ISADORA
"Alejandro," I called out to him while tightly gripping his hand. The room was dark, but the flickering firelight from outside seeped in, cast by the torches held by the men of our village.
They were hunting the monster that was on a killing spree.
"What is it, my love?" he whispered, wiping my forehead with a damp cloth.
"I'm scared."
Our eyes met in the darkness, intermittently illuminated by the light filtering into the room. My fear and anxiety grew, accompanied by the increasing pain in my abdomen. I was about to give birth.
"I'm right here, Isadora."
I nodded and grimaced in pain. The village midwife was nowhere to be found, as many people had fled earlier in the day after discovering Manuel's body. The women were evacuated, leaving only the men, led by Andres.
I closed my eyes tightly as I felt the baby move inside me, eager to come out. But—how could I bear this pain? Was this truly what childbirth felt like? Or was it something more?
"The baby is coming, Alejandro. The baby is coming," I cried out, my voice strained. I released his hand and clutched my belly. "I can't do this—I don't think I can bear it..."
He didn't respond. Instead, he moved swiftly to assist me, and the chaos around me blurred. I heard Alejandro's voice urging me to push and not to leave him. I saw Victoria's face, her voice filled with regret for leaving me alone... Manuel's face as he told me I tasted as sweet as my mother...
Perhaps I was about to die. Despite my uncertainty, I pushed with all my might. I felt Alejandro's hands pressing on my belly, the pain and burning sensation unbearable. I couldn't hold back my screams. I could smell my own blood, and when I raised my hand, I saw my skin stained red—my blood.
"Isadora, please, just a little more," Alejandro's voice trembled slightly. When I looked at him, his gentle face was splattered with blood, his eyes filled with fear. "Just a little more, my love."
Weakly, I nodded, trying to ignore the shouts of the men outside and Andres' voice rallying them to kill the monster roaming our village.
Just a little more.
Just a little bit more.
I pushed again, ignoring the excruciating pain and the feeling of my flesh tearing. I forced myself to bring my child into the world. I knew my body was still human despite my life sustained by drinking blood—so I knew my limits.
Panting, I paused. Soon after, I heard the cry of a newborn. Weakly, I searched for Alejandro, watching as he cut the umbilical cord.
Our eyes met. His gaze, which I would never forget.
He lay beside me, cradling the baby. I sobbed softly as he placed our healthy child next to me. "So healthy..." I whispered, tears streaming down my face. Alejandro bent down and kissed my forehead.
"Forgive me, my love. If it weren't for my actions..."
"N-No, no, Alejandro..." I interrupted him, snuggling into his embrace, inhaling his natural scent. "Thank you for helping me breathe easier..."
"I will make you like me, Isadora. I won't let you leave me."
I laughed weakly. "Then why did you put me through such pain before letting me join your cult?" He soothed the now-quiet baby and carefully laid it beside me. He quickly removed my clothing. "I had to find an offering... a virgin girl..."
He bent down and kissed me deeply before replying against my lips. "Because you are different from everyone else, my love." And with that, he bit into my neck. Hard. Forcefully. Though he had bitten me many times before, this felt different—hot... burning!
I screamed in pain. It hurt... it hurt so much!
"Alejandro!" I cried out, clawing at his back. But he bit down harder on my neck. Even more...
I lost consciousness.
And it felt like I was dreaming.
No...
This was not a dream.
It was a... memory...
When I opened my eyes, I felt a strong wind. I was atop a house and... ah... what was my purpose here again? Ah... yes. My purpose was to eat. To drink blood.
And I didn't care if they were innocent, young, or old... all that mattered was that I could eat.
So I descended from the building, clutching the wall as I peered through windows, searching for my meal.
Was there something to eat here? I didn't know.
I peeked into another room and saw a young man standing near his window, staring at me in shock. "C-Chi sei tu?" he asked, confused. This wasn't my language... but I understood him. Who was I?
I smiled, and he seemed startled by my fangs. "Sto cercando del cibo," I replied, still smiling—deceptive. I was looking for food.
And I wanted his blood.
He looked delectable. And...
He stood and stared back at me. I paused, staring at him in return. His dark eyes seemed to draw in my soul—if a monster like me still had a soul. A woman as soulless as I...
"Mi puoi lasciare entrare?" Can I come in? I asked softly.
"Si," he replied, as if in a trance. So, I climbed down from my perch outside his window. When my feet touched the cold floor, I slowly looked up at the young man.
"Sei bello," he whispered, causing my eyebrows to knit together. I had planned to kill him to drink his blood but...
"Sei bello," he repeated. "Isadora, you're beautiful."
Gasping, I woke up. It felt like I was emerging from underwater, struggling to breathe. I shot up—only to be held down by hands. "Isadora, you were dreaming."
Alejandro...
I searched for him and calmed down when I saw him. He smiled and gently kissed the corner of my mouth. "You're so beautiful, my love."
"The... The baby..."
"He's sleeping."
I looked at the small crib beside my bed. I smiled upon seeing our baby sleeping soundly. The room was clean, not a trace of blood to be seen. I was also dressed in a clean nightgown, feeling comfortable.
It was as if nothing had happened.
I couldn't even feel the pain anymore.
I sat up properly on the edge of the bed. "Alejandro?" I called out to him. At the same time, the baby stirred. I smiled as Alejandro immediately picked him up and soothed him. I watched him, the man who was the father of my child.
"I had a dream..." I tugged at the hem of his shirt. "...I saw you... your hair was shorter and... I was speaking a different language..."
I paused when he smiled. Once the baby had settled in his arms, he laid him back in the crib and quickly kissed me on the lips. He placed his large hand on my neck, as if to strangle me, but it wasn't forceful.
"Isadora, I would wait for you for centuries if I had to," he whispered against my lips. "Even thousands of years—even a lifetime—no matter where in the world, I would find you."
"I don't understand, Alejandro..." I replied, but I felt something in my stomach... like butterflies. I didn't say anything more, wrapping my arms around his neck.
"Our child's name..." I whispered. "I was so anxious I couldn't think of one..."
I heard his soft laugh. He stayed in his position above me, his face nestled against my neck, breathing deeply and calmly.
"You've been asleep for four days, Isadora. Are you feeling alright?"
I nodded.
Four days...
I grew anxious again as I remembered everything that had happened.
"What is happening outside, Alejandro?"
He hugged me tighter. "No one can go out at night, and they check the houses every two or three hours."
"Kill them," I quickly said. "Kill them all."
My stomach growled.
And I knew, I knew it wasn't growling for just a piece of rice and meat.
I craved blood.
From then until now.
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