300 years has passed, the coffin, which Jin has slept in, finally unearthed in Japan, Osaka. Archaeologist Chris Okura immediately has it sent to his lab. He is the man who found the tomb. "This could be worth a lot of fortune!"

 

"Put it over here," he orders, after the tomb has successfully reached its destination. "This must be some kind of fate!" His assistant, Shinju, rolled his eyes and handed Chris a crowbar.

Getting the coffin to open wasn't as easy as they thought. It took them nearly an hour to open the lid. A silent guttural gushed into the air, and finally vanished. The two men were too fascinated to hear it.

A cloud of dust also escapes into the air. The men backed away, evading the ancient dust. "Oh, God, does that stink or what?!" Shinju cried, holding his nose with his fingers. "Get used to it," says Chris, returning to the tomb.

 

Inside the tomb didn't surprised Chris at all. His assistant was. "What is that glowing red thing?" Shinju asked, still holding his nose. "It looks like" Chris shook away the remaining dust and leaned forward farther to the tomb. "Some kind of jewelry."

"What? A ruby? Wow."
"It looks like it. Damn, it's. quite big!"

 

Chris finally took his eyes off on that beautiful and rare necklace this corpse is wearing, and investigated on different things. Everything else inside the tomb was dumb and uninteresting. It was just a skeleton wearing a rare ruby around its neck. Chris' first agility was to kick Shinju out so he can deprive the jewelry and take it to some fancy jewelry store and make money off of it. Big bucks! Lots and lots of money!

"I know what you're thinking," says Shinju, interrupting Chris' deep thoughts. "No, you don't." Chris protests. "Yes, hey, I may be your assistant, but I'm not dumb. You're thinking of stealing the ruby." He couldn't help himself but feel very envious. "Why, that's a crazy thing to say! I'm an Archaeologist, not a grave-robber."

"Yeah, sure, whatever. And the next day you're going to say to me someone has stolen the jewelry."
"There will be no 'next day' if you keep talking to me like that. Watch yourself, son. Remember who you're working for."

 

Chris and Shinju focused on the tomb again. "It's weird. Everything is all rotten and dusty, but the necklace is in perfect shape, and it's very clean."

"Yes, affirmative. It's rare and quite enigmatic. Finally, a real challenge is testing me."

"You haven't touched the ruby yet. Are you going to?" Shinju asked.

 

Chris' response was going to be: hell no, but backfired and said, "I will. Not at this moment." Chicken-shit.

 

Later that evening, Shinju went home as he was ordered too. Chris decided to work longer to investigate his trophy. He understands the design of the coffin takes back in ancient centuries. "This coffin is at least 300 hundred years old, maybe before the Japanese era."

 

He sighed. This is an astonishing discovery. His eyes fell back to the ruby, which he hasn't touched yet. Part of his intellect mind warns him not to touch, but see, and the half says to touch, and feel. Somehow, he felt neurotic to touch it. "Maybe a colleague of mine can help. I'll ship the coffin myself to China."

 

Chapter 2:

Two days have passed. After getting the coffin out of a cargo of a ship, it was immediately sent to the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Although the coffin is sent here, it will not be displayed for the public to see.

"I want to thank you for taking your time observing this mysterious tomb I recently discovered." Says Chris. Jian Xiaoyu, who's a rich Archeologist, puts on his glasses to observe the tomb. Chris and Jian are best friends and best rivals. They studied archaeology in Japan in college and bet on each other to see who can be more successful. This bet has gone a little too far. Both of them take their careers very sincerely.

 

"You're a one rich son of a bitch," Chris would say. He plans to take the ruby and sell it. Maybe I'll be rich just as Jian, he thought to himself. The men are about the same age, except for Jian. is only one year older. Chris is 41 and Jian is 42. Their parents were archaeologist as well, but retired once they became old. Chris always felt envious towards Jian and his family. With money, he doesn't comprehend why Jian works. But, he never let his secret emotion be exposed out in public, especially in front of Jian. If you think that's nothing, Chris knows Jian will inherit his parent's money after they're deceased! Jian declines their offer, but has too, because it's in his parent's will. "After years of hard work, you deserve it."

