Ashianna has it all. Born into nobility, she possessed wealth, power, and beauty, but freedom was a foreign concept. Every emotion, every action was meticulously mastered to maintain the facade of a perfect life. A life that felt increasingly suffocating.

She was contented, until...

"Red does look good on you," a voice said.

My heart hammered in my chest, threatening to burst free from its bony cage. I stared at the man standing before me, his hand wrapped around the limp form of another man.

'He's probably dead'

My eyes widened in utter disbelief and fear. I looked at my white gown stained with splatters of blood, and slowly backed away from the man who's still looking at my soul.

My knees trembled beneath the luxurious fabric. Ignoring the man's earlier remark, my mind raced, desperately searching for an escape from this horrifying situation. The events of the past few minutes had left me in a jumbled mess, incapable of clear thought.

Just moments ago, I had been attempting to escape the bustling party in the garden, seeking peace within the mansion. As I hurried along, a series of choked gasps and a commotion drew me closer. There, bathed in the dim light, I witnessed a horrifying scene: an elderly man, his life extinguished by a hand protruding from his throat.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from the bloody scene. My body screamed at me to shout for help, but I was trapped by an invisible leash. The killer, his eyes devoid of emotion yet have these irises with unsettling shade of crimson, watching me since my arrival.

He withdrew his hand from the old man's neck, sending a spray of blood that splattered across my ivory dress and cheek.

I remembered him.

He was one of the politicians invited to my father's birthday celebration. Earlier, he had charmed the guests, garnering praise for his good deeds and efficient service as a senator. Throughout the evening, he had exuded an air of kindness and approachability, qualities that had garnered many admiration.

A man she had naively admired.

Young, intelligent, productive – the picture of a compassionate public official. But...

What the hell is this?!

Panic surged through me as I lowered my gaze – the worst possible reaction in this situation.

'Is he going to kill me too?' the thought echoed in my terrified mind.

His bloodstained shoes crept closer, sending a jolt of terror through my body. He reached out, his touch cold against my skin, and lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. A friendly smile played on his lips, but it sent shivers down my spine. The edges of his smile revealed a glint of sharp teeth that unnerved me further.

"You didn't see anything, young lady," he murmured, his voice smooth as silk as his hand patted my head. Frozen in terror, I could only listen.

"As the obedient daughter you are," he continued, his grip tightening on my chin. He tilted my head back, his gaze lingering on my exposed neck for an uncomfortably long moment. Then, in a gesture that sent a wave of nausea crashing over me, he ran his tongue across one of his fangs.

"You'll go back to your room and forget everything," he stated, his smile widening. He tapped my forehead, and as if in a trance, my body moved on its own, guiding me back to my room. I collapsed onto the bed, my eyelids fluttering shut.

But surely,

I never forgot of that night.