The Vampire's Bride

"Nice to see you again, Leo, Jillion."

Everyone looked at the floating figure above them. Leo ad Jillion widened their eyes in disbelief.

"What are you doing here?" Leo asked as he glared at the unknown man.

"Oh? Are you that surprised to see an old acquaintance of yours?"

Mallory stared at the man. He looked like a teenage boy, around 14-16 years old, and had blonde hair. The wind blew his hair slightly moving the bangs covering his right eye. Then she saw the familiar scar — the scarred man who did not help.

"Y...You... Why...?" Mallory trembled at she tried to get the words out of her mouth.

Leo turned to Mallory and asked, "You know Zorek?! You've met him before?"

"Zorek?" Mallory asked.

Leo paused and looked at Zorek. Narrowing his eyes, he explained, "Zorek, the man who is known for only one thing..."

"He turned the vampires into his own little toys. He gave life to the dead. Basically, he started the zombie vampire issue from 12 years ago."

"Haha! That's right," Zorek flew to the ground. Standing up, he continued as he dust of his pants, "We did all that and right now you—"

Zorek stopped as he looked at Mallory's face. Recalling her face, he was agitated. "You!"

Sensing the hostility in his voice, Aldo and Leo immediately stepped in front of Mallory, their arms over her front.

Seeing their protective look, Zorek laughed, "Ahaha! So you got two bodyguards? I was thinking who was strong enough to outdo the curse but it turned out it's you!"

"C-Curse?" Mallory weakly asked.

"Oi!" Leo called and tried to grab his wrist but Aldo avoided him. "Oi! Wake up!"

Aldo did not stop. He was halfway through when he heard another voice calling his name.

"Aldo, don't!"

Snap!

Something inside Aldo snapped. He stopped and turned around. Mallory's eyes were filled with fear. She was scared.

Afraid that he will ignore her, Mallory continued, "Don't go to the person who let you die!"

!!!

L-let me... die?

"What do you mean?" Leo asked.

Aldo turned around to look at Zorek, "You... killed me?"

Zorek was confused at first before letting out a playful smile. He amusingly said, "Oh? I almost forgot. Of course, you won't recognize me. You 'lost' your memories, right? I have it thinking you might lose it. Here, I'll give it back now."

Zorek snapped his fingers and almost immediately, Aldo screamed in pain and fell on the ground, clutching his head.

"Aldo!"

Everyone ran towards him. They tried to help Aldo but Aldo just continued screaming.

Zorek laughed at the scene as he flew. "Haha! That's the face I've been dying to see! Yes, little girl! That face filled with fear! The exact same face you showed me 12 years ago!"

Mallory was stunned and looked at him. 12 years ago... he showed up. Not among those that hurt Aldo but he showed up and it was just like now. He was flying at that time too. He had the same cheeky grin and the scar that seemed familiar.

"You... You killed... Aldo? You were not just a passerby that saw the scene?! You were not like... me, a witness?!"

Zorek's face turned serious. "Did you seriously thought that I was passing by? If you hadn't screamed at me to help him, then my pawns would have not die. If you were not noisy, then no one would have noticed what was happening. Just so you know, I have a grudge against you but because of your look at that time, it dispersed. Seeing that look again, I am determined to make you mine!"

Then my pawns would have not die!

No one would have noticed what was happening!

Make you mine!

Leo got angry at Zorek. What make her yours?! She's my partner!

Leo opened his mouth to shout but someone was faster than him.

"Go away, Zorek. She's not yours and will never be yours."

Zorek looked at the weak but determined man on the floor. "What's this? Is the ex-fiancé trying to protect the love of his life?"

"Get the hell out of here," Aldo said before coughing blood.

"Aldo!" Mallory fell on her knees and supported Aldo. "Aldo!"

"Tsk." Zorek looked around and said, "I'll be leaving now. Looks like your backup just arrived."

In that instant, Leo did received the info that the backup arrived at the park. He looked at Zorek, "Don't try to escape, you coward!"

"Coward?" Zorek narrowed his eyes, "A piece of advice, my friend. Don't pretend to be the good guy when you've walked down the path of the bad guy."

Bad guy?

Mallory looked at Leo. Although it was only for a second, she could see regret flashing through his eyes.

Master Orpheus... is a bad guy?

"Stop saying nonsense," Jillion said.

Zorek looked at Jillion and said, "Don't try to hide the past, Jillion."

Bang!

A light flashed and Zorek was gone. When the light was gone, Aldo fainted after coughing out more blood.

"Aldo! Aldo! Aldo, wake up!" Mallory shook his body with fear.

"Mallory! It's fine, it's fine!" Leo grabbed her shoulders, trying to calm her. When she looked at Leo, her eyes were filled with tears.

"He... won't die, right? Right, Master Orpheus?" Mallory asked.

"He won't."

Leo's firm answer surprised Mallory. "R-Really?" Leo nodded. There was no hesitance in his actions.

"Young Master Orpheus!"

"Young Master!"

Behind them, a group of people arrived. They were a couple of seconds late but Leo could not blame them. "He's gone. Secure the area, check for witnesses. Bring the unconscious man to the car. We'll leave this place to you. We'll return home now."

...

Meanwhile, a man landed on a bridge. "Sh*t! That bullet is not an ordinary bullet! His precision was frighteningly good, hitting me at one of my weaknesses. Ah, F***! It will take time to heal! I don't have any pawn to get me blood!"

"— Yes. I'll be going home now... Yes, that's her name. I met her a few days earlier. Bye, See you soon, cousin."

A girl was walking past the bridge as she ended the call. She did not notice the man staring at her.

Watching her, the man had a scary grin on his face, "I forgot I have you."

He stood up and walked towards the girl. "Hey, little missy!" The girl turned around and looked at the man, "Yes?"

The man's grin widened and finally, he found his new pawn...