At night there was a party in the hall. Dressed up formally, people scattered around and enjoyed themselves. Some were dancing elegantly, and some were talking or exchanging toasts joyfully. But others seemed to silently enjoy their food－the blood. The red and lustrous liquid in the wineglasses was not the wine actually, but warm blood which was flowing in humans’ veins just a moment ago. Yes, this party was nothing but a feast－for vampires to enjoy their food and the pleasure of hunting.
Bewildered by the beauty of vampires, most humans forgot to resist, but became their prey and food. But it would not be Enid because she was the chosen one to be one of the vampires, their companion, not their food－she thought. Yes, she was the exception of those humans, the one who was standing behind the curtains, silently watching everything. She was immersed in her thought, so attentively that she did not notice that someone had approached her quietly. Suddenly, someone clapped her on the shoulder. She was startled and wanted to run away at once, but that hand grabbed her by the arm.
“Wake up! Enid. It’s me, Sophia,” said Sophia.
Enid pulled back her thought, tried to be calm, then she looked at her friend.
“Sorry for scarring you, but you really should come to join us, not just standing here and pondering,” said Sophia with a sigh in her mind because from Enid’s appearance, Sophia knew Enid had had her fancy again－about some ridiculous vampires. As Enid’s best friend, Sophia exactly knew what Enid was thinking.
“I know, but I’m a little bit tired. I don’t want to dance at all. Go, enjoy yourself. Don’t worry about me,” Enid answered and pushed Sophia back to the crowd.
“Alright…but you look pale. Perhaps you should go to the balcony to have some fresh air.”
“I will…thanks.” Enid smiled as approval of Sophia’s suggestion and waved her goodbye. Looking around, then Enid left for the nearest balcony.
Sophia was right; she did need some fresh air. The strong smell of blood filled in the hall made her giddy. She also felt desolate. Crowds of vampires were in the hall; however, it seemed that no one was the one she searched for and no one understood her desire to be one of them. The more times she joined a party, the more loneliness came to her mind. No matter how chilly the wind was, it still could not compete with the coldness in her heart.
“The wind might be chilly, but it still cannot compete with the coldness of man’s heart, right?” A euphonic voice suddenly came behind Enid. Turning around, Enid goggled at the man. The man glimpsed at Enid, then looked up at the inky sky. “Immortality might be admiring, but the longer you live, the longer your suffering of loneliness will be. Not everyone can meet one’s destined partner, you should know.”
“Immortality? Destined partner? The ability to read my mind? He couldn’t be…” Enid thought in astonishment. Staring at the man, she found that he had a charming appearance. His skin was very smooth as if it were sculpted in marbles and his face was utterly white as if he had been bleached. It was also as seemingly inanimate as a statue, except for the two brilliant green eyes glistening like flames.
“Well, sorry for interrupting your thought. Have a wonderful night, my fair lady,” said the man with a light smile. Turning around, he looked like going to leave.
Without thinking, Enid called out. “Wait! Will we meet again? I mean, un…I’m interested in what you had said. Would you mind leaving me your address? Maybe I can visit you someday to have a chat with you,” Enid spoke hastily.
“Are you always so aggressive when facing males?” the man responded.
Hearing that, Enid flushed immediately without knowing how to react. Seeing the blush on her cheeks, the man smiled.
“Sorry, no offense. But I do not live in a regular place. If you insist to know, I can only tell you that I will head for London later. After tonight, I think we won’t see each other again, but…maybe that is better for both of us.” Then the man left.
Enid stood there, thinking about what the man had said, delighted by meeting a vampire who understood the suffering of loneliness and who was searching for his companion as well. “Yes, he was exactly the one I had searched for my whole life,” Enid thought. With great joy Enid trotted to the railings of the balcony, and wanted to announce to the world that she finally met him. But suddenly she stumbled on something at her feet. That was a pot of plant. Enid didn’t know what kind of plant it was, but she noticed that there was a cocoon attached to the branch.
The cocoon was shaking and there seemed to be something inside struggling and trying to get out. Enid crouched down and watched attentively. The cocoon shook more and more severely. The creature inside seemed to exert all its strength to force its way out. Suddenly, the cocoon cracked; a moth showed up. Staying still for a while, hanging upside down to harden its wings, spreading them out to dry, soon the moth flapped its wings and flied away.
“Go! Fly as far as you can! Enjoy your new life well!” Enid shouted cheerfully.
“I am glad you look happy and energetic now.” Sophia showed up with her hands holding two glasses of red liquid.
“Yeah…your suggestion is right. I feel better now, thanks.” Away from the bloody feast, conversing with an attracting vampire and feeling the joy of a newborn life did cheer Enid up.
“It was my pleasure,” Sophia smiled, “Come on, have some drinks. I believe you must be thirsty.” Sophia handed one of the glass to Enid.
At the sight of the cardinal liquid in the glass, a strong disgust swept over her. “Take it away from me! I won’t drink that as long as I’m still human.” Enid waved away Sophia’s hand fiercely. The glass dropped on the floor and shattered into pieces.
“Are you out of your mind? This is the red wine, not some disgusting blood!”
“Sorry! Sophia. I don’t mean to do it…” Enid murmured.
“No! I’ve had it enough. Enid, stop fancying and face the truth. You live in the reality; there is no vampire on earth at all!”
“No, Sophia, vampires do exist! I had seen one of them just before you came.” Yes, she did saw a vampire who was searching for his companion, just like she did.
“No, Enid. That is just your illusion. Be realistic!”
“Why don’t you believe me? Sophia…Fine, I will prove it to you,” Enid roared and rushed out of the party immediately.
“Wait! Enid, come back. Don’t go to find some dangerous men that you are not familiar with…Enid, your innocence will kill you!”
Running on the street, Enid decided to go to find the man she met on the balcony right away. She kept running, and hoped to catch the sight of him. Shortly Enid saw there was someone standing by the streetlight and waiting. She hastened her steps and wanted to see the man’s face more clearly, but she tripped over something and fell. At the moment she nearly fell down on the road, a vigorous hand grabbed her by her arm, and pulled her back into the chest. “It was as cold as the statue without any warmth,” Enid thought, as her face touched the man’s chest.
“You come to me at last…” the man uttered. “It was he!” Enid gazed at the man joyfully. “I told you it is better for both of us not to see each other again. Since you don’t take my advice, now is the time you have to pay.” Before Enid understood what the man had said, he had gone into her neck. Enid just felt a prickle on her neck, then the whole blood in her body seemed to surge towards the spot bit by the man.
Enid was too shock to think, but strangely enough she did not have the idea to resist at all. Her mind was completely blank. She could not do anything, but just lean on the man weakly and feel her gradual faintness. After a while, the man raised his head and said. “You are the chosen one, but to be my food, not my companion. Giving up your naïve thought might save you; you should know that…but…” the man paused and gazed at Enid, “I’m sorry, but you earn it yourself…” Finishing his words, the man buried his head in Enid’s neck more deeply.
Before long, Enid felt that she was going to lose her consciousness. Out of instinct, she raised her head strenuously and wanted to look at the last and only light visible to her. With a dim sight Enid saw a moth attracted to the halo of the streetlamp. Circling around the light, the moth kept banging on the lamp desperately. Finally, its wings stopped flapping and the moth dropped to the ground slowly.