The Sun Kissed

In the soothing embrace of solitude, people often find solace. It never ceases to amaze one how calming it can be to sit still, fixate on a single point, and let the tranquility wash over them. In the days of old, such moments were familiar, and one could seek refuge under an ancient tree in the backyard, lying down to embrace the gentle serenity. The freshness of renewed energy surging through the veins was almost tangible.

In a luxuriously appointed office, behind a state-of-the-art desk, sat a woman on a plush leather chair, sporting the most extraordinary hair color one could envision—a sun-kissed fiery red tinged with strands of gold. Her golden hazel eyes radiated like a magnetic force, while her rosy lips and dainty, matching nose seemed to captivate anyone who caught even a fleeting glimpse. Her beauty seemed almost ethereal as if she were an enigmatic doll crafted from the realm of fantasy. But what set her apart the most was her skin, pale as freshly fallen snow, adorned with a natural flush of rosy cheeks, adding a touch of delicate charm to her allure.

Eldora Leeuwen, looking back, had experienced countless days of such blissful escape. There were times when she'd escape from the complexities of life, casting aside all care for the morrow. Her existence granted her the privilege of an extraordinary life, a being from a world of fantastical tales, hardly fitting the norms of the human realm.

Gazing out the immense window of her office, perched on the top floor of the Jasmine Hospital's cardiology center, she observed one of San Francisco's bustling afternoons. "You know, filming me like this is quite exasperating!" her unexpected remark startled the cameraman. "El, don't be like this, we made a deal!" the reporter responded, taken aback by the sudden proximity. He hadn't anticipated his boss having such an intimate connection with Miss Leeuwen, the renowned (for various reasons) cardiologist.

Eldora let out a heavy sigh, "I carved out time from my hectic schedule for this, so please get to the point." She swiveled her chair back toward them, her gaze delivering a silent message of "Do your job properly."

The reporter chuckled, "Alright, my dear, no need to be impatient! Adam—the cameraman—has set up all the cameras in your office. We'll record you daily as part of a self-styled interview documentary, capturing various aspects of your routine."

Moving closer to presenting the outline of their plan, she continued, "We'll send you brief questions throughout the day, and you can think about them while going about your tasks. Then, just talk about them naturally, as if you're musing to yourself. And, no pressure at all. If you choose not to answer or share your thoughts, you can simply say, 'Alexa, shut them all!' and presto, that day's footage will vanish as if it never existed."

Eldora nodded cautiously, "Alright... But Serena, I still don't quite grasp the main reason for all of this."

The stunning reporter with moon-hued hair beamed a charming smile, "Babe, we don't have many specialists in our kind as famous as you! Besides, you're the only vampire brave enough to become a cardiologist. Your fans have lost count of the countless lives you've saved."

Eldora couldn't believe she had fans keeping tabs on her surgeries. "I'm just a doctor, not a celebrity!" she growled out of frustration.

Serena innocently chuckled, "Oh, dear, you've always been a mystery, and that's what piques others' curiosity about your life! Even as your closest friend, there are many mysteries of your life that remain unsolved for me! I often wonder if you see me as one too!"

Eldora rolled her eyes at Serena, "With how you behave, you better keep on wondering!"

Serena crawled toward her like an affectionate puppy, "ええ,どしゅて!!私はあなたの最愛の人でなければなりません.最低＞―＜!" (Ee, Doshi ~yute!! Watashi wa Anata no saiai no hito de nakereba narimasen. Saitei! – Ee, why? I should be your dearest! You're the worst!)

"You better stop with this cringy voice of yours or I won't do anything!" Eldora growled out of frustration. "Tell your boyfriend to stop feeding your fantasies, or else I'll do it myself! Now, get out of my office!" Her amber eyes shimmered like those of a predator.

Adam, surprised by the sudden change in atmosphere, went to his boss and dragged Serena out, tolerating her baby-like whines, "いいえ! 離れたくない!! 私を見捨てないで!" (Īe! Hanaretakunai! Watashi o misutenaide! – No! I don't want to leave! Don't abandon me!)

Leaning back in her chair, Eldora sighed out of frustration. What had she gotten herself into? All she wanted was to remain in the shadows, unnoticed. However, this unexpected fame had become a daily part of her life, a technological revolution she had never anticipated. She wouldn't have been so careless as to reveal her features and expose herself to the world.

Throughout history, humanity had always sought fame, the desire to be known and admired. In the modern era, fame took on a darker and more dangerous aspect. People still pursued this troublesome path, driven by a shameful longing for recognition. Social media had opened the floodgates to seek fame, with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, engulfing both humans and supernatural beings alike, forcing them to adapt to the superior technological age—a transition she would have preferred to avoid.

For supernatural beings, time held a different meaning. As immortals, their existence's value depended on their species and the purity of their blood. Eldora's kind, vampires, ruled above all magical beings, possessing unparalleled power and purity that commanded unwavering obedience from others.

Once, she had been proud of this fact. Born the sole princess and heir of Leeuwen Dukedom, her upbringing instilled discipline far beyond that of ordinary supernatural beings. Her education differed from that of an average child, destined to wield the highest political power to serve her kind. She was meant to have an entirely different life, but fate played her a cruel hand.

Having lost count of her losses, she hadn't realized how the changing eras had influenced her life. Not that she couldn't adapt well—being a trueborn vampire, one of the rarest half-blooded beings, both witch and vampire—adaptability should have been her second nature. However, time was the one thing that defined Eldora's existence.

Just as humans defined their individuality, supernatural creatures each possessed unique traits—from vampires to werewolves, dwarfs, witches, shapeshifters, and the occasional half-bloods. When her witch mother fell in love with the king of Leeuwen, no one knew if the marriage between one of the most powerful witches and a tyrant king would succeed, until the fruit of their union was born, hailed as one of the rarest and most potent beings. Imagine, a mother capable of manipulating everything, and a father with a specialty in time manipulation. It was inevitable that their combined powers would give rise to someone like her.

A knock on the door snapped her out of her musings. Dwelling too much on such mundane histories wasn't her priority; she had a scheduled surgery to attend. But alas, Serena's presence always managed to sour her mood. Not that it was Serena's fault; the jealousy Eldora felt toward her best friend wasn't something she wanted to confront or admit. Serena deserved only kind words, as she was the loveliest, the true embodiment of a Luna—a moon goddess.

She was undeserving of Serena's kindness and bright smiles. The toxic "best" friend could only be envious of the happiness she could never have. It was amusing how the world wanted to be her, while she yearned to be someone else...

"Dr. Leeuwen, hope you've had a great rest so far. Dr. Rensberger wanted to have a chat with you before the maze surgery. The patient is already waiting in the operation room."

"Thank you, Hellen. I'll be there shortly," Eldora replied with a frown as the nurse left the room. Ramzi Rensberger was a great but annoying doctor. He had been trying for so long to hit it off with her, despite her lack of interest. With a sigh, she left her office to begin another repetitive day.