Chapter 65 Through The Portal.
CAMILLE'S POV.
It didn’t take long for the guards to realize that I had escaped. They came after Lysander and me in great numbers, far more than I expected. It seemed my father was truly determined to force me into marrying Giron. The thought made my blood boil. How could he even place me under house arrest, as if I were nothing more than a possession?
Well, I wasn’t going to look back now. I was getting out of this cursed place no matter what it took.
We reached the woods just as the shadow monsters attacked, leaping out of the darkness without warning.
“Watch out, Your Highness!” Lysander shouted.
But I was already moving.
In a single, fluid motion, I drew my sword and slashed through the disgusting creature. It tore apart with a shrill screech, dissolving back into the shadows. There was no time to rest. More of them emerged, crawling and lunging toward us from every direction.
Lysander and I fought back with everything we had, blades flashing, bodies moving on pure instinct. But no matter how many we cut down, they kept coming. To worsen the situation, I could feel the vampires were getting closer.
“They keep coming! We need an escape!” I yelled, forcing my tired body to keep fighting.
“You go first, Your Highness,” Lysander said urgently. “I’ll hold them off.”
“No!” I snapped immediately. There was no chance I would run like a coward and leave him behind. “If we’re getting out of this, we’re getting out together.”
Lysander let out a frustrated sigh, already knowing how stubborn I was. “Fine!”
We fought harder, faster, until we finally saw an opening. The moment we did, we turned and ran without looking back.
Now we were being chased by both vampires and shadow monsters, their growls and footsteps echoing behind us.
At last, we reached the portal that led to the human world. As if it sensed our desperation, it opened instantly, its energy swirling wildly.
Lysander turned to me. “You should go first, Your Highness.”
I shook my head. “No. You go first.”
He frowned. “But, Your Highness—”
“It’s better this way,” I cut in firmly. “You know where to find Domenic. I don’t. You need to escape before I do.”
He still looked unconvinced. “What if you get caught?”
“I won’t,” I said without hesitation. When he still didn’t move, I added, “I promise.”
That finally did it.
His expression softened as he sighed in defeat. “Fine. But make sure we see each other again.”
I gave him a firm nod. He returned it, then turned and jumped into the portal.
Growls rose behind me as footsteps drew dangerously close. The shadow monsters were nearly upon me, and the vampires weren’t far behind. If they reached the portal at the same time, they would turn on each other and forget about me entirely.
I smiled as the first shadow monsters came into view.
“Catch me if you can, demons.”
With that, I leapt straight into the portal.
I fell through the portal like I was being torn apart and stitched back together all at once.
When I woke up, the first thing I felt was pain. My body lay against something cold and rough, nothing like the smooth marble floors of the vampire kingdom.
I groaned softly and pushed myself up, my palms scraping against dirt and stone. The air smelled strange, sharp and heavy, filled with scents I couldn’t place.
I was in a narrow, dark space surrounded by tall walls. It's an alley.
My heart raced as I stood and slowly stepped forward, peeking out of the shadows. What I saw made me freeze.
The world exploded into light.
Tall structures rose into the sky, far higher than any castle tower I had ever seen. Lights glowed everywhere, white, yellow, red, colors blinking and flashing endlessly. Different beautiful cars rushed past on wide roads, roaring loudly as they moved. Humans filled the streets, walking quickly, talking, laughing, arguing, living.
I didn’t know where I was, but I knew one thing.
This was the human world.
For a moment, I forgot to breathe. This is my first time coming to the human world unlike mi brother who loves to go between the two world often, and I have just one thing to say. The vampire kingdom had always been beautiful to me in its own dark, ancient way, moonlit halls, burning torches, quiet power. But this place felt alive. Even at night, it shined. Humans had built their own stars and pinned them to the earth.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered to myself. It warmed my heart to see these humans living free, happy and alive. No disgusting collars on their necks, no tattered clothes, no wounds, cute and bruises.
Why can't the vampire world be like this?
Then reality hit me.
Lysander wasn’t here.
We had jumped through the portal together. Now he was gone, ripped away by the magic of the portal. I didn’t fully understand.
I prayed he was safe. I prayed he would find Domenic and tell him everything, about our father, and how he wants to make Giron king. If Domenic doesn’t act soon, our father would destroy not just the vampire kingdom, but this world too.
I pulled my hood over my head and began to walk.
The humans barely noticed me. They brushed past, eyes glued to glowing objects in their hands, faces tired or distracted. I listened to their emotions more than their words. Anxiety. Hope. Loneliness. Desire. Their lives felt fragile.
I wandered for what felt like hours, though time seemed meaningless here. Every street led to another wonder. Glass buildings reflected the lights like mirrors. Music drifted through the air from unseen places. Yet in between all the brightness, there were shadows, corners where the light couldn’t quite reach.
Then I smelled blood. Thick, metallic and disturbing.
I stopped instantly. The scent tugged at something deep inside me, sharp and familiar. I followed it, my steps slow and cautious, until I reached another alley, darker than the first.
That’s when I saw her.
A woman lay slumped against the wall, blood staining her clothes and the ground beneath her. At first, I thought she was injured. I rushed forward, dropping to my knees beside her.
“Hey,” I whispered urgently, reaching for her. “Can you hear me?”
Her skin was cold.
I pressed my fingers gently to her neck, already knowing the truth even as I hoped I was wrong.
There was no pulse.
She was dead.
A heavy ache settled in my chest, deeper than I expected. I stared at her face, at her open, lifeless eyes, and felt a wave of sadness crash over me. If I had arrived sooner, I could have saved her. I could have turned her, given her another chance.
But death had already claimed her.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured softly. “I was too late.”
Beside her lay a bag and a strange glowing object. I picked it up carefully, studying it. A phone, I realized. Something humans carried everywhere. I placed it back into her bag, my fingers lingering for a moment.
Leaving her there felt wrong.
No one deserved to die alone in a dark alley, forgotten.
Without effort, I lifted her body and carried her over my shoulder. She was light, far too light, and the thought made my chest tighten again. I moved quickly, slipping away from the city until the noise faded and the lights dimmed.
The woods welcomed me with silence.
I knelt and dug into the earth with my hands, the soil yielding easily. When the grave was deep enough, I laid her down gently, folding her arms over her chest as if she were only sleeping.
“I don’t know your name,” I said quietly, my voice trembling just slightly, “but you mattered.”
I covered her with soil and pressed it down firmly. There were no flowers, no marker, but it was a proper burial. Respectful and human.
As I stood and brushed dirt from my hands, the phone chimed.
The sound startled me.
I pulled it from the bag and stared at the glowing screen. A message had appeared. I read it slowly, my heart sinking with every word.
She was expected at work that evening. It actually seems like it was supposed to be her first day at a new job.
I stood there for a long moment, frozen. Somewhere in this massive city, people were waiting for her.
The beauty of this world suddenly felt hollow. This place was just like mine. Bright on the surface, cruel underneath.
I slipped the phone back into the bag and pulled my hood up once more. I walked away from the woods back into the city.
Since I had no where to go now, perhaps I'll replace her in this job of hers. I hope her spirit won't mind.