The Curse of The Bloodwood

A fat squirrel scurried out of its hole and darted into the underbush.

Louis followed it.

He chased the squirrel through every nook and cranny, his hands sweeping through the air as he gained speed.

Louis' senses were on high alert, his body refined for the hunt. The scent of his potential meal filled his nostrils. His eyes blazed with a fierce, almost feral intensity. And his ears perked up, sensitive to every sound.

The poor squirrel, desperate to escape, clawed its way up a nearby tree. But Louis was also desperate, he pursued it. The squirrel, realizing its mistake, scurried back down and dove into a pile of straw.

Louis pounced, his hands closing around the squirrel's tiny body. The squirrel managed to slip free, and his hands closed on empty air.

Thud! The sound echoed through the air, followed by another louder thud.

Louis' eyes widened, his face darkened with anger.

What was that sound?

As he stood there, with his ears perked up, he sensed a presence behind him. He turned to see Clinton emerging from the shadows, a sly grin spreading across his face.

'Need some help, Louis?' Clinton asked, still amused, 'I brought you something to eat.'

Louis' frown dissipated, replaced by a hint of embarrassment, 'Well, you caught me off guard, I was...'

'Scared?' Clinton sneered in amusement.

Louis' gaze fell on a boy, who was standing beside Clinton, looking pale and frightened. His wounds were evident, like he had already been fed on.

Louis' stomach growled with anticipation, and he felt a wave of gratitude towards Clinton.

Despite the hunger, he shuddered, looking away from the boy, and continued hunting.

'Oh Louis, you have become vulnerable.' Clinton said, dropping the boy, 'If only you had a drop of human blood in your body...'

'I'd rather starve than be a savage beast.' Louis replied.

Clinton laughed in mockery. 'You think you can fight it? Time is running out, Louis. You need to feed so that your transformation would be completed. Else, you wouldn't be as strong as the others...'

'I don't want to be like the others!'

Clinton paused, then continued, 'Your time is up, isn't it?'

Louis' expression darkened, 'Go away, Clinton. I'm trying to catch another supper, since you ruined the last one.'

Clinton's grin widened, 'I've got the perfect one for you.'

POW! Louis turned in horror as Clinton fell to the ground, clutching his stomach. A crimson stain spread across his chest like a blooming fire.

He had been shot.

Louis' gaze snapped towards the shooter. His eyes were red, blazing with hunger and fury.

The gunman stood calmly, his eyes fixed on Louis as he spoke into his walkie-talkie, 'This is Officer Harper-12. I need backup at Beachside Location-7. We have a 10-64. I repeat, we have a...'

With lightning-fast reflexes, Louis attacked the cop, sinking his teeth into his neck and draining the lifeblood out of his body. The sound of snapping bone echoed through the air as he broke the officer's neck.

Clinton's chuckle broke the tension, making him shiver. Louis turned to face him, wiping the blood from his lips with the back of his hand.

For a moment, he stood there, frozen in regret. The weight of his actions bore down on him, threatening to crush him. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the beachside crowd.

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Five centuries later.

October, 1884.

A weary group of settlers arrived at the lakeside in the autumn season. Driven by the promise of fertile land and abundant resources, they had travelled from a distant place, where drought and famine ravaged the earth.

The settlers began to construct a grand house by the lake under the guidance of their leader.

And as the days passed, the settlement began to take shape, with cabins and workshops sprouting up around the grand house.

As the years passed, the settlement flourished, and the lakeside became a thriving community.

But with the arrival of winter, a sense of restlessness settled over the town. Strange noises echoed through the forest at night. Some of the settlers whispered of ghostly apparitions and unexplained occurrences.

But the leader of the settlement dismissed these concerns, attributing them to mere rumours.

It was winter. So the streets were empty, save for the occasional human, shivering in the cold. But for the demons, this was the season of the hunt. They emerged from the shadows, their eyes scanning the deserted streets for prey.

The Consanguinity, was what they called them – supernatural creatures which were neither humans, yet they looked like them, nor beasts, yet they smelt like them.

These creatures walked among humans, disguising themselves with ease. Their teeth were razor-sharp, their nails sharper than any blade. Strong, swift, and hostile, they were also strangely attractive.

A species of them had an unusual amount of body hair, which they could control at will. The humans, of course, were oblivious to its true nature. They believed they were from a distant clan, descended from wolves – invincible, yet harmless. But the truth was far more sinister.

These demons lived in a secluded town just beyond the lake, and only ventured into human territory to feed.

They brought gifts of gold and satin, precious commodities that blinded the humans to the demons' true intentions. It was a clever ruse, one that had worked for centuries.

