Haunted

Lael rushed to the washing basin, panting heavily as he blinked the bloody sweat out of his wide eyes. He splashed the ice cold water on his face, the water turning pink as it mixed with the blood. Lael leaned forwards, his head bowed as he fought to catch his breath. The nightmare was still fresh in his mind, and he fought to force it away to the fringes of his mind.

A familiar feeling, a feeling he dreaded, washed over to him. He felt the mark on his back began to grow hot, felt it pulsing an angry red. A black blanket wrapped around him as he felt a chill wash over him. More sweat beaded on his brow as he braced himself for what was to happen. He opened his eyes, and he sucked in his breath and moaned at what he saw. Where the water had once been in the basin was gone. Swirling in it was a thick, red liquid that he knew all to well.

As he stared at the blood, he felt his stomach clench as a reminder of his strict diet. As he stared at the blood, he heard laughter. A hissing, icy laughter that chilled him to the bone and caused shivers to run up his spine. Trembling in fear, Lael dared to look up at the golden mirror. In the glowing light of the candle, he could see something. But that was not what caught hold of his attention first. He saw more blood trickling down the smooth surface, leaving trails of dark red. As the laughter continued, he then noticed his reflection. Only, it was not his reflection.

He saw someone else, someone who looked a little like him. But his eyes were yellow and slitted like a snake's, and were just as cold. His skin was just as white, and his hair just as dark. But Lael knew that was no him. The reflection stared back, but his mouth parted into a wide, sinister grin. Lael did not feel his mouth move, and then he was sure that was not he in the bleeding mirror, but his father.

The vampire just laughed as he stared at the bewildered dhampir, and he mouthed a silent word. Lael knew that his father said 'Hi'.

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