1 PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

Vampires are creatures that roved the earth for centuries...

Vampires are mythological creatures who go out every night to feed and hunt...

In search of fresh blood, human blood they feast upon...

A creature that owns piercing fangs, salient lantern-like eyes, pale skin, and red lips to which bridges fulfillment to their icy system...

Strengthening immortality, a special régime that's been followed for many centuries...

Satiating their needs...

Exceeding immortality...

A contribute to the regeneration of the skin when wounded and shone by the sunlight...

Mortals proclaimed it as porphyria, an illness inherited from the vampire plague based on many books about vampires...

Vampires existed during the middle ages, an age when they started to show themselves...

Bluffing status, identity, and physical features...

Cold-skinned immortals prey upon human blood, sucking their victims until there is no amount of blood left in them...

The folklore stated that vampires or vampires can be killed using wooden stakes, pierced deep into their hearts...

Wooden stakes blessed by the church that cut their immortality, sending them straight to Hades's residence...

Some mortals call vampires blood demons...

Demons that bring bad luck and should perish...

A creature in human form who can shapeshift...

Turning into various types of animals such as wolves, bats, and many more to lure the victim into a trap...

Vampires are soulless creatures who lurk in the darkest depths of the earth...

Hated by the wolves and the guardians for ceasing the innocent...

Gone in the dawn, hiding in daytime...

The sun...

Based on history, a sun god named Apollo punished a human named Ambrogio for sinning and is believed to be the first vampire on the earth...

The mortals noted, "In which it burns the evil's skin and turn them to dust"...

'Red dust'

There are lots of ways to become one...

Vampires are a threat to humanity...

Vicious predators of mankind...

They appear to be fine-looking in front of human eyes, seducing young maidens...

Downing their blood in exchange for stupendous pleasure as gratitude...

There are three ways to survive...

1. Offer a contract of being their link.

2. Offer blood in exchange for immortality.

3. Lastly, follow the tradition in which to bring grains and salt with you when going out. Drop it in trails, making vampires distracted, and count the grains to slow them down in following you. To that, you have the chance to escape. When night comes, put salt on the ledges of windows and doors.

However, some vampires were tamed. Just like humans, they have a system. A system of governance. Containing punishments for those who do not abide by the rules of immortality...

Aztralèa Konzaleriene Council (Azkocou), is a council where that punishes vampires who do not abide by the law of immortality as blood drinkers. The punishments are tying them on a pole and burning them alive, ripping them into pieces and grind by executioners and feeding them to the den of demons, tying them and exposing them to the public... Waiting for the morning to come, the sun burning them alive.

The council of vampires forbids the immortal blood drinkers to interact with humans or fall in love with them. Bearing an offspring with a human is a crime in their law. The offspring are called 'Damenzale' or called demi-vampires.

They can only be saved if their parents make a contract with the council, working for them for a couple of months after observation. It is the same in falling in love with a human. Sacrifices and deep sacrifices are required to spare the mortal.

Going back to the main point, if a damenzale's parent passed the observation and slavery then they can live in freedom and if not passed, they are to be tossed in hell directly.

'Camenzale', also known as the pure-blooded vampires. Just like humans, these types of immortals are born and delivered naturally. This type of vampire only can turn someone into a vampire. In just one bite in wherever part of a human body, the human's body absorbs the camen venom and turns into a vampire.

On contrary, Camenzale (Camenza) only has the right to turn humans into a vampire when Damenzale can't because they are half-blooded. This is where the type of vampire called Darkanze (Darkan) and Gedenzale (Gendenza) counts in. Gendenzale is the product of the 'merging of the blood', a human turned into a vampire which they call newborns. Furthermore, Darkanze is the vampires that were considered to be criminals, serial killers who don't have links.

Last but not the least, Prallesen/Pral (Pra) are the vampires tamed by the vampire council.

Praleze (Pralé) was the training center for vampires controlled by the council. It handles different matters such as mortal and immortals contracts for different kinds of business for several purposes.

The legends and stories from older villages stated that the town's people used to put salt in their windows and doors. They believed that it was the only passage where vampires enter when searching for their victims. However, some say that vampires do not enter houses when they are uninvited.