Despite the string of disappearances, the demons remained above suspicion. Rumors of savage wolves spread fear and panic among people. Frantic parents begged the Mayor for action. But with no witnesses to the attacks, the authorities were powerless to intervene.

The more the people panicked, the more the demons revelled.

To them, it was a game, a twisted one. And they played it with ruthless abandon.

One demon, however, stood apart from the rest. The beast, as they called him, didn't hunt. Instead, he waited for the others to bring him the choicest prey. And he feasted on the fattest corpses, always delivered to his doorstep as a token of respect.

Years later, the vampires gathered at an old lake house for a council meeting with their chief, Lloyd.

Louis was there too, though he had no plans of attending the meeting because most of their recent meetings had been about him. He had a feeling that one was too.

'My lord,' Gifford began, his voice low and gravelly, 'We have lost 50 men in 4 days, 50 brave men whose sacrifices were overlooked!'

Lloyd scoffed. 'They were not brave, Gifford. They were foolish. They disobeyed my orders and paid the price for it.'

Gifford's face twisted in a snarl, 'But this has never happened before...'

Lloyd's expression turned cold, 'They committed treason! They were asked to stand down and wait for the signal, but they didn't. As far as I know, there were no sacrifices.'

As Lloyd spoke, the vampires nodded in agreement.

'It's good.' Gifford replied, 'It's good they all died in the fire. None of the humans saw them.'

'That's why we should not mourn but celebrate. 50 men went against my orders and were gruesomely eliminated. I'm glad we weren't implicated.'

Gifford's face lightened up as he cackled, 'Speaking of being implicated, Louis here has become quite stubborn. He no longer listens to anything you say. He goes out to meet with the humans and relates with them as though they were our kind.'

'My lord,' Louis retorted, 'I sense a conspiracy in all these. I haven't disobeyed any of your orders. And I have sworn with my life to keep the secrets of The Consanguinity.'

Gifford's gaze met Louis', 'He is getting out of hand, my lord. It wouldn't be long before he gets caught and the truth goes out. We cannot take chances, we have to do something.'

Lloyd replied, 'If you mean I should stop him from going to school, Gifford, it's too late. I have given my full consent. Besides, Louis has shown us his strength and intolerance for humans. I trust him. And I suggest you do so too.'

Meet Emily, a depressed human girl struggling to cope with school and her strained relationship with her mother.

She had a frown on her face which she had been carrying about ever since her dad left.

School had been a terrible experience for her, especially because of her antisocial nature and poor academic record – she had even failed Geography, a subject that once sparked her interest.

Her mother had suggested homeschooling on multiple occasions, but she consistently rejected the idea.

|Emily's POV|

My first day at senior high was a whirlwind of emotions. As a newcomer, I was anxious about starting afresh. My moving back to Florida, to the house my mom and I had left behind ten years ago, stirred up a mix of feelings.

I was excited too. But the real reason for my eagerness was harder to pinpoint. Was it the carefree summer days still lingering in my mind? Or the thrill of going back to my old school?

Perhaps it was a combination of both. But if I'm being honest, it was mostly because of Louis – my childhood crush.

We had been inseparable back in the day, with everyone assuming we were a couple.

Our first meeting at the school-organised Halloween night still felt like a romantic scene playing right before me. And I played a role, the best one. And Louis was my Prince Charming.

'Emily Winter?' A voice called.

I shivered, then peeked narrowly at the owner of that voice – Louis. His piercing blue eyes sparkled as he approached me.

'Emily!' He exclaimed, opening his arms for a hug.

Louis was more than just a friend; he was my only true friend, both in and out of school.

Time had barely changed him – he still had that charming smile and captivating presence. The only difference was that he had become wealthy and popular.

My feelings for him, however, remained unchanged. I couldn't deny the truth: I was still in love with him.

But after realizing he didn't reciprocate my emotions, I had made a conscious decision to move on. Or at least, I tried to.

The truth was, I couldn't get rid of my feelings, no matter how hard I tried, and no matter how much I hated him for not loving me back. And that realization filled me with frustration and self-hate.

6:30 am. School again.

Ugh, Thursdays were the worst.

I was already running late, and to make matters worse, I got stuck in the chaotic hallway traffic between classes.

My locker seemed to be conspiring against me, refusing to open no matter how hard I tried.

And the homework load? It was overwhelming – a million pages of math problems and essays due tomorrow. How was I supposed to get it all done?

I had attempted to join the swimming team, but it was a total disaster. Then, I joined the basketball club after the girls who used to bully me got kicked out.

As I stood on the court, Louis strolled up to me, a basketball tucked under his arm.

'Hey, cutie,' He said with a charming smile, tossing the ball in my direction.

I laughed nervously. 'What?'

Louis' frown deepened. 'I see you've lost your spark.'

