Apart from Lyn, I rarely had visitors, so I wondered who could be at the door. My initial thought was that it might be Lyn, but something didn't feel right.Another sharp knock echoed through the room, sending a shiver down my spine. The unease settled deeper within me, a warning that something was amiss. The third knock came with a harshness that made my hands tremble. I hesitated, my heart racing, before peering through the keyhole.I saw a girl who looked like a maid standing outside. Her uniform was neat but her face was tense."Who is it?" I called out, trying to mask the fear in my voice."I am here to serve food," she said urgently, her tone raising my suspicion. Lyn was the only one who ever brought me food."Where's Lyn?" I demanded."She was summoned by the royal, so she sent me instead," the girl replied, her voice edged with a hint of impatience.The silver knob felt cold and heavy in my hand as I twisted it, pulling the door open to reveal the girl. Her eyes darted around nervously, and a chill crept up my spine. I had a sinking feeling that something was terribly wrong.Just when I opened the door slightly, a shadow moved behind her, and the air grew colder. My heart pounded as I realized she was not here to serve food. The girl was terrified looking at either side of the hall. I raised a brow looking at her. The girl was tiny compared to me and looked a few years younger than me and wore a uniform like other maids. I opened the door wide for her to enter, I got a strange feeling about her. The girl walked inside and placed the tray on the table, she surveyed the room for another presence."What's wrong?" I asked her taking a step close to the door ready to flee. I am sure there is something odd about her, I can feel it." I see you are alone." She hissed.The girl's head snapped in my direction and smirked haughtily which sent shivers down my spine. Suddenly, her pupils turned a menacing shade of red, and I gasped as two long, sharp fangs protruded from between her lips. In an instant, she lunged at me, and I froze in terror, unable to move or even scream. I probably should have run but I was rooted in my spot horrified. With alarming strength, she lifted me off the ground, her fingers closing tightly around my throat, squeezing the air out of my lungs. She was strong compared to her size.I struggled to free myself as I clutched her hand around my neck, my feet thrashing helplessly as I fought to breathe. My vision began to blur, and I could feel the edges of my consciousness slipping away. he room was plunged into darkness. Just when I thought I couldn't take it any longer, she suddenly threw me like a rag doll, and I fell to the ground with a sickening thud. The floorboards creaked beneath me.Gasping for breath, tears streamed down my face as I looked up at the girl, my body trembling uncontrollably. My vision blurred with fear as I desperately tried to inhale, each breath coming in ragged gasps. I tried to move away from her, my heart pounding in my chest, but before I could call for help, a man appeared beside her in the blink of an eye. I felt two strong arms pick me up and slam against a wall.I screamed, but his hand clamped over my mouth, smothering my cries. The pressure of his grip was unbearable, sending sharp pangs of pain through my arm. I whimpered and struggled, but his hold only tightened, his fingers digging into my flesh.My fear was crashing over me, and I felt utterly helpless. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I looked around desperately, praying for someone to save me from this nightmare. The man's cold, unfeeling gaze matched the girl's, amplifying my terror. "Is she the one?" the man demanded, his voice laced with disdain.The maid nodded, her eyes never leaving mine.The man's gaze bore into me, filled with a deep, unsettling hatred. "We've got what we came for," he declared, his tone making it clear that this was not a matter of simple capture but something far more sinister.My mind raced with confusion and fear. What did I ever do to him? The question echoed in my head, but there was no time to find an answer."If you try to scream" the man growled, his voice chilling and low, "your head will roll down the corridor within seconds. Am I clear?" His threat was cold.Terror surged through me, and I nodded, my eyes wide with dread. His eyes locked onto mine as if he were savouring my fear.He released his hold on my mouth, but his hand remained on my wrist. With a cruel twist, he pulled the hair on one side, exposing the left side of my neck. I could feel his breath on my skin as he leaned in, sniffing my neck with a low growl."Please, don't kill me," I begged desperately, panic causing my heart rate to spike. The man's grip on my hair tightened, causing me more pain. Tears streamed down my cheeks, the pain was unbearable."What do you want?" I asked closing my eyes in pain. The man smiled evilly, fangs flashing brightly. It was clear that there was no way I am going to escape them unless someone comes looking for me.The man's eyes glazed over. It was as though he was tuning into every sound in the castle. Just then, a girl passed by my door, oblivious to the danger that awaited her. She stepped into the room, her gaze sweeping over the scene. