On the verge of death, perhaps.
The little boy lay on the ground. With a slight turn of his eyeballs, he saw the ever - increasing pool of red liquid beside his face.
It was of the most vibrant hue, carrying a faint warmth, oozing slowly from his skin.
The little boy remained motionless, making no sound, yet a smile played on his lips.
Maybe it was better to die. After all... no one needed him.
Dying silently like this wasn''t so bad. His father and mother didn''t seem to care either.
The little boy stared blankly at the cerulean sky and gradually closed his eyes.
Why was it that no one needed him?
A pair of gentle hands lifted him up, even cradling him in an embrace.
The little boy opened his eyes groggily. His field of vision was a blur. All he could discern was a cross - shaped mark on her snow - white neck, which was etched in his vision.
This embrace... it was so cold.
Who was this? She gently kissed his wound and began to lick his flowing blood with urgency.
Gulp, gulp.
He heard the sound of liquid being swallowed. The little boy looked at the blurred face before him. Was she drinking his blood?
"Are... you eating me?"
The little boy spoke in a barely audible voice, already extremely feeble. His small face was ashen - pale.
Yet, there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes, and his tone took on a slight upward lilt, as if he had stumbled upon something delightful.
Gulp, gulp.
No one responded to him. Only the sound of continuous swallowing echoed in his ears.
"Only you... need me. Hehe, eat, eat..."
The little boy closed his eyes with a faint smile, and his hand dropped limply.
The one who had been greedily swallowing the liquid suddenly realized something. She jerked her head up, her lips smeared with a vivid red.
The little boy in her arms was motionless. She lowered her head to his chest and detected an extremely faint heartbeat.
"Sorry... I''m so sorry!"
The arms holding the little boy loosened, and she backed away in disarray, frantically wiping her mouth and repeating"sorry, sorry, sorry..." incessantly.
"Ah——!"
With a startled cry, Amber Mason jolted awake from her bed.
She surveyed the familiar furnishings of the room and realized she had had that nightmare once again.
A faint red tinge gradually faded from the depths of her eyes. She checked the time. It was two - thirty in the morning.
The lights outside were still twinkling. This was a city that refused to sleep, even at this hour.
Amber Mason furrowed her brows and rose from the bed. Her loose nightgown failed to conceal her slender yet exquisitely contoured figure.
The exposed skin was as white as alabaster, emanating a cool, pale glow.
She stood veiled in darkness, gently parting the curtains to gaze at the nocturnal scene outside.
Her delicate features and a cascade of slightly curled black hair were reflected in the glass window. With an appearance that should have been irresistibly sweet, the coldness in her eyes lent an edge.
Especially in this inky darkness, the faint red glimmer in her eyes rendered Amber Mason an aura of danger.
Contemplating the nightmare just past, Amber Mason''s brows furrowed even deeper.
Twenty years had passed. How much longer would this dream continue to haunt her?
Her vermilion lips parted slightly, revealing the sharp fangs hidden within.
As a vampire, it was the first time her unbridled greed had nearly cost a human his life.
The child in her arms had felt as cold as her own body at that moment, which finally roused her from her stupor.
Amber Mason couldn''t help but cover her face with her hands, as if the sweet taste from that time could still be vividly recalled.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
It was so sweet that she had almost forgotten everything, consumed by the urge to devour him, bite by bite, until nothing remained!
Buzz——! Buzz——!
The sudden vibration of her mobile phone forcefully yanked her back to the present.
"Amber, I knew the only one still awake at this hour was you!"
An urgent voice came from the other end of the phone."I was supposed to pick someone up at the airport, but something unexpected cropped up, and I can''t go! I''ve called everyone I could think of, and only you, Amber, can come to my rescue!"
"It''s fine. Send me the specific time and the pick - up location. I''m leaving right away."
"Good heavens! You''re so dependable, Amber! I''ll treat you to a sumptuous meal! I''ll send the details right away!"
The call ended. She tore off her nightgown in one swift motion. Her graceful form stood in the room, and within mere minutes, she had changed into clothes and tidied herself up.
Dressed in casual sportswear, a baseball cap perched on her head, a long ponytail swaying, she boasted an ageless face that looked just as radiant without makeup.
Amber Mason drove out, heading straight for the airport.
"Amber, the person you''re picking up is a newly - returned emerging star writer. The publishing house is interested in signing his works."
The message arrived. Amber Mason cast a cursory glance at it and then focused on driving.
"This is his information and the contract. Just give him the contract. I won''t trouble you with anything else! Amber, you''re my benefactor!"
Amber Mason glanced at the transmitted files, replied with an emoji, and then refocused on driving.
Arriving at the airport half an hour ahead of time, Amber Mason sat in her car, perusing the materials.
Despite being described as"materials," there were merely a few lines of information: name, age, achievements, and a photo.
The man in the photo boasted refined features and fair complexion. A warm aura emanated from between his brows. His jet - black hair was so sleek that not a single strand was out of place. The corners of his mouth curved upward ever so slightly, creating the illusion that he was perpetually smiling.
