Talia's pov

I sat on the fluffy king-size bed, hugging my legs, thinking about what I had done just a few minutes ago. Once Elvira saw the girl was dead, she commanded Noen to bring me back into this spacious room with barely any light coming through the window. It's mostly just the red color dominating the shades of this room.

Every single vampire in that dining room was proudly looking at my accomplishment. Their evil laughter was echoing amongst the tall walls, while my eyes swam with tears. I was on my knees and couldn't stop rubbing my mouth with my forearm with the intention of getting rid of the blood. When I glanced back at the dead girl in front of me, her complexion was slowly changing colors, as the leaves do in the autumn, except her colors weren't warm and bright. The color of her skin was turning purple, almost blue. Her neck was open as if someone had slit her entire throat with a sharp blade.

I don't remember how I got onto this bed. If I was dragged here or came by my own will. The only thing I could remember was the taste of her blood in my mouth. How my body needed every single drop of her blood. How I couldn't pull away. How I sensed her warm body turning cold forever.

I looked in the direction of the wide window and walked to it. I opened it and stared at the dark sky, which flashed with crimson bolts of lightning across the whole sky.

I placed my foot on the sill, ready to jump out of it, when suddenly the door opened and a voice spoke to me. "Oh dear, don't even try. You are immortal now." Elvira reminded me in a high-pitched voice as she teleported to me, caressing my hair. She gently grabbed them whole and ran her hand to the end of them. "Look, how much they grew." I looked at my now-long hair, which reached my butt, shining gold color. She took a step back to free the wall where the mirror with a golden frame was hung. "Take a closer look at your face, and tell me if you find any imperfections-there are none now." Elvira whispered in my left ear.

I took a step forward and touched my face while looking in the mirror. I hardly recognized myself. My eyes were glaring at the wine-red color, and even the way my posture was, it was not the same. Dark red stains on my shirt reminded me why I wanted to jump out of the window. I knew I couldn't die, but at least I wanted to try. I cannot bear it. The realization that I have murdered someone. Someone so innocent and pure.

I became a killer.

In an instant, I punched the mirror, and sharp pieces of it were shattered on the wooden floor. I was filled with rage and guilt. I couldn't control my speed very well, and as I moved to the side, I ended up hitting myself against the bed. I didn't try to get up at that moment because of everything that happened, and there was no way to die. I became silent.

I could only see myself as a monster when I looked into the mirror. I never wished to be one of them. As much as I love Darcia, I wanted to grow old and be me for the rest of my final days. To eat my pizza and crave fish or chicken. To never feel the need to taste blood or be surrounded by dead bodies because I would have the blood on my hands.

What kind of future will I have now? I had suffered all my life. From the day I was born until this point, I could see myself being happy for a brief moment. That thought was crushed once again. Over and over again, my happiness is killed. Same as me.

My body is no longer warm to the touch. My heart does not have a heartbeat. My eyes are empty, full of sorrow and wrath.

"I see you are a bit upset about this - small change, but I promise you, it won't take long before you will be honored to possess this great change within you." She declared and left, leaving the iron door shut loudly. I flinched as it smashed back into its frame.

As I was directly staring at the window I had left open, a small creature flew onto the sill. When I focused my sight on it, I could see the texture of his short, pitch-black fur from up close, as if I were looking at it through a magnifier. My eyes then shifted to his head, which resembled a dog. Eyes dark with no iris. This creature's ears were standing up sharply. Eyes were popping out of his skull. His wings were then outstretched, and I realized this small creature was a bat.

I blinked repeatedly and shook the goosebumps off my body. I gazed back at the bat and realized I now saw him much farther away than I did a second ago. How is that possible? I asked myself out loud.

"I can answer your question with the simplest answer." The bat suddenly spoke. In a heartbeat, the talking bat flew to the top of the ceiling and exploded. I shut my eyes in fear of seeing his body shredded to pieces.

"I'm alright." My knee was gripped by a large, strong hand. I opened my eyes and saw in front of me a man with magnificent dark chocolate hair that was longer than mine. The moment our eyes met, a smile spread across his face. An unusual lavender color radiated from his almond-shaped eyes. Perfectly structured face, and his high cheekbones were hard not to stare at. He was all dressed in black, except for his blouse, which was the darkest color, emerald green. His style of clothing was extremely elegant, as if he were a prince.

