Aphrodite
Chapter 17

Rachel tiptoed from the bed, extra careful not to wake Vlad. The room was drowned in darkness, thanks to the thick red curtains that didn’t let any hint of morning light peek through. It felt like the middle of the night and the break of dawn all at once, without the sun to tell her otherwise.

Quietly, she approached the door, surprised to replace it unlocked. She nudged it open, cringing slightly at the soft creak that broke the silence. Casting a quick glance over her shoulder, she saw Vlad, still lost in slumber, undisturbed by the noise. Relieved, she slipped through the door, softly pulling it closed behind her, stepping into the unknown of Vlad’s vast home.

Navigating the hallway was tricky, with every creak of the floorboards betraying her location. The paintings lining the walls, with their stern, watchful eyes, seemed to track her every move. Vlad’s house was no ordinary place.

Coming to a fork, Rachel paused, weighing her options. Two staircases stretched before her, each leading in a different direction. Drawn to the staircase washed in faint daylight, she chose it, hoping it would lead her closer to the freedom of the outside world.

Descending the stairs, Rachel found herself in a new corridor, its walls punctuated by dark wooden doors. To her left, the glow of sunlight spilled from an open doorway.

Stepping into the sun-drenched room, Rachel felt the cool kiss of white and blue tiles beneath her bare feet. Light poured in from the grand, arched windows, illuminating the space with a soft glow. The kitchen and dining area before her was the epitome of elegance: white stone countertops gleamed, and the dining table, set with a striking arrangement of flowers.

Beyond the dining space, the kitchen unfolded in all its modern glory, spacious and outfitted with the kind of high-tech appliances she had only ever admired in the pages of home magazines. Her stomach chose that moment to remind her of its emptiness, prompting a hopeful glance around the kitchen as she considered the prospect of replaceing something to satisfy her hunger.

While exploring Vlad’s kitchen, Rachel felt guilty, as if she were overstepping her bounds in this lavish, unfamiliar place. Finding the fridge filled with her favourite fruits—figs, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, and raspberries—she chose strawberries and raspberries, trying to shake off the feeling of intrusion. Her moment of delight was cut short when she bumped into a petite woman, dropping the fruit. “You scared me,” she said, rushing to pick up the scattered berries.

“Oops, sorry. I thought you’d hear me coming. You seemed quite preoccupied,” Estella said, her smile easing the tension.

Rachel managed a hesitant smile back and took the berries over to the sink to wash them, careful not to squish any. “Good morning to you as well.”

“Hasn’t Vlad come back yet?” Estella casually asked, propping herself against the counter.

“Returned from where?”

“From the portal, of course.”

“Portal?” Rachel paused, a raspberry halfway to her mouth, caught off guard by the mention.

“Ah, you didn’t know,” Estella said with a teasing smirk that Rachel found mildly irritating. “I just assumed that’s why he brought you here. I thought he would have told you. Interesting that he chose to withhold that information.”

“Yeah, right,” Rachel responded, trying to appear unfazed as she enjoyed the juicy raspberry. With her powers evolving, even simple fruits tasted more vibrant. “You didn’t hear any strange noises coming from this portal thing last night, did you?”

Estella’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Looks like Vlad’s got a lot of catching up to do with you. I should look for him. He’s never back this late.”

“Could you fill me in on what I’m missing?” Rachel ventured, her tone sweet.

“I really need to check on Vlad first, just to be sure everything’s alright,” Estella responded, straightening up from the counter.

“Vlad is okay. He’s sleeping in my room.”

Estella’s grin stretched even wider at that. “Oh? Did you decide to share some of your fruits with him then?” she teased.

“No, and that’s none of your business.”

“He mentioned you’re a vampire, like us. But there’s something off about your essence; it’s unlike any creature I’ve encountered,” Estella remarked, giving Rachel a thorough once-over. “Exactly what are you?”

Rachel hesitated, unsure how to respond. “Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?”

“How about we make a deal? A taste, and I will leave you alone.”

“You’ve lost your mind,” Rachel said, letting the punnet fall into the sink with a clatter as she tried to push past Estella. But Estella swiftly stepped in front of her, blocking her escape. Her eyes ignited into a deep, vibrant red, stopping Rachel dead in her tracks, a clear warning that escape wasn’t an option.

“I just want to know what you are. It doesn’t have to be much. I let you share my essence, now it’s time you gave me a little bit of yours.”

“How about you let me go?”

“Do you really want to start our relationship off on the wrong foot? Considering you might be here a while, wouldn’t you rather have allies? There’s much I could share that Vlad hasn’t. Aren’t you curious about the sounds from last night?”

