Where The Sun Sets

Eldham was the capital of Merotus. It was the place where the emperor's castle stood. That very building was a sight to see, boldly representing the mixture of art and architecture. An embodiment of what perfect life there might be inside.

It was a wretched day for Evelina to be walking to Eldham at such time when the sun was set up high. She was supposed to arrive by carriage but they were ambushed by thieves. The driver was unharmed but they took both wheels of the vehicle. She could, of course, show them her true self and harm them, saving both her and the driver's day, but everything must be taken carefully. She should not forget that she was pretending if she wanted to bring back glory to her family.

The moment she entered the capital, it wasn't the sheer beauty of the castle that she first admired. It was the fountain that was sitting in the middle of the town. Oh what pleasure she may experience once she gets her hand on fresh, cold water.

But it appeared before her eyes for only a moment, and disappeared at another. Moving heads replaced her view, the suffocation she felt before made its grand return. She cannot breathe and everyone around her seemed sweaty. Or maybe, she was the one getting sweaty. She cannot tell for the rush of people was like trying to find air inside a bubble that will not pop.

Struggling to get away from the sudden barge of random people, she nudged and dodged to get her personal space back. But breaths becoming one and chatters that only continued to grow louder and louder, accompanied by her thirst not for blood but her water, made her want to just faint until someone would find her.

And then, kill her because they might get the suspicion that she wasn't normal.

And someone did found her. A hand suddenly grabbed her wrist, removing her from the sea of people. Evelina was startled but she found no strength to pull her arm back when that someone just rescued her from drowning from a non-water involved situation.

She cannot thank him enough. But before all that, she needed to live. She needed to breathe.

Evelina closed her eyes for half a minute, focusing on how she may find her situation relaxing. It helped for the first part. But everything was in flashes again so she needed to open them to take in her reality than her regrets.

"Are you okay?" The first words spoken to her by a stranger. His voice was soft, concerned and on edge. She meets his eyes, cocoa brown hidden under a black mask. "I saw you struggling there. You just arrived here, haven't you?"

She did nothing but nod. Evelina was still regaining her strength but the heat was stealing away her energy, her abilities at its weakest point.

"I guess you didn't know but today is the last day of the festival. The emperor gave a three-day festival to honor the soldiers who died and returned from the battle," the young man explained. He looked up at the sky, noting how the high the sun still was. "…and I still have a performance later. Can you go on your own from here, young miss?"

He took a bow after saying these words, hoping he'll get a response from her. Evelina let out a forceful smile, beads of sweat dripping down from her forehead. She wasn't really in the mood to say anything. A thank you, maybe? But her mouth was too dry for her to start speaking. She looked passed the stranger, hoping that the fountain was still behind him. It was not.

Evelina heard a snap. "That's right! I may have a little bit of time before the performance. Would you like to stroll around for a bit?"

It was no secret that vampires were naturally attractive. But does this fellow really thought that he'll win a date from her that fast?

As if he could read her mind, he waved his hands aggressively. "It's not what you think, I swear! I am merely offering to get you a drink because you seemed out of breath. And if I may not offend, you look quite terrible."

Evelina stared at him, her face a mixture of 'Yes, I do need a drink' and 'Did he just call me unattractive without telling me directly'. But without waiting for her answer, the stranger picked up her bag and started walking towards a nearby café.

The vampire sat down quietly as the stranger stated his order. She took a breath and looked out the window, only from there having the time to admire the town and the castle. There was a crowd of people almost everywhere. The stores extended their products outside, showcasing more of their business with the empire's symbol- a snake slithering around a pointed hat, a blade meant to be pierced from above it.

From lamp post to lamp post were vines of flowers, alive and dancing as the wind swings them towards one direction.

The stranger's order arrived and he gave Evelina both water and a piece of strawberry cake. Longing for the coldness of the drink, she gulped it in one go, leaving one too many little blocks of ice to count.

"Bat's shriek, this isn't enough!" she exclaimed, finally finding her voice. "I need more water."

The stranger chuckled, shaking his head before calling a refill for the exhausted lady.

"Is this a perfect moment to ask what made you come here?"

"I heard that it's the last day of festival and I wanted to come and experience how festivals are done." It was a lie, and if he could see how her right foot was on top of the other, he will find out how much of a lie it was.

Two cups were placed in front of their table. She stared at it, and inhaled the faint scent of cheese that it's giving off. "What is this?"

"Flavoured ice. Go on, try it. It's my favourite from this café."

She scooped from the cup and lined it between her eyes. 'Flavoured ice' he said, yet she cannot see crystals of ice from the soft solid. Taking in a little bit from the spoon, she felt the cold food melting against her tongue. The taste of milk was very sweet mixed with the small amount of saltiness from the cheese. The air just got colder and she wasn't sure if it was natural or an after effect from devouring the cold dessert.

"This is delicious but I must ask, why would you give me this?"

The stranger frowned, a sad glint flashed on his masked eyes. "Because I saw you there and I figured that you don't want to be here."

Evelina furrowed her eyebrows, surprised but guarded. "I- how do you say that?"

He laughed but gave no answer. Looking out, he stood up and offered his hand to shake. "I did say I have a performance and the sun is already about to set. Is this goodbye, miss-?"

"Eve."

"A pleasure to meet you. I am West, like where the sun will be disappearing to later. If I may, I'd like to invite you to watch our troupe's performance."

Words came out before she could even decide. "I guess I could watch."

First day at Eldham and she could already sense disaster coming from her.