⚡ THE BEGINNING OF THE BEGINNING

It was a normal Saturday for every member of the Dracula family, but never for her. She slipped past her grandma out of the room. Time had gone by so fast. She was supposed to be there before they woke up. Luckily, she got to the bus station just in time to meet the last bus. She brought out her forged ID Card, showing it to the matron. Her heart beat faster than normal.

Silently, she began to shed tears. She didn't know how long she was going to keep up with this fake identity and she knew it wasn't going to end soon. Those men were not done with her and it was clear to her.

"Soda?" She heard her name in the bus. Her eyes widened and she refused turn. Nobody was supposed to find out, not even her parents. The same voice called her name and she recognized it instantly. Tiger!!!!! How could she forget that he was also a working class elite?

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The twins walked in and murmurs rippled across the classroom. Ryan and Rihanna? Interesting!!!!! They didn't even act like they were affected by all the noise. They were so used to it everywhere they went.

Collins, David, Ferris, and Ralph also walked in. Rihanna's cult band began to form as soon as they entered. Some of her colleagues were here too!!!!! Now that makes sense!! She only needed to find out who they were.

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"You're drooling!" That was going to make it the second time Stephanie was mentioned that to Claire.

"Not my fault!" She shouted back, "You were doing same in class, too."

Stephanie swallowed, fuming in anger. Her love for him didn't start today and she didn't want any other person to stand in her way or compete with her for his love and attention.

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"Wait here for me. I will be back soon."

He didn't even get enough time to ask where she was going.

Soon, she got to the huge mango tree that stood beside the school cafeteria. She knelt on front of it and murmured some words. She was about to leave when she noticed a shadow lurking around the tree. With a heavy blow, the shadow fell to the ground and she ran.

"Did you see that?" Ralph turned to his friends.

"We're not blind, dude.

"I'm aware. I just wanted to be sure my eyes were not playing tricks on me."

"We better get her to the clinic before any teacher sees it."

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"Sweetheart, you haven't told me where exactly you are going," Mrs Leopardo stood on front of her husband, preventing him from going out of the door.

"I've told you this before," his brows furrowed in frustration, "They didn't tell us the exact place. I'm not the only one going on this journey. I'll be fine, don't worry."

She frowned in displeasure as she watched her husband depart.

"What for goodness' sake is going on in this house?"

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Soda was done with the day's work already, and she needed to leave as possible. She didn't want those at home to get suspicious. She was passing through the hallway when she heard a deep guttural groan. She made to go into the room where the sound came from but was stopped when, "Oh fuck!!!!!! Ralina!!! Mmmmm.....mmmm. The things you do to me, pretty thing. Fuccckkk!!!"

Her eyes widened in shock as she ran down the hallway and out of the house. Her heart beat frantically as she ran.

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Lilac sat in the kitchen turning the egg in the pan to the other side. She was deep in thought. Soda. It was the way she snuck out of the house on Saturday. It was how she made sure no one was up before she left the house. It was how she had become secretive over the past few months. And she was worried. Soda was her favorite grand child. She couldn't stand the risk of anything happening to her.

"But how exactly can I get her to tell me the truth?" Lilac thought to herself aloud.

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"Dad!!!!" She screamed in frustration.

"Will you stop?!" She was shocked. Her dad had never raised his voice at her.

"You are not even listening to me! We have only three days left to renew the contract. Three days left! And from what I see, you are not doing anything about it."

"What more do you want me to do except find more blood?"

"Aren't you tired?" She asked bitterly, "Aren't you tired of all these?"

"My love, we signed up for this. And we will see it to the last."

"Arrrrrrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!"

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"Arrrrrrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!"

The door burst open, "What exactly is the problem? Besides, who were you holding a conversation with?"

"No one, Mom!" She groaned, "You should also learn how to knock."

"Rihanna," she called soothingly, "You know you can always talk to me, right?"

"Mooooom!!! I know that. There's nothing, really. I promise."

"You always tell me that. What exactly is going with you and your father?"

"Mom?" She shouted, wide eyed, "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. Don't even bother saying anything. I will find out myself."

Rihanna covered her face with the pillow as soon as her mom left.

"Three days, just three days!!! What am I supposed to do???" She cried into the pillow.

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"Follow you? I have a presidential summit in the next three hours and I'm supposed to be there an hour before the meeting commences!"

"Fine, then. I'll be here waiting for you after your important meeting is over."

***

"Is he cheating on Mom?"

"I don't think so."

"It better not be that."

"He knows better than that, I'm sure."

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"Grandma?"

"Darling, are you good?"

Soda shook her head.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

It was the same response.

"Come here,' she motioned for her to come closer, and began moving her hands through her hair.

"If you ever need someone to talk to, or a shoulder to lean on, I'm here. Okay?"

She nodded, and soon fell asleep.

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"What do you mean how?" The great god mother asked.

"I mean what I said! How?"

"Child, don't you know what you signed up for?"

"Tell me something I don't know."

"You know everything, of course."

"Well, I'm done."

"With?"

"This whole thing! Why did the requirements increase so rapidly?"

"That's the new set of requirement given by Dagger."

"Really?"

Just as she was about to reply, the dungeon began to shake. Lightening struck thrice, and the whistle was blown.

"WHAT!!!!!" They shouted in unison.

***