Page 104 of Petals and Fangs

“I can't believe he's here,” I mutter to myself and look around the place. It takes me a while to find a parking spot. I must call Alfred again. He is wrong about this. He instantly picks up as if he's been waiting to hear back from me.

“Alfred. Are you sure about this place? Forevermore. It does not look very pleasing.”

“Yes, Miss Snow. That is one of Ethan's personal properties. It might not look enticing, but the inside is a lot more pleasing. I can only think of Ethan being there since the place holds such immense importance to him.”

“How is that, Alfred? It is a morgue. How can a mere morgue mean anything to anyone.”

“Well, his father is buried there.”

“Again, Alfred, it is a morgue. I spot no graves here.”

“It is much more than a morgue, Miss Snow.”

“I'm not so sure about this, Alfred. Are you certain? There is no mistake?”

“There is no mistake, Miss Snow.”

“What about Nick?”

“He feels bad for the way he talked to you. He is sorry. I know you can forgive him. He did not mean what he said.”

“He did not mean what he said, Alfred? BS. The man is crazy, but it is okay. He really is. I'm sure he had his own reasons. Vampires tend to be weird creatures at the end of the day.”

“We are currently testing out a product and Nick volunteered to be the first to try it. He is still coming down from the high.”

“Oh, really? What kind of product is it?”

“I am not too sure. It is one of Mr. Rothschild's new creations. The ones we cannot make public. He does not like it when I ask about those or even talk about them.”

“Is Ethan really here, Alfred? I am starting to have a bad feeling about all of this. This place gives me the creeps.”

“There is only one way to find out. You just must get inside.”

“Fine. I am going in,” I look around me, scanning the area for anything suspicious.

“Good luck, Lily,” Alfred says and immediately hangs up. I feel uneasy as I make my way to the entrance. I have a bad feeling about this place.

If Ethan really is here, then I won't have anything to worry about. I only have to worry about getting to him, and having to pass through the whole ordeal that will follow.

I walk slowly to the door and take a deep breath. I try to open the door, but it makes the loudest creaks. The place has the look and feel of a haunted mansion.

“Hello? Ethan?” I call out for him, but there is no response. It is quiet, like a place where souls are buried for eternity. It is making me very anxious.

“Ethan, if you're here, please, answer me,” I call out again. I hear footsteps. It is coming from the second floor.

“Ethan?” I call out again and follow the direction of the noise. It's pitch black in there, and I have to use my phone flashlight.

The footsteps stop when I get to the stairs. I walk up the steps and continue to search the whole place. I check the rooms and there's no sign of Ethan. The smell is awful. I can't stand the stench.

I walk back to the corridor, and I am surprised to see a door at the end of it. There is a small light coming from underneath. I walk closer to it and try to push the door open, but something yanks me from behind, covering my mouth and pulling me backward.

“No! Let go of me!” My voice is muffled as I kick and scream, but I can't seem to escape the strong arms wrapped around my body.

“Where do you think you're going?” I hear the man ask as I keep struggling to free myself. His voice is too familiar not to recognize.

I try to run away, but the man is far too strong. He is surely not human. This is not the power of a mere human. He must be a vampire too for the way his veins are popped out and the way his skin is so cold and pale.

“Let me go! Get your filthy hands off me,” I yell and struggle as hard as I can, but he is holding me firmly.

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