Jian used to be married. But after his daughter, Ling, entered this world, his wife died from a car accident. This untimely death strucked Jian as if someone assaulted him with a baseball bat. He went to counseling sessions over the past 5 years, finally got over it, and resumed his work. Chris once asked him why he doesn't remarry. Jian replies: "Marriage hurts."

"Chris?"

Chris shook the thoughts out of his mind.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Would you hand me the flashlight on that table for me?"
"Sure."

 

Moments later, Jian took off his glasses, placing the flashlight on a nearby table and says, "I'm going to take a bone and exam it. This skeleton is very venerable. It might be at last 200 to 300 years old."
"I can see that. But my question is, what aeon is it from, and what kind of a coffin is that?"

"It's going to take some time, Chris." Jian hastily replies, sighing. The way he said it struck what he was really saying. "So, it's going to take you at least few daysmaybe a week, to find out what it is?"
Chris asks. "Yes. You don't mind that I keep it in here for awhile?"
"That is, if you don't mind I stay here for awhile."
"Not at all. You can stay at my guest house, if you would like."
"Why, thank you, Jian. How very thoughtful of you."

"This jewelry must be old as well. But, I'm surprised to see how clean and undusty it is."
"That's what I was thinking, too." Recoils Chris.
"Very odd."
"Yes. Yesterday, I tried to take if off, but it's stuck to that damn sternum!"
"Well, let me see if I can," says Jian.

Chris rolled his eyes. "If I can't, then just what makes you think you can?"
"Well, you'd never know" and Jian clutches the ruby, tightening it around his fingers.
Wow. It's so smooth.

 

To Chris' amazement, the ruby allowed itself to be removed! Jian sighed, poignanting it around his hand. "There. See?"

 

"Give it to me! It's mine!" Chris cried. Jian was shocked by his sudden outburst. Before he could, Chris snatched it away. "Ha ha ha ha ha! It's mine!" Jian lifted an eyebrow. "It's beautiful," he says. Just then, Chris screamed, dropping the ruby. It crashes onto the floor, but did not fractured at all. "What?"

"It.it suddenly burned my hands. II don't understand."
"What?" Jian asked, shocked. "It felt like fire." Chris protested, rubbing his hands together. "Would you like an ice pack?" Jian asked, still shocked. "No, I'm fine. Thanks, though."

Jian found the ruby. His first intention was to avoid it and leave it there, but due to its beauty, he couldn't resist.

"No! No! Don't touch it! It'll burn your hands, too!"
His warns were avoided. Jian let the ruby slide around his hands. "This is very enchanting."
Chris watches. Why isn't he screaming yet?! "Feel anything yet?"
"No."
"How the hell can that be? It burned my hands!"
"Maybe it doesn't like you!" jokes Jian.
"Right. Like this thing has a life of its own."
"Maybe, it does. You'd never know."
"What? Are you serious?"

Chapter 3:

 

That night, Jian glances at a clock on a wall. It read 7: 36pm.
"Oh, shoot! I gotta go!" he suddenly outbursts. "What? Where?" Chris asks, a little startled. "My daughter has a recital at her school. I covenanted her that I'll be there to see it. I apologize, Chris."
"Oh, it's okay."

The first thought came into Chris' mind: Now's my chance to grab the ruby and leave! "You sure?" Jian asked. "I trust you alone. And besides, if you need anything, ask the security guards."

 

Jian explains to the security guards that his colleague is allowed to stay longer if necessary. Jian whispers to them: "Just keep an eye out on him. Don't have him lock the main door."
"Understood, sire." Says one of them.
"Good night. I'll see you on Tuesday."

