Chapter 46: .•18.2•.

Diana's body slumped to the floor on its own accord as she watched that incredible scene unfolding right in front of her very eyes, staring at the translucent female silhouette surrounded by that ring of candlelights with wide and unblinking eyes.

Was she...a ghost?

She seemed to be floating in the air rather than standing on solid ground as that long dressing gown donning her body softly fluttered at her toes, in sync with her long and dark mane of curls. Her body appeared to be so thin and frail, but that didn't take away from her visible beauty. If anything, it even made her look more gracious, despite her current state of being. This must be her. The woman that miss Nancy had told her about. The late mistress of this house. Nicholas' lost wife.

But...How was she here? How did she appear? And why?

She watched as Nicholas approached until he was standing right in front of her, entirely disregarding that line of fire creating a small boundary between them. Separating their bodies. Dead from the undead.

"Adelaide..." he uttered once again, his tone so uncharacteristically gentle. Diana forced herself to ignore that small, awkward and nagging feeling in her chest that suddenly came out of nowhere at the sound of it.

"Nyktos..." the feminine silhouette whispered in reply, her weak voice echoing so unnaturally. That was the last thing that she managed to say to him, before she stretched out a skinny and translucent hand into an evident attempt to caress his cheek. Unfortunately not managing to complete that small endearing gesture as a sudden snap of fingers interrupted their tender interaction. And out of nowhere, a burst of flames licked at her ethereal body, making Nicholas instinctively stumble backwards and fall on his butt.

Diana watched with horror-filled eyes as the female silhouette started to scream with horrible agony as if being actually burned alive, her features distorting into a grotesquely monstrous look as she burned away for a few moments longer before disappearing altogether.

"You have one week," the horned creature's dark and grave voice echoed from all around them, mere seconds before he rematerialized. Standing right in front of Nicholas.

The girl flinched with fright the very moment that he appeared again, blinking away small tears as she stared up at the horrifying creature with nothing but pure and unadulterated terror. What was he and why was he doing this? Where had he appeared from?

"I wanted to wait until the Blood Moon but seeing as you've become such a bratty little arsehole I will only grant you one week to come to your senses and kill her," the creature pointed a clawed finger in Diana's direction, making her let out a despondent sob. Her body already shaking with so much fright and anxiety. No! Why? What did he want from her?

"Do it, or else there will be more for your precious little Addy and yourself," the monstrous creature warned with a grim tone before suddenly disappearing altogether, leaving behind a somber and terrifying silence.

A silence that she failed to maintain as that traitorous sob pushed past her throat, drawing the vampire's attention.

Diana blinked away those hot tears pooling in her eyes, her gaze widening as she watched Nicholas turn and stare at her with a look that made those tiny hairs raise up on her body with alarm. Heart banging with with blood-freezing fear.

He swiftly turned his body in one fluid move, leaning on one knee as he faced her. Ready to pounce. To attack. She could only let out a whimper at the sight of that, body scrambling as she prepared herself to run away. To try and escape.

"Please..." that single word tumbled past her lips into a tiny mewl, chin wobbling as she struggled to contain her tears. Those wailing sobs that threatened to escape.

It fell on deaf ears. This was no creature she could bargain with any longer. This was a monster she was facing now. A thirsted predator. A man ready to kill for the one that he loved.

It pained her so much. That certain thought. And she couldn't even begin to understand why. Why the thought of him in love with someone else hurt her so much. It felt like he was betraying her somehow, even though she had evidently no reason to feel as such. He wasn't hers and this was no love story they were living.

He was her captor. Her tormentor. The one fairytale creature about to end her very life.

It still didn't stop her from trying though. Trying to beg for her life. It was pure insinct after all. A desperate attempt to survive.

"Please...no..." she stuttered out between small sobs, pushing herself backwards as soon as she watched him slowly move. Inching closer like a hungry lion.

"Please...don't do this..." she rapidly shook her head, her trembling hands pawing at the closed door behind her. Preparing herself to run. Run as fast as she could.

"Please Nicholas, don't hurt me..." she blinked away those hot tears pooling in her eyes, struggling to maintain a clear view at him. At the one currently hunting her.

Her hand was already wrapped around the doorknob. Her heart pounding faster and faster with every second that flew by. Watching him. Gaze zeroing in on his every single move. And the very moment that he leapt from his spot she turned that knob, a sharp and terrified squeal escaping her. Right before she slipped outside and slammed the door behind her, breaking into a mad dash towards the estate's wide open gates.