All Chapters of Vampire of the New World: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Jon was taken aback by the strange vision, but he was able to quickly shut his windows and draw the curtains before sitting down on his bed. He was motionless for a few minutes, his brain trying to process what he just saw. Several minutes had elapsed before he ventured another look outside, but the mansion's walls were dark and he realized that the library lights had been turned off. He could still see the manicured lawns because of the few lights that were scattered across the grounds, but there was little else that he could discern outside.When the moon came clear of the clouds, he saw the shadows casted by the nearby trees on the walls. A light breeze blew and moved the shadows, creating dark figures that in Jon's imagination could easily become howling wolves and flying bats... and giant lizards climbing down walls. Why not? Jon thought. There may also be fireflies around that created the illusion of glowing eyes. Why were they glowing red, like embers? His imagination,

Jon felt a wave of panic as he looked at the expanse of the island and realized how difficult it would be to get back to the mainland should he choose. The first hurdle would be how to get to the shoreline. The mansion was built on the edge of a precipice with its back to an almost vertical wall of the mountain. He knew that to get to the shore, he would need to use the cable car. Without the cable car, he would have to manage climbing down the steep incline through rocks and forests. Hopefully, he could make it to the water before anyone realized that he was missing.That done, he would still need a boat if he were to cross the sea to the nearest inhabited island. The Golden Cowrie was nowhere to be seen, probably on its way to the mainland for additional supplies. Jon imagined himself taking control of the boat and using it to get to the mainland, but realized the absurdity of the idea. The crew should be armed although he did not see any firearms on board. Then, there was

Jon was taken by surprise at what he had just witnessed. He remembered seeing Dante frail and recovering from some physical malady just the night before. Could it be possible that he had recovered within just twenty-four hours? Was he just acting the night before? What would he gain from feigning illness in front of Jon?Jon withdrew and waited a few seconds before knocking. Immediately, he heard Dante's voice telling him to come in. Jon breathed in before fully opening the library door. When he looked inside, he was surprised that Dante was already seated at his desk and busily working at his laptop. Jon wondered how Dante was able to cross the room and take his seat in just a few seconds. Jon also noticed that the cane was on top of the table."Come in, my friend," said Dante with a smile. He then watched Jon enter the library and take his place across his desk."I decided to come earlier than last night. I hope you don't mind," said Jon."Not at all&he

Jon continued to drink the wine, savoring its many distinct yet unknown flavors and letting himself get lost in the swirl of strange and pleasurable sensations. As he did so, he lost track of everything else around him until he realized that he had emptied his glass."No need to lick the last drop off your glass. You still have an almost full bottle in your hand," Dante smiled as he sat comfortably in his chair.Jon realized that he had been holding the bottle in his hand all along as he drank. He refilled his empty glass, the sound of the reddish liquid swirling in his glass crisp and soothing to his ears as he saw in his peripheral vision that Dante was still observing him. Jon set down the bottle on the tray and brought the filled glass to his nose. He had not really drunk wine of this quality before and the smell is somewhat earthy and fruity and something else that he could not distinguish yet seemed to awaken all his senses."The wine is from an old Spanis

Jon woke up with a jolt and for a moment wondered where he was. Everything seemed surreal and blinking his eyes, he thought whether he really was in an island somewhere in the Pacific imprisoned by a monster with burning eyes. He looked around his room and for the first time saw how everything seemed old despite the fact that the mansion was built only in the past several years. The curtains, the furniture, and the bed all appeared new, but they all felt like they were centuries old.He closed his eyes and felt the bedsheets and the pillows and observed how these too seemed to exude old age despite being replaced daily by the maid. The stale air he breathed seemed to be that of a cavern underground that has remained undisturbed for centuries.Jon sat on his bed and saw that no light was penetrating his room. He realized that it was still dark outside and he woke up earlier than his alarm. He took his phone from the bedside table and missed the garland of sanaria that h

