Chapter - 2

NINA

Congratulations to me. Today is my birthday and I’m on my way to my destination. The carriage that came to pick me up sways as it travels along the road. With my hand supporting my head, I look outside, watching my village fade behind. Its simple wooden and thatched houses are now so far away that I feel the tightness in my chest almost suffocating me.

I wipe away the tear that falls, remembering my mother’s last words. “Obey the prince and the king. Try to keep your distance from the others.” That’s what I’m going to do.

I lean my head against the wood, carefully examining the carriage. The upholstery is blood-red, similar to my wings, while the exterior is black. The coachman didn’t even look at me when he opened the door for me to enter. Even so, I could notice how pale he is, with sunken and red eyes.

I don’t know any vampires personally, only fairies, humans, and shapeshifters. All these races coexist in Meztli, and I know there are others in our great world of Helmel.

I’ve always wanted to flap my wings and fly away, far off to explore the other kingdoms. But I couldn’t. My whole life was locked in the village with few people. Well-fed to be strong, while isolated because I belonged to the prince.

The village people were afraid to touch me, to hurt me and thus attract the wrath of the vampire king upon them. My life has always been empty, dull, and without friends. No matter how hard I tried, when I said my name, Nina Meliovik, everyone pulled away in fear. No one ever wanted me around. I was just a burden, an offering.

Morbóvia is a place nestled in the shadows between the lands of Meztli and Nada. It lies in a small village enveloped in darkness. There, the vampires found their refuge, a community where night is eternal.

In this small vampiric enclave, desires are insatiable and the power of the vampire king echoes through every corner. It is a place where fear and fascination meet, where life and death dance a dangerous dance.

The place to which I am being sent.

When the carriage enters the Zamem forest, the cold embraces me like a specter. The trees twist like serpents, gray dominates this forest and the mist envelops it like a veil. Soon I spot some lit torches, illuminating the path like eyes of fire. Stone houses emerge from the shadows, revealing the village of Morbóvia. It’s my first time here, but I recognized the descriptions from my father. The white and gray stones on the ground contrast with the black stones that adorn the small houses. They look like tombs, where the vampires hide. Soon I see females and males in the streets, dressed in black like crows. Their skins are pale, and their red eyes stare at me with curiosity and disdain.

The carriage stops with a jolt at the staircase of a large and imposing castle of gray stones. At the top of the stairs, the king’s family awaits me. King Vlademir Duskmire, his wife, Queen Silvane Duskmire, and their two sons—only born blood can procreate, while transformed blood cannot, rarely a half-breed succeeds.

A chill runs down my entire spine as I look at them and see their severe faces, their bloody eyes, and their white skins. The coachman opens the door and I step out hesitantly, but before I can even take a step, he murmurs.

“I hope you have luck in feeding the prince. This year alone, you’re the third feeding female I’ve brought here.” I glance at him from the corner of my eye and ask, whispering.

“What happened to the others?”

“They died.” I turn toward the family at the top of the staircase and my body freezes.

Was I heading straight to death?

I walk toward the royal family, feeling a sensation of cold coursing through every part of my being. Their intense and hungry gazes make me question if Mom is right, if I’ll come back.

Now, I believe not.

I am about to become the next source of food for Prince Eros, and after what I heard, after learning about the others, my prospect of death is almost certain, as if it hovered over me. Thinking about this, I look up, just in time to see a shadow of broad wings entering the castle, making me shiver all over.

With each step I climb toward them, my mind fills with doubts. Will I be able to satisfy his thirst? Or will he drain every drop from me even without need, since they drink on average one glass of blood per day.