The Vampire's Bride

Saturday came and Mallory woke up earlier than usual because of a nightmare. It took her a moment before she realized that she was dreaming. She gently rubbed her eyes, trying to focus. She used both hands to help her in a sitting position, leaning at the bed frame. After finding a comfortable spot, she unconsciously felt the bed.

It was big... and lonely. Even if it was soft, it was still as lonely as it was at her home. She was grateful that she did not need to sleep on a cold floor as she stared at a poorly fixed ceiling. There were times when she was thrown to the shed and stayed there for a couple of days with nothing but her clothes on. A maid would sneak a few pieces of bread and a glass of water or milk a few times. It did not quench her hunger and thirst but it was enough for her to survive those days.

Sleeping in the shed, in her room, and in this room... all were different but Mallory still found it lonely. And she did not understand why.

Bringing her legs closer to her c.h.e.s.t, she looked at the window and stared straight at the moon.

"It's okay... You're you."

"Dream on! You will never be good enough..."

One was positive, the other was negative. Two different thoughts... but it came from only one person.

Hearing those words, Mallory's sight blurred out. She showed a pained smile. I never was good enough...

Closing her eyes, tears slowly fell, she buried her head on her knees and started humming the tone of a lullaby; the lullaby that was besides her for her whole life. Her memories were hazy but she could recall how warm the person's hands were and how soothing the voice was.

...

Far away from her, a man with red eyes was jumping across the roofs, looking for a place to stay. He suddenly stopped. His cold look suddenly turned gentle and his eyes flashed yellow for a moment as he turned around. Mallory?

It was as if he could hear her sad voice. It was as if he knew that she was in pain. It was as if... they were one.

Hearing the voice in his head, Aldo was forced to shake his head, his black eyes turning red once more. Everything about and around him became cold. He continued jumping but his heart was being stabbed continuously that he needed to stop for a moment and clutched his c.h.e.s.t.

What the f***? He entered a dark alley and placed a hand on the wall to support his body. He was sweating from the pain. Looking at the small puddle below him, he was surprised. Y-Yellow?

His eyes widened for a moment. For a second, his eyes flashed yellow. Only for a second. He thought that he was just seeing things but just as he was about to turn around, he saw it again. This time, it was as if his reflection was another person and was looking at him. One eye was yellow, the other was black.

The pain in his c.h.e.s.t intensified that Aldo closed one of his eyes as he continued to look at the reflection. In the next second, all he saw was his own self. No flashing yellow, no weird looks from his reflection. The pain was gone. He fell on his knees as he panted.

A passerby saw him and worryingly walked nearer. "Umm... Excuse me? Are you alright?"

The man did not reply so she had no choice but to go closer. "Sir?" Just as she was about to tap his shoulder, her wrist was tightly caught and she saw the man turning around with bloody eyes. She was scared to death but before she could even scream, she lost consciousness.

...

Mallory felt her heart being squeezed for a moment and thought it was because all kinds of memories came rushing in her mind. After a couple of minutes crying, she fell asleep in the same position.

When she woke up, it was already past breakfast time

Leo entered the room with a tray. He quickly noticed the puffy eyes and two trail marks on her cheeks. It was obvious that she cried. He wanted to ask why but he did not know what stopped him. "Wanna eat?"

"Yes. Thank you very much." Mallory stood up and quickly helped Leo prepare the food on the small table just like his. She went to the bathroom for a minute to wash her face before returning to eat. Just as they were eating, Mallory's attention was stuck on the sandwich in front of her. Seeing her complicated gaze, Leo said, "You can have it if you want. I can ask the staffs to cook more of those if you like them."

Quickly, Mallory shook her head, "No. I just think that there's something wrong..."

"Wrong?" Frowning, he evaluated the girl. "Are you sick?"

Mallory shook her head. "No, Master Orpheus! I just have a bad feeling about something...'

"Something related to... a sandwich?" Leo's lips twitched.

Feeling ashamed, she weakly nodded.

Amused, Leo could not help but chuckle as he pat her head. "Alright. Why don't we try to figure out why? Does anything reminds you of this? You might be right about your feeling."

Mallory nodded and thought very hard. There was only one thing she could think of: Aldo.

But as soon as Leo noticed her glanced, he already realized who it was. Aldo, huh? He was slightly sad that the first thing that came to her mind was Aldo but remembered that he was her ex-fiancé.

"I-I think, it's Aldo..." Mallory's voice turned weak.

Leo asked, "Why Aldo?" Aldo was not a fan of sandwiches, although he did eat from time to time.

"Last night, when Aldo was about to leave, he got a sandwich." The more she thought of it, the harder her heart beats. It was as if there would be a bad omen. Is Aldo... in danger?

