Chapter Text
Piece recommended: Schubert's Der Erlkönig
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚍𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚐𝚐𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚞𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜, looking for some herbs. There's a strange sense of danger in the air. you can't quite place it, but it's there. It's as if something is watching you. Your instincts are telling you to run away from this place, but you continue wandering, searching for those herbs. Your father's health is in extreme danger, and you must do something to help him as his only daughter.
You continue to grab any plants or herbs you can find, clinging to the hope that your father can be saved. As long as you can identify those plants and be certain that they're not poisoned, you should be fine.
You continue walking deeper and deeper into the woods. The sun begins to set and it starts to get darker. That's when you notice that you're lost. There are no signs of life here, only darkness and silence. Goodness gracious! you were too focused on finding those plants that you forgot to leave markings along the way! Well, you guess you should make the best out of it then. Your basket isn't even full yet, might as well continue searching. Who knows what can this forest offer?
The good news is, you've found and picked some mushrooms and wildflowers. Bad news alert, you can't find any herbs. Great, you can't find what you needed the most. But other than that, you really should turn back home now. It's getting dark and it's already getting cold. You're wearing nothing but a thin dress, which is not enough for the weather.
You keep on searching, finding some more random mushrooms and weirdly shaped rocks, which you consider taking them home and starting a new rock collection. In the far distance, you can make out a blurry shape of a castle, but it's probably just your imagination playing tricks on you since it's getting dark.
Until.
"Hello there," a voice behind you speaks up, "What's a beautiful young maiden like yourself doing all alone out here?"
Is that a male voice?
"Hello?" you ask with sheer terror in your voice. "What are you doing in this forest?" A million questions formed in your head, but the biggest question of them all. "And who are you?"
"Oh, where are my manners? Please, allow me to introduce myself. I am His Royal Highness, the Mighty Head Vampire." The man introduced, sounding smug. "You may refer to me as Komaeda Nagito, the Head Vampire." You still cannot track down his location, he might be hidden in one of the trees around you, but which tree? This is a forest we're talking about! At least from what you can gather from his voice, you can tell he sounded a bit raspy and breathy.
And vampires? you have heard of those creatures back then, your mother used to tell you lots of tales about them, which you didn't believe, of course. That sounds awfully absurd! Imagine missing out on garlic, what a dull and tasteless life they live. you probably can use this 'so-called' vampire over here to your advantage.
"Vampires don't exist, now if you may, please come down so you can talk to you properly." You put both of your hands on your hips, inviting the mysterious source of the voice to come down. "And besides, vampires are no fun, you guys don't have garlic."
"I don't eat garlic, you fool." Komaeda scoffed, "Garlic is disgusting."
"Well, you must not taste a lot of great food then." Are we seriously debating over food right now? "You said you were a vampire? That's funny, there are ten months left until October, still a bit too soon for costumes, don't you think?"
"I advise that you be careful with your words, dear." Komaeda calmly warned. "It is left to you to think if we are real or not, but the truth is we vampires do exist, and a mere little wench like you have no rights to comment on our existence." He finally appears out of nowhere, his movements fast and elegant, almost featherlike. It took you a while to notice his appearance from behind. Wavy white hair, sickly pale skin, those eyes of his are colored with mixes of green and grey hues, nonchalantly, yet deeply staring through you. His body is lean and slender, yet he is intimidatingly tall. His skeletal legs are wrapped in black trousers, his torso in a white, frilly dress shirt, the type that only noblemen wear, and his whole body is covered in a long, black cape. Exactly what you had imagined a vampire to look like, except he doesn't look like an old grumpy guy at all, he looked... so young, almost like he is in his adolescence.
"Ahem, please pardon me for not presenting myself sooner, I didn't wish to startle you, especially in this dark yet starry night." Komaeda smiles gently at you. "I apologize if I have scared your little maiden heart."
"I'm not scared," you reply in a monotone voice, your body on full alert. "I'm just a bit cautious."
"Cautious? My dear, you must have misunderstood. You should be frightened of me." He steps closer. you retreat a few steps back. you really should go home and study some herbal remedies for your sick father, not dealing with this 'vampire'.
"I'm just looking for herbs to cure my father's illness."
"Herbs, you say? Well, lucky you, I have lots of herbs and other medicines back in my castle." He extends a hand, and gently invites you to his place. As if you would easily give up your dignity and follow a stranger to his home. You're not a fool.
"No, thank you. I would be more grateful if you showed me a way to get out of this forest." You politely declined his invitation, "It's getting dark and my family must be worried."
"Ah, well, but don't you see? It's so cold outside here... my place offers a warm and cozy bed, just stay with me for the night, my dear. I assure you, your father will be fine. After all, he has been ill for a long time, and there's nothing much you can do about it." There it is, that saccharine smile again.
"Are you saying that you know him?" you raised a brow.
"In a way, yes, I have visited your village many times before. I am quite well-known, but not by everyone, obviously." He looks at you intently. Well he is right, clearly you haven't heard of this "Komaeda Nagito" before. your mother only told you generic tales about the vampires, and you have better things to do than caring about them or study vampirism. Yes, that field does exist, apparently.
"My place is just up ahead, it's not far from here. Come on, it's going to be alright." He reassures, taking your hand.
"Please let go of my hand, sir." His hand is icy cold, you take back your words, this guy is a legitimate vampire. Sweet waffles! Should you run now? Is it too late to run? What will he do if you run?
"Ah! My sincerest apology, I simply just wanted to reassure you, know that I mean no harm, dear." This time he grins, and you can see the whitest bits of his fangs. That doesn't calm your already terrified nerves at all. you need to get out of here, right now.
"Please, just let me go, if you know about my father's state, you must know how terribly ill he is!" He then looked at you coldly in the eyes.
"Next time remember to address me by 'Your Highness'. You are still very ignorant of my power." His tone is still gentle, yet you can still sense something malicious in it, his whole demeanor definitely has shifted. "I shall abide by your request, you may excuse yourself for now. I'm assuming you don't have a compass, then just follow this direction and don't turn anywhere." Komaeda points in a direction. then suddenly vanishes in the darkness.
What had just happened? Should you trust him? Well, not like you have any other choices. Before you turn your heels to leave, you swear you could hear him echoing through the darkness.
"This forest is also in my possession, be aware that I can watch over you anytime."