Chapter 2
Back in my apartment, the restless heat inside me kept intensifying, my heart thundering in my chest.
The heat was unbearable. My skin burned, and my throat felt parched.
After I lost consciousness, it felt like I was pulled into a never-ending nightmare.
In the dream, there were no skyscrapers, no bustling streets.
Only a massive full moon, as if soaked in blood, hung in the sky.
The air was heavy with the fragrance of roses, and a sweet, iron scent that awakened a primal hunger in me.
"Aurora," a deep, rough voice, laced with a hint of despair, whispered right by my ear.
Struggling, I managed to turn my head and saw a man.
He was tall, dressed in a long black trench coat.
He stood with the light behind him, his face hidden in shadow.
But I could see his eyes.
They were deep, crimson eyes.
They were like dazzling rubies—beautiful, dangerous, and for some reason, they filled me with sadness.
The man reached out with his pale, slender hand. "Aurora, don't go..."
I could feel his pain. It was raw, almost unbearable.
"Who are you?" I whispered, tears falling uncontrollably. I had no idea why my heart ached for a stranger I had never met.
The man didn't answer.
His silhouette began to dissolve beneath the crimson moon, slowly vanishing into the night.
"Don't go!" I snapped awake, sitting up in bed.
I was gasping for air, my chest heaving.
I looked around. It was still my tiny apartment.
There was no crimson moon, no man with red eyes.
It was the same dream again. I had lost count of how many times I had dreamed it. Every time, I could never see his face clearly. I wished I could at least find out if he was good-looking.
I threw off the covers and headed to the bathroom, hoping a shower would help me cool down.
When I looked in the mirror, I stopped dead.
My skin, once dull from malnutrition, now looked way paler, almost ghostly white.
But the scariest part was my eyes.
For a split second, I had clearly seen my eyes turn bright red.
They were identical to the man's eyes in my dream.
"What on earth is going on?" I murmured to myself.
Just then, my phone on the sink suddenly buzzed.
It was an anonymous text.
It was one short line: [The cleansing is almost complete. He has found you.]
*****
At the Crimson Citadel, Lila Frost was lying down, enjoying her fill of blood, when she suddenly felt uneasy.
She pulled her collar open.
Right over her heart, the sigil that linked her soul to Aurora's began to grow warm.
*****
Three months later, I was at the top of the Grand Crest Hotel to negotiate a big merger. The gala was so exclusive that the guest list was limited to the super-rich.
"Aurora, long time no see," a syrupy voice called out from behind me.
Emily was clinging to Charles's arm, which had healed up, and they were blocking my way.
These two really never learned. They had healed up and were already itching for another beating.
"Aurora, do you seriously think you belong here because your grandpa left you some shares? Take my advice and keep your head down, or you will end up losing everything you managed to grab." Charles sneered.
I swirled my wine glass, shooting them a cold glance. "Move aside. Mind your own business."
Charles snapped, "Who do you think you are? One word from me, and you'll be blacklisted from this whole circle for good."
That deep, familiar heat surged through my bones again.
I was about to break his other arm when the hotel doors swung open.
Everyone's eyes snapped to the doors.
A man strode in.
He was absurdly handsome. His skin was so pale that there was not a trace of color.
He was tall, wearing a flawless black suit.
But what really made him stand out was the vibe he gave off.
It was ice-cold, with a chill that warned everyone to keep their distance.
"It's the CEO of Sterling Enterprises!" someone whispered, awe in their voice.
It was Victor Sterling. Even the richest heirs in the capital had to lower their heads around him.
He held enough power to flip the city's economy upside down.
Charles's eyes lit up, and he plastered on a fawning smile.
He pulled Emily along and stepped forward to greet Victor. "Hello, Mr. Sterling. I'm Charles Bennett from Bennett Corporation. I've heard so much about you..."
Victor didn't even spare them a glance.
He left Charles's hand hanging in the air, acting like he wasn't even there.
Without a word, he strode right past them, heading straight for the center of the hall.
I looked up.
His gaze was fixed on me, pinning me in place.
Our eyes crashed together.
My heart suddenly tightened.
The same overwhelming sadness and pain from my dream washed over me all over again.
But this time, there was also an indescribable sense of comfort I couldn't explain.