[Kingdom of Khurus]

Boom! Boom!

Khurus's street was engulfed in a raging fire. Some were fleeing; others took refuge; and still others were locked up in their homes. A squad of soldiers marched through Khurus' famous marketplace, slaughtering anyone in their path.

There is a house in Khurus where a mother lives with her child.

"Mom, I am scared!"

The young child was drenched in sweat. He couldn't stop trembling. Jordina cuddles him and pats his back. Even though she is afraid, she must remain strong for the sake of her kid.

"Don't be afraid; I'm right here."

She knows that the guards are on the lookout for her and will arrive soon. She's had enough of running and hiding from him.

The door rattled as a deafening knock echoed through the room. Jordina was taken aback that she hastily grabbed her son and hid him in a secret basement, telling him that there would be a door leading to the outdoors if he went through the basement.

She glanced at him and stroked his short black hair. Her eyes were flushed, and her lower lip trembled.

"Once you've gotten outside, go to the vampire clan." Jordina presented him with a necklace. "Ask for Sonia, show her the necklace, and she will understand and make an exception for you,"

"No, mom," the grieving little kid said, shaking his head.

The tremendous knock vibrates the door, causing the basement wall to crack.

"If you want to live, do what I said," she stated firmly.

The guards broke the door and encircled the residence with their machetes.

"Go now," she said quietly. "I love you"

She closed the basement door and walked up the stairs to the living room to meet them.

"Didn't you hear the door?" inquired the king's confidant.

He was tall and had a large tattoo on his right hand. He grabbed her hair.

"I was in the restroom. How do you want me to hear your barking?" she said.

She smiled as her lip tightened and straightened her chin, maintaining steady eye contact with the confidant.

The confidant throws her to the ground and bends beside her. He raises her chin to meet his gaze.

"I'm being nice to you because the king requested it," he explained.

His brow wrinkled as his pupils narrowed.

"But you know, I can defy the king and murder you right here. The king will not be concerned with you."

She scoffed and spat in his face.

The confidant wipes the spit on his face with his hands. He gets to his feet and strikes her across the face. She spat up blood, cleans it up, and raises her face.

"Tell the king, if he wants it, I won't give it to him." She said this while staring at him without blinking. "Kill me if you want to." "I'D RATHER DIE THAN LET HIM HAVE IT," she said, raising her voice.

The confidant takes a matchet from one of his men and slides it on her neck. There was blood all over the place. Jordina's eyes were closed, and she fell down.

"Do you think he won't have it without you?"

He looked at the guard he had taken the matchet from and handed it to.

"Take her body and burn it," he instructed the guard.

"Yes, sir," responded the guard.

He was ready to leave the house when a thought occurred to him, and he came to a halt at the door's threshold.

"Why don't you just burn the whole house down?"

"Okay," the guard replied.

"The rest of you follow me,"

He opened the door and noticed how many people were outside. Some people left right afterwards, but others continue to stare at them. As he descended the stairs, the remaining guards surrounded the home.

"What are all of you looking at?" "Do you want to be next?" he yelled at them.

Those that were present were dispersed.

[The Vampire Clan]

The sun beats strongly on the new leaves, casting a golden hue on everything in sight. The air was thick and heavy, with a dusty smell and a heat that clung to any exposed flesh. Some Vampires are outdoors, while others are inside, ready for their next test to become the next guardian of the three Ethereal Kingdoms.

If certain tests are passed, three people will be chosen to be the new guardians of the three kingdoms. They had to pass endurance, selfishness, and empathy tests.

Within the Vampire clan is a house where sisters intend to take the exam.

"I'm exhausted. Why do I have to take this test?" As the sun glinted in her eyes, she rested her face on the table and uses her hand to block the ray of sunlight, Josephine grumbled.

On the couch sat two sisters. One was sleeping, and the other was reading.

Scarlett puts her book down.

"Don't you want to be a guardian?"

"I want to be a guardian, but the test is so difficult," she sat up. "Consider it. They want us to be selfish while also being compassionate! I mean, come on."

"I'm sure they have a reason," Scarlett replied as she looked at Vanessa."Vanessa, are you not going to say anything?"

"What should I say?" Vanessa opened her eyes and glanced up.

"Vampires, vampires, there is a crisis. Please come to the secret room right away."

All the vampires were made aware of the announcement.

"What kind of emergency?" Josephine inquired.

"Let's go; we'll find out when we get there," she says.

They all stood up and could use their teleportation magic to fly to the secret room, except for Josephine.

"Oh, I totally forgot I can't do teleportation," she groaned. "That means I have to walk ALL THE WAY TO THE SECRET ROOM IN THIS HOT SUN," she stated, kicking the floor with her legs.

The bright sun hits Josephine as soon as she enters the door.

She immediately shuts the door and grabs a hat from the peg on the side of the door and puts it on. She then ties the rope that is attached to the hat. She opens the door, trying not to stare at the hot sun.

"If I can teleport, I won't have to suffer like this." she sighed. "I'm not good at anything," she stated, looking down.

