The Vampire Wonderland

by Gloria Dark

  ***

  Eden’s consciousness returned as Nataniel caressed his cheek gently, taking away all pains. The little angel placed his hands over Eden’s chest, healing him, dispersing all anxieties.

  “I must return home, my friend.” Nataniel embraced Eden once more, “I shall see you again someday!”

  Nataniel swept his wings and disappeared into the sky with incredible speed, so quickly that it was impossible to see him fly. Eden came back to his senses and picked up his violin just to hide it back into his chest.

  By the time Eden returned home, his confusion and scattered mind took the lead, making him look insane. When he walked into the living room, his mother Loren and Leticia, dressed glamorously, sat at a glass table, both discussing something. At first, it seemed like they were having a fight, but they muted as soon as they noticed Eden.

  “Hello, mother!” Eden forced a wide fake smile. “Will you finally give me a hug?”

  “Ugh, leave me alone!” Loren dismissed him coldly and walked away.

  “Fine, but don’t come back begging for my affection when I grow up and rule the world!” Eden forced cold laughter, although a new knot of pain formed inside his chest. It triggered his emotions to become unstable, made him act recklessly.

  Leticia sighed and glanced at the boy, worried about his state of mind.

  “Granny?” Eden teased the oldest member of the family, “How about a music lesson?”

  “Oh, there’s no need! You’re already perfect at what you do!” Leticia smiled, grabbing a bottle of wine from the table and pouring into her glass. “It’s your birthday, you should celebrate it!”

  “I recall the times when you said the opposite!” Eden smiled, feeling annoyed.

  “I insist the birthday boy plays something!” Lotteline ran into the room. She kissed Eden on the cheek and gave him a bracelet made of black beads. “Happy birthday! It’s handmade! It will suit you when you dominate the world!”

  “I love it!” Eden’s chest filled with warmth, but it didn’t last long. The sharp images of the past lives confused his sanity.

  Lotteline sat next to Leticia as if it were a throne. Her leather trousers and the black boots made her appear rebellious, but the red blouse gave away her gentle heart. Lotteline winked at Eden cheerfully, pointing at the piano.

  “I wouldn’t be so confident…” Leticia whispered a warning.

  “I obey a god, not a vampire!” Lotteline waved her fingers dismissively.

  Eden sat at the piano and started playing a beautiful, soft melody. At first, it was emotional, but the longer he played, the more dramatic it became, reminding more of a symphony of chaos. Eden played it so quickly that it was impossible to tell the difference between a song and a noise.

  Lotteline seemed to enjoy the music, but Leticia started emptying a glass after glass, pouring more vine until there was none left. When the last drop was gone, she went for another one behind the wall, but a massive shadow made her jump.

  “Adri..” she was about to say her brother’s name when he suddenly closed her mouth.

  “How long are you going to act like his puppet?” Adrian whispered.

  “As long as it takes to make him sane!” Leticia replied in whispers, grabbing another bottle from a shelf behind her.

  Adrian stopped her when she was about to return to the room.

  “If you don’t want to stop him, I will!” Adrian threatened.

  “Don’t you dare! You know what will happen if he dies. He’ll just come back again, again and again!” Leticia whispered angrily.

  Adrian released her hand and went away, saying nothing more, but Leticia returned to the living room, ignoring the threats she had heard thousands of times.

  The piano music stopped.

  “Here’s my favourite cousin!” Kastian walked into the room with open arms, dressed like a vintage doll, but instead of smart trousers, he wore leathers.

  “Kasty!” Eden jumped from his seat, excited. Only then he noticed his cousin holding a beautiful wooden box. “What’s that?”

  “Why don’t you see it yourself?” Kastian handed Eden the box. “Happy birthday!”

  Eden opened his present and noticed a thumb-sized glass capsule, filled with pink liquid with a toxic illumination.

  “What is this?” Eden took the capsule out of the luxurious box.

  “It’s poison!” Kastian grinned.

  “Oh, I didn’t know I was that annoying!” Eden laughed.

  “I didn’t say it’s for you!” Kastian glanced at Leticia, forcing a fake smile. “You never know when you’ll end up surrounded by enemies.”