After finishing his coffee, Jon thanked Pablo and left the kitchen. He crossed the entrance hall and went up the staircase to his room. He felt the coldness of the dark corridors and hurriedly went on his way. He entered his room and expected to feel the warmth of the early morning sunshine streaming through the curtains. He was disappointed. Instead of the warm rays of the sun, what he felt was the bleak weather of a strangely foggy morning.Jon opened the curtains to see the sky outside. The sky was overcast with dark clouds stopping the sun's rays. The wind started to blow, bringing with it a few drops of rain that streaked across the glass window. In a matter of minutes, the rain fell in torrents, obscuring Jon's view of the world outside.He walked away from the window and sat on a chair. Looking at his phone, he realized how little he could do without the connectivity. He listened to music for a while and tried to immerse himself in a novel. When both failed, he

Dante was playing with Jon's calling card in one hand while the other remained hidden behind his back. He flicked the card and it traveled between his fingers until it emerged again between his thumb and forefinger. All the while, Dante's eyes were directed at Jon who has just entered the hall.Hiding any sign of shock, Jon spoke first. "I didn't realize you're awake. I thought you slept during the day. Or haven't you slept yet?""This rain. I used to be tormented by it. The Victorians would see dead strays strewn across the streets that they would appear as if they came with the rain. Hence, originating their phrase 'raining cats and dogs'. But I've come to acknowledge its power and learn from it. Now, I could say that I have some control over it." Dante flicked Jon's card once again over his fingers."You mean control your fear of it," added Jon, looking at the moving card. "I see you have my calling card.""Yes. I was told that you were looking for hel

Jon woke up with a jolt and for a moment wondered where he was. His work had taken him to numerous places before and he had to stay in hotels most of the time. On several occasions, in the first few moments after waking up, he would feel disoriented, as if whisked to another time and place. He recognized the ceiling of the dim room where he was staying, lit by soft rays of the bedside lamp that he kept on the whole night. It was quiet, dead quiet, as if he were sleeping inside a mausoleum where he was the only living occupant.Everything seemed surreal and Jon blinked his eyes a couple of times. For brief moment, he had to ask himself whether he really was in an island somewhere in the Pacific, effectively imprisoned within shark-infested waters by a wealthy client who could be a monster with burning eyes. Jon looked around his room and for the first time saw how everything seemed old even though the mansion was built only in the past several years. The curtains,

Jon held the coffee mug and stared at his face reflected on the surface of the dark liquid. He remembered Flora’s face when she talked to him, the desperation in her eyes as she pleaded to let her and her daughter join him when he returns to Cardena. He saw the same desperation forming in his eyes and he looked away. He avoided Pablo’s gaze and just stared at the still life paintings that looked dull without lights shining on them. Pablo had only switched on a few of the dining room lights when they entered.Jon slowly raised the coffee to his lips, using both hands to hold the mug and steady his slight trembling. He realized that Pablo was watching intently and did not want to show the distress that was forming within. With a final gulp, Jon finished his coffee and thanked Pablo.“Thanks for the coffee, Pablo. I really needed that. I hope we can get the communication lines back. No one can work without the internet nowadays.” Jon tried his best

He first heard the sound of heavy breathing and wondered who it was who would breathe so close to his ears. He realized that it was his own breathing when he observed it to be in rhythm with the movement of his chest. He forced more air in and felt the life-giving oxygen enter his lungs, then quickly expelled it when the air was spent. He wondered where he was and tried to lift his eyelids. The room that he saw in the dim light seemed familiar and he tried to see more of it by moving his eyes around. He saw light streaming in from the outline of the door and somehow expected a shadowy figure with red eyes emerge from the darkness. He waited, but no dark figure appeared.Blinking his eyes, he tried to peer into the darkness and saw the faint shapes of furniture all around him. Not the dungeon that he expected himself to be, but a furnished room with a carpeted floor and decorated walls. His limbs felt heavy as he tried to sit up from where he lay. He realized that he was on a