Remembering the intense reaction Darius had after ingesting her blood, Rachel weighed her options. As uneasy as she was about Estella’s demand, it presented an opportunity. With cautious deliberation, she extended her index finger towards Estella. “Just a drop. Any more might alert Vlad. He’s sensitive to essence exchanges.”

Estella’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she took hold of Rachel’s wrist. Rachel inhaled sharply, bracing herself for what was to come. As Estella’s fangs peeked out from behind her lips, now tinted a deeper shade of red, Rachel tensed, a prick of pain signalling their penetration.

The sudden intrusion of Vlad’s voice, deep and unmistakably authoritative, broke the silence. “What’s going on here?”

At Vlad’s intervention, Estella quickly released Rachel’s wrist and turned to face him. “Vlad, you’re back.” Her delight was evident, yet it did little to mask the tension her actions had stirred.

Vlad’s eyes narrowed slightly as he approached them, his disappointment clear. “I thought we agreed that you would not toy with Rachel.”

The morning sunlight highlighted Vlad’s muscular definition. Rachel felt a warmth spread across her face, her eyes inadvertently tracing the lines of his bare chest down to the black sweatpants that hugged his frame. The sight momentarily distracted her, sending her thoughts adrift.

Estella offered a dismissive shrug. “She offered.”

Vlad’s response was swift and pointed. Leaning in close to Estella, he kept his eyes on Rachel, imparting a warning through his tone. “Recall the girl from that besieged Romanian village I saved? By ignoring my wishes and taking essence that is mine, you cross a line.”

Estella met his gaze defiantly, a flicker of challenge in her eyes. “We had agreed not to mention that, remember?” She shot a glance at Rachel, her embarrassment evident as her face flushed a deeper shade. Suddenly, her eyes turned a soft shade of purple, her pupils dilating.

Realising what had happened, Rachel smirked—Estella could be compelled.

Estella, seizing the opportunity, darted past Vlad and linked arms with Rachel. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Rachel’s initial resistance was met with surprising strength from Estella. “Estella, really, I can manage on my own.”

“Have you looked in a mirror recently?”

Rachel opened her mouth to protest, but before she could utter a word, Vlad stepped in. “You never know when to quit, do you?” He grasped Estella’s arm, guiding her to release Rachel.

Estella’s playful pout and crossed arms conveyed her mock annoyance. “Oh, please, you’re just being overprotective. I’m just trying to help Rachel.”

Rachel was still in the attire from her visit to Beth’s, having not had the chance to freshen up or change.

“You do want to take care of her, don’t you? Look at the state she’s in,” Estella teased, directing a challenging glance at Vlad.

Growing impatient with their bickering, Rachel tried to sneak away. “Excuse me,” she interjected, attempting to slip past the duo.

Vlad stood in her way. “And just where do you think you’re going?”

Rachel barely had time to respond before Estella’s grip tightened around her hand. With a mischievous grin, Estella led her away, casting a glance back at Vlad. “I’ll take her to get cleaned up. You should rest, Vladimir. You look like death,” she teased, pulling Rachel along with her.

Rachel’s unease grew as they made their way upstairs, Vlad’s sigh of frustration trailing off behind them. “Where are you taking me?” she asked, trying to free herself from Estella’s grip.

“I think we got off on the wrong foot. Let me fix this,” Estella said, not slowing her pace, leading Rachel back to her room.

The brief essence exchange had clearly affected Estella, making Rachel wonder about the lasting effects.

Once back in her room, Estella hurried off, leaving Rachel sitting on the bed. Listening to Estella’s quick steps outside, Rachel weighed her options, deciding to play along with Estella for now.

Estella guided Rachel to a steam-filled bathroom, creating an instantly soothing environment. The room, lit by flickering scented candles, cantered around a welcoming slipper-style bathtub.

“I left you something to wear.” Estella motioned towards a set of neatly folded clothes resting on the pristine white countertop.

Rachel was touched by the gesture. “You really didn’t have to go to all this trouble for me.”

“We wouldn’t be good hosts if we neglected you.”

“I thought you two were an item?”

“Sure, sometimes. It’s more of a casual understanding. We care for each other, but neither of us feels love worthy of a bond. Enjoy the bath,” she said, leaving Rachel to her thoughts.

The bath’s warmth invited Rachel in, promising to erase the remnants of her icy nightmares. With a tentative touch, she tested the water—it was perfect. The tension began to melt away at the thought of submerging into the heat. Stepping in, she anticipated the water’s soothing embrace, a sanctuary from her haunting memories.

As she bathed, her fingers wandered over the mark adorning her skin, pondering its meaning. Deciding to let go of her thoughts for a while, she slide down into the bath, immersing her hair. Beneath the water’s surface, everything felt calmer, more tranquil.

