2. Meet The Horrifying Vampire

Triana.

A horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by ten mounted guards, rode along the road that cut through the forest of death.

Inside the creaking and vigorously shaking carriage, a girl with skin as fair as a snowfield under the morning sun kept peeking out of the window, only to gulp down for the umpteenth time.

Since birth, Triana had always been under the comfortable protection of her parents. Castles, palaces, and other beautiful buildings were places she could visit. Neatly paved roads were what her soft feet could tread upon. She was never even allowed to leave her castle after five in the evening, when the sky darkened.

But now, Triana sat alone in a horse-drawn carriage, riding along a rocky and muddy road that cut through the most feared forest in Galvadea, the Forest of Death. An invitation from the king required her mother to accompany her father to the palace as a form of respect. Additionally, visiting the witch to request eternal beauty was a secret between Triana and her parents. Even her sisters didn't know about it.

Witches were always hated and feared. Most were burned alive by the townsfolk if caught. Collaborating with a witch would tarnish the Galev family's reputation in people’s eyes, including that of the king.

Besides worries and fears about what was to come, most of Triana's thoughts were filled with questions she wanted to push away but couldn't seem to shake off.

Why did she have to go this far? Was it her true self that people cherished all this time, or was it only her external beauty?

Triana shook her head again. 'Stop that thought, Triana! Father and mother love you. Everyone loves you. They want you to maintain your beauty because they want to see you happy.'

After hours of journeying, which made Triana's bottom sore and her head knock against the carriage several times, she felt her carriage come to a halt, followed by a knock on its door.

"My Lady, we've arrived."

The carriage door opened, and Triana stuck her head out only to be hit by the cold breeze on her half-braided hair.

"It is... the place, isn’t it?" Triana asked, though she knew the answer.

"Yes, it is, My Lady. This is Tevac Castle," replied the head guard as he extended his hand.

After gulping hard, Triana placed her hand on his palm. "Thank you, Griffin," she said after managing to touch the ground.

"The castle is surrounded by such a powerful curse that no one even dares to enter its wide-opened gate. Are you sure we can enter, My Lady?" Griffin asked.

"The witch said that the protective magic of the castle only applies to vampires and witches," Triana replied as she stared at the somewhat narrow yet towering castle standing before them. Then she murmured with a trembling voice, "I'm not even sure anyone can live in there."

Accompanied by five guards, Triana entered the castle, which was full of spiderwebs and bats flying around. Two guards carried torches to illuminate their pitch-dark path.

They descended the stairs until they reached the dungeon. Griffin once again unfolded the map previously drawn on a piece of paper by the witch. Then he led them towards an iron door with a small barred window in the middle.

"This is his prison." He whispered.

Triana nodded. Her heart didn't stop pounding, and it only grew louder as they walked further into the castle.

"Open the door, please," Triana requested.

Nodding, Griffin pushed the door open. The sound of rusty iron clashing echoed in the empty and damp corridor, causing anyone to grimace.

Chill, musty air greeted them. Although Triana’s feet felt like running away, she had no choice but to step into that dark room.

"Please light it up." Triana held her hand out to the side, and a guard made two steps ahead to give her a lantern.

Holding her breath, Triana stepped further in with the lantern she held in front of her body. When the lantern's light gradually reached the end of the dark room, Triana's hand trembled more as she saw three strands of chains lying on the stone floor. Swallowing hard, she directed her lantern to follow the long and thick chains, then halted as she found them binding a pair of legs.

As her lantern light moved higher, Triana's heart was squeezed as she discovered that the legs belonged to a man who looked like a skeleton wrapped in dry, wrinkled skin.

Bright brown eyes pierced through Triana's eyes. Those eyes seemed to glow in the darkness and were incredibly sharp, as if capable of reading the thoughts of anyone they stared at.

Swallowing hard again, Triana, with cold and trembling hands, opened a tiny leather pouch that hung in the band encircling her slender waist. She pulled out a folded piece of paper and unfolded it. "M-Mister... Vlador Lev Dracount?"

The weary eyes blinked slowly. Though his gaze was sharp, he resembled a dying lion who had lost its teeth and claws to pounce on its prey, eaten alive by the time.

"What brings you here?"

The heavy and hoarse voice made Triana look around. Then she realized that the voice came from the living skeleton clad in worn-out, outdated royal garments in front of her.

"Pa-pardon me," Triana said with a cough. "My name is Triana Rexa Galev, the youngest daughter of Duke Stefanus Galev. I've come here to ask you to drink this." She took something else out of her small pouch and then pointed it towards the terrifying-looking vampire.

A scornful laugh flowed from Vlador’s chapped and wrinkled lips. "You come to command me? What year is it now? It still seems the same as before; beautiful girls have empty heads."

Triana pressed her lips. She had never received such a cruel insult from anyone. All her life, her ears had only heard thousands of praises.

Beautiful girls have empty heads? Like in the old days? Don't tell her that all this time people have considered her foolish behind her back?

Triana closed her eyes and shook her head for a second. She didn't have time anymore. This was the last night when the moon was full, which also forced her to come to this dreadful place without her parents' escort.

"Please help me, Mr. Dracount. You have to drink this. Giving you this potion is a condition for me to save my future." Triana pleaded as she showed the potion bottle in front of his face.

The glowing brown eyes moved to gaze at the trembling small hand in the air. Then, his gaze returned to Triana's blue eyes.

"Who sent you? What will it do to me?" Vlador asked.

"It’s... It's a witch. She said that this potion will... um... make you young again," Triana replied.