LOGINEverywhere I looked I was surrounded by them. They would not let us sleep or rest because our kind did not deserve to rest . I was on knees wiping the floor and I wasn't even half way done yet . I had two more large halls to go. After that we had to clean the dishes and that would take hours. It was torture and evil all at once and everyone was watching my every step even the other human servants.
"Hi," a girl said as I finished cleaning the second hall room "can you make sure the basement in the kitchen is also cleaned up" I stood up and looked at her "couldn't you do it that wasn't on my list" She seemed offended by what I had just said as if expected to just take it. I wasn't going to be bullied by them as well my own kind hell no "I am a bit tied up that's why I asked" "Did you ask everybody else or was it just me?" I grabbing my bucket and she didn't answer "I thought so ,well I'm a bit 'tied' up so I can't" I walked away who did she think she was . She stood there in shock and maybe even angry. Her grey eyes narrowed at me. I smirked so she was the queen B amongst the human slaves. Didn't she have better things to worry about than bullying her own kind. I scoffed as I entered another room and got down . I started wiping the floor by the time I was done I was exhausted . I groaned as I thought of the amount of dishes waiting for me . The sun started rising as I finished washing the last plate. We were basically forced to wash for the whole pack. And only two people were supposed to do it they wouldn't allow us to help each other. I looked at Madam Anna "please Madam..." she cut me off "Call me Anna please just Anna" she said with her tired voice ,her hands were swollen from cooking and cleaning and washing for probably years now . "Anna please get some I will finish off" I pleaded with her . She had swollen baggy eyes and dark circles it definitely wasn't healthy. She shook her head "it's okay dear I am alright besides they will kill me if they found me resting." "I won't tell if you won't " I said "now please go rest for even a few minutes" I insisted . She sighed "you won't give up will you." "I definitely won't so ...go please." She smiled at me as she left and I stayed behind. I began preparing breakfast as the birds began chirping . My hands already felt sore but I had to get it done for Madam Anna . I felt like she really worked so hard she barely had time to look after herself and the humans here seemed to only care about themselves and not each other.They had probably been here for so long they had forgotten how to be united ,how to fight ,they had given up all hope I could see it in their eyes. My thoughts were quickly distracted when the girl with grey eyes and Brown hair walked in with two man they were also human slaves. She folded her arms "she refuses to do the hard work she thinks she is special" she said gesturing at me . "I guess we will show her how special she is then" the man said with raised eyebrows . Lily walked in ,her eyes were red and puffy. She looked at the girl "Emma what are you doing?" She asked her confused. "Are you okay?" I asked Lily but then one of the guys grabbed my hand and I slapped him hard "fuck off don't you touch me!" I said grabbing a knife from the counter . Another twisted my hand and I winced in pain dropping the knife. They started dragging me with them. "Stop it !" Lily said in tears "what are you doing!" "Stay back or you will be next," Emma said as she followed behind. I tried resisting but Emma quickly punched me in the face and my vision blurred for a second. They dragged me to a dark room. They placed me in the middle of the room while the other guy grabbed a few bottles . They started breaking the bottles until I was surrounded by shards of glasses . Emma had already taken away my shoes . There was shards of broken glass everywhere and only a tiny space for me to stand . "Why are you doing this ,we should be united why are you acting like them?" I said in anger "Don't fall asleep,byeee" Emma sang as they left me in the dark and locked the door behind them. I sighed ,this was really hell and worse than I thought . I stood there for hours and Noone came for me . I even tried calling for help even from the monsters but Noone came. I was alone and my legs hurt. I had to get out of here nomatter what. I tore a large piece of my dress and wrapped it around my feet and hands. Trying to brushed some of the glass away wasn't working because the shards of glass was everywhere they really had out done themselves. I tried walking towards the door thankfully the sun had risen and some of the light started sipping into the room. I walked slowly and carefully. I winced as I felt some of the glass cutting my foot but I was almost there. Just as I reached the door a bigger glass sliced my foot and I almost fell on my face but the door opened and large hands grabbed me lifting me off the floor easily bridal style . I widened my eyes as I stared at the beautiful golden eyes of my heroes. Elijah.ELIZABETH’S POVThe lights came back seconds later, but the hallway was completely empty. The figure was gone, leaving no trace of its presence. There was no copy of me, no smiling monster and absolutely nothing that could explain what we’d just witnessed. The corridor stretched before us, silent and dark, and for a moment, nobody seemed willing to move.Then everyone sprang into action.Damon disappeared first, moving so quickly that I barely registered him leaving my side. One moment he was standing beside me, and the next he was nothing more than a black blur racing through the mansion. Lucien and Tristan immediately followed, while Adam cursed under his breath and grabbed a weapon from one of the display cabinets. Vanessa’s hands began glowing blue as she prepared her magic, and within seconds, the entire mansion had erupted into controlled chaos.For the next two hours, every room, hallway, hidden passage and possible entrance was searched. The guards joined in, but despite every
