Chapter 6

The day I formally entered the Progenitor Research Center was three days after my transformation.

Caspian hosted a final banquet for all participants. As vampires, we rarely consumed human food, but that evening the table was laden with the finest blood wines and specially prepared dark berries.

After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere in the banquet hall turned thick and somber. More than a few vampire researchers seated at the long table had tears in their eyes.

Caspian set down his goblet and surveyed the room, his voice echoing through the vast hall:

"This is your last chance to contact the outside world. Make a call to your kin or your loved ones."

"Once you enter the core laboratory, you'll be immersed in a hundred years of research stasis and pharmaceutical trials. If you want to back out, now is the time."

The soft sounds of dialing filled the room, interspersed with stifled sobs. I sat still for a long time before finally taking out my phone and opening a social media account I hadn't touched in ages.

Silas had posted an update. They'd taken Elena to the Caribbean. In the photos, the sea was a blue so vivid it hurt to look at, as if God had spilled his palette.

Elena was wearing the hand-sewn lace dress that should have been mine. She glanced over her shoulder on an endless stretch of sand, her smile dripping with sweetness.

Caspian's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Alice, make a call."

"Once you walk through those doors, who knows what century it'll be when you come out."

I gripped the phone so hard my knuckles went white. After a long hesitation, I dialed the familiar number.

But the voice that answered was Elena's-light and gloating: "Hey! Need something?"

My voice was hoarse from the transformation. "Are they there?"

Elena chirped back, "You mean the boys? They told me to answer. They're busy taking me diving right now and can't talk. Whatever you need to say, you can tell me."

In the background, I could faintly hear Julian calling out: "Elena, put the phone down! Come over here-the waves are strong!"

Elena's voice carried a sliver of undisguised triumph. That petty teenage vanity seemed almost comical to me now.

"So what did you want to say? I can pass it along."

"Oh, by the way-you left a box at home, right? Since you've moved out, there's no point keeping that old stuff around, so I had someone get rid of it. You don't mind, do you?"

My heart went completely still. I answered flatly, "Never mind."

I hung up.

When everyone had finished their goodbyes, we began walking toward the massive door. On one side lay the bustling human world. On the other, a century of solitude.

I removed my SIM card, snapped it in half, and tossed it into the recycling bin by the entrance.

I crossed the threshold without looking back. Not once.

……

After a week in the Caribbean, Silas was gripped by an inexplicable restlessness. With the Full Moon Festival approaching, Elena wheedled to stay on the island for the celebration, saying the beachside festivities were famous.

Silas's instinct was to refuse. His work was done for the year, and he should have felt at ease-but this nagging sense of absence wouldn't leave him alone. They'd only been gone seven days, yet it felt like centuries.

He was groping for an excuse to go home when, to his surprise, the usually composed Julian spoke first:

"You can come back and play anytime."

"There's urgent blood-contract business at home. I have to go."

Elena was still in high spirits and protested: "But you promised Alice there'd be absolutely no work during the family vacation!"

Julian froze, his gaze drifting guiltily toward the window.

Elena huffed and stormed out, abandoning a newly purchased plush toy.

Silas stared at the teddy bear on the floor. He suddenly remembered-it was the kind I used to love as a child.

What was I like as a little girl?

Silas tried to recall, and was horrified to find the images almost completely blurred. All he could summon were the last six months-my frantic screaming, my tearful demands to drive Elena away. And then, the version of me that grew quieter and quieter. I no longer clung to him for bedtime stories or asked about their missions. I was always "busy at school." When I crossed paths with him in the castle, my eyes were full of distance and unease.

Each time Elena broke something of mine, my reactions had evolved-from explosive rage at first, to eventual numbness. All I'd say, in a voice devoid of feeling, was: "It's fine."

Silas picked up the teddy bear from the floor. He was suddenly aware of a hollow ache in his chest, as if he'd lost something precious beyond measure.

When had he lost it? That little princess who used to tug at his sleeve, whose eyes held nothing but him-when had she disappeared?

Julian's cold voice shattered his reverie:

"I'm flying back to North City tonight."

"If you want to stay here with her, suit yourself."

Silas looked up sharply. In Julian's eyes, he saw the exact same restlessness and dread.

Almost instinctively, Silas replied, "I'm leaving tonight too."

Julian said nothing. He turned in silence to pack his things.

The next evening, their private jet touched down in North City. The whole way, Silas's temples had been pounding.

When they arrived at the castle, the great hall was cold and empty. No familiar figure anywhere. The old housekeeper came forward to take their cloaks.

Silas asked, as if it were a casual afterthought: "Alice isn't back yet?"