Kapitel 8: DREAMS AND REALITY

Cherry woke up, groggily opening her eyes. She rubbed her temples, wondering if the events of the previous night were just a dream or reality. A glance at her watch confirmed it was 7 p.m. She stepped out of her room, surveying the corridor for any signs of damage, but everything seemed intact. Downstairs, she found the kitchen window unbroken and the plates neatly stacked. The only evidence of the evenings events was a plate of crumbs on the dining table, accompanied by Troy's textbook. Her phone buzzed with a message: "Got your number from your brother. Thanks for the doughnuts, see you tomorrow!" followed by a winky face. "So, Troy was here," she thought, her mind still foggy. She placed the plate in the sink and tucked the textbook into her bag, intending to return it the next day. As she messaged Troy, "I found your textbook, I'll return it tomorrow," his response, "Oh, clumsy me! Thanks," with a heart attached, made her blush.

As she glanced out the window, Cherry spotted her brother's return. "Mum said she's not coming home today," he announced. Cherry nodded, thinking to herself, "Typical Mum, always dedicated to her work." Her mother, a tireless and devoted professional, managed a small hospital on the other side of the city. Night calls were a regular part of her schedule, and it was common for her to stay away from home during these times. Cherry had grown accustomed to her mother's demanding work routine, but it didn't make it any easier to accept.

* * * * * *

"Hello!" Cherry's voice rang out, but it was swallowed by the vast, dark emptiness. The only response was the eerie echo of her own cry, bouncing off the unseen walls. "I'm scared, is anyone there?" she called out again, but the silence was deafening.

Suddenly, a man's anguished scream pierced the air, growing louder with each passing moment. It was swiftly followed by a woman's terrified wail, then the cries of a young girl and boy, their voices blending into a chilling chorus. The screams intensified, becoming a cacophony of terror that seemed to closing in on Cherry. She clamped her hands over her ears, but the sound was relentless, drilling into her eardrums like a sharp blade. Just as the screams reached a fever pitch, something lunged at her, and she jolted awake, her heart racing.

As Cherry's eyes fluttered open, she was met with a startling sight of Troy standing right in front of her. But her questions about his presence were momentarily eclipsed by the eerie dream still fresh in her mind and the bizarre sight of her formerly white walls now coated in a sinister red hue.

"I know you're confused, but I promise to explain everything," Troy said, his eyes gleaming with a knowing intensity. "But first, you must swear an oath of secrecy."

Cherry's mind raced as she hesitated, her thoughts torn between her desire for answers and her instinctive fear. "If I scream, my brother will hear and call the police," she threatened, trying to sound braver than she felt.

Troy's smirk was unnerving. "This coat" - he gestured to his walls "blocks all communication with the outside world. No one will hear or see us, not even your phone can call for help."

Cherry's eyes widened as she realized the gravity of her situation. "Fine, I swear an oath of secrecy," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

But Troy just chuckled. "It doesn't work that way." He handed her a small vial. "Spit in it."

Cherry's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?! You can't be serious!"

Troy's expression was unyielding. "Do you want me to explain everything, including the creepy dream you had, or not?"

Cherry's eyes widened in astonishment. "How did you know about my dream?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Troy's smile was enigmatic. "Spit in the bottle, and you'll be bound by a promise of secrecy. You won't be able to reveal what I'm about to tell you to anyone... ever."

Cherry's curiosity got the better of her, and she found herself spitting in the vial before she could change her mind. "I've done it," she said, her voice laced with trepidation. "Now tell me everything."

Troy's eyes seemed to gleam with an otherworldly intensity. "My true name is Diavro, and I'm an ancient being of terror."

Cherry's expression was a mix of confusion and disbelief. "An ancient being of terror?" she repeated, her voice laced with skepticism. "a vampire", Troy said.

Troy's face was deadpan, giving away nothing. Cherry searched his features, hoping to find a glimmer of humor or a hint that he was joking, but his expression remained unreadable. "I understand if you don't believe me," he said, his voice icy and detached. "That doesn't change a thing."

The air was heavy with tension, and Cherry felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that Troy was dead serious.

Long ago humans and beings of terror coexisted in harmony. We were not yet known as beings of terror, but rather as equals, living alongside humans without distinction. However, our kind possessed a remarkable advantage: we lived longer, grew stronger, and multiplied faster. This sparked fear in the hearts of humans, who began to persecute and slaughter us. It was a cruel irony - we were powerful yet vulnerable.

The humans discovered our weaknesses and exploited them, igniting the Great Dark War. Our king, fearful for his people, hid them away in a secret realm, the Dark World. He forbade any being of terror from leaving, but over time, a group of 70 rebels, known as the Breachers, managed to escape into the human world.

