In the shadows of San Diego, vampires lurk, and Vincent, the ruthless king of the underworld, reigns supreme. Feared by all, his gaze is a death sentence. Naomi Clinton, a shy but fierce college student, lives on the outskirts of town, near the woods where Vincent hides. When curiosity gets the better of her, Naomi enters the forbidden woods, attracting Vincent's attention. Her life is forever changed as she's dragged into a world of hell and slavery.
Chapter 1 Red Eyes
BRISTOL UNIVERSITY
Bristol University's large class hall was abuzz with the sound of scribbling pens and muted chatter.
The economics lecturer stood at the front, enthusiastically explaining complex concepts to a sea of students. While some were engrossed in the lesson, others secretly did as they pleased.
"Hey Naomi, get a haircut," Sasha whispered, sticking a piece of gum to Naomi's long, brown hair.
Naomi's ethereal beauty was undeniable. Her brown eyes sparkled like warm chocolate, framed by thick, curved brows that added to their allure.
Her hair cascaded down her back like a rich, oily waterfall, framing a face that was a masterpiece of elegance.
Her skin was a radiant canvas of creamy white, smooth and unblemished. Her small, cute lips remained still. The oval shape of her eyes added to their allure, giving her an otherworldly charm that was impossible to ignore.
Naomi's expression remained calm as she touched the gum stuck to her hair. She turned to Sasha, her eyes burning with rage, but her voice was laced with sarcasm.
"Thank you." She muttered.
"Sasha, leave her alone. Mr. Steve would freak out if he saw you disrupting the class." Arnold, Sasha's boyfriend, chuckled.
"He can't do anything. Besides, she needs a haircut. Her hair can't be longer than mine." Sasha scoffed.
Naomi's grip on her pencil tightened until it snapped. The students around her burst into laughter.
"O.M.G, little bitch is angry," someone said making the laughter to increase.
"Don't mind them, Naomi. They're just jealous." Alicia, Naomi's best friend, leaned over and whispered.
Alicia's hair was short and black. Her eyes are deep brown in color. Her skin is a light, melanin-toned complexion, with a warm, golden undertone.
Her features were delicate, with high cheekbones and a small nose. Her lips are small and full.
Unlike Naomi, Alicia came from a wealthy family, but she never let their different backgrounds come between them.
Naomi ignored the snickers and tried to focus on the lecturer's words, but it was clear that the incident had left her angry.
LATER ON
Naomi's lectures had finally come to an end, but as she stepped out of the classroom, she realized it was already evening.
The road back to her house was long and isolated, with hardly anyone passing by. Whenever she managed to hail a taxi, it would drop her off at the bus stop, which was still a significant distance from her home. As a result, she had to walk quickly, her senses on high alert.
For the past few days, Naomi had been feeling like someone was following her.
At first, she had dismissed it as mere paranoia, but the feeling persisted.
She couldn't shake off the sense of being watched, and it made her incredibly uneasy.
As she approached her house, Naomi slowed down her pace. The two-story cabin looked old, but it was home, and she felt a sense of comfort wash over her as she stepped inside.
"Mom, are you home?" she called out, but there was no response.
Her eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of her mother's presence.
She made her way to the kitchen, only to find the pot empty.
"Not again," she sighed, feeling frustrated.
Her mother often forgot to cook dinner, and Naomi was left to fend for herself.
Getting to her room, Naomi dropped her bag in a corner and hopped onto the bed.
She reached under her pillow and pulled out a book, hoping to get lost in its pages.
Her concentration was short lived as she felt someone's gaze on her, and her heart skipped a beat.
Naomi's eyes darted towards the window, and that's when she saw him.
A figure standing in the woods, watching her with glowing red eyes. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she grabbed her flashlight and a baseball bat.
Slowly, she made her way out of the house, her heart racing with anticipation.
"Who's there? Show yourself," Naomi said firmly, gripping the baseball bat tightly.
The figure began to emerge from the darkness, its glowing red eyes fixed on her. But suddenly, it vanished.
Naomi's mother, Mrs. Aris, appeared out of nowhere, her voice stern.
"Naomi, I thought I warned you not to go near those woods. Get back into the house right now."
Naomi hesitated, pointing her flashlight towards the woods.
"But Mom, I saw someone. I'm not imagining things."
"Just stop it, Naomi. Get into the house. You're seeing things that aren't there." Her mother's expression turned firm.
Naomi reluctantly walked back to the house, her mind still racing.
"But Mom, I swear I saw someone. What's going on in those woods?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I don't want you to know yet, but for your own good, stay away from those woods. Don't ever go in there."
Naomi nodded, though she didn't understand why her mother was being so secretive. She returned to her room, her eyes drawn to the window.
The moon cast a silver glow over the woods, making them seem mysterious and inviting.
As she lay in bed, Naomi couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.
"Maybe Mom is right," she muttered to herself.
"Maybe I should just stay away from those woods."
But as she closed her eyes, she couldn't help but wonder what secrets the woods held, and why her mother was being so secretive.
NEXT DAY
Naomi slept in until she felt content, knowing her lecture didn't start until 1 pm.
She woke up three hours before her lecture, feeling refreshed. She took a bath, put on baggy jeans with a white crop shirt and white sneakers, and parked her hair in a neat ponytail. She even took a few minutes to do some edging.
As she made her way to the kitchen, she was thrilled to find three hamburgers waiting for her.
She ate one and stored the rest in the fridge for later and grabbed her bag.
"Red eyes," she muttered to herself as she stepped out of the cabin.
She glanced at the woods and let out a sigh before proceeding towards the bus stop.
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