After her relaxing soak in the antique, intricately designed bathtub, Sela donned her favorite silk nightgown. She really loved the gown not only because it was a perfect match for the vibe of her house, but also because it seemed to transport her into the pages of a Victorian-era romance novel, a fantasy that she indulged in with a wide smile.

Despite the current, rather serious issues with the bills, Sela couldn't deny her enjoyment of life as this house’s mistress. Her excitement about living here was still the same as when she first moved in, and she honestly believed that it wasn't going to change any time soon or ever.

Settling into her beloved bed, Sela reached for her latest purchase—a smutty vampire romance novel. She had been a long-time fan of fae, dragons, and demons’ stories, but ever since that vivid, dreamlike erotic nightmare, her interest had shifted completely towards tales of vampires, leading her to buy a few vampire-themed books. Well, she couldn’t help it! She was still unable to forget that freaking hot bloodsucker!

However, it wasn't even thirty minutes into her reading when a long, deep sigh escaped her lips.

She let the book rest open over her face. She felt hot and bothered again after reading such a steamy scene. Why did she always do this to herself? Ugh! She really needs a boyfriend soon! It’s been years since she last dated because she’s too busy with studies and part time jobs. She had been very much content with her fictional book boyfriends anyway. Well, until that night. Goodness… it all started that night!

That night had ignited something within her. It awakened a deep yearning, a desire that seemed to intensify with each passing day.

Sela’s first time hadn’t been good. Far from it, in fact. It was painful, and though she believed she was madly in love with her ex at the time, the experience was just truly awful, to the point that she felt like it had left her traumatized. That was the reason she had not bothered to hook up with anyone again.

But Sela still enjoyed it so much when she pleasured herself while reading erotic scenes from her fictional books. This act of self-pleasure, intertwined with the vivid imagery and narratives of her reading, provided her with a deeply satisfying experience. Making her even think that the pleasure she experienced during her alone time might really be impossible to replicate in reality with a non-fictional partner.

For a long time, she truly thought and felt that nothing would change her mind, until that night. Ever since that night, whenever she indulged herself like usual with a really steamy book, she found the experience no longer enough. She started to imagine that vampire instead, and she could no longer find a satisfying release if it wasn’t him.

But even if it was him that was in her imagination, it was still lacking! Nothing seemed to be enough for her anymore. Her body wanted to experience that pleasure again, craving it so, so bad.

“Ugh!” she groaned, frustrated. She stopped touching herself, and closed the book.

She forced herself to sleep, hoping that she would meet that sexy vampire in her dream again.

After nearly an hour of tossing and turning on her bed, Sela finally dozed off, only to be awakened just a couple of hours later.

Lying still, Sela strained her ears, trying to discern the source of the disturbance.

A couple more minutes passed. The house was as quiet as usual. But just as she thought that the sound she heard was nothing but her imagination or a dream she couldn’t remember, another thud echoed.

Her heart jumped.

The sound wasn’t loud, but the silence amplified it. She could tell it was coming from the… Was it from the back door? A burglar was trying to enter her house?

Sela grabbed her phone and the knife she’d been hiding under a vase. Without turning the lights on, she quietly waited by the door of her locked room, deciding whether she should rush outside and run or just stay and hide.

She dialed Rain’s number, but when the call didn’t connect, she remembered that her bestfriend was currently abroad! Oh damn… what should she do? Calling 911 seemed to be her only choice now!

Just as she pressed the call button, her phone nearly slipped from her hand at the sound that she heard next.

Footsteps… Oh god…

Her breath caught in her throat. And when she heard the footsteps stop, her body went catatonic.

She could feel it. Someone’s right in front of her now, just beyond the door.