 

Outside, Jian didn't know it was downpouring because his lab doesn't have windows. Lightening crashes as thunder roars in the dark firmament. He ran into the main employee parking lot. "Damnmit! She's going to kill me!"

 

Chris reopened the tomb. The skull strangely looks at him. Even though it did not move, Chris felt odd all of a sudden. The way the skull is positioned freaks him out a little. Finally, Chris urged himself to speak out loud and said to the bones, "sorry, pale, but this is my ruby you're holding on to."

The Archaeologist quickly grabs the ruby and shuts the lid.  The ruby was not back in its place. Jian left the ruby on top of its ribs. The cruse has been released.  Chris chuckles softly, moving the ruby around his fingers. "Mine. It's all mine! I'm gonna be rich! Take that, Jian!"

"WHAT THE-"

 

The lid suddenly opens, sending Chris to the floor. "What the fu-?!"
Chris's heart pounded firmly against his chest. The room is filled with that dust again. "Oh, God! It fucking stinks in here!"

He waited until the dust evaporated. "Damn ancient dust," he says. He noticed his hands were empty. "What? Where did my ruby go? Oh, shit! Oh where the fuck did it go?!"

Chris got on his knees, crawling like a baby as he searches for the ruby. "Where are you? Show yourself!"

 

Panic-stricken, he did not notice the skeleton, in the coffin, removed itself! It growled softly, sniffing the new air, the new opportunityto kill and find its mate.

 

"There you are!"

Chris finally retrieves the gem, grabbing it hungrily, and sighing with relief. "I've found you, my love. Don't ever do that again!"

CRASH!

"Huh?!" Chris anxiously looks around the lab. 'What was that? Who's here?"
No answer. Chris wasn't expecting one anyone. "Why do I talk to myself?" Chris chuckles. "I'm such a fool!"

 

Just then, a hand grabs him by his hair, and lifted him off the ground!

His scream became muffled immediately by the hand tightening itself around his gullet. "I need your blood!" declares the creature.

Chris re-opens his eyes and wished he hadn't. The attacker is the skeleton from its tomb. "You're such a fool. I thank you for finding me. You served your purpose and shall die now," says the creature in English. "Wait" cries Chris. "No, you shall dienow!"

 

The skeleton opens its mouth, with bugs and other unknown insects spilling out. "Oh, God!" cries Chris, never seen this kind of horror before. "God? God has nothing to do with anything!"

The creature's teeth sank its teeth into Chris' flesh. The blood inside of him reversed itself, heading towards the mouth of its attacker. Chris squints his eyes as his life sucking away from him. This is a pain that he never felt in his entire life. This is nothing compared to donating blood. His entire body begins to weaken by second and getting cold. Chris tried to scream, but is too vulnerable to even moan.

 

In a minute or so, the creature became satisfied. It sighed with relief. Its victim is half alive, but still dying. "I don't need you anymore," it says. Chris' body was thrown against a wall. The creature walks up to him, snickering. Chris weakly struggles to escape, but again, is too weak. Practically all his blood has been stolen. The evil creature stomps on his face and twists its foot violently. A loud crack can be heard for a split second.

 

The skeleton started to moan in pain. It realizes its flesh is reforming. Every organs, skin tissues, everything, is all coming back. In a minute or so, the skeleton is no longer a skeleton. A handsome, beautiful, and muscular man stood there, uncladed. He sighs with another relief. "I must find my love" it says.

A new horror is about to happen to the Xiaoyu family.

 

Chapter 4:

At Jian's citadel home, Ling was in her bedroom, sobbing softly. Her friend, Linda, who's a maid, tried to upraise her. "Your father is a very busy man. He loves you. He would never purposely skip your recital." Ling squeezes one of her silky pillows as she continues to sob, burying her face deeper on to it.

 

"Oh, yeah right! You don't know my father like I do! He's evil! He only cares about his work! I hate him! No wonder why my mother died!"

