“I want to play.”

Head throbbing.

Heart racing.

Skin cold.

Hunger rising.

Hitched breathing.

Eyes frantic.

Perhaps the only thing colder than my skin right now is the steel door that currently kept me from ascending the stairway. That was my only method of escape. But it’s blocked off now. It’s not an option anymore. I have to find a different method to get out of here before whatever’s in here tracks me. Even if it’s cold here thankfully my outfit was prepared for winter. Thick pants and thick jackets. It might even help me against whatever’s inside here but I’m not confident on that at all.

“I want to play~”

Damnit. I don’t want to die in this accursed place. I press back against the wall to face whatever just spoke. It was even colder than before but I don’t care. I’m more concerned about that thing that was with me. It was still too dark to properly see. It didn’t smell horrible but from what little I could make out it was well-maintained. Was this really a prison? There weren’t even signs of blood or dirt or cobwebs. 

“For now~”

When I whirl to face my side there was no one there. There was no source or hiding spot for them if someone were whispering in my ear. But I really did hear a voice there. The sound of a young girl. Gritting my teeth I whirled towards the center of the room and kept my back hidden. I need to minimize what’s exposed. Pressing as far as possible to be ready. I couldn’t hear anything else at all minus my breathing. At least my eyes had begun to adjust and I managed to see it.

Up ahead was…

A girl!?!?

No-- no wait. 

It was gone. The girl with red eyes. The silhouette. It was… a mirror? 

“Hihi~”

I’m starting to get used to that annoying sound. It was impossible for it to be beside me. I stepped a bit closer to the mirror. Each step I made I glanced around, trying to ascertain the prankster that was whispering behind my ear. If it was a ghost I’d be a lot more content. Yet everything in my body screamed at me that it was alive. A living thing that was tormenting me right now. It didn’t make sense yet I knew it was the likeliest outcome.

Still, I should be thankful it was fine with just harassing me with its voice.

All that musing and I’m finally in front of the mirror. I gazed at it seeing only my muddied reflection. It was the one long thing here that looked like it was taken care of. My instincts warned me that something might be inside here. Perhaps a cursed mirror that houses the form of a wraith who beckons towards visitors. Or perhaps it was a cursed mimic that would devour any that approached it. 

Yet the more I watched, the more the image seemed to fade.

“What kind of a prank is this?” “It’s not~”

I didn’t whirl around.

I could see it this time thanks to the mirror. The blur. The blue that was forming. I was shaking. Trying to stay calm was difficult as I saw the small red figure there. Bits of gold joined in that pattern as I made out the image that was supposed to be behind me. It was taking the form of a petite young woman. A child? Or was she just that short? Or is it the distorted view of the mirror? I was starting to feel more disoriented the more I focused.

“What are you?” “You should know already.”

Jagged fangs. They glinted through the murky image. My heart felt like it stopped. I stopped breathing. A vampire? Wait. No. A vampire should be impossible to see in a mirror. A fake? It didn’t make sense. Not a single trickle of blood and that thing acted more like a spectre than a monster. Yet the more I gazed into the mirror, the more I saw it. 

She was clothed in red. Red and bits of white. It wasn’t the outfit I was expecting. Rather than dark gloomy clothes or nothing at all, it was a simple red skirt that draped over her. It looked too nice to wear here. Was she not cold at all? Then again I could barely feel the cold here, having gotten used to it. But that’s still not an excuse to not even wear anything below. Perhaps pants would be more fitting to cover up those smooth pale legs, no doubt having remained that hue for their nature as a self-proclaimed vampire. Then again such pieces of garments were hard to move around. It’s why I avoid wearing them, whether tight or loose.

“You can’t be a vampire. I can see your reflection.” “Eh. Big sis likes newer mirrors. Something about silver? And sides. I’m disguised right now.”

Disguised?

Is that why its form is of a young female? Is that why it had those, frankly cute, frills all over her skirt and top? Even a small little ascot over her chest. She looked more like a European styled noble, with silly puffy sleeves and a fancy attire that clung to her body perfectly as if it was sown just for her. It looked off-putting in comparison to this dark basement. She remained standing there, simply grinning as her face began to cut through the dark reflection. Her red eyes gleamed like rubies uncovered.

“But how were you sneaking behind me?” “Oh, I wasn’t. I guess the spell hit me hard.” “A spell… Are you a witch?” “Nah. Patchy is though.”

Patchy?

I feel a sense of frustration and annoyance. I don’t know that name yet I could feel something in me boil. Not my blood. But my fists clenched feeling as if I just heard a distasteful relative. In fact I was feeling pretty jealous. Why, though? Maybe it was instinct? Was she the reason why I was tossed here? I’m still in a bit of a daze so maybe that name was more familiar to me than I thought. I close my eyes, trying to remember.

Patchy. Patchy. Patchouli? Yeah. That made more sense. Patchouli Knowledge. She’s the Witch of this place. A beautiful ghost-like woman who looked like she was at the border of life and death.

