Towards Elysium

Maria decided there was nothing left for her in the city anymore. The visit to her old apartment brought up memories of Steve and together with the catastrophe with Rachel she just wanted to end this part of her life and run away from it as far as possible. The additional introduction of a new threat in the form of Ethan solidified her final choice. As she got into the car, she took the road towards the north.

After driving for nearly three hours she felt her hunger reaching dangerous levels. She had to feed. Now. She took a side road and after some time stopped at a desolate 24/7 gas station in the middle of nowhere.

I've been neglecting my hunger for far too long, I won't be able to control myself much longer.

After refueling Maria she noticed two hillbillies drinking beer beside the gas station. She parked her car near the station, stepped out, leaned on the car and lit a cigarette. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the smoke, but despite the strong smell of tobacco smoke an odour of garlic-and-old-beer reached her nostrils. She opened her eyes and saw two hillbillies approaching her.

Jesus, I can smell their stench from here. But I can't afford to be picky now...

The local hicks, Hank and Jed, emerged from the shadows, their rough demeanors evident from their unkempt appearances and toothless grins. They eyed Maria, licking their lips, their eyes gleaming with malicious intent.

"Well, well, what do we have here in the middle of the night?" Hank drawled, his voice a deep rumble that resonated through the night.

Jed leaned against the gas station wall, a twisted smirk playing on his face. "Looks like a lost little lamb, Hank. Ain't she just ripe for the takin'?"

Maria feigned fear, her gaze shifting nervously between the two men. "Please, I'm lost and I need help. Can you tell me how to get to the nearest town?"

Hank's smile widened, revealing a few remaining yellowed teeth. "Sure thing, darlin'. We'll help ya out, won't we, Jed?"

Jed chuckled, "oh, yeah, Hank. We'll show her the way, alright."

As they led her away from the prying eyes of any passersby, Maria's senses heightened. Her hunger gnawed at her, driving her desperation for blood. She knew she had to strike at the opportune moment, when they least expected it.

They led her to a secluded spot behind the gas station, the dimly lit area offering a perfect setting for their wicked intentions. Hank moved closer, his eyes roaming over Maria's vulnerable form.

"Just a little closer, sweetheart," he slurred, his alcohol-laden breath wafting towards her as he grabbed her shoulders.

I hope their tastes won't match their looks...

Maria's lips curved into a seductive smile, her voice laced with a deceptive sweetness. "I think I have a better idea."

In an instant she kicked Hank in the groin so hard he crumpled on the ground. The element of surprise worked in her favor as she leaped on stunned Jed, overpowering him with supernatural speed and agility. Panic filled Jed's eyes as Maria sank her fangs into his neck, opening his artery. She drank out his life force with ravenous hunger as he screamed in agony. He tasted worse than others did before but her need for blood was too great, so she enjoyed what she got.

While she was draining Jed, Hank was groaning and rolling on the ground, the brunt of pain hitting him with delay. After some time he managed to take a look at the situation and he froze at the sight before him.

Jed's body was lying on the ground, motionless and bloody, his face remaining still in horror. Beside him, Maria was sitting on her knees, breathing heavily as she was experiencing some kind of orgasm. But all the blood around her mouth and down her neck made it look like a scene from a horror movie. The one with vampires. And when Hank saw her fangs as well, he realized he was in deep trouble this time.

He crawled back in panic, his eyes wide with terror. "What the fuck are you?!"

Maria turned her gaze towards Hank, her eyes glowing with a haunting intensity. "I'm your worst nightmare."

Fear gripped Hank's heart and he stood up but immediately stumbled backward, tripping over his own feet in a desperate attempt to escape. Maria lunged at him, pinning him against the gas station wall with a strength he couldn't comprehend.

"This is what happens when you mess with the wrong person," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.

With a swift movement, she sank her fangs into Hank's neck, finding and piercing his artery with the skill of a surgeon and draining him as well. As his life force faded, Maria released him, watching as he crumpled to the ground beside his accomplice.

Damn, this really felt good. I wouldn't mind killing these two morons even as my old self, but now it was like poetic justice. Shame they tasted like shit, but at least I won't be starving anymore.

After calming from her blood-high she wiped the blood from herself and returned to her car, the gas station fading into the distance. Her hunger was finally sated but she needed a place to spend the day. She still had a few hours before sunrise so she figured it would be best if she tried her luck in the small town that was along this empty road - Whispering Pines.

As she drove around the town she noticed a weird vibe on its streets. She wasn't expecting much life in a small town like this, especially not so late at night. Yet, droves of people were calmly walking around the streets and they seemed like they were in some sort of trance. Content and tired at the same time.

Well, vampires obviously do exist, so why shouldn't zombies as well?

After observing them for a while it became evident they weren't roaming around aimlessly, they were all going home from a single location - some place called Midnight Elysium. It looked like a dump from the outside, far too small to fit all these people inside. It probably had an underground level or something. Curiosity got the best of her, she parked the car and walked to the entrance. A middle-aged couple with a blissful expression just walked out and lightly strolled past her, probably towards their home.

This must be a drug den or something, apparently the entire town is hooked. Looks promising.

A tall and hunk black guy was standing at the entrance, seemingly a bouncer. As Maria approached him he checked her out and spoke with a deep voice, "who's your host?"

Maria shrugged and said, "I'm new here, I don't really have a...host."

The bouncer looked at her suspiciously, saying "Yeah, you do look like an outsider, alright. It's too late, you can come back tomorrow."

Maria really wanted to know what was going inside this place so she used her vampire powers to persuade him, but found out they had no effect on the black guy. "I promise I won't cause trouble, I'm just looking for some fun. It seems all these people had a great time down there and I'll probably be leaving tomorrow morning, so...Can you let me in? Please?"

Bouncer checked her again from head to toe and sighed, "fine, you look hot enough to bring you in unannounced, I guess. Ask for a guy called Salvador, he's got a relaxed schedule this night, he'll be your host. But remember - no funny business down there. Got it?"

"Sure, thanks."

Once inside, Maria noticed this dump actually looked abandoned only from the outside. It was clean, furnished with style and the staff was young and attractive. They all had a satisfied, calm vibe, like they were pacified or high on weed. Similar, but not the same. Her suspicion of a larger underground level was confirmed as a large staircase led downwards. Another bouncer, a female this time, stopped her as she came near.

"Sorry, but I can't let you go downstairs without a host, mam."

"Uhm, well I'm supposed to meet Salvador, can you call him perhaps?"

"You're new here, right?"

Maria was getting annoyed by this, so she took a breath and answered calmly, but assertively, "look, I've been promised that I'll meet Salvador here, can you please contact him and let him know I'm waiting or should I go?"

With a sardonic grin the bouncer replied, "You're a feisty one, aren't you? Don't worry, they'll get you sorted in no time. I'll call him to get you. In the meantime, wait for him in the guests lounge. It's that door, right there."

Just as she turned around, a faint scent of blood reached her from the stairs.

Did I really smell...blood? What the hell is going on here? Must be a hell of party...

Maria entered a fabulously ornamented so-called longue room, with a large sofa in the center. She sat and made herself comfortable. Several bottles of luxury wine and liquor were available on a club table in front of her.

This place is beyond weird. In the middle of nowhere, a small town hosts such a...unique place, but it looks like a mere pigsty on the outside. Everyone looks high but there are no drugs around. And that smell I caught...could it really be blood? What the hell are they doing downstairs?

Soon, the doors opened and a male figure walked in. It weren't his looks that were revealing, but a sense Maria last felt as Nikolai departed for Europe. In an instant, all her questions seemed answered.

He was a vampire.