He leaned closer to my face, sniffing around, probably to find out what I am. I flinched, moving my body away from his nose. He stopped sniffing when he was at the location of my mouth, and a mischievous smirk was on his face.

"Fresh blood." He said, piercing into my eyes. I pushed myself against the bed frame, pulling my knees to my stomach. I had enough for today. I don't want to go through another bloodshed. I have no idea what this vampire wants from me, but I have no intention to follow any of his commands if he has any.

The immortal stood up, straightening his posture. I squeezed my eyes, waiting for a kick or a slap from him, but nothing was happening. Knowing one's intentions is difficult to figure out in this place. No good is happening here. I fell into Satan's playroom.

"I am not the kind of creature you assume I am. In fact, I came because I want to help you, and it's, of course, up to you if you'll accept my willing help or not." He stated in a pleasant voice.

I should accept his help? Trust is earned, and he gave me zero reasons to trust him. Actually, quite the opposite effect.

Darcia's pov

Another hour, another minute, and another second without Talia. I've acknowledged my biggest weak point. I fought against my emotions just to find myself alone in my empty room. Books lying around the floor. My blouse and pants were thrown onto the couch. My room was filled with useless stuff, but it was entirely empty.

Nothing and no one could substitute Talia.

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I continued staring out the window, which was splattered with raindrops. How much time will pass until we meet each other again? I have eternity ahead of me, yet Talia's human life feels like a split second to me.

A knock alarmed me and woke me up from my thinking. "Come in," I said, turning my head in the direction of the door. Nicoli opened the door, analysing my face. He slowly closed it and walked up to me. I turned my head back to the window and folded my arms.

"I know you're angry with me. But now we can begin preparing." He reasoned. I wanted to return to the vampire world right that night since Talia disappeared; however, Nicoli kept on insisting we should wait and make a plan for how to safely get through the guards. I don't even know how many days have passed since he said that to me.

Instead of talking to him, I started preparing for what was coming. I found my dagger in the back of my closet, well hidden, and some other things, which might help when the battle starts. Taking Talia back from my sister won't be without a fight between me and her.

"I sent a letter to my old friend for help, and the reply just arrived. We cannot leave Stacey here alone, so she will stay with my friend and his wife." Nicoli announced.

I furrowed my eyebrows and snapped my head to look at him. "You want to give Stacey to some of your friends whom you haven't seen for god knows how long? Are you out of your mind? We cannot put Stacey at any risk. She will be safe here." I stated. Talia cannot lose her friend twice.

"My friend has a debt to pay, Darcia. They will take good care of Stacey. You think I would let the girl I love-." He stopped talking, shaking his head, as I wasn't supposed to hear that, even though I had known this since the beginning.

"Believe in me, please." Nicoli softly said. "After we take Stacey to my friend, we can finally take Talia back. I swear to you."

I returned my gaze to the window. I suddenly had a lump in my throat. I have to get Talia back. Back to me, where she belongs. "Okay, go and tell Stacey she has to pack her stuff. I will trust your decisions, but... I paused. "If this waiting I took for a risk will not bring her back to me, I swear to you too, I will make your life a living hell till the end of the times." I threatened him with confidence.

***

Nicoli's friend Espen lives in the world of mortals, just like us. Nicoli decided to drive this time, as he knew the road to get there better than me. Stacey was surprisingly calm and kept on saying, 'She will be alright' implying it to Talia. But Stacey has no idea what our world is truly like. All of the immortals living in that castle are not as nice as me and Nicoli. They torture, kill, and eat humans alive. Not just drinking their blood but eating their flesh as well. Talia could be dead by now if my sister got bored of her; however, I have a strong feeling that Elvira has bigger plans for her.

I should've known that she would have found out that Talia survived her attack. Staying in our house was not the smartest choice. Many eyes were spying on us, and we didn't notice. We have been too incautious about Elvira and her faithful friends.