  Lotteline went closer to the boys to check the capsule. Her eyes widened.

  “Isn’t this kenzomoria? The poison from Jitoshizu?” Lotteline asked, “Where did you get it?”

  “Well, let’s say I have my secrets!” Kastian giggled, but his devious gaze landed on Lotteline, turning vulnerable almost instantly. Although she was about a hundred years older, Kastian considered her the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

  “What do you think?” Eden glanced at her too. “Who should I poison?”

  Lotteline caressed Eden’s cheek, giving him the brightest smile.

  “I think you are perfect!” she said, “I think you’ll never need to use it because you’re so lovable! You’ll never have any enemies! I think you can keep the pretty capsule as a decoration for your bedroom, that’s all!”

  Kastian smiled, watching Lotteline smile.

  “Oh, are you two ready? I got the tickets for us!” Kastian tried to change the subject, hoping to leave the castle as soon as possible.

  “Give me a second! I’ll get changed in a second!” Lotteline disappeared into the hallway, whistling cheerfully.

  “I’m so happy to see you, Kasty!” Eden admitted, “Lotte and I missed you! How’s your school?”

  “Boring without your company. Since I turned seventeen, nothing seems to be fun any more!” Kastian complained, “Listen, why don’t I tell you everything on our way to the festival? You should get dressed because I’m not taking you with me if you’re wearing dirty clothing. Even if it’s your birthday!”

  Eden nodded and disappeared into the hallway too. Leticia and Kastian stayed in the living room on their own.

  “What are you trying to achieve, Kastian?” Leticia emptied her glass of vine, “When he finds out your friendship is fake, he will destroy you!”

  “Who said it’s fake?” Kastian asked.

  “You do realise that when Eden regains his memory and becomes an adult again, he will marry Lotteline, don’t you?” Leticia poured another drink, “Do you really think I haven’t noticed how you look at her?”

  Kastian slapped the glass of wine out of Leticia’s hand, daring to show disrespect towards an elder.

  “My friendship with Eden has never been fake, I simply chose to take his side! When the god in him awakens, guess who will be left unharmed?” Kastian hissed, flashing his brilliant teeth, “Lotteline and I! Because we’ve always been by his side!”

  Leticia grabbed Kastian by his neck, squeezing her nails into his face.

  “Don’t jump out of your pants, boy!” she warned, “You know nothing about Eden Gracious, you haven’t even seen the real him! You know nothing about being by his side or caring about him, you selfish fool. You’re by his side only because it’s convenient for you!”

  “I admit I love Lotteline, I know she will never be mine because she looks at me as her little cousin, but I only wish the best for them!” Kastian admitted, “Both of them!”

  Suddenly, an agonised, feminine scream shook the walls from another floor, dragging Kastian’s and Leticia’s attention. Both of them ran downstairs immediately.

  “What’s going on?” Leticia asked, entering the room where the sound came from. Her eyes widened in terror.

  Adrian and Octavian held Lotteline’s arms twisted so that she would be forced to kneel. Leticia’s grand-children - Olivia and Alen - held
their arms high up in the air, forming a shield that held nobody. As soon as Leticia entered the room, they aimed it at her, trapping Leticia inside a transparent capsule that disabled her powers.

  Leticia was strong enough to break the shield, but Octavian’s daughter Anabelle walked out of a shadow to temporarily paralyse Leticia’s body to forbid her to fight back.

  Olivia’s daughter Victoriana captured Kastian, holding his body under golden chains made of energy. Nobody expected the boy to be home, but Victoriana ensured he couldn’t move at all.

  Finally, they noticed Loren, holding her fingers tensed above Lotteline’s head, boiling her blood with agonising pain.

  “What are you doing?” Kastian tried to move, but his body was under a spell, and he was too young to fight against the strongest vampires of his own family.

  Eden ran into the room as soon as he heard the noises, but his heart froze with fear when he noticed his family attack Lotteline. His mind could not comprehend the picture because, in none of his lives, any of fon Vorigans turned against each other.

  To protect his loved ones, Eden created strong energy fields, ready to shoot in all directions. Not to hurt but to disarm the others from their powers.