In response, the king dispatched ten Dark Knights to capture and return the Breachers. "I suppose you're one of the Dark Knights," Cherry said, her voice laced with skepticism.

Troy's expression turned dark. "No, I'm a Breacher."

Cherry's eyes widened in surprise. "Why isn't this in the history books?"

Troy's smile was bitter. "Humans buried their dark past, erasing our existence from their records. But the truth remains."

Cherry's disbelief was palpable. "This can't be true," she thought, "such a significant chunk of history couldn't have vanished without a trace, how old are you exactly. "

Troy's eyes narrowed, as if calculating his age as if he had forgotten. "I was born in the late 15th century, which makes me approximately 652 years old."

Cherry's mind reeled, struggling to comprehend the enormity of his claim. "Why reveal this to me now?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

Troy's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes burning with intensity. "Your life is in danger, Cherry. You need to know the truth."

Cherry's doubts lingered, but Troy's words were laced with a sense of urgency. Before she could protest further, he spoke again, "Marcy, take us to the mansion."

In the blink of an eye, Cherry found herself in Troy's library, face to face with Marcy.

"Marcy, what are you doing here?" Cherry asked, confusion etched on her face.

"Don't worry, I'll explain everything soon," Marcy replied with a knowing smile.

"She's my little sister," Troy said, his eyes gleaming with a hint of pride.

Cherry's eyes widened in shock. "Does that mean she's a vampire too?"

Troy chuckled. "No, she's a witch."

Marcy's eyes sparkled with pride. "One of the King's children."

Cherry's mind raced, trying to process this new information. "How is that possible?"

Troy's expression turned serious. "The title of King's child is honorary, bestowed upon the strongest of us. It's an honor to be part of the royal family."

Cherry's eyes widened in awe. "Wow, Marcy must be incredibly powerful."

"You have no idea how powerful Marcy is," Troy said, his eyes clouding with pain. "She was the one who helped the king erase our history from human records, but it nearly cost her her life. She fell into a two-century coma, and even after awakening, she spent another century regaining her strength. Even up till now she is not the same." Cherry's gaze locked onto Troy's, seeing the deep regret and concern etched in his eyes. "So, you betrayed the king by coming here?" she asked, her voice soft.

Troy's expression turned wry. "Not exactly. History records seventy Breachers, but there was a seventy-first - me. The king thought I found royalty overwhelming and went into hiding."

Cherry's eyes narrowed. "How does this put my life in danger?"

Marcy took a deep breath, as if preparing for a long explanation. "The body consists of three parts: flesh, soul, and spirit. Vampires lack spirits, but their spirit manifests as a book - an Ecryplis. These books record every aspect of a vampire's life and influence their fate..."

Troy continued, his voice grave. "When a mortal touches an Ecryplis, their blood becomes bound to the vampire who owns it. It's not supposed to happen and if it's formed, I'll either need to take your blood or succumb to death.

"I'd rather die than drag you into my dark world. I've lived long enough, but the problem is that you're now a target. They know you're the key to getting to me, and if you die, I die too. They want you dead." Cherry had never seen anyone so enthusiastic about dying.

Cherry's mind raced, trying to comprehend the danger she was in. "If you're so determined not to drink my blood, wouldn't it be better if you just...ehmmmm, died?"

"I could end my life, if that is what you're implying, but that would unleash a far greater evil. I'm the only one holding it back, and they don't understand that I'm the only one who can challenge it."

"Who are 'they'?" Cherry asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"The Breachers and the Dark Knights," Troy replied, his voice laced with a hint of regret. "All except Marcy, of course."

Cherry's eyes narrowed. "But Marcy is a Dark Knight, isn't she supposed to capture you?"

Troy's smile was wry. "She can't bring herself to do that to her favorite brother."

Cherry's gaze locked onto Troy's, searching for answers. "Why do they hate you so much?"

Troy's eyes clouded, his voice calm. "My past...destruction. I've done things I'm not proud of, and now the consequences coming for me."

Marcy's eyes sparkled with excitement as she interrupted, "Let me explain this part - it's my favorite!" She opened the Ecryplis to a page depicting a gruesome scene of bodies in a pit. Clearing her throat, she began to speak in a dramatic tone, "Nightfall's tale tells of Diavro, the Great Destroyer, who slew 10,000 men. He had four nobleman, one for east, west north and south direction, who served him with unwavering loyalty. But they turned against him dand that's what ended them. Diavro's wrath was unleashed upon the east, north, south, and west, leaving destruction and despair in his wake. His terror was so great that it struck fear into the hearts of all. And so, Diavro, the destroyer, chose to rest... but his slumber will not last forever."