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw me pinned against the wall, her mouth opening in a scream that was quickly stifled by the maid's hand.In a flash, the maid lunged at the girl. My heart dropped as I heard her scream—a gut-wrenching sound—as the creature's fangs sank into her neck. Blood splattered across the pristine carpet. The girl's desperate cries dwindled into agonised gurgles before fading into silence. Her body slumped to the floor.I could barely process the scene. My screams of terror burst from me that seemed to shake the very walls of the castle. My hands flew to my mouth, but the sobs and cries escaped anyway. I stumbled backward, my legs giving way beneath me, collapsing onto the floor in fear.I barely had time to react before John appeared in the doorway, his eyes blazing a fierce, terrifying red. When his eyes spotted me his face twisted in a snarl of pure rage. Without a moment's hesitation, he sprang into action. The girl, trembling behind the man, was ready to flee, but John was faster. With a fierce, almost unnatural speed, he grabbed the man by the throat, lifting him off the ground.John's other hand plunged into the man's ribcage with brutal force. For a heartbeat, everything was a blur of motion and sound. Then, with a sickening squelch, John pulled something from the man's chest. The object glinted wickedly in the dim light before John cast it aside with a look of disgust. He just ripped his heart out. I scrambled back on the floor, trying to get away from them.The girl was running to the open balcony when John caught her head and stuck his fangs in her throat, she screamed in agony but he did not kill her. He just drained her blood. I found myself choking on my breath in panic, but before I could react I was being pulled up to my feet and someone hugged me tightly.I was immobile, shocked. "Kristen, are you okay?" A voice asked, I was too terrified to focus on it. My hands and legs trembled, and I felt tears fall down my eyes. At this moment I couldn't bring myself to look at the person who saved me or the one who is trying to comfort me. I was numb.I assumed it to be William who carried me in his arms to another room where I have never stepped foot on. The room was unfamiliar and it was so dark.He placed me on the bed. Gasping for much-needed air, I lifted my head to see my saviour.I flinched when William's fingers graze against my neck. I bit back the sob when I felt the raw pain in my neck caused by the vampire and there was no doubt of it becoming a mark, my scalp was in pain too. I felt William move closer to me but I didn't move a muscle."Who dared to do this to you?" He hissed making me flinch more and move to the headboard of the bed. My eyes burned from crying, my throat felt like it had been scrubbed with sandpaper and the cold room temperature only made it worse."Kristen, look at me. It's okay. You're safe now." His voice was soft and reassuring, but I was too paralysed with fear to respond. My body ached all over, and it was difficult to catch my breath through the pain."Kristen!" Another voice called out, and I felt a glimmer of relief as Lyn rushed into the room, her face etched with worry. I stumbled off the bed and threw myself into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. I didn't want any more vampires near me. All I needed was the comfort of a fellow human being to reassure me that I wasn't losing my mind."Lyn," I choked out, clinging to her tightly as she held me close, her own tears soaking my shirt. I could feel her fear and terror as she tried to process what had happened to me."It's okay. You're safe now," she repeated, stroking my hair gently. After several minutes she pulled away from me and led me to sit on the bed. William was standing a few feet away, his eyes filled with anger and concern."What happened?" Lyn asked, her voice trembling with worry as she looked at me with concern.I told her everything that happened in my room, my words coming out in a fast, breathless rush. I didn't leave out any details, but I was scared he might not believe me. My heart pounded as I glanced at him. His grip on the bed was so tight, his knuckles were white."John!" William yelled, his voice echoing with anger. John appeared instantly, looking more put-together than before. His eyes met mine, and I saw pity in them as he ran a hand through his hair and sighed