Amber Mason regarded the photo and let out a gentle laugh. He was truly a youth as sunny as the sun itself.
As the pick - up time approached, Amber Mason promptly alighted from the car and entered the pick - up hall. Unlike in the past, the hall was filled with a large number of people at this hour, the majority of whom were young.
With a single glance, she could tell that they were a group waiting to receive a celebrity.
Wearing a baseball cap, Amber Mason positioned herself in the corner at the back. She peered over the throng of people towards the pick - up gate. Even from this distance, her vision remained crystal - clear.
Moments later, a commotion erupted at the pick - up gate. All the young people surged forward, creating a complete bottleneck.
People continuously emerged from within, struggling to make their way through the dense crowd to the outside.
A figure emerged, dragging a suitcase. He was simply attired in jeans and a T - shirt, and also wore a baseball cap.
His figure was tall and slender, yet the exposed parts of his body were robust and muscular. With every subtle movement, his muscle contours were clearly visible.
He tilted his face slightly upward, the face hidden beneath the baseball cap, as if searching for someone.
Upon seeing him, several young girls waiting for the celebrity couldn''t help but let out an exclamation."Ah! That guy is so good - looking!"
"Wow, is he some upcoming star who hasn''t debuted yet?"
Sensing their gazes, the young man offered a faint smile, causing the girls'' cheeks to flush instantly.
"Mr. Mabel?"
Before she knew it, Amber Mason had made her way through the crowd and stood beside him.
"Ah, I am," the young man was momentarily taken aback, his eyes meeting those of this beautiful woman standing before him, smiling.
"Here''s my business card. It''s a last - minute arrangement. I''m here to pick you up," Amber Mason said as she extended the card. She then slightly stooped and retrieved the suitcase from the other side of his body.
As she moved, her loose - fitting clothes revealed a stretch of her ivory - white neck, and the cross - shaped mark on it caught the man''s eye.
"You''ve had a long journey. Let me take you to the hotel where you''ll be staying first."
"Very well. Thank you for the trouble," the young man replied, a smile gracing his lips as he followed Amber Mason out of the airport.
"My luggage is quite heavy. Allow me to handle it," the young man said with a smile as they reached the car. Without hesitation, he took the suitcase from Amber Mason''s grasp.
Amber Mason smiled and did not insist."I''m truly sorry to have you do this."
"It''s not a problem. I can''t possibly let a young lady carry my luggage," he said.
His long, slender fingers grasped a handle of the suitcase, and with a firm heave, he lifted the suitcase into the vehicle.
Whoosh——!
A sweet aroma, reminiscent of freshly baked cupcakes, rushed into Amber Mason''s nostrils.
In a matter of seconds, a red tinge began to seep into Amber Mason''s eyes.
Why? Why was this happening...
She wasn''t a vampire who lost control at the mere scent of blood. She possessed self - control that even her fellow vampires found astonishing. She had never been captivated by the blood of any human.
Except for that one incident twenty years ago.
"Miss Amber? Are you alright? You don''t look well," the man inquired.
"I''m fine. Perhaps it''s due to this last - minute arrangement. I didn''t get enough rest," Amber Mason quickly took a half - step back."Mr. Mabel, did you sustain an injury somewhere? It might be wise to check."
The man was startled for a moment. His dark eyes belatedly shifted to his hand."Maybe I got scratched while handling the luggage just now. It''s nothing serious, just a minor cut."
"Even a minor cut should be attended to. Don''t overlook it."
No, this aroma was far too enticing...
Amber Mason swallowed hard and swiftly retrieved a band - aid from her bag."You can take care of it later."
Amber Mason practically fled into the car. In the rear - view mirror, she saw the red gradually emerging in the depths of her eyes.
Her throat was parched, burning with thirst.
The fangs in her mouth were faintly emerging from the surrounding flesh. With a click, the rear door opened.
As the man entered, that overwhelmingly sweet scent, which was on the verge of driving her to lose control, filled the entire car.
Amber Mason''s body shuddered violently. His wound remained untreated.
"Why——!" A momentary lapse in control caused Amber Mason''s voice to rise sharply. She quickly regained command of her nearly - unruly emotions."Mr. Mabel, why haven''t you treated your wound?"
"Oh, it''s not a big deal. I don''t want to cover a small cut," the man replied with a light laugh as he settled into the back seat. He reclined casually, his tall frame relaxing against the seat."I''m a bit sleepy. Please wake me when we arrive."
"...Alright."
At 4 a.m., the car navigated through the city, which had finally slipped into tranquility.
Streetlights passed by outside at intervals, casting light into the quiet interior of the car.
Shadows occasionally fell over the rear seat. The man, with his baseball cap covering his face, had his hand resting languidly on his knee. There was a fresh cut on his index finger.
Inside the car, there was the steady rhythm of his breathing, Amber Mason''s occasional swallowing sounds, and beneath the baseball cap, the corners of his mouth slowly curving upward.