“Pffft- yeah that’s accurate.” “Shut up. I’m trying to remember.”

Whatever this vampire is she’s less dangerous than I thought. Merely an annoyance.

“Hey!”

But it’s not important. Patchouli was the one who caught me. She held a tome and cast a curse before I could escape. She wasn’t the main captor that tossed me in here though. That was someone else. Was it the true lord of this manor? I couldn’t even see them with how fast they moved. Or maybe that was because of that witch? There’s a lot of things that I missed. It’s pretty bad for me to forget all this. But maybe someone here can provide an answer. I opened my eyes and turned back to the mirror.

The vampire’s image is clearer than ever. Her gold hair was beautiful. Perhaps on the frame of another, and perhaps more physically mature, woman they would make them famous. But the red eyed self-proclaimed vampire only brought about an air of suspicion and alienity. She wasn’t a goddess to be devoted to but rather a foreign enigma to be suspicious of. Even right now as I locked eyes with her, her eyes gleamed with abundant mischief.

“Who are you?” “Oh. I really did hit my head pretty hard.” “What’s the relevancy of that?” “You’ll see it in a bit.”

Her dainty arms were lifted. They were small. Pale. Perhaps smaller than mine when I was a wee lad. She looked like she was about to toss a fist towards me. It was a harmless gesture.

But I felt instinctive fear. 

My head throbbed.

My heart felt like it had stopped for minutes already.

My skin felt like it was turning brittle and cold.

An insatiable hunger and thirst was rising.

I could not breathe. 

Eyes widening more than I thought they could.

Right now her reflection was nothing more than an innocent child. But as she raised that I can make out the image of a strange formation behind her. Something akin to branches that held a few dully colored gems. Like an outfit that one would wear in order to pretend as someone else. It was a deeper contrast to what I expect from so called vampires, with how they jiggled like chimes. Were they supposed to grab my attention? Are they ornaments for magic? I don’t know.

But my eyes were focused on the muddled reflection of the glass.

I could no longer move as she opened her palm.

And clenched it.

“Kyuu~”

The reflection cracked. 

I shrieked as I step back, nearly tripping over myself. But I held myself, blinking as I realized nothing happened.

“Oh.”

The mirror was the only thing damaged.

I was completely fine. Raising my hands and looking around made that clear. If anything, the haze in my head was clearing up now. No glass shards flew towards me. It was just an ominous glass crack. I let out a sigh and turned back towards my reflection. There was the confused and annoyed reaction of the blonde vampire.

“Did you do anything at all?”

Was she saying something? I couldn’t really see her mouth. Maybe I can see her now? I glanced back and heard a familiar jingle. There was nothing behind me. Was she just that fast at moving? Turning back to the reflection set out that chimes again. There was her form again behind that muddled image at the center. Seriously? What was the point of this? Irritation and frustration was the emotion that squashed down any fear and dread I had.

“No. It’s almost done. Just stop moving.”

The voice was as irritated as I was but I followed its cue. Somehow it didn’t feel like I was being attacked. No. If anything I was in agreement. I was starting to understand it. Thinking back. Maybe this thing wasn’t so bad after all. It was pranking and scaring me but it’s not like it hurt me once this entire encounter. I turned up towards the ceiling, trying to see if there’s anything up there at all that could keep the boredom away.

Big mistake. I hissed as my hair covered my eyes, prompting me to start brushing them away. Cobwebs? No. My hair. But was my hair always this long? And blonde- No. Of course they were blond but they were never this clean. Did that Patchy witch’s spell end up cleaning it? Maybe that’s the bonus of being hit by a water spell. Wish she didn’t use fire so much though but water is the best to use against vampires. It took a moment before I can finally see again, this time turning towards the glass mirror. An even more irritated vampire looked back.

“Are we done yet?”

No response this time.

Silence.

Unbearable silence.

I rubbed my hand idly. Huh. Was it always this small? I guess I haven’t been eating and working out. Kinda hard to be motivated if you don’t live somewhere nice. Even this basement kinda sucks. I doubt that the vampire girl would love to try anything to better herself with such a bad environment. Hah. My sibling had it so much better living in such a nice place and even being served by maids. Irritating. My body still felt cold but hot at the same time. Was I so frustrated that I was beginning to feel off?

“Feeling stuffy.” 

I didn’t need this many jackets. I started to disrobe and toss my clothes around. I got used to this place already anyway so it’s not that cold. If somehow I didn’t that’s kinda bad. I should’ve been just fine with this. A pile of clothes remains there. But… Hmm. No. I’m not happy with this yet. I’m still feeling stuffy.

I gouge my fingers into the shirt and shorts I had and start to rip them apart. Peeling them apart and my skin too. Yet. It didn’t hurt. It felt mildly annoying though. As I tried to peel off more and more. This felt like when I was taking a bath and scraping off dead skin. It’s just a natural hygienic process.