I tossed the ball back, trying to appear nonchalant. 'I don't feel like it, maybe next time.'

Louis' grin returned, and he teased, 'Hey, don't worry. You can join the cheerleading squad, trade in your sneakers for some spirit fingers. Who needs to dribble when you can shake your pom-poms?'

A loud, wheezing laugh burst from Louis, making me glance up in surprise.

I caught the stifled giggles from the girls nearby, and my brows furrowed in annoyance. 'It's not funny!'

It was Monday, the longest day of the week.

School was over.

And I couldn't wait to escape.

I quickly grabbed my hoodie from Clinton's shoulder – Louis' best friend, who was as annoying as he was playful.

Clinton had a peculiar habit of sharing bizarre anecdotes, which often left me bewildered.

As I got home, I grumbled to myself, frustrated that Mom wasn't home yet. The emptiness and silence of the house only increased my hunger and exhaustion.

Feeling suffocated, I decided to take a walk, seeking refuge from the place that constantly reminded me of my worthlessness.

As I stepped out into the crisp evening air, I wondered, 'Where will I go from here?'

The question echoed in my mind like a mantra.

My feet carried me to the park, a place that held a special place in my heart. It was where Dad would take me every weekend after basketball practice.

He'd coach me, encourage me, and reward me with ice cream when I did well. Those were the happiest moments of my life.

I settled into our favorite chair, and as I sat there, memories came flooding back. I could almost feel Dad's presence around me, and the sense of peace and tranquility that filled my heart was overwhelming.

Time stood still as I relived those cherished moments.

The sound of my watch beeping brought me back to reality – 4:15. I hastily gathered my belongings and headed home.

Later that night, I woke up to the horrendous feeling of Louis' muscular arms wrapped around my waist on my mini bed.

'Louis?' I asked in confusion.

He smirked, 'Surprised to see me?'

I was quiet.

He stepped back, poured himself a glass of wine, and downed it in one swift gulp.

His eyebrows arched upward, and a sly grin spread across his face. He refilled his glass and headed to the restroom.

'How did you get in here?' I demanded.

He ignored me.

I quickly followed him, snatching the glass from his hand. Then I quivered with fear.

'Mom?' I called out.

But Louis' attention was fixed on something else.

I turned to see my mom lying unconscious on the floor, and Louis' mouth dripping with blood. His hands and chest smeared all over with it.

'Mom!!!' I screamed, with tears streaming down my face.

I was paralyzed, unable to move or help my mom. In desperation, I grabbed a mop, attempting to strike Louis with it. But he quickly caught it.

He turned to face me.

His skin was deathly pale, his eyes a haunting red, bulging from their sockets. His face twisted into a deadly grimace.

'Get away from my mom!' I shrieked, hurling the glass at his head. It shattered, leaving a gruesome fleshy scar on his forehead.

I lay there, gasping for breath. My squeals were slowly fading into sobs.

'Don't cry, Kyla, momma's here.' The soothing voice pulled me back from the brink of terror.

I opened my eyes to find Mom's sobbing face hovering above me, her arms wrapped tightly around me.

'Mom?' I whispered in a trembling voice.

'It's okay, baby, I'm here.' She whispered back.

I let out a shaky sigh, my heart still racing from the nightmare.

'I thought you were dead,' I admitted.

Mom's grip on me tightened. 'Don't worry, I'm fine. It was just a dream.'

She patted my back, comforting me as I drifted back to sleep.

Next day.

I sat alone in the kitchen, hastily devouring my breakfast. Mom had left early, forgetting to give me lunch money and, as usual, a goodbye kiss.

I chuckled wryly to myself, not expecting either gesture anyway.

Glancing at the clock, I realized it was already 8am. I was running late for school.

I grabbed my bag, keys, and phone, only to be startled by the sheer number of missed calls – seventeen, all from Louis.

I didn't have time for this. I was already late.

I rushed out the door, my mind preoccupied with the impending school day.

Before I knew it, I found myself stuck in the middle of a History lesson I was totally uninterested in.

My attention wandered, and I turned around, catching Louis' captivating gaze. His beautiful eyes sparkled, making my heartbeat faster.

Oh Emily, look at those eyes. How can you not love him with those eyes?

He looked back at me, and at that very moment, I could literally hear my own heartbeat.

A sweet, awkward smile spread across my face. But Louis' expression changed in an instant – he scoffed, rolling his eyes.

What did I do this time?

I sighed inwardly, feeling a flash of frustration.

Louis. I'm never going to get him. Why am I trying too hard? I'm the ruby, I should be graceful. I should get a grip on my emotions.

That's what I told myself whenever I thought about him. But everything just fades away when he's in front of me.