  “Don’t move!” Loren threatened, “Unless you want to see her suffer more!”

  Eden froze, unsure what to do. He was ready to beg.

  “Adrian! Octavian!” Leticia tried to negotiate with the oldest members, ignoring everyone else, “Please, don’t do this!”

  “Sometimes, sister,” Adrian replied, holding Lotteline’s hand tighter, causing her to scream more, “You have to make sacrifices for the greater good.”

  “We’ve tried to get rid of the curse for many centuries, but there’s one method we hadn’t considered!” Octavian spoke loudly and brutally, “We haven’t tried to ask Eden to rip his own heart out!”

  “No, you wouldn’t dare!” Leticia’s eyes covered in watery shimmer. “Don’t listen to them, Eden! They would never kill her! They’re only trying to scare you!”

  “Keep quiet!” Adrian warned, creating golden energy ribbons to twist around Leticia’s mouth.

  “Father!” Kastian cried out, “Please, don’t do this!”

  “Stay out of this!” Octavian replied, swiping his free hand in the air to cover Kastian’s eyes with his energy.

  “So, Eden?” Loren smirked, digging her nails into her sister’s head, “What will it be? Your heart or hers?”

  “Don’t listen to them!” Lotteline yelled, her voice breaking, “Don’t ever listen to them! You’re a god, you don’t bow to anyone! Did you hear me? Don’t…”

  Loren made her magic stronger, blurring Lotteline’s mind. She walked forwards, placing her sharp nails on her sister’s chest.

  “I’m waiting, Eden! Your heart or hers?” Loren threatened.

  “Why? Why do you do this?” Eden cried, feeling too scared to move at all.

  “Why, you ask?” Adrian laughed sarcastically, no humour in his voice, “Because you’re the curse of this family! You’re making all of us insane with your presence because you’re a monster!”

  ” You’re not a god, you’re just a dirty demon!” Octavian added.

  “You think you can control the family!” Adrian shouted, “But you are nothing! You’re not even a real family member!”

  “And you, my sister,” said Loren, “You were supposed to keep him away from his memories! You’re a traitor, and none of us will ever forgive you that!”

  “Please, stop!” Kastian begged, unable to see anything. “Leave them alone!”

  “I count to three,” Loren raised her hand, ready to aim for her sister’s heart. “One!”

  Eden waited no moment longer and dashed towards Loren with full speed. He jumped upwards and created energy fields to swipe Loren off her feet, but Victoriana attacked the boy from behind, pushing him back to the ground. The fall broke his arm, but it healed immediately.

  “This will teach you both a lesson!” Octavian landed his hand into Lotteline’s chest, pulling her heart out into the air.

  Since Octavian used his free arm that held Kastian’s eyes covered, the magic dissolved, forcing Kastian to see everything. The boy’s eyes filled with tears and disbelief.

  Leticia tried to free herself, but everyone held her as tightly as they could. She attempted to scream, but her mouth was tied too.

  “What the?” Loren seemed as shocked as Leticia, crying hysterically.

  Adrian and Octavian released Lotteline’s dead body, allowing it to drop on the floor. Eden knelt down next to her lifeless body, his entire body shivering, unable to believe his eyes.

  “Here’s your beloved heart!” Octavian dropped Lotteline’s heart into Eden’s hands.

  Something shifted inside the boy’s mind. Feeling nauseous, he stared at the heart, shouting so loud it broke all mirrors and sculptures. Absolutely confused, Eden could hear only his own pulse drum in his ears wildly. Nothing made any sense as dark colours washed over his mind, drowning him under the waters of ancient powers.

  Electric bolts ran down his cells as he watched each family member move in slow motion. His heart became black with hate.

  Flaming ashes appeared in the air, seemingly out of nowhere. Their flames surrounded the room, blocking the exit with a solid wall of ashes. Eden’s eyes turned many shades darker, making them appear almost black. His screams went mute, and so did the last traces of his sanity.

  A strong energy bomb detonated out of his chest, dissolving any magic that kept Leticia and Kastian paralysed. The rest of the family were forced on their knees by incredible power, but the flaming ashes that landed on any flesh burned agonising holes.