Cherry face-palmed although impressed. "Marcy, you didn't need to use an opera voice."

Marcy grinned mischievously. "I wanted the dramatic effect!"

Troy chuckled. "To summarize, I killed those who tried to kill or capture me. After a long...ahem...'discussion', we reached a truce. They leave me be, and I reciprocate the courtesy."

Cherry's eyes widened. "How many Breachers and Dark Knights remain?"

"About 20 Breachers and 5 Dark Knights," Troy replied. "Though they've had children since, so the numbers have grown."

Cherry's mind raced with questions. "Does everyone become a vampire when you...ah...feed?"

"No, only those bonded to me survive; the rest perish. It's been two centuries since I've had a bond, and my animal instincts have grown stronger due to my current bond."

Cherry's eyes narrowed. "What happened to those previously bonded to you?"

Troy's expression turned somber. "They met their demise...by my hand."

Cherry's brow furrowed. "I thought if your bond dies, you die too."

Troy's tome had no regrets, "That's true, unless I've fed on them. I had already tasted their blood, so keeping them alive served no purpose."

Cherry's eyes widened in horror. "Why did you kill them?"

Troy's gaze turned cold. "A bond is a form of slavery, Cherry. I simply ended their lives before they could muster the courage to kill me."

Cherry's voice trembled. "So, if you drink my blood, I'll become your slave?"

Troy's eyes filled with a deep regret. "Yes, I'll control your every move. I'd rather die than drag you into my dark world. Our current proximity is futile, and distance won't change the outcome. Either I feed on you, or they kill you. If I feed, I risk unleashing my destructive nature once more. If you die without me feeding, I perish too. If I don't feed, I die, and that will ultimately lead to the demise of everyone."

Cherry's skepticism was evident. "I find it hard to believe all this. I thought vampires couldn't tolerate sunlight."

Troy's smile was wry. "That's a myth, Cherry. Sunlight merely hurts our eyes, making it difficult for us to see. That's why I wear sunglasses, face caps, and shades to protect myself."

"And what about my dream"

"The screams of my past victims" Troy said, his voice low and haunting. "And the creature that pounced on me? That was me, too."

Cherry's eyes widened in horror, but Troy silenced her with a gentle finger to her lips. He knew she was struggling to comprehend the truth.

Before she could utter a word, Troy's body pinned hers to the ground, his eyes blazing with an otherworldly intensity. "How else can you explain my inhuman speed or my ability to stop a bus with ease?" he growled, his voice dripping with menace.

Cherry's lips parted, but Troy's words cut her off. "Or my eternal youth and beauty, despite my pale skin? I am Terror being, a creature of the night, your worst nightmare"

As he spoke, his eyes seemed to narrow into slits, his canines lengthening into razor-sharp fangs. His fingernails transformed into claws, and his veins bulged like snakes under his skin. Cherry's breath caught in her throat as Troy's animalistic nature took over, his eyes burning with a dark hunger.

"Fine, I believe you," Cherry whispered, her voice trembling.

But Troy didn't relent, his gaze burning into hers with an unquenchable thirst. His head dipped into her neck, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine. Cherry struggled to break free, but Troy's grip was unyielding, his fangs poised to strike.

"Diavro challato!" Marcy's voice resonated in Troy's mind, and he jolted upright, clutching his head in agony. He covered his ears as if trying to block out the deafening toll of a bell, groaning and slamming his head against the table.

Marcy had invoked the ancient witchword, a relic from a time when witches feared vampires and sought escape from their grasp. The spell wouldn't hold Troy back for long, so Marcy swiftly grasped Cherry's hand and vanished, reappearing in Cherry's room.

"Marcy, how can this be?" Cherry exclaimed, stunned. "I watched you grow up, we were friends, I knew your parents... and now you're telling me you're over 600 years old?"

"632, to be exact," Marcy replied, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. "I stopped aging at 19."

Cherry's eyes widened in disbelief. "But I saw you as a five-year-old!"

Marcy smiled, her form blurring as she shape-shifted into various guises - an old hag, an animal, and finally, a four-year-old child. "I wanted a normal life, so I shape-shifted into this form to get adopted, then gradually shifted into my current age."

Cherry's mind reeled. "But why?"

Marcy's grin faltered, and she looked away. "I guess I wanted to experience a modern childhood."

Cherry's eyes narrowed. "And did you fix my house?"

Marcy nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, I did."

Cherry's mind reeled as she struggled to distinguish reality from fantasy, her thoughts clouded by a nagging sense of uncertainty. Was this all just a vivid dream, or was she living a waking nightmare? The lines blurred, leaving her with a throbbing headache and a deepening sense of unease.

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