heavily."How is she?" John asked William, his voice filled with concern."Can't you see for yourself?" William snapped back, his anger clear."Who did this?" William demanded, turning to face him.I leaned forward, desperate to know more about my attackers. John looked from me to William and took a deep breath before answering."We don't know who hired them. I killed one, and the other is locked up in a dungeon for questioning," he said.William growled and stormed toward the door. I felt a pang of fear that he might not come back. But just then, John's voice stopped him."The King will handle this personally. He asked you to stay with Kristen," John said, his tone now much gentler."Why me?" I whispered, tears streaming down my face.William quickly moved to my side, gently brushing my wet hair away from my face. His touch was surprisingly soft, and I felt a sense of relief. I leaned into him, finding comfort in his embrace.He wrapped me in a warm hug, holding me close. I clung to him, my arms around his torso, feeling a bit safer. Just as I began to calm down, there was a sudden, sharp knock on the door. I jumped in fear, my heart racing again.Rephrased the below: see and editA maid walked in and told me that the King wanted to see me. I wasn't ready for more questions and didn't want to face a bunch of vampires, but I had no choice—I couldn't ignore the King's request.William gave me an apologetic look. I nodded and got up from the bed. I wasn't ready to go back to my room to change, but William and Lyn came with me. Lyn went into the closet and pulled out a white top to cover my neck and some plain blue jeans. I dressed quickly and followed William to the dining hall.As I entered, I saw over twenty vampires sitting around a large table, their plates filled with various foods that made my stomach growl. I hoped they hadn't heard it, but no one showed any reaction; their faces were blank. The King sat at the far end of the table, his eyes fixed on me. I stole a quick glance at him before William nudged me forward. There were only two empty seats next to the King. I sighed and took my place next to William.I was incredibly anxious, feeling more terrified than ever surrounded by these vampires. The room was silent as I kept my head down, nervously fidgeting with my fingers."I heard you had quite a day," the King began, and my face froze in fear. I shrank back in my seat as my heart started racing."Relax, love. No one can harm you in my presence," the King said, slicing a steak while keeping his eyes on me. I had to summon the courage to meet his gaze again. He smiled, and it made my heart pound even harder.His words reminded me of the earlier horror I'd faced. I wanted to shrink further into my seat, feeling exposed and vulnerable among so many powerful vampires. But William's reassuring touch on my hand gave me the strength to look at the King once more.As the vampires around me started chatting, I felt like an outsider in their world of power and blood. The King calling me "love" made me shiver, making me feel like a pawn in his game.William's gentle squeeze brought me back to the moment. I listened as the King assured me that my attackers would be dealt with, and I let out a shaky breath, feeling a bit of relief.I jumped when a small plate was set in front of me. I felt uneasy about the food—a piece of steak with small potatoes and veggies, and a glass of red liquid that I guessed was wine. The King seemed to notice my hesitation and ate with a smile, maybe enjoying how scared I was.Hunger eventually got the best of me, and I started eating slowly, trying to enjoy the steak and veggies. But my throat was tight with fear, and I hiccupped as the food got stuck. Desperately needing something to drink, I reached for the glass of red liquid. I took a sip and my eyes widened in surprise as the rich taste of wine filled my mouth, momentarily distracting me from the terrifying situation I was in."I don't think you should drink blood to stop the hiccups," the King said with a hint of amusement. My hiccups immediately stopped, and I spit out the liquid in horror. The King and the others laughed at my reaction.I glanced around, seeing that everyone else was equally amused by my discomfort.The hunger I had earlier seemed to fade away. Another maid placed a glass of orange juice in front of me. I eyed it warily, wondering if it had any blood mixed in. I picked up the glass and sniffed it; it smelled like regular orange juice.The King chuckled, clearly enjoying my suspicious behavior. "That's just juice," he said with a smile.My eyes widened when the King placed his hand on my shoulder. A sharp breath caught in my throat, and I felt paralyzed with fear. My body wanted to flee, but I was frozen in place, unable to move.Suddenly, a searing pain shot through my head, and