For the final time, Nicoli turned the steering wheel to the right, and we stopped before an old Victorian house that looked abandoned. Same as ours. Well, that's the best way to hide the fact that you live there. People distance themselves from old mansions because they think they are haunted by ghosts. This is partially true because we are already dead.

When we closed the car door, the entrance door opened, and a towering man with a dark ashy color of his skin, and numerous tiny black braids that reached his abdomen was standing on the threshold. His body was filled with muscles. No part of his body was plain. A woman with bright copper hair appeared next to his big arm. She was barely half his height, her body was slim, and her rosy skin was pale as mine. A snowy cottage-core dress perfectly hugged her curvy hips and slim waist.

We greeted them politely and came inside their house. It was exactly as I expected. The furniture I took notice of could be worth millions. Everything was luxurious and expensive. Nothing cheap could be seen in their home. The walls were lined with artwork, and the floors were done in marble. The carpets were hand-woven, and every piece of furniture matched the exact milky color with a gold touch on the borders.

Stacey didn't look amused by their home. Her eyes kept swinging from side to side. She felt very uncomfortable, and I cannot blame her. She was surrounded by four vampires.

Espen seated us in the living room on this sectional, wine-red couch. Nicoli indicated to Stacey that she sat next to him, and she immediately did so. His wife was exceptionally pretty, but no woman could compare to Talia. Espen placed his hand around his wife's stomach and gently caressed it.

"How long has it been? Five hundred years or even more?" Espen asked, looking at Nicoli, and then a chuckle escaped his mouth.

"I would say even more, but thinking about time is one of the things we don't have to ever ponder about," Nicoli said with a smile on his face. Espen nodded at his answer and kissed his wife on the cheek.

"I remember what you have done for me, and I could never forget it. You saved Acasia." He paused, shifting his gaze to the floor. I suppose Acasia is the name of his wife.

"You are my friend, Espen." Nicoli softly said, and Espen raised his gaze back to Nicoli. "I'm happy to see you're doing well, Acasia," Nicoli added, now looking at her.

"And I'm happy you showed up after those years. But you changed a bit, didn't you?" She giggled with her soothing voice.

Nicoli didn't say anything back; he just laughed. Stacey kept her eyes on him, and when he felt her stare, he looked at her too.

"This is my friend Darcia." He pointed at me, and I bowed my head to greet them. "And this is the Stacey I wrote you about." He then pointed at her, but she just sat straight, keeping her eyes on her feet.

"Don't be afraid, lovely girl. No harm will come to you." Acasia reassured her. Then she stood up from the couch and walked closer to us. She stretched her hand to Stacey for her to take it, but before she accepted, she looked for approval from Nicoli. He nodded, and Stacey slowly placed her hand on Acasia's. They headed to the other room and closed the door.

"Can I ask, where are you two headed that you have to keep the human behind?" Espen asked.

"Home," I replied quickly, peering into his red eyes.

Espen looked confused and turned his head to Nicoli, waiting for an explanation of what I said. Nicoli sighed and cleared his throat.

"This is the princess, Darcia Valdis." Nicoli revealed my full name, and Espen widened his eyes at the answer. His forehead creased, and he immediately stood up.

His eyes darkened. "Your sister's friends tortured my Acasia, and now I have her sister in my living room." He said angrily. I instantly got up on my feet, being an inch away from his chin.

"That bitch took what's mine, and she and her friends will pay for that. I will do everything in my power to get my revenge." I said gravelly, piercing into his eyes.

We kept on staring into each other's eyes until he accepted that I meant every word I said. I don't play around with words.

He teleported back onto the couch, crossing his feet. "The only safest way to get into that castle is during the masquerade ball. The ball, as you know, happens on the full moon, which is five days from today. I've been informed by my friends that Elvira is planning to make that ball and is already sending invitations. I want my revenge, Darcia, but you are her sister. Could you kill her?" He asked.

Could I kill someone who made my life miserable and took the only thing that brought me happiness?

Without a blink of an eye,

"I don't expect you to trust me blindly. But you know what it feels like when they take what's yours. How hopeless do you feel? How much do you have the desire to kill anyone who is in your way to take back what's yours?" I said.

He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the left. His forearms then rested on his thighs as he leaned forward.

"Let's kill that cunt once and for all." Espen proclaimed.