CHAPTER 9
1512 Words
THE WORLD IS SOFT, SURREAL, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE REALITY. It was half-shadow and half-light. Artemis looked up at the sky swirls, filled with hues of violet and silver, stars throbbing like a distant heartbeat. The trees with luminous leaves border the edge of a glass-like lake, showing the surface of impossibly clear water.
Artemis was confused about where she was. But even so, her face is calm, and her eyes carry the weight of curiosity. She doesn’t know where she is, but it feels familiar.
She looked at her reflection in the water. She was shocked to see herself in a different light. The reflection of the woman in the water has fiery, golden eyes, reddish hair, and is wearing a flowing white dress.
“Fiamma.”
Artemis gasped and turned around.
And there he is.
A man was standing beneath one of the glowing trees. He was tall, dark-haired, and dressed in a way that didn’t belong to any time she knew—like something from a past life or a painting, but his face was blurred. His presence was silent, and his eyes were deep and locked with hers.
She didn’t speak because she didn’t know what to say.
He approaches her with cautious, deliberate steps. She has no fear. She doesn’t know why. She felt a peculiar pull in her chest, as if her spirit remembered something her head did not.
When he’s close enough to touch, he lifts his hand, pauses for a second, and brushes strands of hair from her face. His touch was familiar.
“Who are you?” Artemis asked. She didn’t know, but she couldn’t move her body.
Artemis couldn’t see the man’s face because it was blurred, but she felt it. He smiled, but sadly.
“You already know.”
The man leans slowly, as if to kiss her—
But the world begins to face. The colorful world shattered like glass, and a ringing fills her ears.
Artemis jolts awake, breathing quickly and with wide eyes. She cupped her chest, her heart pounding.
She’s alone.
But her skin tingles when he touches her.
And somehow… Artemis felt she missed him, as if she had known him forever. She was confused. “Who was that man?”
She had noticed that strange things were happening to her these past few days, as if she were being played at.
Artemis got up.
The sunlight slipped gently through the light and linen curtains, which swayed ever so slightly in the breeze and glowed softly as the sun filtered through them. The room seemed to hold its breath, bathed in a serene and peaceful silence. The type of sunlight that does more than simply light up the sky; it gives you a sense of security, as though the world had temporarily stopped to allow you to relax.
A new day for Artemis. She tries to forget her dream, but the man in her dream lingers in her mind.
She was really confused whether the man in her dream was real or it was just a dream.
Artemis shakes her head and focuses on her work.
When afternoon came, and it was her break time, she went to the Milk Tea Shop with Danica. As she entered the shop, she saw Anya.
“Long time no see, Artemis, Danica.” Anya smiled at Artemis.
“Yeah, long time no see. It was your brother who stayed here… and your cousin?” Artemis’ eyes darted to the man behind the counter.
“Oh, yeah, he is my cousin.” Anya nodded.
Danica slightly bowed her head to the Vampire King to show her respect.
Artemis, on the other hand, noticed something about Anya’s cousin. He had a similar body to the man he saw at the lake during the night festival and in her dreams.
“Is it a coincidence?”
But that was impossible.
Artemis seemed even more confused.
“Theo, please make the orders of these two beautiful ladies,” Anya said.
Theo nodded in response and glanced at Artemis before doing his job.
Until now, Danica was still surprised about the Vampire King. What His Majesty was doing right now was beyond what she imagined.
And it was all because of his mate.
Danica smiled. Her? She thinks it would be impossible for her and her mate to be together. Jacob is a hunter, and he hunts vampires because he thinks vampires are monsters.
Artemis was observing Theo.
Artemis knew that Theo was a handsome guy. She knew it because it was already obvious in Theo’s appearance. But she could feel that there was something wrong with him. She couldn’t pinpoint it, though.
Theo stood with an elegance that didn’t belong to this century—tall, poised, and impossibly still. His skin was pale, but not lifeless. His skin was smooth and flawless, as though untouched by time or the elements.
His face was sharp—aristocratic cheekbones, a strong jaw, and lips that seemed both vicious and lovely. But it was his blue-green eyes that held power, deep and piercing when they looked. When he stared at you, it felt like he saw everything, your secrets, and your soul.
His face was framed by dark hair. And there was an aura around him, an invisible pull that was both intimidating and captivating, the kind of beauty that tells you to run, yet challenges you to stay.
She’s been living in this world for twenty-four years, and yet this was her first time seeing a beautiful man like Theo. Though Theo’s cousin, Cassiel, was also a handsome man, a Greek God. But Theo was different. His appearance was like a surreal fantasy.
“Artemis.”
Artemis blinked when she heard Theo’s voice in front of her, and she only realized that she had been staring at him for a long time. She blushed in embarrassment and looked at Danica.
Danica was chuckling while sipping her milk tea.
To hide her embarrassment, Artemis picked up the milk tea in front of her and pierced the straw into the cup.
She slightly pushed Danica to make her stop chuckling, but she didn’t stop.
Artemis looked at Anya and saw her smiling. In embarrassment, she left the Milktea Shop.
Danica laughed a little and paid for the two Milk teas before following Artemis.
Artemis glanced at the Milktea Shop, sighing. “And I'm dreaming about something supernatural?”
This is crazy. However, Artemis became curious about Theo. Some things about him were suspicious. Artemis believed that there was no coincidence in this world. It wasn’t a coincidence; she knew it, and she had to find the root cause of it.
Artemis had now become curious about Theo. She’s a doctor, and she doesn’t believe in supernatural beings, but Theo was really suspicious. Even if she doesn’t want to think about it… It will still cross her mind.
THE NIGHT of that day, Theo didn’t know how to feel when he felt his mate following him. The city was alive with lights, cars, and the endless humor of human existence. The scent of street food lingered in the air, and somewhere in the distance, a violin was being played.
Theo walked silently through the crowded street while letting his mate follow him.
The Vampire King’s presence made people glance once and then quickly away, unsettled by something they couldn’t explain.
“Why do I feel like we exchanged?” Theo said to himself and glanced at Artemis.
Artemis pretended to look at the stall beside her when Theo looked behind him.
Theo smiled, and then he suddenly disappeared like smoke.
Then he appeared behind Artemis, who was already scanning the crowd to look for him.
“Artemis.”
Artemis’ eyes widened when she heard Theo’s voice behind her. She quickly turned around and saw Theo smiling at her.
“Looking for something?” Theo asked.
“How did you—” Artemis was surprised. Theo was a few meters away from her, and she didn’t know how he got to her that fast.
“What’s the matter?” Theo asked with a calm voice, smiling at his mate, like he couldn’t hurt a fly. That was a lie, though. He was one of the people whom the Celestial feared in the Celestial Continent.
Artemis blinked and shook her head. “N-nothing.”
Theo’s smile on his lips didn’t fade. “Are you here to buy something?”
Artemis nodded. “Yeah,” she answered as she pretended to look for the mug at the store.
Theo smiled. “Then I’ll accompany you. I have nothing to do anyway.”
“Whatever makes your boat float,” she said and shrugged, pretending that she hadn’t followed Theo.
Theo stared at his mate while she was looking for a mug. He could feel it. Artemis was curious about him. Since his mate was curious about him, he would slowly show his real identity. But he will never let go of his mate.
Artemis belongs to him and only to him.
- Writer