What was it about him that made me such a simpleton of a person?

As the tedious lesson finally came to an end, I turned around, only to find that Louis was no longer in his seat.

I shrugged, grabbed my bag, and headed to the library.

As I walked, I found myself standing transfixed beside the ancient oak tree, which sat majestically in the heart of the school.

I took in the vibrant scenery of the school park, ignoring the curious stares of everyone who walked past me. They probably wondered why I was frozen in place, and what the hell I was looking at.

My gaze drifted to the boy who still held a special place in my heart – Louis. And I couldn't help but chuckle as I watched him playfully pick a fight with Clinton and two other boys.

Wait, I'm not drooling, am I? He stopped, and now he's staring at me.

He was coming towards me, and I knew I had to make a quick escape.

'Hey, Emily!' Louis called out, but I ignored him, swiftly walking away towards the library.

'Wait!' he shouted, his footsteps closing in on me.

I stopped, turned around sharply, and snapped, 'What do you want?'

Louis looked taken aback by my tone, but he quickly recovered. 'Wow, you have no reason to be mad at me right now.'

I raised an eyebrow. 'Are you serious?'

'Yeah.' Louis replied, a hint of a smile on his face. 'I think after seventeen missed calls, we're even.'

I paused, rolling my eyes in amusement. 'Why did you call anyway?'

Louis sighed, his expression turning serious. 'I'm just glad you're okay.'

I widened my eyes, feeling a little surprised by his reaction. 'You know, you don't have to worry about me,' I said, trying to brush off his concern. 'I've always been okay.'

Louis shook his head, clearly unconvinced. 'No. You don't have to pretend to be fine whenever you're around me.'

I felt a lump form in my throat as Louis' words struck a nerve. 'Huh?' I managed to stammer.

Louis exhaled heavily. 'I know you've been pretty depressed lately, I mean, ever since your dad left. But I don't know why you've been ignoring me since you came back from Florida. Did I do something wrong?'

I didn't reply, unsure of how to process my emotions.

Louis' eyes filled with concern, and he took a step closer to me. 'I cannot leave you like this. I'm your friend, right? Why are you not sharing your troubles with me? Do you think I cannot help you?'

I sighed, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.

'Let me help you,' He continued.

'Okay.' I paused, then continued, 'So, I've been having strange dreams for the past few weeks, and I don't know why these nightmares keep coming. It's like someone is trying to tell me something.'

Louis' expression turned serious. 'What is it?'

I took a deep breath, unsure of how to express my fears. 'I think it's... a cry for help. The other time, it was me, then my dad, now it's my mom. I had this weird dream about the old lakehouse two nights ago. It's like something... or someone wants me to go there. I have to figure out what this is about.'

Louis' expression turned more serious, and he grasped my shoulders. 'Emily, I need you to listen to me very carefully. No matter what happens, do not go to the lakehouse or even near the lake.'

I raised an eyebrow, feeling a spark of reluctance. 'Tch! Okay mom.'

He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with deep concern. 'I'm serious.'

I rolled my eyes, then continued, 'There's a rumor about the town's dark history and the legend of The Consanguinity...'

Louis gave me a helpless, concerned look. But I ignored him.

'...and the lake, a place where vampires and werewolves allegedly roam.' I continued.

Louis chuckled nervously, trying to lighten the mood. 'What? They're just stories, Emily. They're not real.'

But I was visibly angry, feeling like he wasn't taking me seriously.

'You don't believe me,' I accused, my voice trembling with frustration.

Louis' expression turned defensive. 'Look, even if all of these were real, which I find hard to believe, it's too dangerous. And it doesn't have anything to do with your nightmares. Vampires, werewolves, tooth fairies, they don't exist.'

I felt a wave of annoyance, my eyes locking onto Louis', 'I don't care what you think, Louis. I have to go there, I can't keep having these nightmares.

Louis paused, and sized me up in both annoyance and disbelief. 'You're so stubborn. No wonder your dad left.'

School was over.

I walked home alone in the dead of the night, having completely forgotten that I had taken my bike to school.

As I walked, my mind wandered back to the park, where I had spent hours after school, lost in thought.

The dream I had the night before was still in my mind. The vision was so clear, factual. It felt so creepily real, as if I had actually lived through it.

My worry stemmed from the fact that Mom had died in that dream, and the pain felt all too real.

I hadn't seen Mom that morning, and the absence of her usual notes before leaving for work only added to my anxiety.

I hurried home, my heart racing with every step.

As I pushed open the front door, I called out softly, 'Mom?'

The silence that followed was oppressive.

I shut the door behind me, my eyes fixed on the human-like figure in front of me.

The stillness was disturbing, and I whispered again, 'Mom?'

But there was no response.