Vampire Of The New World

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 rosary that he placed there the previous day. He again remembered the last time he saw the rosary. It was around the neck of a little girl cowering in fear and being held tightly by her mother. Then, Dante rushing towards them. Dante's immediate withdrawal upon touching the rosary and his red eyes. Somehow, Jon could not get away from the memory of those eyes. The positive feeling he felt the previous day was short-lived as he was once again assailed with bad thoughts of what could happen while he is on the island.

He looked at his phone and realized how early it was. He thought of calling Lisa, but just decided on sending her a message instead. He thought of what he should to write. Should he talk about everything that he experienced? Would he worry Lisa needlessly? Perhaps it would be better to just mention some things like his concerns if he prolongs his stay. What if he went missing suddenly without anyone knowing what was happening? What then?

Jon decided that he should tell Lisa the truth. He composed a lengthy message telling her everything that had transpired and his fears for his safety should he stay any longer. He ended his message by saying that he would do his best to get to Cardena as soon as possible. Perhaps the next day?

He then pressed send. 'Sending failed. Please try again.'

Jon was horrified as he noticed that the internet was down. Even his mobile signal was zero. Then, the realization that he really was in a prison without any means of escape or communication with the outside world.

Panicking, he dressed hurriedly and went out of his room. He almost stumbled as he ran down the empty corridor under the meager light. Coming to the entrance hall, he tried the main doors, but found these to be locked. He tried the other doors, but found these to be locked as well. Then, he remembered the side door leading to the servants' quarters. There was a short path. Perhaps he could find someone to help him. He rushed towards the side door, but found this to be locked as well. Helpless, he sat on the floor and held his head with both hands.

He paused to think and realized that he could do nothing running around the house and trying the doors which he knew to be locked. He would only arouse the suspicion of Dante. He stood up and walked towards the entrance hall.

"It's still early for you to be awake," came the familiar voice of Pablo who was just coming out of the dining room. "Can't sleep?"

"Yes. I was just thinking of getting coffee or something," said Jon.

"You could have just gone to the kitchen," said Pablo gesturing to the other side of the hall. "It's just after the dining room. I can prepare something for you."

"That's very nice of you, Pablo. Sorry for coming down early."

The two men went through the dining room and entered the kitchen. Pablo got the coffee maker running as Jon sat at the kitchen table.

"I was checking my phone this morning and it turned out that both the wifi and the mobile network are down," began Jon. "Does this happen often?"

"It happens occasionally," replied Pablo. "We are at the mercy of the elements and there are times when the weather disrupts everything."

"I see. We had good weather yesterday and last night. Are we expecting any storms to hit soon?"

"The weather can change fairly quickly here. Sometimes, it's sunny and then, it will suddenly rain." Pablo poured out the coffee into a mug and gave it to Jon.

"Do you think there will be bad weather tomorrow? I am hoping to get back to Cardena tomorrow," said Jon.

"Tomorrow? Mr. Dante has not told me that. His guests tend to stay longer."

"What is the earliest time that the Golden Krone can set out to sea? I hope to be on board at the earliest."

"Captain Salazar gets the boat out very early in the morning. The currents can be quite treacherous and there is only early morning and late afternoon that the Golden Krone can navigate safely. I will inform Captain Salazar of your intention to leave as soon as I receive Mr. Dante's approval."

"Thanks!" said Jon, sipping the coffee that was given him. After a while, he said, "I was talking to Flora recently and she told me that she would want to return to her hometown. She asked me if she and her daughter could go with me when I return to Cardena."

"Flora? She set out with Captain Salazar this morning with her daughter. They are on their way to Cardena as we speak."

Pablo's words hit Jon like a giant wave hitting the cliff. Is it possible for mother and daughter to be out in the ocean at this time? Has she finally been sent home for good? Jon wanted to ask Pablo more questions about Flora, but he feared that doing so could only trigger Pablo's curiosity and reach Dante.