But as she closed her eyes, a strange noise caught her attention. The sound grew louder, reminiscent of a beating drum. With each breath, the resonance became more distinct, and she could feel the water pulsing in response. The vibrations rumbled through her chest as a vision of pure white filled her mind.

The sudden icy chill that enveloped her was like a shock to her system. A biting wind whipped against her exposed skin, making her shiver uncontrollably. Her breath caught in her throat as she identified the source of the noise. There, on the other side of the frozen waterfall, was the shadowy figure of the Abaddon, furiously pounding against the ice.

The cracks that had formed during his earlier attempts to break through were now reinforced by the ever-deepening cold. Snowflakes danced in the air, painting a surreal picture of the world around her. It was strange to see the Abaddon so quiet in the daylight, considering the havoc he had wreaked during the night.

Rachel could sense his weakness, his exhaustion. If the daylight worked against him, she couldn’t help but wonder how much more powerful he was at night when trapped within his icy prison.

Suddenly, he stopped and turned toward her. Frozen in place, she felt vulnerable and exposed. The cold gnawed at her naked skin as she shivered, unable to tear her gaze away from his ghostly figure. The black wisps that made up his body seemed to coalesce into a more human-like form.

“LET ME GO!” he roared.

Heat surged through her hands, and she glanced down to see black wisps swirling around them, her veins standing out against her skin. The darkness erupted from her hands like a lightning bolt, aimed directly at him.

In response, he charged towards her. She had no time to react before his form collided with her, sending a wave of pure energy coursing through her body like an electric shock. Her muscles tensed, and she found herself flung out of the water, gasping for breath.

Clutching the bathtub’s edges, her heartbeat thundered in her ears as warmth flooded back, so quickly it felt as if she were on fire. Shaking with fear, she rested against the bath, giving herself a moment to catch her breath. She had to remain calm; she couldn’t let him scare her. She knew that one day, she would have to face him.

Then, a sudden sensation on her shoulder shattered her fragile serenity. Glancing down, panic surged through her as she saw a black snake. With a startled cry, she attempted to shove it away, but the creature was persistent, smoothly gliding across her skin to coil itself beside her.

“Relax, Aphrodite. I didn’t mean to startle you,” the leech said, sounding almost friendly.

“Where’s your body?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

“I can’t sneak past the vampires in my usual form. They have a keen sense of smell, you know. Besides, if they found me here, we’d both be in trouble.”

“Except they would kill you if they found you.”

“True, but I can slither away. They cannot follow me where I go. Well, they can, but it’s a one-way ticket.”

“What do you want?”

“You’re changing,” he remarked, brushing against her hair.

“What’s that supposed to mean? And why are you here?”

“What’s wrong? I thought we were friends. After all, I did save your life,” he said, sounding almost hurt.

“You told me I killed Myus, so therefore I saved my own life. You were just the vulture that came to take whatever was left. You’re so intrusive,” Rachel retorted, wrapping her arms around herself for modesty. “You worship evil. He’s done nothing but fill my dreams with terror and fear. If that’s what you support, then you’re no friend of mine.”

“He is imprisoned in a void between worlds. If he has haunted your dreams, then you have seen it, the ice, the snow?”

“Yes,” Rachel admitted, hesitating to call out for Vlad. The last thing she wanted was a battle between creatures while she was vulnerable and exposed.

“There’s nothing there but ferocious winds and freezing rain. During the night, he works tirelessly to break through the ice and return to the earth, but your vampire keeps him at bay. Daylight weakens his essence. During the day, he’s weakened and can only suffer in the harsh elements,” he explained, almost sounding sympathetic to the Abaddon.

Rachel was struck by the revelation. The notion that Vlad spent his nights battling to prevent the Abaddon’s crossover intrigued her. Estella’s comments about the portal clicked into place—perhaps it was nearer than she thought. “He feels, does he?” she questioned, her tone laced with doubt. “His suffering is punishment for his greed.”

“One way or another, he will enter this world. A creature with your powers cannot live without him. He may have greed for the dark, but you, Aphrodite, will replace you have greed for essence. It’s a drug that you will grow too fond of. It’s not him that you should be afraid of. It’s yourself.”

Of course, she would expect a worshipper of evil to sell the idea that her weaknesses would be a greater evil than the darkest creature in existence. “Believe what you want to believe.”

“You have merged with the vampire’s essence, have you not? Have you not yourself become a vampire?”

“How would you know anything about that?” Rachel replied defensively.

“The vampire is, by its nature, a selfish creature. They have a reputation for essence greed, toying with humans before killing them. Imagine the evil that could exist when a vampire inherits the power to manipulate their victims with love and lust,” he warned, making Rachel question her newfound abilities and the potential consequences of her actions.