 

Jian reasoned with her beforehand. He came late to her recital, having to miss her performance. He never felt so ashamed and culpable..

The solo-staged Ling looks anxiously for her father in the audience. Where is he? She asks herself. Her hopes of seeing her father at her show became to sink. Even though he wasn't there, she tells herself the show must go on. Damn him. Damn him all the way to hell!

 

The beautiful 19-year-old girl places her cello between her legs and began to play a classical piece by Tchaikovsky. While she plays, a single tear rolls down her eyes. Normally, she would play her pieces very well, but this night, she couldn't. Ling made more mistakes than ever and the way she played her song wasn't as emotional as she wanted too. Stop crying! She sneers at herself.

 

The audience applauded politely as possible. Ling sadly bows down, looks up, and sees her father entering the auditorium. Their eyes met. She glares at him, angrily. Jian made a sad expression. He came too late. I hate you! She says in her mind.

 

Her father barely visits her recital. He promised in her next recital, he would attend. Promises are meant to be broken, says a voice.

Ling never said anything in the limo. "Please talk to me, honey." He begs. Ling crossed her eyes, looking away from her father. "You have the every right to be angry at me, but I would like to hear from you." Still, this upset girl chose to refrain from talkingor looking at her father, this horrendous man that broke his promise many times. "Sweety! PleaseI'm so sorry! I have no good logical excuse to miss your performance, but I make mistakes, a lot." Finally, she outbursts: "Damn you! I shouldn't have to be obliged to ask you to attend! What kind of a father are you?"

"You're right. You shouldn't. But sweety, living in a world with great privileges, requires more work. Money doesn't come from trees..."
"Oh, stop treating and verbalizing to me if I'm some kid! I'm nineteen years old!" Ling screams. Jian saw a tear rolling down. "You're right about that, too. But, you are my little girl. Always have, and always will be."
"Shut up."

 

Ling politely asks Linda to leave her alone. "I'll make you some tea. Cherry is your favorite, right?" The crying girl nodded.

 

The teardrops collide against her bedroom patio's glass windows violently as the night passes. Ling lies, her back facing the mirror ceiling. "I hate my life!" she cries. Crying wasn't much helping her. She needed to do something to get this stupid nonsense out of her mind. What can she do? Throw things around like she used too? No. Too corny and monotonous. She needed to yell at someoneor something.

Jian has encouraged and forced Ling to play since she was 3. Her mother says, "if I have a daughter, you promise me that she'll be a musical daughter," before she expired.
"I promise," Jian says.

 

This could reach his sensitive spot! Ling crawls out of the bed and runs to his office, where he always spent if he's not working in his lab. Instead of knocking, she bursts into his office, yelling: "I'm never going to play a cello again! You're an asshole! I wish you never my father! You act like I don't exist!"

 

Ling expected to see Jian scorning back at her, but he didn't. His expression was sad as she bellowed at him. So sad that she saw his eyes a little wet. Something is wrong.
"Dad" she suddenly says softly.
"Yes, sweety?" Jian replies, sitting on his rolling leather chair. "What'swrong?"
"Nothing, sweetheart. You just return to your room. I wish to be alone for now."

Eventually, she discovered why he was acting sad. His best friend have been murdered an hour and forty minutes ago.

Chapter 5:

[ Jin's monologue: ]

When I murdered Chris, it felt good. It felt like a movie director giving me an opportunity to read a monologue for some movie film. I guess it shows me how much I neglected killing. What did you expect? I am a killer, a vampire of the new night. I am the ultimate nosforatu. I am even stronger than that damned Lestat character, written by Anne Rice, which my love keeps on reading. Ling dreams of being embraced by a vampire such as he. Well, her dream is about to come true.