Suddenly, Mallory saw the scene where she just watched Aldo dying. Believing her instincts, she looked at Leo filled with worry. "Master Orpheus... I think, Aldo is in... danger?"

"Danger?" Leo was puzzled. Was he injured from the search last night? Thinking about it, he called Brian.

"Yes, Young Master?"

"You did try to capture him last night, right?" Leo asked.

"Yes. The men you selected tried to catch him the moment he left the vicinity of the house but he escaped unscathed," Brian explained.

Leo nodded, "Ever since he visited the house, I sent my men to capture him the moment he left the vicinity. But no one returned with him so it's obvious that he escaped."

Although Mallory wanted to save Aldo, she knew that what Leo was doing was for the innocent ones. She nodded in understanding as she kept her emotions inside.

Leo noticed her feeling down. He picked up his phone and contacted Jillion as he ordered Brian, "Go and search for him. He might be in danger."

"Yes, Young Master."

Mallory watched Leo as she wondered why he was helping her look for Aldo. Aldo was a wanted vampire and it's Leo's job to catch him but whenever chance presents itself, for some reasons, she felt like Leo was allowing him to escape.

Is it because he also knew Aldo from the past? Or because... of her?

Leo's call was quickly connected. Jillion's voice came from the other line, "Hey, brother! Is there something you need?"

The background noise was filled with sizzling sounds. Jillion was preparing his breakfast when he answered the call.

Leo answered as he motioned Mallory to finish her food, "Yes. Aldo visited last night."

"To see Mallory."

Jillion sighed. "Guess he's attached to your girlfriend even without his memories. So, why exactly did you call me?"

Leo covered the mouthpiece and turned to Mallory, "I'll be talking with Jill. Finish your food and don't go out of the room without me, okay?"

"Yes." Hearing her answer, Leo smiled and walked to the balcony. He leaned at the railings as he answered, "Mallory's instincts."

Being together with Leo for years, Jillion could roughly guess what he meant. "You mean her instincts states that something happened to Aldo?"

"...Yes."

Jillion frowned, "Genius Master Orpheus, what happened to your brain? Are you sick or are you just trying to please your girlfriend?"

Jillion spoke without thinking and was left with regrets. He wan't even sure if Leo was in a good mood to take that as a joke.

Surprisingly, Leo did not lecture him. Instead, he answered the question with difficulty, "I don't know. My mind is clear enough to know that instincts aren't always correct and they usually aren't but for some reasons... when she said he's in danger, I just can't help but feel like he really is in danger."

Jillion cleared his thoughts as he continued with the topic, "What do you want me to do?"

"Look for Aldo. If it turned out that it's a false alarm, then it's good."

"And if it didn't?"

Leo paused. He should save him, right?

Looking far away, he asked, "How about you, Jill?"

"Me?"

"Mm. What would you do if it turned out to be true?"

"I'll save him," Jillion answered immediately.

Leo saw it coming and asked another question, "After that?"

Would you save him? Or turn him in to the police?

Jillion understood what Leo wanted to ask. Even Leo wanted to save him if he's in danger but... after that, what will he do? Will they disregard the past or will they soften their hearts and help him? Letting him escape will label them as his accomplice.

Jillion answered with a question, "Haven't you let him escape a lot of times? Would you still want to hand him to the police?"

Jillion knew that every time Aldo will visit Leo's house, Leo would prepare men to capture him the moment he exited the house. After all, it was his duty as an assistant to the police forces. Leo would also report about Aldo's appearances. But Jillion also knew that the men he prepared where nowhere near Aldo's level, letting Aldo escape with or without injuries. He also knew that Leo deliberately changed the places of Aldo's appearance in the report so it wouldn't be obvious that he was visiting.

"If you truly wanted to capture him, you would have asked Brian to go with your men. But you didn't. That means you also want to help him, Leo," Jillion said.

Hearing his answer, Leo felt like laughing. Holding his forehead, he replied, "You're right. I can't just throw the friendship away."

"Yeah, you really shouldn't. By the way, if we ever did save him, he'll owe us, right?" Jillion asked.

"Definitely. Why?"

Jilion's lips curved upwards. "Well, I need to repay him something."

Leo immediately knew what he meant. "You still haven't gotten over that? Even when he disappeared, you kept wailing like a child."

"Hey! I was still a child when that happened," Jillion exclaimed.

"Yes, yes. Well, I'll leave you with your task. Tell me immediately when you find him," Leo reminded.

After a few more words, Leo ended the call and returned inside. Mallory was staring at him as if asking if he was finished.

Patting her head, he sat besides her. "I asked Jill to help with the search. We'll be able to find Aldo. I doubt he'll change city since he's attached to you."

"Y-Yes. Sorry for asking for your help," Mallory said as she slightly lower her head.

"It's nothing. I'll finish my food and I'll continue teaching you about the test," Leo said.

"Yes."