Josephine was well aware of her limited abilities for a long time. Her younger peers bullied her because she could not use power. Her sisters are the ones that guard her. Even if she appears to be uninterested, she still cares.

She was walking along the deck while grasping the girders. The sun was making the girders hot. She was moving slowly and trying hard not to look down. She came to a halt when her gaze fell on the floor.

"You can do it, Josephine; you won't fall. Don't look at it," she breathes in and out.

She began going through the deck and eventually exited it. She was feeling a little dizzy. She took a breather while holding a tall tree.

Josephine was still walking two hours later when she heard a thud on the ground. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened as she looked back.

[Scarlett and Vanessa]

Scarlett and Vanessa arrived at the secret room. There was little light in the room, and it was filled with vampires. There were no doors in the secret room, which were filled with locked windows.

Scarlett looked for Josephine, but she was nowhere to be found.

"Where has Josephine gone?" Scarlett inquired. "Don't tell me she still hasn't learned teleportation magic."

"What do you think?" Why do you suppose I said nothing when she decided not to take the test? It's pointless for her to take it because she'll embarrass herself."

"Vanessa, don't speak about her like that." Scarlett shunned Vanessa's idea. "Even if she is not as quick to learn as us, she is still our sister, so be nice."

"Yes, I hear you," she responded as she rolled her eyes.

Sonia arrived in a white, knee-length gown with her golden hair down. Every gaze fell on her.

"Sonia is here," Vanessa said to Scarlett.

Sonia was a stunning woman who served as the vampire clan's leader. Everyone admires her, yet everyone is terrified of her, especially when she is angry.

Scarlett was still looking at the back and debating if she should go pick up Josephine when Vanessa brushed up against her elbow.

"We're getting started right now. Pay attention."

"I was wondering if we should pick up Josephine," Scarlett whispered into Vanessa's ear.

"There isn't any necessity. If you leave now, you will draw attention to yourself, which could get you both in trouble," Vanessa replied.

"Let's get started right now," Sonia remarked.

[Josephine]

When Josephine turns around, she sees a young man lying lifelessly on the ground, his face on the grass. He was covered in blood.

Josephine hurried over to meet him. She elevated his body to get a better look at his face.

"Hey, wake up," Josephine said, shaking him.

Because this was her first encounter with something like this, Josephine did not know what to do. She did not know how he even got here.

She wipes her sweat off her body, then takes off her hat and places it on the field.

"What should I do?" says Josephine. She dragged him across the floor and up to sit behind a large locust tree.

She touches his heart and feels his heartbeat.

"Thank God he's alive! " she exclaimed with relief.

She tore his shirt and noticed the wound on his chest. The cut in his chest was round and deep, and it was leaking pus.

"How did he survive?" she wondered, her face perplexed. "I'd be doomed if someone saw me doing this to you," she added, binding him with a handkerchief to stop the bleeding.

This was Josephine's first encounter with a boy, as no boys were permitted in the vampire clan.

Josephine fixed her gaze on him. She examined his hazel eyes, then his mouth.

He piqued Josephine's interest. She had no idea a guy could be so attractive.

"He's very handsome," she says as her palm approaches his face. Then she came to a halt.

She strikes her hand.

"Josephine, please keep your hands to yourself."

Josephine pondered her options for a long time. Because of the vampire clan's rule, she could not transport him back to her home. She doesn't want to get thunderstorm punishment.

She must either leave him here or go to the secret room. It was the most tough decision she had ever made.

"Forget it. Allow me to assist you. I'm only here to assist you. I'm sure Sonia understands," she added as she tugged him away.

"Sorry, handsome guy, you will have to be dragged like this for 2 hours because I can't do anything right for the life of me."

"You can let me down," the young man whispered, quivering his lips and lowering his eyebrows.

His lips were chapped.

Josephine was taken aback. She quickly let him down.

"Were you awake all this time?" she asked, crossing her hands.

"If you can count, hearing you contemplating," he said as he was breathing hard. "Then I was awake." He looked around his surroundings and said, "Is this the vampire clan?"

"I can leave you here since you're fine."

Josephine retrieved her hat from the floor and wore it. The young man closed his eyes and remained motionless.

She was going to depart when she noticed the man had fainted.

"Are you feeling okay?" She examined his wound. "Oh my God, you're bleeding profusely,"

She noticed a wing tattoo behind his ear, which she had never seen before. She tucked him behind her back and activated a blob Scarlett had given her to use in an emergency if her teleportation power failed.

"I can't believe I'm going to use this on a stranger," she sighed heavily.

She took out the glob, then held him and used it. Josephine could teleport back to her home. She places him on the couch in her living room and begins searching for herbs that she may use to heal him. She knew she wasn't the finest doctor, but she wanted to give it a shot.

She could get the herbs and boil them in her kitchen one hour later.

They were both shocked to find a man there. Josephine hurriedly jumped up, astonished to see them because she expected them to take a long time to arrive. Whenever there is a meeting, it usually takes hours to finish.

"Sis…"

"What exactly is going on here?" Vanessa said this while taking a big breath and maintaining constant eye contact with Josephine, waiting for her to clarify.