Chapter 3: Going to War

Damien said, "This is my butler. He will show you to your room. Go with him." After saying that, Damien left the palace.

The butler said, "Nice to meet you, Madam. My name is Doyle."

Morana replied, "My name is Morana, and you can call me by my name. I will serve your master; I am not your 'Madam'."

Doyle said, "I cannot call you by your name because the Master brought you here and did not tell me if you are his servant or a guest. So please, come with me, Madam. Until the Master says otherwise, I will call you Madam."

Doyle took her to the second floor and showed her to a room. Then he said, "I will show you the palace and tell you about some places where you are not allowed to go."

As they were roaming through the palace, they came to a room on the third floor.

Doyle said, "You cannot enter this room."

Morana asked, "Why can't I enter? What is so mysterious about this place?"

Doyle replied, "There is something here that you must not ask about."

Morana said, "I don't want to know anyway."

Doyle smiled and took her to the dining hall. At that moment, Damien arrived.

Damien asked, "Did my butler tell you all the rules of my palace?"

Doyle said, "I was just telling her about the places she is forbidden from entering."

Damien said, "I will teach her the rest. Come with me, Morana."

Damien then explained the rules.

The Routine: After that day, once a week, she always had to give her blood. A servant would come to the room, make a small cut on her hand, and collect the blood. Morana also ate only in that room. Sometimes she walked through the palace, but after that day, Morana never met Damien again—until the day came for him to leave.

Damien was going to war.

Morana was in the Blue Rose garden when she saw him on a horse. She walked toward him.

Doyle said, "Oh, Morana. The Master is going to war against the Wolf Kingdom."

Damien rode toward her. He said, "Morana, for these next few months, your blood will not be taken. My butler will ensure your safety."

Morana asked, "When will you return?"

Damien said, "I am going to war. I do not know when it will end, but I think it will be a few months. I will try to finish this war as fast as I can. By the way, why are you asking me that question?"

Morana said, "Because for these next few months, I can rest in peace without someone taking my blood every week."

Damien smiled, said goodbye, and left for the war.

5 Years Later

Five years have passed, and Morana is now 19. Since Damien left, the servants have celebrated her birthdays with joy. Morana has almost forgotten that they are vampires because they behave so kindly toward her. She moves like a fairy in the darkness, and she has grown into a lady with a face and body so beautiful that everyone admires her. Some servants say she is so pretty they can't stop staring.

Over time, Doyle became her best friend. She often talks with him and the other servants. However, internally, she has developed psychopathic tendencies; she secretly laughs when people cry or when she sees blood. No one knows about this side of her, nor do they know she sometimes thinks about killing others. These remain her private, inner thoughts.

Currently, Morana is sitting with Doyle and asking him when Damien will return. Damien had originally said he would be back in a few months after fighting the Werewolf Kingdom.

Doyle said, "Morana, sometimes the Master stays away for many years when he is working. But he will return safely because he is the strongest vampire in the kingdom—the most powerful monster of all."

Morana asked, "What do you mean by 'many years'? How old is he?"

Doyle replied, "No one knows how old he really is."

"What do you mean no one knows?" Morana said. "He looks like he’s 23 or 25. Is he 100 or 200 years old?"

Doyle said, "I think you don’t realize that vampires live for thousands of years."

Morana frowned. "If they can live for thousands of years, why do they need an Eve’s blood to be immortal?"

Doyle explained, "Vampires depend on their bodies to live long, but they need an Eve’s blood to become truly immortal. If a vampire consumes Eve blood for a total of ten years, they can never die. This applies to pure-blooded vampires. For half-bloods, it only works on a specific date every 6,000 years."

"Which date?" Morana asked.

Doyle said, "June 3rd. Also... I have some bad news for you."

"What bad news?"

"Damien is arriving today," Doyle said.

Morana’s heart sank. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? That means as soon as he arrives, he will start taking my blood again."

"Yes," Doyle replied. "I only received the information this morning."

Morana began getting ready for Damien’s arrival.

(story to be continued...)

(The next chapter will be on next Tuesday)

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