I pulled the thick coat, lined with fur, over my body as I took the final step on the long winding stairway that led up to the Elder's castle – The Blood Keep, he liked to call it. I shuddered at the thought of entering the castle, carrying upon my shoulders the weight of my failure.
Before I could reach out and open the thick steel doors, they swung open and I found myself standing face to face with my older brother, Kiev. He had a triumphant smirk on his face as he eyed me from head to foot.
"You reek of failure, little sis." He tilted his head to the side. "Aren't you supposed to be here with Sofia Claremont?"
Annoyed, I tried to side-step him and rush to my chambers. I wanted to try to recuperate before having to face the wrath of our master, our father, the one who sired me; the very first vampire this world has known. Of course, I should've expected that my sibling wasn't going to make it that easy for me.
