Chapter 7: Malachi’s Split Personality

Heavy black curtains blocked out the warm winter sun. I sat on a wide black sofa, hugging my knees, and stared at the television screen. This was Malachi’s apartment; after Alastor found me in that abandoned park last night, he brought me here despite my protests.

"In the early hours of this morning, a male corpse was discovered in an abandoned park in the city's east district. According to witnesses at the scene, the deceased was approximately forty years old and bore no obvious external injuries. Strangely, however, the body had been entirely drained of blood..."

The light from the television flickered sharply in the dark room. I sat on the sofa, my hands unconsciously clenching. As the footage switched to the crime scene, I stared at the screen and froze—that corpse was not the man I had killed last night!

"...This marks the ninth bizarre murder in our city. Furthermore, rumors suggest the number of missing persons has reached fourteen. Do the legendary vampires truly exist?" On the screen, a female broadcaster delivered the report with gravity. "Currently, the police have intervened to investigate the case..."

"Malachi, are you finished yet?" Alastor called out toward the bathroom.

The bathroom door opened, and Malachi stepped out with his usual graceful poise.

...I stared at him blankly. Malachi was actually wearing an oversized white nightgown printed with an incredibly exaggerated, mischievous cartoon rabbit...

A man who could look that elegant even in "Rogue Rabbit" pajamas... I had never seen another like him.

With a click, the television was turned off.

I looked up sharply to find Alastor already sitting down next to me with a smile.

"What’s wrong? Hungry?" Seeing my listless expression, Alastor asked solicitously.

A tall goblet was suddenly thrust before me. I looked up to see Malachi in his nightgown, looking sexily drowsy.

"'Burning Fire.' Want a glass?" Swirling the red liquid in his hand, Malachi smiled.

I took it silently.

"Hey, hey, that’s not fair! Where’s mine?" Alastor cried out.

"Mix it yourself." Malachi didn't even spare him a glance.

"How can you be like this? I am a guest, after all!" Alastor shouted indignantly.

"An uninvited guest?" Malachi arched an eyebrow, glanced at Alastor, and turned to head back to his room.

"Don't be like that. I’ve just arrived from the Demon Realm and I'm a stranger here. I’ve even brought Rory with me. Could you really have the heart to watch us wander the streets?" Alastor clung to Malachi with a grin.

Malachi avoided him without a word.

"Whoa, what a beautiful coffin!" Alastor shamelessly followed Malachi into the bedroom, staring in delight at the black crystal coffin in the room.

"Thank you for the compliment." Before his voice even faded, Malachi was already lying inside.

Inside the dark and eerie crystal coffin, the rose-like man raised his hand to close the lid.

"Wait, wait! Where are we supposed to sleep?" Alastor yelled.

"Suit yourselves."

The black crystal lid slid shut.

Alastor’s shoulders slumped in defeat. "Stingy jerk. What would it hurt to share for a bit!"

I turned my head slightly, looking toward the window, as if I could see the sunlight through the heavy curtains.

"We don't have a coffin, but let's make do with the sofa for a while. It’s not good to overthink things..." Alastor’s voice unexpectedly whispered in my ear.

Looking into his eyes, for some reason, I felt my eyelids becoming heavier and heavier, eventually falling into a deep sleep in Alastor’s arms.

When I woke up, neither Alastor nor Malachi was in the room.

The window was open, and the world outside was pitch black. A night breeze blew in, causing the curtains to rustle.

I turned around and let out a small shriek, scrambling back several steps until I collapsed on the floor. I stared in a daze at the man who had been standing behind me, slowly catching my breath. I twitched my lips. "Malachi, it's you."

"Who are you?" His eyes narrowed, and when he spoke, his voice was cold to the bone.

I was stunned. "Malachi... what's wrong with you?"

"Malachi?" A dangerous signal flashed in those narrow eyes as the night breeze tossed his wine-red hair.

I suddenly froze. It was clearly the same face, but I suddenly couldn't be sure if this man, radiating pure malice, was Malachi.

"Where is that fellow!" With a cold curl of his lip, the man grabbed me, his beautiful eyes filled with clear hatred.

Looking at the man, I remained silent.

"Don't think just because you’re a vampire I can't touch you. If you don't speak, I'll snap your neck." His voice was terrifyingly cold.

Seeing that I still wouldn't speak, the man’s fury burned hotter, and his fingernails grew sharp.

Feeling a cold liquid trickling down my neck, I frowned in pain. Suddenly, the silver ring on my right forefinger emitted a blinding white light. Before I could see what happened, the man had collapsed to the floor.

I reached up to touch my neck; the wound was healing at an incredible speed. I looked in confusion at the man lying half-collapsed on the ground—he was even still wearing the pajamas Malachi wore to sleep.

After a while, Malachi let out a soft groan and opened his eyes in a daze, frowning.

"Aurora, why are you looking at me like that?" Leaning against the wall, Malachi smiled bewitchingly.

I was dumbfounded.

A split personality? But... do vampires even get split personalities? I began to feel utterly lost.

"Where is Alastor?"

"I don't know. He was gone when I woke up." I chose not to say more; Malachi seemed unaware that he turned into that other person.

"Hmm." Bracing himself against the wall, Malachi stood up and pressed a hand to his forehead. "Strange, why does my head hurt so much?"

I pursed my lips. Even I didn't understand where the white light that saved my life had come from.

"I'm going to the bar. Come with me." Malachi began changing his clothes to head out.

"I don't want to go." Thinking of the blonde woman who died at the bar made me uneasy.

"Don't worry about Alastor. He probably went out for something. If he can't find you here when he returns, he’ll go to the bar to look for you." Malachi assumed I was afraid Alastor wouldn't find me.

I thought about it for a moment and finally nodded.