“What do you want? Surely you didn’t come here to tell me that?”

“A young creature is an impatient creature.”

“There’s an old creature trying to claw his way through an icy portal, and you think I’m inpatient?”

“If he is old, Aphrodite, then you too are old. Too bad you have not come to remember. You seem frustrated.”

“He haunts my dreams in the day, and he haunts my dreams in the night. He has gone out of his way to make me feel what he feels. What do you mean I am old?” she challenged. Every creature she had encountered so far had deemed her young, a fledgling in both her human and newfound creature existence.

“Aphrodite, there was only ever one. You have no need to hide or fight him.”

“He killed the other Aphrodites,” she said, still trying to understand the snake’s cryptic messages.

“No, Aphrodite. You didn’t listen. There was only ever one, just like there has only ever been one Abaddon. You can stop it all, you know. You can release him.”

“And how would I do that?”

“Your blood,” the leech disclosed, its black scales glinting, catching the flicker of candlelight.

Now she understood the leech’s motive for urging her cooperation—she was the crucial element. It was imperative that she use all her strength and wit to prevent Abaddon from escaping his prison.

“He can haunt me as much as he wants. He’s not getting anything. In fact, the more he shows his bad side, the more stubborn I will become. Why don’t you pass that message on?” Her movement caused the bathwater to ripple and splash against the tub’s edges as she emerged. She reached for a towel, wrapping it securely around herself. “Anything else?

“This would be much easier if you would be more accepting. His intention is not to bring you fear or pain. Once he is on the earth, he will take care of you. He will protect you.”

Rachel turned to the mirror, her eyes catching a strange transformation. A gasp slipped from her lips as her fingers delicately explored her hair, marvelling at the unfamiliar sensation. It was as though her hair shimmered with a subtle radiance.

“See? You have changed.”

Panic fluttered in Rachel’s chest as she rifled through the drawers in a rush. Snatching the hairdryer, her actions were so hurried she almost damaged the cord. The leech’s sly snickering echoed in her mind, making her clench her teeth. “If I were to cut off your head, would you still live?”

“Regrettably for you, it would grow back. I am not bound by a body like your vampires.”

Determined to dispel her disbelief, Rachel waved the hairdryer frantically, hoping to see her familiar red hair return. She tried to rationalise the change, wondering if the leech was playing mind games or if she was just dreaming. Stunned by her reflection, she switched off the hairdryer to examine her new blonde locks.

“How?”

“The essence and the bond are awakening your true creature. You are transforming into the Aphrodite. Soon, you will embrace the true beauty of your creature and bring life into this world.”

“Let’s get the facts straight here, you bloodsucking parasite, there will be no birthing of anything into this world.”

“You cannot deny what you are.”

“Oh, there’s no denying what I am. I am denying your twisted prophesies.”

“Don’t be so—”

Rachel had reached her limit. “ESTELLA!”

The leech reared up like a cobra, his serpent tongue flicking as he stood on guard. “What are you doing calling the stupid vampire girl?”

“I’ve had enough of you. Stick around if you want. Estella seems like the type who’d enjoy ripping your head off. Even if it grows back, I bet it would hurt. ESTELLA!”

Inky black wisps, like tendrils of smoke, erupted from the mark on Rachel’s arm. They swirled and danced in the air, a menacing ballet of shadows, before coalescing into a concentrated burst of energy that shot towards the leech with a fierce intensity. The leech, caught off guard but still agile, narrowly avoided the powerful blast. She looked at her hands, stunned by what had happened.

“You’ve absorbed the powers of both creatures bound to you. If you keep this up, you might become the most powerful creature alive.” The leech’s hiss sliced through the air, just as another surge of energy was directed at him. “No need to kill the messenger.” He dove into the bathtub.

Despite having saved her life, Rachel knew she had to replace a way to prevent him from using the drains to travel between worlds. He had only saved her to sacrifice her to the Abaddon.

The door swung open as the leech disappeared from sight.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Estella asked. Her expression shifted to one of astonishment upon noticing the transformation in Rachel’s hair.

“How did I become blonde?”

Estella brought a hand to her chest, her eyes wide with surprise. “Oh, dear. You’re undergoing a transformation.” A smile broke across her face, brimming with excitement. “This is fantastic!”

Rachel, bewildered, could only utter, “What?”

Estella, undeterred, guided her from the bathroom. Wrapped just in a towel, Rachel followed her through the hallway into the kitchen.

“She’s transforming!” Estella announced with a squeal of delight.

Vlad, upon seeing Rachel, had his eyes widen in astonishment. “What on earth…”