a chill ran down my spine. The uneasy feeling intensified, making me shiver uncontrollably. The necklace around my neck began to radiate warmth, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to escape the throbbing agony. Through the haze of pain, a blurry vision emerged: the King and a woman holding a baby appeared before me. They looked deeply in love, and their happiness was almost too much to bear. The King gently fastened the necklace around the woman's neck and kissed her hand, much like the way William had touched me. As the scene shifted, I felt myself being pulled deeper into the vision, losing control as the images of the King and the woman swirled in my mind. The overwhelming sense of unease persisted, clinging to me.Gasping for air, I jolted back to reality, my heart racing with a mix of fear and confusion."What's wrong, Love?" The King asked, his voice a mix of confusion and a hint of concern.I struggled to speak, my words coming out in a stammer as I tried to describe the bizarre vision and the intense pain I had just experienced.The King watched me with a blend of concern and curiosity, his gaze shifting between me and William, who stood by my side, his expression tense and worried."She is exhausted, I would like to take her back to the room." My head whipped to him with relief. He just saved me. I gave him a small smile in appreciation.The king looked like he had more questions for me but he let it slide."Of course, take some rest. I will see you soon." He said. I felt unease under his touch and what I saw.What was that? I thought, feeling bewildered.William noticed my discomfort immediately. Without saying a word, he took my hand and led me out of the room. My stomach churned with unease as we made our way back to my room. My nerves were on edge, and I could barely think straight.I let out a long sigh as we entered my room. Everything had been cleaned up, erasing any trace of the earlier chaos."Come here," William said flatly, sitting on the edge of my bed.I sat down beside him, still confused and shaken by what had just happened. William's gaze was gentle, filled with concern."Do you want to talk about what happened?" he asked, his voice edged with worry, clearly hoping I wouldn't hide the truth.How could I tell him? A part of me felt I shouldn't share my vision, but I couldn't ignore the worry in his eyes. He hadn't hurt me; he was my friend, and he genuinely cared for me. Yet, I was still uncertain about everything."Kristen!" William's voice brought me back to reality. I looked up at him, his eyes locking onto mine."Tell me what's bothering you," he urged softly. "What happened back there?""William, I..." I struggled to find the right words. I sighed, knowing I couldn't hide it from him anymore. I cleared my throat."When the King touched me, I saw a vision. I'm not sure how, but I think I saw his past." I admitted, my voice trembling.I looked at him, and he frowned as he seemed lost in thought."How?" His voice was softer now, his jaw clenched. He placed his hand on mine, encouraging me to continue."I don't know how it happened," I said, pulling the necklace from under my shirt. "I saw a woman with red hair holding a baby, and your father was giving her this necklace.""William?"He turned his head to show he was listening."I don't know how it happened," I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.William glanced at me and began to speak about a painful memory."That necklace was a gift to my mother when I was born. You saw one of the happiest times of my father's life." He said, his voice heavy. So, it was true—I had a vision."I think your powers are awakening," he said, looking at me with concern and hope."What do you mean?" I asked, a bit too loudly.I stared at William, my mind reeling from what he just said. The idea that his mother had been a witch, and that the pendant was connected to me, was almost too much to grasp. I looked down at the necklace in my hand, and it began to glow softly. The gentle light pulsed in my palm, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from it. William didn't seem to notice.I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I'm really tired," I said quietly, my voice almost a whisper. "I need to rest."William nodded, his gaze lingering on the pendant for a moment before he turned back to me. "I understand. We can talk about this another time. You should get some sleep."He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. "I've arranged for guards to watch over your room and a few more in the garden for your protection. You'll be alright."I managed a small smile, appreciating his effort to keep me safe. As he left the room, I felt a mix of relief. I settled into bed. Exhaustion quickly overcame me, and I closed my eyes, letting the soothing darkness of sleep take over.