I guess vampires still have manners left in them. True or not, I believe they don't exist. Who made such legends about these creatures?

Some people say fate is in our hands.

Some people disagree and say that we don't hold and know what the future will give us.

Some people say destiny is just a word.

A word...

A word that fooled everyone's heart.

Three words...

Counting down...

Fate,

Future and...

Destiny...

1...

2...

3...

I closed my eyes and grasped tightly to the stainless rail of the glass balustrade. I reminisced everything about him. His scent, his touch, his warm hugs even if his body never gets warm. His kisses were intoxicating. The way he sends relaxation through my whole system is linked to a pleasure that no one can ever give to me.

I entrusted my heart to someone special.

The very first man I ever love.

Not a human but a vampire, one of the creatures I least expect to encounter.

A gust of cold wind brushed my face. Inhaling, my fingers curled tightly around the handles. "I want you back kind sir..." I whispered. "Just like you, I'm willing to spend many decades with you. A lifetime longer than mine, I want to be yours... I want..." I didn't get to continue what I want to say. Breaking into tears, I fell to my knees and hugged myself.

I regretted thinking twice about going back here.

I'm an author of tragedy myself. Yet, this one is the only story that made me shed tears. Melancholic tears, are painful and desires in agony. Desires that I know-will never happen.

Hugging myself tighter, I bite my lower lip to control my sobs.

"Run! I'll hold them back!" He yelled at me. His attractive thick eyebrows scrunched in weariness. Germaine's severely wounded. I clutched tightly in his beige coat, I'm not going anywhere. I'll fight with him. Side by side even if I die.

"No, I'm not going!" I angrily yelled back. My eyes roamed around the garden to find something useful in helping him fight. Greed roared from the distance, hungry and selfish vampires charging toward us. It made me shiver. The black blood, they're coming... They're going to kill my Germaine.

"Laura! Stop being stubborn and run to the door!" Germaine yelled. Gripping tightly in the shovel, I thought twice. I wanted to get back to my original time, be with my family and friends again...

But...

I can't abandon him here.

In a century where I do not exist as my real self. In a world, a time I accidentally trampled on because of entering the door. I held the shovel properly, pursing my lips.

Germaine's fangs sharply brushed against his lips. The atmosphere grew intense. His eyes that used to shed sunlight to my world turned into a deep shade of red. Darkanze is the group of vampires who have no limits and is the black blood of evil. This is all my fault!

Germaine's sharp red blood eyes gazed with a full alert at the garden's path walk. He prepared himself, standing in battle stance. His knees bent down a little, giving in any minute. His blood consistency was too much for a vampire, pure crimson and viscous. At the same time, it turned thin once the fabric of his suit absorbed it.

"I'm not leaving without you!" I shouted. Germaine smiled at me, he knew how stubborn I am. I saw Darkanze from afar. They're approaching faster than before. Walking toward Germaine, I felt a sudden jolt in my heart filled with fear and possibilities. Scary possibilities.

His face, the same face he showed me when he thought of what's best for me and what's good for us.

Germaine has gotten frail, and weaker. His skin was paler than his normal porcelain ones. Scratches were all over the body. His suit has its sleeve torn and stripped showing his broad shoulder.

Panting, Germaine cupped my cheeks. He leaned in and gave me a deep, full of a passionate kiss. Screaming messages from the top of his lungs. His kisses made me let go of the shovel, I kissed back. He kissed me deeper, calming me down.

What an idiot I am that day. He's smart, he knows how to lure me to the door.

All I focused on was savoring his soft, thin, kissable lips. I felt his fingertips stroke my hair down, fondling my lower back. Germaine stopped. That's when I noticed the door behind me opened. Germaine parted from the kiss and smiled at me genuinely. What does this mean?! He hugged me tightly before planting a kiss on my forehead. We're both crying.

"Take care of yourself when you return okay? Live a happy, full, and pleasant life. Get married, bear children spread your addictive beauty my love", He chuckled weakly. His breathing was shallow and uneven.

