"Ding, ding, ding." The midnight bell rang through the castle, marking the passage into a new day, and with it, Aurelia officially became a 16-year-old adult vampire. The grand hall of the vampire castle was filled with nobles and guests, all gathered to celebrate her coming-of-age. Chandeliers overhead glittered with an eerie, cold light, reflecting off the faces of the assembled vampires. But amidst the opulence, Aurelia felt a sense of unease gnawing at her.
"Aurelia, come here," her mother, Queen Lamia, called out, her voice calm but commanding.
Reluctantly, Aurelia tore herself away from Edward, the only person in the room who made her feel at ease, and approached her mother. Queen Lamia, regal in her dark gown that shimmered in the candlelight, presented a small velvet box. Inside was a golden necklace adorned with a striking blue gemstone. It sparkled with the clarity of the ocean, and Aurelia's name was delicately engraved on the pendant.
"This is my gift to you. I hope you will always be happy," Queen Lamia said softly, but her tone soon shifted to one of formality. "Of course, you need to become an independent vampire soon. The time for relying on others is over."
Aurelia marveled at the beauty of the necklace, running her fingers over the engraving. "Wow, it's so beautiful," she whispered, her eyes wide with admiration. With an excited grin, she spun around and hurried back to Edward.
"Edward, come on, help me put it on," she said, her voice filled with youthful excitement.
Edward stepped forward without hesitation, his face unreadable as he unclasped the necklace. Gently, he brushed Aurelia's hair aside, his fingertips grazing her neck, sending shivers down her spine. With careful precision, he fastened the necklace around her neck, the blue gemstone resting just above her collarbone, catching the light in a dazzling display.
As Aurelia turned around to face him, the gemstone glittered charmingly, complementing her radiant beauty. Edward's eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions—love, longing, and perhaps even sorrow. He lowered his head slowly, drawn toward her, his breath warm on her skin. Aurelia's heart raced, and she closed her eyes, anticipating the kiss that was sure to follow. Her cheeks flushed, and a sweet sense of expectation swelled within her.
But just as Edward's lips neared hers, a sudden explosion of light erupted from the sky above the castle. Fireworks, dazzling and bright, lit up the night, and the moment was shattered. The booming sounds echoed across the courtyard, and Queen Lamia's voice rang out, lighthearted and celebratory, "These fireworks were specially prepared by human craftsmen to celebrate my daughter's birthday. After this, today's gathering will come to an end, and everyone may enjoy the festivities."
Aurelia's eyes fluttered open, and her gaze shifted to the night sky. The romantic tension between her and Edward dissolved with the firework's burst, and when she looked back at him, she saw a hint of frustration in his expression. He, too, seemed caught between desire and duty.
With a mischievous grin, Aurelia leaned in quickly, planting a light kiss on Edward's cheek. "I'm going to talk to my mother for a while. See you later at the southwest corner of the castle," she whispered playfully. "I'll be waiting for you."
Edward's eyes sparkled with surprise at her boldness, but just as he was about to respond, something changed. His face twisted, and before Aurelia could react, his hands gripped her neck, tightly, suffocating her.
"Edward!" Aurelia choked out, her voice weak and filled with confusion. "What are you doing?"
Her vision blurred, and the vibrant colors of the fireworks faded into darkness. Everything around her dissolved into nothingness.
"Alia! Alia, wake up!" A voice called out urgently, shaking her from the depths of the nightmare.
Aurelia jolted awake. Her heart was pounding, and her body drenched in cold sweat. She gasped, struggling to catch her breath as her surroundings came into focus.
"Yes, I am Alia, not Aurelia anymore," she murmured to herself, staring down at the water's surface. The reflection staring back at her was no longer the regal vampire princess she once was. Instead, it was the face of a simple human woman. The ripples in the water distorted her features, further erasing any trace of the princess she had been.
The girl beside her, Leona, knelt by her side, her tanned skin and dark hair glowing in the moonlight filtering through the tent. Concern etched her features.
"It was just a dream," Alia whispered to herself, her hands trembling as she touched her neck, still feeling the phantom pressure from Edward's grip. "Edward… you promised…" Her voice trailed off, lost in the memories of a distant past she could never forget.
Leona's eyes softened as she sat back. "Alia, you were shouting 'Edward' in your sleep," she teased, trying to lighten the mood. "You must have been dreaming about your past lover. Come on, you can tell me." She smiled, but her eyes remained worried.
Aurelia—now Alia—quickly composed herself, forcing a laugh. "Edward was the name of my dog back in the city," she lied. "I dreamed he ran away from me." She didn't want to explain the truth—that Edward was not just a lover, but also the vampire duke responsible for her deepest scars.
Leona laughed. "Well, whether it's a lost dog or a lost lover, I'm here for you. You know that, right?"
Alia smiled weakly. "I know. Thanks, Leona."
Leona leaned back, her playful expression returning. "Oh, by the way, Mayor Allen mentioned something interesting today. Mark found an old palace to the east of Joy City, right near the Dark Forest. He was wondering if you'd like to explore it with us. After all, we did meet you near there."
Alia's heart skipped a beat. The mention of the Dark Forest sent a chill down her spine. It had been five years since she fled the vampire castle, wandering through the dense, haunted woods before stumbling into Joy City. She had pretended to have amnesia back then, a convenient excuse to hide her true identity as the vampire princess on the run. The shackles on her feet, the tattered clothes, the desperation—they had mistaken her for a runaway slave, and she had allowed them to believe it.
"Sure, I'll go," Alia replied, her voice steady, though her mind raced with uncertainty. She owed the people of Joy City, especially Leona and the lord, for taking her in and giving her refuge. She had never intended to stay long, but five years had passed, and she was still here, still hiding.
But this palace… What secrets could it hold? And why did it feel like fate was pulling her back toward the Dark Forest?
Alia had no idea that upon her return, everything she knew would be turned upside down.