บท 42: The Trap in Salem City

North of Salem City

The market bustled with life. Stalls overflowed with fresh produce, handcrafted goods, and the rich aromas of baked treats. Among the crowd, a young woman, plump and moving with an awkward gait, walked through the maze of stalls. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she approached a stall where a male vampire sold sweet buns.

"Welcome, customer!" the vampire greeted warmly, his fangs glinting in the sunlight. "How many buns would you like?"

The woman smiled, her eyes fixed on the pastries. "I need to taste at least one of your buns. I want to buy a lot for my child's birthday celebration."

The vampire nodded, his smile broadening. "Of course, madam. Take the one that looks the nicest to you."

She picked a bun she'd been eyeing and took a bite. The flavor was exquisite, and she couldn't help but pick another, savoring each morsel. Bun after bun disappeared until she reached for the last one.

"Ma'am," the vampire interrupted, his tone firm but still polite, "you'll need to pay for all those buns. Our agreement was for you to sample one, not eat everything."

The woman's demeanor changed instantly. "Why should I pay for these useless buns? In fact, I'm not buying any."

Without warning, she bolted from the stall.

"Get back here, you thief!" the vampire shouted, his patience snapping. He turned to his son, who stood behind the counter. "Look after the buns, I've got a thief to catch."

The vampire sprinted after the woman, surprised by her unexpected speed. He quickened his pace, following her through the winding streets until they reached a secluded alley. There, the woman abruptly stopped, gasping for breath.

The vampire approached, a triumphant smile on his face. "Tired so soon? Pay me what you owe, thief. You can't just eat all my buns and expect to get away with it."

The woman continued to breathe heavily, ignoring his demand. Irritated, the vampire reached out and touched her shoulder. A sharp pain shot through his finger as something bit down hard. He watched in horror as the woman's body convulsed, revealing a grotesque transformation. A satooris head emerged partially from her body, its jaws clamped around his finger.

"Release me, you beast!" the vampire screamed, trying to pull away, but the satooris held firm, its eyes glinting with malevolent intelligence.

The woman whispered in a distorted voice, "You're not going anywhere."

The vampire's face contort in pain, "Release me, wretch!" He whispered.

The woman with a disgusted glance on her face sneered, "Take that, you dirty creature." As she spoke, the satooris retracted its teeth from the vampire's finger and withdrew into her body, leaving only a bloody mark as evidence of its existence.

The vampire began to scream, his voice echoing through the alley as he fell to his knees. Excruciating pain coursed through his veins as the venom spread, burning like liquid fire. His vision blurred, and he could feel his mind unraveling, sanity slipping away.

With a cruel smile, the woman turned and fled, leaving the vampire writhing on the ground. She moved with surprising speed, disappearing into the maze of alleys and streets. The vampire's screams gradually diminished to whimpers, then silence. After what felt like an eternity, he stopped screaming and stood up. His eyes, once full of life and intelligence, now burned with the madness that had taken over.

He stumbled back into the market, his movements erratic and unsettling. It didn't take a fool to recognize that the man had succumbed to blood madness. His skin had a sickly pallor, and his eyes glowed with a dangerous light.

Shoppers and vendors alike stared in horror as he entered the market. Then, panic erupted. People abandoned their wares and fled in every direction, the market transforming into a chaotic scene of fear and confusion.

The mad vampire let out an ear-piercing screech, a sound that reverberated through the streets and heightened the sense of terror. His movements were no longer clumsy but fueled by the unholy energy coursing through his veins. He lunged at the nearest vendor, his claws extended and fangs bared.

A brave soul tried to intervene, throwing a heavy crate at the vampire, but it was no use. The crate shattered harmlessly against the vampire's chest, and he swatted the would-be hero aside with a single powerful swipe. The man crumpled to the ground, unmoving.