Germaine remained positive even if he was on the verge of dying. "No! Why are you saying that?! You can't die! I'll marry you! Look, mark me here! Please!", I said shoving my hair aside. My hands trembled, showing him my neck. "Mr. Monvere, please! I beg of you!", He shushed me by putting his forefinger against my lips.

Being the mature one between us, as always. Tch! I can never say no to him!

"Just do what I said! ..." Germaine breathed in before speaking. "...okay? Speak no more", Germaine kissed my forehead. I felt his soft lips against the skin of my forehead, making me cry more. I closed my eyes and felt his soft lips. He cupped my cheeks, pecking my nose before leaning his forehead on mine. "Til' we meet", Germaine let go of my cheeks softly.

I cried harder, not being able to move. And to that, he pushed me away from him. I shot my eyes open from the force. I fell flat on the ground on the other side of the door, everything was dark. The door was the only source of light in the basement, from the moonlight.

He got stabbed. Quickly, I stood up. The most rapid reaction I have ever done in my entire life. His weak, sharp red eyes turned back to humble amber. Germaine's painful reaction to the stab soften when he gazed at me. Wincing in pain, the leader of Darkanze named Iuhe pierced his double edge sword though Germaine's body making me shout. Covering my mouth, I feel like fainting. I couldn't breathe. I cried harder and harder.

I saw the devil's face laugh behind Germaine as he puke blood, coughing from the impact. I'm going to kill Iuhe! Tears strolled down Germaine's cheeks, shaking his head when he saw me did my best to regain my composure. I cried harder, gritting my teeth, ignoring the pain building up in my chest. I stood in battle stance, ready to charge. When I'm about to run towards them, the door closed. It created a loud thud throughout the whole basement.

I felt my whole system shut as well.

I'm left alone.

In the basement where it all started, blinking rapidly with my body trembling from fear and worry. My soul left me.

My Germaine...

He got stabbed...

The thought of him dying, and getting punished because of loving me entered my mind. I went insane. Clutching my head, my eyes widen in fear. I fell to my knees, trying to get myself together. I failed. I hyperventilated while saying "He's going to die!" I sobbed harder. I fell on the cold, damp, and hard floor completely. What's the meaning of life without him?

"One last try, please! Let me see Germaine Monvere again! Please!" I lost it. I squinted my eyes close, trying to breathe properly. Gathering the courage to open the golden door, I stood up. My knees quivered, I sniffed and cried more. With my hands trembling, I reached for the full-plated knob. Panting tremendously, I spoke.

"Let me in!" I banged my other on the door. It will open again. I tried to twist and turn the doorknob but it was locked. "No!" I panicked.

I kicked, punched, and hit. I even tried to use furniture to break the door. No matter how hard I try, it's unbreakable. "I need to save him! Argh!" I shouted. Nothing was working, I slid down against the door and hugged myself.

Does heaven hate me for creating such tragic stories?

Is this what it felt like to lose someone you loved the most?!

Is this my punishment?!

If it is, let me suffer once I saw him stable and alive.

The most startling time in my life was the time when everything was bloody red. The best time yet the scary ones, the time I want to change if I can bring back what's lost. If I am to open the door again, I wish to see him again. I wish to...I wish to be loved by him again in the safest place, running away from danger...just the two of us...without the world against us.

I want to hear the happy tone of his voice again, passionate, gentle, and deep with him caressing my cheek, tucking the strands of hair behind my ear, and pulling out a red rose after saying sweet words. I wanted the time to change, I want to make it happy and...

Positive... I never lose hope in seeing him again, dead or alive. I'll come with him even if it's in the next life.

My name is Laura Wilbur, I am a young writer that fell in love with a man named Count Germaine Monvere, a man that did not come from the 21st century. A man that came from the 18th century, someone I met unexpectedly on a warm night through the magical doors of my grandmother's basement. He was a vampire, yes a vampire that changed my perspective on mythical creatures, and the way I view life and love. It was the time at which I want to come back. I make a mess wherever I go, I hope to see him again. I am Laura Wilbur, the Lady Rose Wilbur of the Clairean Era. Queen Rose of Saint Claire and this is my story about being lost in time.