“There we go,”

I sigh as I see the flutter of brown and black. It was pretty lame clothing anyway. I wasn’t going to miss it. A disguise like that wasn’t going to work. I kinda miss my old clothing too. Even though my entire upper torso was bare I didn’t even feel cold. This room is really nice like that huh. For a prison it sure was accommodating. Then again I guess I can expect that from the owner of this place. You wouldn’t really wanna inconvenience a vampire that lives here and instead should pacify them with something interesting.

“But then it’s gonna be a boring experience through and through anyway… Why the hell do they think I’m escaping all the time?”

She was right.

Who wouldn’t want to leave this place. I mean I definitely want to go. We’re kinda the same like that if I think about it. Captured by a bunch of irritating know it alls who think they can do nothing wrong. I clench my fists in a growl. Thinking about it a lot of people I know always looked down on me. Treating me like a child when I’m older than that. I’m at least 490 years old.

490.

Wait.

Ah.

Hold on.

I clasped my throat and my bare chest.

When did my heart stop? When did I stop breathing?

“Oh come on I was almost there!!” “You!?!? What are you doing!?”

There were so many fuzzy memories. There was so much wrong. My reflection-- my reflection was no longer muted and faded. I can see it. My face. My face was exactly like the self-proclaimed vampire. Though I can see mine panicking and being horrified. I can also see her behind me hissing and baring her fangs. She was pissed. She was clinging towards my shoulders and I could feel it. Her fingers digging in. My fingers digging in. I was clinging to something.

“You’re nothing more than a false identity!!” She was shrieking at my ears. My own voice reverberating through my head. She was pissed. I was feeling angry too. “So leave already!”

No, that can’t be right.

I- I’m my own person. This damn vampire is a hallucination. Yeah. I must be going crazy. I--- I can’t be a vampire. I remember so much more!! My family!! My wife who was still waiting for me to come back-- I promised her I’d find something in here! My daughter whose smile always warmed my heart!! I was kidnapped here against my will! There’s people who can find me though! I’m sure!

My rich brother who was always luckier than me but had a mansion of his own-- Yes. A mansion that he was so proud of. He wasn’t going to leave me!

His girlfriend who was always interested in the occult! She might be a match for that Patchy girl! Yeah-- She always loved the color purple. Patchouli would at least be able to deal with the Patchy girl!

The dog that we adopted. It was lazy. It always slept. I know he can’t track anything at all.... But even she can use her talents to get to me. I’m sure of it.

And of course my mother. My sickly mother. She had always done everything she could for me. Always cleaning, and organizing, and dispatching any intruders. Sure she might be the main cause I’m always being captured but that’s fine. I can forgive her! I just had to use her own dullness against her at times! She was so devoted to me so I’m sure I can guilt trip my own mother. Her title as a perfect maid isn’t something she should hold over her own role as a mother--- wait… is she a mother-- no! She’s not! Phew! Almost fell for that. She was a foreigner. Not someone I know a tall.

I just had to focus and push away this damn insane mind!

“You’re not going to win! I remember now!” “Oh noooo~That’s horribleeee~”

Shut up shut up! I can almost remember it now. I can see that image blurring. She was beginning to disappear! My hair was back to its blonde form. My eyes shining as I remember everything. There was one more thing! One more thing as I cover myself up. No longer was I feeling that tight grip.

And…

Of course my name.

I’m someone who was always placed here in this dark accursed basement by that Witch Patchouli Knowledge. 

The perfect maid captured me alongside her and shoved me back down here.

And my elder sibling was the one who controlled the manor and made sure I stay here. Ungrateful piece of-- ehem.

I’m a vampire. 

That’s it! I was grinning as I finally get rid of that stupid haze in my mind. 

I’m a vampire. 

I’m Flandre Scarlet.

My wings jingled cutely as I tilted my body. 

I was attempting to use a disguise spell to get away. Today I was trying to pretend to be some guy with a backstory. A human that was visiting here in order to get some shelter from the blizzard. It was a really good story too! I had it all planned out and everything! I was going to go to some place in the Human Villages. The Leboise Estate? I think that’s what it’s called. That name sounds familiar but wrong. Maybe Laroche? Bah. Well whatever. I don’t need to think about it since the plan failed. Patchy and Sakuya caught me.

And now I’m stuck here.

I sighed as I stared back at my mirror. The wings I had sounding like beautiful chimes. I always loved that. 

Oh. Did I get another one? I wonder how I can trigger that? Oh well.

“Back to the drawing board I guess,” I pout as I looked at my messy clothing and broken mirror.

Of course with a bit of magic you can do things.

From Glamour Magic and so on. The multiple jackets floated towards me as I lifted my hand. I focused a bit as I balled them up in front of me. And with a clench of my fist, kyuu~ They scattered in a non invisible explosion and turned into a variety of colors. I welcomed them as they wrapped around my body. Sure I was fine with running around naked. It really makes Remi angry when I do that. But that also adds fuel for her to use against me as me being childish.

But whatever.

Now I’m clothed again. 

I should think of another escape plan this time though.