observed it.
The forest's trees rustled, and Haerin's instincts kicked in. She snapped her head to Minji, her voice hushed and tinged with astonishment, "And Winter has a mate?"
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A day had passed since what could only be described as 'the walk in the woods.' Minji's visits to the forest had become a nightly ritual as she continued to look after the injured cat. For some inexplicable reason, she trusted Winter's words, believing that there was a hidden plan, some grand design that only Winter could see. Her determination was unwavering, and that gave Minji the faith to carry on.
However, there remained an underlying need for reassurance. Haerin's dismissive remark, where she labeled the plan as 'foolish,' had left a sting. It felt as though Haerin had not only called the plan foolish but had inadvertently insinuated that Minji herself was foolish for believing in it. Over the past days, Minji had attempted to foster a closer bond with Haerin, hoping to elevate their relationship beyond just being mates. She had sought to establish a profound, soul-bound connection between them, a connection that was unique and extraordinary.
It was, in a way, a test. Minji had wanted to see if Haerin would view her as 'extraordinary' in the same manner that Haerin was, with all her centuries of experience, knowledge, and abilities. Yet, it seemed that in this intricate game of perception, Haerin had emerged as the 'extraordinary' one, while Minji was left feeling, at times, 'ordinary' in her presence.
That revelation had stirred a sense of doubt within Minji, and she found herself reflecting on her own identity, her purpose, and where she truly stood in the grand scheme of things. The dark, moonlit nights in the woods had become a backdrop for her inner contemplation, and as the feline's eyes shone with vulnerability, Minji couldn't help but wonder if her own vulnerabilities were equally exposed under the scrutiny of others.
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The school days seemed to stretch endlessly, and Minji longed for the bliss of sleep. Lately, there was a growing distance between her and Haerin, one that left her puzzled. She couldn't help but wonder if Haerin was merely visiting her for sustenance now. The uncertainty of the situation weighed heavily on Minji's mind as she tried to navigate through her daily life.
One evening, as she went through her nightly routine, Hanni, her roommate, couldn't help but notice the change in Minji's demeanor. Hanni leaned against the bathroom doorframe, her face partially concealed by a sheet mask. She inquired about Minji's state, her voice taking on an eerie tone as she noticed the shift in Minji's behavior.
With her toothbrush still in her mouth, Minji glanced at Hanni with a questioning expression. Hanni raised an eyebrow behind her mask and approached the bathroom. Her arms crossed, she commented on Minji's altered behavior.
"You seem off," Hanni observed, her eyes revealing her concern. As she continued to point out these differences, Minji couldn't help but pause her toothbrushing. With toothpaste foam still in her mouth, she asked, "How so?"
Hanni couldn't help but chuckle at her friend's reaction. She leaned in closer, her voice laced with amusement. "Well, it's been going on for about a month now. You've been acting like an entirely different person, and your appetite is something else entirely." Hanni commented on the changes she'd witnessed, her words filled with humor.
Minji laughed in response. "Oh, you noticed that, huh?" she replied, looking at herself in the bathroom mirror. She rinsed her mouth and rubbed her tired eyes, sensing the irony in her situation. Hanni's playful smirk persisted as she prodded further.
"Ready to share?" Hanni inquired, her tone teasing. Minji looked at her, her expression transitioning from exasperation to a smile. She knew that sooner or later, she would have to reveal her secrets to Hanni. After all, it wasn't as if she would remember any of it the next day.
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With Hanni now perched on Minji's bed, curiosity was etched across her face. Minji, on the other hand, decided to playfully feign disgust, inching away as if Hanni's question was too gruesome to answer. "And then she..." Minji began but hesitated, contemplating whether she should divulge the actual truth or provide a slightly modified version of the story. Hanni's eagerness was apparent, and she gripped the bedsheets in anticipation.
Minji couldn't help but chuckle, feeling a tad weirded out by Hanni's intense curiosity. She let her eyes dart around the room, scrutinizing every detail as if it would provide her with the answer she sought. "She, um..." Minji started, her voice faltering. Hanni leaned closer, inching nearer in her quest to uncover the mysterious tale.
With a note of caution, Minji insisted, "If I tell you this, you have to promise to never tell a soul." Hanni, eager for the juicy details, nodded enthusiastically, her curiosity piqued.
As Minji started to unravel the story, Hanni's facial expressions underwent a swift transformation. She moved from being deeply engrossed to displaying a mix of shock and, eventually, utter horror. The intensity of her reactions was so striking that her sheet mask, which had been delicately perched on her face, couldn't withstand the emotional rollercoaster. It ended up peeling off, comically slapping the bed.
"What?" Hanni was left muttering in a state of bewildered, amused shock, her single word reflecting the absurdity of the situation.
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"Can I talk to you?" Mh voice held a strangely inviting tone as she approached Karina's table. Karina looked up at her, catching the curious, wary glances exchanged by her friends.
Karina nodded and stood up, joining me, I had already started walking. "I hope you're not planning another walk, are you?" she whispered, her tone laced with a hint of skepticism.
I couldn't help but chuckle. "No, I'll give it to you straight this time," I assured, moving closer. As they walked away, I cast a final glance at Karina's bewildered friends, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. I don't cause trouble, trouble causes me.
As we strolled down the dimly lit hallway, I couldn't help but stop in front of the grand library. It was a magnificent building, a testament to the school's pride in its collection of books.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Karina inquired, her voice carrying a note of curiosity.
I leaned against the library's ornate doors and turned to face her. "So, do you reckon that you tolerate me?" I asked, my tone lighthearted.
Karina, with a shrug, admitted, "Not really, but I try."
A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "That's nice," I replied, genuinely appreciating her honesty.
She chuckled softly. "Well, you're interesting, and I want to know more about you, so that's why I let you hang around," she confessed.
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her curiosity. "If that's the case, I suppose I'm at your mercy then," I quipped.
She nodded, and I offered a warm smile. "Is that all?" she asked.
I shook my head. "I want you to read something, then come back to me with an answer," I revealed. "It's about that proposal I mentioned a few days ago."
Karina sighed, and I could tell that the memory of our previous conversation was still weighing on her.
"Fine," Karina said, her agreement bringing a smile to my face. I was taken aback by her readiness.
"Wait, really?" I asked, just to make sure I had heard her correctly.
She nodded. "I won't turn down a book, if that's what it is."
"Well then.."
With a smile, I pushed open the grand library doors. As they swung open, we entered a space filled with knowledge and history.
The upstairs library was my sanctuary. I guided her to a particular section and picked up an ancient book. Its pages, yellowed with age, emitted an earthy scent. The leather cover was well-worn, and the pages had that distinctive texture of old parchment.
"Welcome to my world," I said, inviting her to dive into my realm of ancient knowledge.
Karina reached out, her fingers trailing over the book's cover, sending a small cloud of dust into the air. She gazed up at me with those captivating eyes of hers. They would soon turn crimson, like mine. That is, if I didn't mess this up. In the human world, you only have one chance.
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Note 💌: trust the process y'all, the story is about to kickstart into motion, on the other hand TYSM @loneit, @yhnwang and many more for the votes and comments on every update! I love when you voice your opinions and get along, it's fun 2 read 🎃 Keep it comin <3 🤠👍🏾