Bite

NOWEL

I opened my eyes slowly to see a faint image of something dark-red. I blinked again to stop the swirl and found out that the dark red glow was just the color of a pair of lenses. Arms were wrapped around my waist and helped me to my feet, followed by a reeling sensation.

After I regained my posture, I observed where I was. Dark tall trees accompanied by a spooky atmosphere.

"Where...am I?" I mumbled.

"Safe. You're safe."

I diverted my attention to the owner of that voice. And I froze.

Two dark horns slept horizontally from his forehead to the back of his head. Followed by long, velvet hair in between. Red eyes that resembled fire shone brightly even in the darkness. It sent dark chills down my spine. Serpent-like fangs protruded out of his mouth monstrously. His hands were claw-like and beastly in appearance. Causing me to take a few steps backward out of fright. He growled.

My heart skipped a beat as the monster stared at me. I noticed that I was in my nightdress which meant that this beast kidnapped me when I was sleeping and brought me here to be his dinner.

I gulped.

"You fell."

I...was... stunned. It can talk?

"You fell. Were you planning to kill yourself?"

What?

"What? Falling? From where?" I asked quickly. Wait, should I be seeking answers from a very disturbing creature that can surprisingly speak?

"I don't know. I saw you fall, and that's all."

Fall?

Did I... die? If I died, I am sure the undying lands don't have monsters!

"Wait...am I in...Hades?"

The beast frowned at my question.

"You did not die and you are not in Hades. I saw you fall. Were you planning to kill yourself?"

I shook my head. I have never had any suicidal thoughts. What happened to me? Who is this creature standing in front of me and why is it staring at me like that?!

I shuffled back when the monster took a daring step. What is it trying to do? Should I scream for help or run away?

It stood in front of me even before I could run. The way it studied me closely told me something I could not comprehend. I feared the moment it placed its clawed digits on my cheeks. It trailed the end of its arched talons that curved downwards from my cheek to my neck and it rested there. Its mysterious orbs pinned to my neck with a strange hunger, proving my point by running the tip of its tongue on its upper lips.

It tilted its head a little bit to the left and my heart seized with fear.

"What are you doing to me?" It whispered as I felt a forbidden sensation travel down my spine.

Its monstrous arms secured themselves around my waist and pulled me closer.

The next thing that happened shocked the life out of me!

.

.

.

It wrapped its strong arms around my waist and pulled me towards itself. I gasped at the action. It buried itself in the crook of my neck and the next thing I felt was pain. It stung. It felt like the flesh of my neck was being punctured by a four-inch needle glazed with hot oil.

I tried to break free but it was useless.

It later withdrew itself away from me and I collapsed to the ground. The left part of my neck was sticky and stained with my blood. The sound of horses distracted both of us. It gave me this great sense of relief that I won't die easily. And that this beast would be taught a lesson.

The world around me did a funny spin and my back aligned with the soil of the forest, gasping for breath. The monster stood beside my helpless form and glowered. Maybe displeased that whatever the hell he did to my neck was not enough to end my life.

But I was wrong.

It knelt and picked me up gently. I groaned as my throat burned with pain.

"What have you done to us?" I heard him say.

What?

"Hold still."

I can't.

My vision blurred completely, to the point where I couldn't see anything. I was losing so much blood.

Slowly, I drifted away as I welcomed the darkness