EPISODE FIVE: VAMPIRES ARE ALWAYS THE VILLAIN?

As I wake up the following day, I hear Pixie's conversation with her parents.

"Mom, she wouldn't be able to do that, and besides, we would know if she left the house because of the spell, right?"

"Pixie, Coreen is a Pureblood, and the simple spell we placed throughout the house won't affect her," her father says.

"If that's the case, I must ask her if she did it!"

I furrowed my brow. Did they find out that I left last night? I took a deep breath and was about to walk towards the door to confront Pixie when I froze upon hearing her mother's statement.

"And how will you tell her, dear? You might be in danger if it turns out that way!" her mother speaks with concern.

"Six lives were lost last night, and according to reports, it's suspected to be the work of a vampire."

My eyebrows furrowed at what I heard. Are there other vampires wandering in this town?

"That doesn't mean Coreen is the culprit," Pixie insists to her parents.

"Pixie, you know no vampire can enter this town."

I couldn't bear listening to them argue any further, so I quickly descended, and in a second, I stood before them.

"C-Coreen," Pixie calls me in surprise.

"I heard everything you were discussing," I state seriously.

Pixie's parents exchanged glances, and even without them speaking, I know they hesitated to ask me.

"I am not the one who killed the people you're referring to," I say, looking at each of them.

"See? I told you!"

"But this town was attacked by a vampire again only last night," Pixie's mother insists. "Coreen, we won't blame you if it's you—"

I didn't let her finish her sentence. "I'm not into human blood. And I never drink any human blood. I went out last night, but not to kill and indulge in someone's blood. I drank the blood of stray dogs, but I didn't kill them. My parents didn't raise me to be greedy with the power I possess," I explain to them.

"I believe you, Coreen," Pixie says with a smile.

I give her a faint smile.

"There's magic enveloping this whole town, Coreen. No vampire can enter here; if there is one, the werewolves patrolling every night will immediately take action."

I furrow my brow, which Pixie quickly notices.

"All beings like us are already normal in mingling with humans, Coreen, but of course, without them knowing it. But some are aware of our existence, and each representative of every clan has signed an agreement not to violate it and maintain peace in this town," Pixie explains.

I tilt my head in response, unable to contain my surprise.

"So, until now, vampires are the villains?"

"Yes, because they can't control their hunger when it comes to human blood," Pixie answers directly. "Some vampires can also absorb the powers of witches simply by sucking their blood to death and consuming the victim's heart."

I stare at her, I felt her intense anger as she speaks.

"Witches and werewolves are the same," I say. "Werewolves hunt humans for fun, while witches like to dominate humans and enslave them. Witches like you use forbidden spells to gain more power for yourselves, wishing that someday, you can overthrow us."

"In my time, witches found ways to get close to us just to obtain even a strand of our clothes, while werewolves, on the other hand, hunted us and killed vampires who hadn't tasted human blood, ever. Their reason? Just like what you said, we can't control our hunger."

"Not all witches and werewolves are bad," Pixie's mother interjects.

"Well, not all vampires are bad, either. My mom told me that only two types of creatures live in this world—the good and the bad. Don't generalize everyone like me because you're all dead now if I'm as evil as my kind."

After saying that, I walked towards the door. I need to be alone. When I feel this upset, there's only one place I want to go. Last night, after drinking blood from two fighting dogs, I saw something in the nearby forest. Perhaps I can find a tall tree where I can spend some time.

"Where are you going?" Pixie asks me.

"I want to be alone," I reply calmly.

"You can't—" Pixie's father didn't finish his sentence because I quickly vanished from their sight.

With incredible speed, I immediately found a tall tree in the forest not far from Pixie's house. I looked up and quickly climbed it, reaching the top in less than a minute, overlooking the town.

A mix of emotions washed over me as I gazed upon the town from the top of the tree. The revelations from Pixie's parents had stirred a sense of unease within me. If other vampires existed in this town, the delicate balance between the supernatural beings would have been disrupted.

Lost in my thoughts, I heard a rustling sound nearby. Startled, I turned my head and saw Pixie cautiously approaching the tree. Her eyes locked with mine as she finally reached the tree's base.

"I followed you," Pixie admitted, her voice tinged with concern. "I wanted to make sure you're okay."

I nodded appreciatively. Despite our earlier disagreement, Pixie's actions showed a genuine desire to understand and support me. The tumultuous events and revelations had shaken our perspectives, but a flicker of trust remained between us.

"I didn't mean to cause such chaos," I said, breaking the silence. "But I need to find out what truly happened last night."

Pixie's eyes softened as she listened, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

"There's something more to this vampire attack," I explained, my voice filled with determination. "I refuse to accept that all vampires are simply bloodthirsty monsters. We must uncover the truth and restore the balance among our kind."

Pixie nodded, her gaze unwavering. "I believe you, Coreen. And I'm with you in this."

A surge of gratitude washed over me. Despite the prevailing prejudices and suspicions, Pixie stood by my side, willing to challenge the status quo. Together, we would embark on a quest to uncover the truth and protect our town from the encroaching darkness.

"Let's go home, Coreen," Pixie said with a smile.

I shook my head and looked into her eyes. "I need to do this alone."

"No, no way," she objected. "You haven't fully recovered yet, and what if something happens to you?" Her voice was filled with concern as she continued to shake her head. "I have friends we can ask for help. I won't allow—"

"Pixie, I'm a thousand-year-old Pureblood vampire. The agility and abilities I possess in combat cannot be matched by ordinary vampires, witches, or werewolves. If I remember correctly, I also love hunting, so I'm sure I won't have a hard time. Don't worry too much about me, okay?" I reassured her.

Although she still wasn't convinced, she had no choice but to agree. I had no intention of letting her stop me; even if she disagreed, I would find a way to escape her. I accompanied her back to her house for the time being.

"I'll be back soon, okay?" I said with a smile.

I was surprised when she hugged me. Her grip on me tightened as if she didn't want to let go. "Just be careful, Coreen. Don't take unnecessary risks."

I nodded, understanding her concern. "I'll do my best to stay safe. And remember, we're in this together. We'll find the truth and protect our town."

With a final reassuring smile, I reluctantly pulled away from Pixie's embrace. I knew I had to face the challenges and confront the mysteries surrounding the recent vampire attacks. But I also couldn't ignore the genuine bond that had formed between Pixie and me.

As I turned to leave, Pixie called out to me, her voice filled with determination. "Coreen, be sure to return because I'll be here waiting for you."

Her words resonated within me, fueling my resolve. I glanced back at her, a mixture of gratitude and determination in my eyes. "I won't let you down, Pixie. I'll come back."

With those words lingering in the air, I ventured out into the unknown, driven by a sense of purpose and a desire to protect Pixie and the town from the imminent threat. I knew I couldn't do it alone and would need to seek allies and unravel the hidden truth in the shadows.

The path ahead was treacherous, but I was prepared to face it head-on. As a Pureblood vampire, I possessed unique abilities and centuries of experience. It was time to put them to use for the greater good.

The journey would be fraught with danger, challenges, and unexpected discoveries. Yet, I felt hope with Pixie's unwavering support and the knowledge that we were fighting for a cause greater than ourselves.

Together, we would challenge the misconceptions and prejudices surrounding our kind. I would prove that not all vampires were villains and that unity among supernatural beings was possible.

As I ventured into the darkness, I knew the vampire hunt would be arduous. But I was ready to face whatever lay ahead, driven by the belief that change was possible and I could bring about a new era of peace and acceptance in this town.