Chapter 18

"Then... when you watch it, you’ll know!" he said with a pout, clearly upset that I’d ruined his fun.

Amid the fear and uncertainty of the situation, his irrational behavior somehow lifted my mood. A faint smile crept onto my lips despite myself.

I couldn’t resist teasing him. "Does your skin sparkle in the sunlight too?"

His face twisted into an annoyed grimace. "You said you didn’t watch it!"

"I didn’t," I replied with mock sincerity. "I just saw a lot of trailers."

He sighed, exasperated. "For your information, no, our skin doesn’t sparkle. Let’s just say we’re sensitive to ultraviolet light, but we don’t burst into flames the moment we step outside either."

I studied him more closely now, noticing his unnaturally pale complexion. Turning to the driver, I saw the same eerily lifeless tone in his skin.

"So... you really are... vampires," I said, attempting a chuckle that ended up sounding far too nervous.

Mr. Larkspur’s lips curled into a smirk. "I’m surprised it took you this long to figure it out, Ms. Halloway."

I let out a long sigh, shaking my head. "I guess my mind kept reaching for rational explanations right up until the end."

"Is that so?" He raised an eyebrow, his gaze piercing. "And yet, you don’t seem all that afraid of what’s to come. Why is that?"

I let out a hollow laugh, the sound tinged with bitterness. "Let’s just say I’ve lived with fear for so long, I’m practically numb to it now."

His smirk deepened, but he didn’t press further. Oddly, the truth—that he and, presumably, everyone here were vampires—brought a strange calm to my rattled mind. Perhaps knowing was less agonizing than the torment of uncertainty.

The car rolled on, leaving the town far behind as it ascended a hill. The smooth pavement gave way to a sandy road lined with dense woods. Soon, we came upon a massive stone wall with a towering iron gate, bristling with cameras and sophisticated security devices. Whoever lived here, I thought, was fiercely protective of their privacy.

The gates groaned open, and the car moved forward onto a winding road flanked by tall trees. After what felt like miles, we finally arrived.

"This is it," Mr. Larkspur said with a sneer. "Welcome to your new home."

I stepped out cautiously, and my breath caught at the sight before me.

What stood there was no dark, crumbling castle straight out of a horror movie. Instead, it was a sprawling, modern estate—a luxurious blend of sleek architecture and natural beauty. The grounds were surrounded by blooming flowers and tall trees, their vibrancy stark against the muted tones of my current reality.

For a fleeting moment, I even joked to myself that if I had to be a prisoner, this was as nice a prison as one could hope for. My dark humor had become a lifeline, helping me cling to some semblance of sanity.

Mr. Larkspur led me inside, his footsteps echoing against the marble floors. The halls were grand and elegant, filled with understated luxury. Finally, we stopped in front of a room that could only be described as palatial.

The space was enormous, with a gleaming marble floor, a canopy bed draped in soft, luxurious fabric, and a wide window that let in the moonlight.

"Wow..." I murmured, unable to hide my astonishment. I still clutched the blood-soaked blanket around me, a grim reminder of everything I’d endured.

"You’ll want to clean up," Mr. Larkspur said, gesturing to a door on the right. "The bathroom is through there."

I hesitated, unsure about being left alone in this strange place.

He seemed to sense my unease. "Don’t worry," he added in a softer tone. "No one will disturb you. Take a bath, rest. The Master will meet you in the morning."

He turned to leave, but something made me call out, "Mr. Larkspur!"

He paused at the door, glancing back over his shoulder.

"Um... thank you," I stammered, my voice small. "For saving me. You stopped that auction and..." I trailed off, laughing awkwardly.

He shrugged, his expression unreadable. "It was already planned." But then he sighed, his voice softening. "As for your friends... we’ll see that justice is done. I promise."

With those parting words, he left, closing the door behind him.

His promise was like a key unlocking the floodgates of my emotions. My knees buckled, and I sank to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Every ounce of pain, fear, and grief I had held back came crashing down, consuming me until I had no tears left to shed.

Eventually, I dragged myself to the bathroom. Warm water cascaded over me, washing away the dried blood and grime but doing little to cleanse the ache in my chest.

When I stepped out, I felt hollow, as though my tears had emptied me of everything but one burning emotion.

Vengeance.