Chapter 21: Chapter 21

I stood in the dirt and watched the high balcony. My hands were squeezed into tight balls. I had thought that maybe a miracle would happen. I thought maybe a brave person from the crowd would shout "No!" and save the poor guy. I hoped someone would show a little bit of heart.

But it was just an illusion. A dream for a foolish girl like me.

Alpha Damon didn't wait. He didn't blink. He swung the giant sword with all his power. The silver metal moved through the air and passed through the man's neck without any stress. It was like cutting through butter. I heard a wet, heavy sound as the man's head rolled across the stone floor. His body stayed tied to the stick for a second before it went limp.

The crowd didn't scream in fear. They shouted in amusement! They were laughing and cheering like they were watching a fun game. They were happy to see the red blood pouring onto the balcony.

I felt like I was going to vomit. I was so surprised. This was the first time in my entire life I was witnessing someone being beheaded. My stomach was doing flips. I looked at Alpha Damon. He didn't flinch. He didn't look sad at all. I used to think all the stories about him being the "Devil Alpha" were just rumors or scary stories for kids. But now I believed it. This man could kill a living soul without any single form of remorse. He had no soul inside him.

Damon stood there with red blood on his hands and splattered across his white shirt. He looked like a monster from a nightmare. He raised his hand again, and the crowd kept quiet. The silence was even scarier than the shouting.

"You all know this is the bare minimum I can do!" Damon shouted. His voice was cold and echoed off the walls. "Today is my worst kill. Do you know why? Because I only killed one single vampire today. The last time I stood here, I killed five! You are getting lazy."

He walked to the edge of the balcony, looking down at us like we were insects. "You all have lost interest in bringing me vampires. You are no longer searching the forests. You are no longer looking under the floorboards. So today, I make this declaration official. Once you discover any vampire, there will be a reward for you. A big, gold reward that will change your life!"

He gripped the sword tighter. "There will be no peace for them! They are the flaw in creation. They are the garbage of this world, and we are the ones who must clean it up!"

Then he turned to his guards. His eyes were like black stones. "Leave the body there. Do not take it away. I want it to stay in the sun so that everyone can come and see it. I want the smell to remind you of our duty."

He stepped closer to the railing. "And listen to me carefully. This punishment is not just for vampires. It is for anyone who chooses to hide a vampire too. If a vampire is found, and we find out later that you helped them, or gave them food, or kept their secret... you will face the same punishment! I will cut your head off right here. And your family? Your family will get the gift of your precious head delivered to their door!"

"The last time someone tried to hide a vampire, you all saw what happened, so you all watching, what makes you think yours would be different" huh?

Last month, one of my guards was discovered, one of my most precious guard , but guess what?

I killed him with my own hands, that's how far I would go.

he served my father, and the one before him but I didn't spare him, not even one of my own, do not underestimate, how much I hate them, I would do anything, literally anything.

so wherever you all are, keep hiding, but just know in your hearts, that one day you will be discovered, and when that day comes it won't be funny

I felt the letter inside my clothes—the one that called me a "Princess." My skin felt like it was burning. If I was a vampire... if I was what they hated... he would kill me without thinking twice. He would put my head on that floor.

Damon turned to go back inside the palace. The crowd started to move, thinking it was over. But then, he stopped. It was like he remembered something important.

He turned back to the crowd, his face twisted in a strange way.

"And one last thing before I go," he said. His voice was suddenly very low, but it

sounded to the ear of every living soul that is present here