How can I be more powerful than Lestat? Easy answer. I am capable of alternating to different animals. I can turn into a mist, I can transform into any human I desire, and I can be a daylight creature as well as the night. But I prefer the night. My powers are stronger. No man can kill me. I am immortal. I can read your thoughts. I can look deep into your souls without you knowing it. I know your secrets. For I am the ultimate vampire. I am the devil's pawn! Men will fear me, and women can't resist my seduction.

 

Having Ling's anamnesis and knowledge of this world came flooding into my mind like a stampede. In few moments, I became intelligent. My ignorance doesn't dominate my mind anymore. I can roam freely once again, killing innocent souls as I please without worrying about any vampires getting in my way. This is my world now. I rule.

Right now, police officers and many other men are in the lab, investigating like fools, trying to find out who killed Chris. ME! I killed him! What are you going to do about it? I am laughing. I have such a cruel cold heart, and I love it! I disguised myself as a ceiling while I watched. Poor Jian. He is the one I need to follow to get to my love. He is the father. An asshole one, as Ling says.

[ end of his monologue ]

"What a mess on his face," says a Hong Kong FBI. Chris' face has been mangled quite badly. Few camera flashes lit in the crime-scene room. Jian arrived and gasped at the sight. He covered his mouth with one hand, trying his best not to vomit. "Who murdered him?" Jian demanded. "We do not have an answer yet, Mr. Xiaoyu. Why were you in such a hurry?" asks a FBI.

Jian glances back at him. "I had to go to my daughter's recital at her school. I was late."

"I see. And why is Chris still here? Don't you usually kick employees out when you're about to leave?"
"No, I have allowed some of my trustworthy employees stay later without my supervision. Chris is my best friend. I've known him since we were high school students in Japan, Osaka. "
"Do you have any idea why he was murdered?"
"No, actually I do not know, sir. How did he die?"
"Well, it's quite odd, frankly. We're going to perform an autopsy on him.

 

Right now, his body is colder than it normally should. We first assumed he died from blood loss, but there are questions and confusions that prevented any conclusion to be enforced at this point. Plus, there are two puncture wounds at the side of his neck. We're confused. "

"I can't believe this" whispers Jian. He saw some man put a white blanket over Chris' body. "We secondly assumed the damage on his face killed him, but, we couldn't explained why his body is completely blue, wrinkly, and so cold. That's why performing an autopsy on him is necessary. "
"I understand. I should notify his family," Jian says, sort of speechless. "It's already being taken care of," says the FBI. "Oh. But, I should still call his family. After all, they're close to me."
"I'm sorry sir, but that's out of a question. This is an official police business. We would not like you to interact Chris' relatives, friends, and acquaintances. We feel it might interfere the investigations."
"II understand." Replies Jian.
"I'm terribly sorry about your loss."
"Thank youI guess."

 

In couple of hours, the investigators, photographers, and policemen left, Jian sat on a chair, with one of his hands on his forehead. Why? Why? Why?! Did this happen to Chris? He is a smart guy. Everybody enjoys his company. As far as Jian knew him, Chris never had real arch enemies. There are people who dislike him, but they don't have the heart to have him murdered.

Just then, something caught at the corner of his eyes.

 

Underneath a drawer, he sees something glowing, and it's red. Is that same ruby? Jian crawls on the floor like the way Chris did, clutches the jewel. It shined beautifully on his palm. "So beautiful," he says softly. "It burned my hands!" echoes Chris' voice inside his head. The ruby seemed to be alive, as if staring back at him as well. The burn feeling did not occur at all. What was Chris thinking? Jian thought he was lying, or just joking, but his expression felt and looked real. Chris is a bad actor and a bad liar. But this act looked real enough to make anyone believe his excitement.

 

Well, Chris won't be needing the tomb, or this ruby anymore. What to do? Ling. She loves ancient jewelry. In fact, Jian would give any prehistoric jewels he can find, and would sometimes give it to her.

She'll love this one. She'll then accept my apology, and treat me like a father.