2. Meeting The Vampire

Triana

A black horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by ten mounted guards, sped along the road that cut through the lush forest.

Inside the constantly creaking and rattling carriage, a girl with skin like a field of snow under the morning sun kept peering out the window, only to swallow her saliva for the umpteenth time.

Since birth, Triana had always been in the comfortable, protective embrace of her parents. Castles, palaces, and other beautiful buildings were places she should visit. Roads that were neatly paved were what her soft feet should tread upon. She wasn't even allowed to leave her castle before the sunset, when the sky darkened.

But now, Triana sat alone in a carriage, traveling on a muddy and rocky road that cut through the most feared forest in Galvadea, the Dark Forest. 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 ask for eternal beauty was a secret between Triana and her parents, unknown even to her two sisters.

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

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

If she may ask, why exactly did she have to do all this? Was it her true self that people cherished all this time, or just her beauty?

Triana shook her head again. 'Stop those thoughts, 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 traveling that made Triana's bottom sore and her head bump several times, she felt her carriage stop. A knock on the carriage door followed.

"Lady, we have arrived."

The carriage door opened, and Triana cautiously stuck her head out, only to meet a blast of cold air against her half-braided hair.

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

"Yes, My Lady. This is Tevac Castle." Replied the head guard, extending his hand.

After swallowing, Triana placed her hand in his. "Thank you, Grivin," she said after stepping onto the ground.

"The castle is surrounded by powerful curses. Even its front gate has been left open. Are you sure we can enter?" Grivin asked.

"The witch said that the castle's protective magic only applies to vampires and other witches," Triana replied, staring at the slightly small but towering castle building standing before them. Then she muttered with a trembling voice, "I'm not even sure anyone could live in there."

Accompanied by five guards, Triana entered the castle, which was filled with thick cobwebs and flying bats. Two guards carried lanterns to illuminate their pitch-black path.

They descended the stairs until they reached the dungeon. The Grivin reopened the map that was sketched on a piece of paper by the witch. Then he led the way to an iron door with a small barred window in the middle.

"This is his prison," Grivin whispered.

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

"I see. Please open the door," Triana ordered.

Nodding, Grivin pushed the door open. The sound of rusty iron scraping against each other echoed in the empty and damp hallway, making anyone who heard it cringe.

Cold air and dampness greeted them. Though her feet wanted to run away, Triana had no choice but to step into that eerie room.

"The lantern, please," Triana said, holding out her hand to the side. One of the guards carrying a lantern nodded and handed it to Triana.

Holding her breath, Triana stepped further with the lantern hung in front of her body. The lantern's light slowly reached the end of the dark room.

Triana's hand trembled more as she saw three chains lying on the stone floor. Swallowing, she directed her lantern to follow the somewhat long chains until she stopped upon finding that they were bound to a pair of feet.

As the light moved higher, Triana's heart was squeezed tight as she found that the owner of those feet was a man who looked like a skeleton wrapped in wrinkled skin.

Bright brown eyes beamed at Triana. Those eyes seemed to shine in the darkness and were piercing as if they could read the thoughts of anyone they stared at.

Swallowing again, Triana, with cold and trembling hands, opened a small leather pouch attached to her slim waist. She pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it. "Mr... V-Vlador Lev Dracount?"

The sleepy eyes blink slowly. Though his gaze was sharp, he seemed like a dying lion that had lost its teeth and claws to pounce on its prey.

"What brings you here?" 

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

"Well… pardon," Triana coughed.

"My name is Triana Rexa Galev, the youngest daughter of The Duke of Karton. I came here to ask you to drink this." She pulled something else from her small pouch and then presented it to the terrifying-looking vampires.

A mocking laugh flowed from Vlador's dry and wrinkled lips. "You came to command me? What year is it now? It still seems like the old days; a beauty has a foolish mind."

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

A beauty has a foolish mind? Like in the old days? Don't tell her that all this time, people have thought her foolish behind her back?

But Triana quickly shook her head. 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' companion.

"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 to him.

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

"Who sent you? Why should I drink that?" Vlador asked.

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