Chapter 4

Michael Viktor sent one of the highest in the rank of tamed ladies whom he dubbed ‘Ziro.’ He released virtues out to her at will and could distinctively change her face sharing part of his abilities. The only thing he couldn’t make was a vampire like himself. 

Ziro followed Eric as soon as he left her Lord. She departed with a puff into thin air, following the pace he had left behind. She followed him till she got to the hall and left her master immediately. Star left with Kelvin to avoid being noticed.

“My Lord, I have brought the report of the work you sent me.” Ziro was on her knees as she pronounced her presence to Michael, who had just finished feeding on his prey. His eyes turned red, the alarming effect that precipitated after he was done feeding. His sharp and pointed fangs and hand drew back in. He sat down. His stationed ladies were busy with their assigned duties.

“Ride on!” He gestured with his hand.

“My Lord, all your target did during my tail was to follow a lady around whom he happened to hit on in a wrong approach. A guy later caused a scene and left with the lady. Your target later got disappointed.”

“Hahahahahaha! What a funny story this is! Why are you not laughing?” he said, referring to the ladies that were working all around him. 

“Hahaha hahaha!” They all laughed in unison to avert the imposed challenge.

“I didn’t know that Eric Alpha of all people had an eye for ladies. He’s finally getting wise. He should come to me, his boss, so I can teach him how to talk to ladies. He’s such a miserable oldie. Could you please repeat the lines he said? It makes me laugh.” 

“I’ve noticed you for a while and you have made me fall off guard. I can’t help but want to hold you by your hand and feel your warmth,” Ziro repeated clearly as inquired by Michael. 

“Hahahahahaha, oh goodness! Imagine! Eric is too hilarious.”

***

Star got home worked up, as she had to escort silly Kelvin to the hospital and waited till he was taken care of. She finally got her freedom back from Kelvin as she stepped out of the hospital. She didn’t wait for his speech to avoid keeping her waiting again. 

“Star,” Kelvin called out, “Don’t I deserve your number as well?”  

Star shook her head in disbelief, brought out her sticky note, and wrote down her number. On the back, she added in bold letters, “SILLY BIG HEAD.” She threw the sticky note on the floor and left.

Star hissed as she dropped the boutique bag containing her black petal dress on the couch. She could not even wait for the night party to celebrate her day. 

“What a disaster!” She muttered. 

She stood up, putting off her dress to have a warm bath at least to relieve stress before she bounced on the piled-up letters and, in the midst, Father Andrew’s book. She moved her body instead as the warm water splashed on her body from the shower. She lifted up her face, letting the water repeatedly run as she wiped it off every second. She packed up her long hair that was covering the mark below her lower back. The water moved freely, touching every organ of her body.

Star had finished taking her bath some minutes ago. She was stunned as she opened the first page of the book Father Andrew gave her.

‘LETTER TO MY STAR,’ she saw written in bold. She thought it was a published book, but actually, it was the book Father Andrew wrote.

“You are probably reading this now because it’s the right time for you to know your identity. When Mama, your grandmother, brought you to my chapel when you were barely two days old, it was found in an old picture. In your mum’s and dad’s message, your name was Star Slyster (written at the back of the photo). Your grandmother had said that an unknown man brought you to her and told her he was coming back for you but was seen no more.

I did my research and realized who your parents were — Slyster Bench, your father, and Slyster Mary, your mother. According to my findings then, they died mysteriously the day you were born. The untold story about your birth is this:

You were born on the first full moon of the year — the day known to be cursed by ‘Dyl,’ the most powerful shaman.

You shouldn’t be born that day, for you will be killed to prevent the ancient dreaded creatures from rising back to life. You were their sacrifice, and their mark in the shape of a star is on you, at your lower back. I think that is why you were named “Star.” Other than that, your escape is a mystery.

I tried my best in the little knowledge I had to mark out what you needed to know about the “Rising of the Beast.”

She closed the book, already soaked in tears, mourning her parents and, at the same time, her spooky existence. Her grandmother had told her her parents had an untimely death, which was not put to check by justice. She became a lawyer to find that out and let her parents rest in peace when she found justice for their untimely death. She looked at her beautiful mother and cried the more till she slept off.

Werewolf Eric, who still lingered around after leaving the hall, heard her cry profusely. He felt pain and could not help but cause a deep sleep to come upon her by shaving off his hair and blowing it at her. It entered through the keyhole of her door and windows.