  Eden stood up, all his movements graceful, lacking any compassion. He placed his hands over his chest, summoning Morcie - the enchanted violin. Playing a sad song, he made the aches lay down on Lotteline’s body, covering it entirely. The melody made the fire light up gracefully, causing the dead body to scatter in the air in glittery dust the same way as it happened when gods died on the mortal land. Lotteline disappeared divinely, and so did Eden’s childish heart.

  Kastian collapsed on the floor, touching the place where his beloved one laid. His bloodshot eyes locked everything else outside his vision. Leticia sat down beside him, crying hysterically, yet trying to calm Kastian with an embrace.

  When Eden’s sad melody was over, he opened his eyes as a merciless god, looking at his family.

  “Kneel!” he ordered to everyone who was already kneeling, “Lower!”

  Eden moved his hand in the air with effortless motion, forcing the sinner fon Vorigans to kiss the floor.

  “When you continue to suffer, just remember that it was your own doing!” Eden stepped closer to the ones he hated, tensing his hand into a fist. Loud noises of cracking bones echoed through the walls. “All any child needed was love, and I could have had forgiven you everything you did to me in the past, but you chose to teach me to hate. But now… Now, I’ll definitely torture you as long as I live, which is forever.”

  Chapter 9: The Guilt

  Eden’s point of view

  The Guilt

  Eden’s point of view

  I laid on the soft carpet of my bedroom floor, injecting kenzomoria into my blood, allowing the images to swipe me away to a better world than the one I was forced to live in. I pressed my massive headphones closer to my ears as I listened to music heavy enough to explode my eardrums, but strangely, I enjoyed the process of regeneration, so I didn’t mind. The music was my sanctuary when everything else made me numb.

  I had survived in the same body for seventeen years, but my busy mind kept constantly shifting, trying to travel back in time to understand what I had done wrong to earn the suffering, the curse of life. Yet I failed to find it.

  I moved my head sideways, glancing over my shoulder to see if I had any more capsules left. I counted twelve empty ones and only one full. Instead of injecting it, I bit the capsule between my teeth, allowing th
e sweet liquid dissolve in my mouth.

  My lips curved into a smile, thinking about Demian, the little pureblood I met months ago. Although I never told him, I felt connected to him on a deep level of understanding. He suffered as much as I did. Maybe slightly less because he wasn’t as indestructible as I was.

  I wished to see Demian, but I wasn’t ready to face him after what I had done, and he was too young to know about the dark things that connected us. I wanted to protect him, I wanted him to have a better life than I did. Therefore, it was better if I stayed away from him.

  Suddenly, I missed Nataniel. I still hadn’t figured out him, but the mysterious angel boy was my eight-year-old psychologist. Thanks to him, I was able to breathe without regrets sometimes. Unfortunately, I had no courage to see him either after what I had done to my family.

  I rolled onto my right side, wrapping hands around my knees. I made myself feel nauseous. The images of that night wouldn’t let me forget themselves, the night when I killed my family, although I promised myself I wouldn’t do it.

  My chest burned with pain, but there was nothing I could do to stop it. I deserved it.

  Demian once suggested I would get rid of the curse if there were no women left in my family, but I was foolish enough to take his advice.

  Anabelle, Olivia and Victoriana definitely deserved it for what they did to Lotte without ever regretting it. Even after my powers had awakened, they always managed to remind me how much they enjoyed torturing Lotte. For that, I wanted to end their lives thousands of times a day, but I didn’t. Only because it would have been an easy way out for them. I wanted them to live a long life that felt like hell.

  I couldn’t care less about what I did to them.

  I didn’t worry about Loren either because Kastian took care of her long before me. He also took care of Octavian because he couldn’t forgive him Lotte’s death, so he reported Octavian to the Elderly. He tried reporting Adrian, but there was no evidence against him. Alen was safe too; for now.

  Honestly, I grieved only for one person, and I didn’t even kill her. When I attacked the family after Demian’s advice, Leticia was the last one standing. I couldn’t do anything to her because all of my memories came back when I faced her.