ELIZABETH’S POVBEGIN.The word sat in the centre of the map, and for a moment, nobody in the library said anything. We simply stared at it, trying to understand what it meant. Eventually, Chloe blinked and looked around the table.“What exactly are we beginning?”“Hopefully not our deaths,” Lucien replied.“I’d like one week without a near-death experience.”“You’ve never had one week without a near-death experience,” Tristan pointed out.“That’s fair.”Normally, I would have smiled at their exchange. Lucien’s ridiculous comments usually helped ease the tension, but tonight I couldn’t bring myself to laugh. Something felt wrong, and I couldn’t explain why. The word on the map didn’t look like a warning. It felt more like the beginning of a countdown.Vanessa’s grandmother continued staring at the parchment, her expression noticeably paler than before. Damon seemed to notice it too.“You’ve seen this before,” he said.It wasn’t a question. The old witch slowly nodded.“Once.”Adam fol
ELIZABETH’S POV “There’s a price.” Of course there was. There was always a price. Every spell, every answer, every solution, every single thing connected to this supernatural nightmare seemed to come with some horrible catch. The hope that had filled the library moments ago disappeared almost immediately, and Vanessa’s grandmother looked at us grimly. Nobody spoke until Chloe finally broke the silence. “Can we have one thing without a horrifying consequence?” The old woman simply looked at her. “No.” Chloe sank back into her chair. “Honestly, I respect the honesty.” I would have laughed if my stomach weren’t currently tied in knots. My eyes returned to the map, where the red door sat at the centre of the parchment. I hated looking at it. There was something unsettling about the way it seemed to draw my attention, and the symbol on my hand had started tingling again. Every time I looked at that door, I felt an uncomfortable sense of familiarity, as though somewhere deep insi
ElizabethNobody speaks.The words hang over the library like a storm cloud.For the first time since this whole nightmare began, nobody rushes to explain things away.Nobody tells me it was "just a vision."Nobody says I imagined it.Because they all saw my face.They saw the fear.And deep down, I think they know exactly what I know.Something is changing.Fast.The silence stretches until Chloe finally blurts out:"Okay. Great. Fantastic. Awful. What exactly is opening and how do we stop it before we all die?"Honestly?Valid question.I sit up slowly on the couch.My head is pounding.Damon is still kneeling beside me, his hands on my shoulders.I become painfully aware of it.Especially when I notice everyone else noticing it.Lucien's grin immediately appears."Oh."Damon doesn't even look at him."Don't.""I didn't say anything.""You were about to.""I absolutely was."Adam pinches the bridge of his nose."Can we focus on the ancient apocalypse?""Fine," Lucien sighs dramatica
Elizabeth"The prison is opening."The words slam into the hallway like a physical force.Every hair on my body stands up.Beside me, Chloe freezes.Vanessa's fingers instantly wrap around my wrist.The servant standing at the end of the corridor isn't moving.Isn't blinking.Isn't breathing.She's just standing there smiling with a face that doesn't belong to her anymore.My stomach twists violently.No.Nope.Absolutely not.The voice that comes from her mouth isn't human.It's the same voice from the creature at the gates.The same layered sound.The same thing that makes my skin crawl.The servant's head tilts slowly.Almost curiously.Like she's studying me.Like she's waiting for something.For a moment nobody moves.Then Chloe does what Chloe always does when terrified.She gets angry."What is wrong with everybody?" she shouts. "Can we stop possessing people?!"The servant's smile widens.The lights flicker.Once.Twice.Then stabilize.A cold breeze sweeps through the corrido
Elizabeth"You're right."If someone had told me a month ago that the most shocking thing I'd ever hear would be Damon Elvadores admitting I was right, I would've laughed in their face.Yet here we are.The entire foyer goes silent.Even Chloe looks stunned.Lucien actually lets out a low whistle."Mark the calendar," he mutters. "The apocalypse truly is upon us."Damon shoots him a look.Lucien immediately raises both hands."I'm quiet."He is not quiet.Not even a little.But for once, Damon doesn't argue.His attention remains entirely on me.And suddenly the room feels much smaller.Much warmer.Dangerous.My pulse betrays me immediately.I hate that.I really do.Damon looks toward his brothers."Library."The single word sounds like an order.Apparently everyone understands because they immediately start moving.Even Chloe.Though not without muttering:"If this turns out to be another cryptic speech, I'm biting someone."⸻Twenty minutes later, everyone is gathered in the libra







