Chapter 1

At midnight, my soul drifted out of the basement.

The door to my bedroom was pushed open. My brother, Leo, stormed in. Not seeing me, he let out a scoff.

“You’re not a child anymore. Playing hide-and-seek and throwing tantrums—don’t you think that’s childish?”

Normally, I would have argued back.

But this time, I only hovered beside him, unable to make a sound.

Leo called my phone. There was no answer. Irritated, he ran a hand through his hair and casually flipped through the notebook on my desk.

There was only one number written inside.

99.

The number of times they had disappointed me over the years.

Leo didn’t understand. He frowned, tossed the notebook onto the floor, and left a voice message.

“Stop playing these stupid games. Olivia wants to eat the Blood Tart you make, so get back here and bake it for her.”

“Today is her Commencement. Don’t you dare ruin it. Come home within an hour, and I’ll forgive you.”

Leo slipped his phone back into his pocket and returned to the living room.

“Bella’s not in her room, and she’s not answering,” he told our parents.

“She’s always like this—making a big deal out of nothing, disappearing, waiting for us to beg her to come back.”

“We spoiled her,” my father finally said.

“This time, no one contact her. Let her learn her lesson. Once she calms down, she’ll crawl back on her own tomorrow.”

Olivia walked over and gently tugged at our father’s sleeve, her face full of concern.

“Dad, don’t say that. What if something really happened to Bella?”

“Maybe I should text her? You know Bella and I are very close.”

She lowered her eyes, looking innocent and gentle, like a frightened doe.

I watched as she took out her phone, her slender fingers tapping against the screen.

[Hope you’re having fun being bullied by those thugs. Who are you fooling around with now?

By the way, the party was great. Thanks for not coming.

It’d be even better if you were dead.]

After sending it, she deleted the message and retyped another.

[Little sister, are you okay? We’re all so worried about you.

If you’re angry, take it out on me. Please come home.]

She held the phone up for everyone to see, perfectly playing the role of a caring sister.

Mother pulled her into her arms, her voice full of sympathy.

“You’re always so kind, Olivia. This has nothing to do with you. Bella is just too immature.”

Immature?

My soul let out a bitter laugh, though no one could hear it.

In their eyes, everything revolved around Olivia.

Who would remember that today was supposed to be the day I received the Order of the Night—

an honor awarded only once every three years?

I knew they would all be celebrating Olivia’s Nightfall Commencement, so I told them not to attend my award ceremony.

I had never tried to compete with Olivia for their love.

But just as I was about to leave for the ceremony, three thugs broke in and dragged me into the basement.

I struggled in terror. “How do you have the key to our house?”

One of the men dangled a key ring in front of me.

It was Olivia’s.

“Don’t waste your strength,” he sneered.

“You’re not leaving this basement today.”

“I won’t tell anyone, I swear. Please… please don’t kill me…”

In the end, they ignored my pleas. They pinned me to the floor, assaulted me, bit into my neck, and took countless photos amid their vicious laughter.

I fought with everything I had. In the struggle, my head slammed into the corner of the table.

Blood burst out instantly.

Panicked, they fled.

With the last of my strength, I dragged myself toward my phone and used my tongue to swipe the screen, trying to call for help.

Every vampire can sense a family member in danger through the coven blood bond,

but they all thought I was only seeking attention—so they severed the bond.

Not only did they refuse to answer my calls, they even sent me a message.

[Fake suffocation again? Stop acting!

Your father and I don’t have time to play these games with you!]

Only my Consort—Julian—answered.

“Help me… Julian, I’m going to die…”

His response was cold and sharp.

“Bella, stop acting. Today is Olivia’s big day.

There’s a limit to how much attention you can demand.

I already told you I’d make it up to you with a gift.”

But… Julian.

I really was dying.

A faint, bitter smile crossed my lips.

What a pity. You’ll never have the chance to make it up to me now.

Within twenty-four hours, the smell of cold iron and dried blood would seep out of that basement no one entered.

Olivia always said she wished I were dead—

so no one would compete with her for your love.

Now, her wish had come true.