"We're here…"
Caleb hides behind the tall tree in the forest, remaining a safe distance between them and the centuries-old castle. Knitting his brows, guards are posted in every corner of the place, an extra effort to protect this castle.
"This is Vladislaus Straud's last battlefield?"
The young lord gives Marlin a firm nod, confirming his question. The thought of him visiting this place again after all those years makes his stomach churn. Caleb can not shake off the vision when he slays that madman to protect his family's legacy.
"It looks like a normal castle, does anyone live here?"
Primrose's question is left unanswered as Caleb proceeds to give her a cold shoulder, looking for ways they can get in without causing any commotion. The silent treatment doesn't go unnoticed as she looks at him, confusion etching on her face as she wishes for clear communication instead of this awkwardness between them.
"By the looks of this, it seems like someone has been occupied inside the castle recently." Edward clears his voice, mediating the strained connection between his daughter and her partner.
Nathaniel pats lightly on his sister's shoulders, offering his support. The rift between Primrose and Caleb is visible to the eyes and while he doesn't blame the young lord for being angry, the thought of him almost unable to contain that beast within him and harm Primrose unnerves the blond. Caleb has always said that he refuses to show the raven head that darkness within his heart, hoping to shower her with love and affection only. But what happened earlier…
A loud scream pierces in the air as Primrose's ears perk up at the familiar voice. The terror etches in that screech makes her heart stop and without hesitation, she dashes towards the source of the distress, a friend in danger.
"Wait, Primrose!"
Marlin's eyes twitch annoyingly as he follows her, behind him are Edward and Nathaniel who also can not hold back their sighs at how reckless Primrose is. Caleb's hand balls into a fist, his nails dug into the pale skin, leaving blood marks as he runs with them, covering Primrose from any harm that comes her way.
"I-intruders!" a guard yells, holding their weapons "Get them! Don't let them escape!"
"Out of my way!"
Two water torrents sweep away the waves of guards in front of her as Primrose charges in, ignoring all the danger that keeps aiming at her. Marlin follows closely, flames dance around his fingertips, and he directs them toward the guards who attempt to block their path.
Caleb is right behind her, covering the raven head's blind spots as he strikes down any hand that dares to grasp onto her. In a brief moment, his skin turns a sickening greyish color, silver eyes are as red as blood, the color that matches those ruby earrings he is wearing. His vampire sense heightens, and the sword that he has stolen from the guard now acts as his source of strength.
"Watch out!"
The blade barely touches him as Caleb is protected by a beautiful water shield, Primrose's magic proves to be versatile as bullets of water rain down on the enemy. The nearby water body has helped her amplify her skill.
"Are you okay?"
Worries etch in her eyes as she asks him and for a moment, Caleb's eyes soften as he looks at her. But now is not the time…
Pulling her in his arm, Caleb blocks the strike of one guard perfectly, and Primrose wastes no time firing back with her water blade, knocking the guy into the nearby river.
"Get up, we have to move forward!"
Edward's firm command startles them as he opens his pocket watch, the enemies around him slow down as they come to a stop. Wearing a satisfied smirk on his face, the older blond snaps his fingers and bolts of lightning strike them down, leaving the guard shocked and unable to move. Marlin's skin crawls at the sight of Edward's strength, a reminder of how powerful that man is compared to everyone on this battleground.
"Close the bridge! Don't let them get in!"
"Not so fast!"
The bridge is frozen the moment Nathaniel's cold hands touch the ground, stopping the minions inside the castle wall from pulling. His ice acts like glue, binding the drawbridge to the dirt ground, sturdy and hard to break. The blond turns around, morphing his ice to create a large wall that blocks the guards from reaching them.
"Good job, Nathaniel."
Marlin praises him as they run across the bridge, sweeping away the enemy one by one. The group inches closer to the foreboding castle, the imposing structure revealing centuries of dark history. Caleb hisses, holding onto his head with one hand, the memories of Vladislaus Straud resurface.
The eerie laugh, the blood-stained blade, the head of the enemy lord rolling on the dirt ground, the cheerings that were meant for their victory. Despite slaying Vladislaus Straud with his own hands, the young lord can not escape the gruesome image of what had transpired that night, and the lives that he was willing to use in order to seize victory. How many lives did he choose to sacrifice for the sake of his ideal?
"Caleb?"
Primrose's soft voice pulls him out of his thoughts. For a brief moment, he wants to have her in his arms, the warmth that radiates from her human body allows him to relax, even for just a few seconds. But anger gets the best of him, the bruise on her wrist serves as a reminder of what he had done to her and how she had disregarded his concerns. Taking in a deep breath, Caleb turns away, avoiding her pleading eyes.
"We need to stick to the plan, find Lilian and get the hell out of here." Marlin steps in between them, giving Primrose a knowing look.
He knows that she wants to address the elephant in the room, the silent treatment Caleb has for her. But now it's not the right time nor the right place…
The group continues its mission, sweeping away anyone who dares to stand in their way. Primrose's water shields them from the attack, Marlin's fire burns down the foes, Edward's electricity stunts them, Nathaniel's ice stops them in their tracks, and Caleb swiftly parries the onslaughts of enemies that keep bombarding them. Despite the simmering anger residing in his heart, Primrose never once stays out of his sight. He wants to protect her at all costs…
As they get closer to the end, Caleb halts his step. Cold sweat beads on his face as he realizes the lingering scent of blood, triggering another twisted image of Vladislaus Straud and the pile of corpses that were the victims of his bloodlust nature. Edward picks up the eerie scent and turns to the young lord, understanding his struggle to maintain his vampire instinct to consume it.
"Caleb? Are you oka-?!"
"Halt, Primrose. Don't come closer to him." the caring father sternly warns his daughter to stay away.
"B-but…"
Marlin shakes his head, he too has caught on to the reason for Caleb's struggle. Nathaniel and Primrose glance at each other, not understanding the full scope of the problem. The young lord looks like he is in pain and it is in her instinct to be worried about him. But Caleb remains resilient, wiping away the sweat on his face, he needs to maintain his composure, he can not be the reason that jeopardizes this mission.
Another scream pierces through the air, along with the desperate pleas and sinister laughs coming from the room ahead of them. Worries etch her face as she tries to make sense of what lies beyond that closed door.
"Do not act reckless, Primrose." Marlin looks at her "I won't forgive you if you try anything funny."
As everyone gives her the same look, she reluctantly agrees. Charging in recklessly has always been at the forefront of her tactic, yet she knows very well how dangerous her actions are, affecting not only her but those around her as well.
When they finally secure the area, Marlin and Edward give each other a knowing look, ready to burst through the door and confront the sinister mastermind behind Lilian's disappearance.
"On three…" counting down his fingers, Marlin gives everyone a firm nod "One, two, three!"
The entrance to the main hall opens widely and the group steps in, only to witness the horror that lies in front of them. There Lilian is, chained to the guillotine device as she struggles to break free. The surrounding minions are cheering for the atrocious event that unfolds right before their eyes and sitting on top of all, Selene Voss oversees the twisted act with her eerie blue eyes. A menacing smile, filled with an eerie satisfaction, forms on her lips.
Nathaniel's body shakes to his core when he finds the remains of the victims that meet their gruesome ends, the churning in his stomach proves to be too much for a youngling like him to handle. The realization of the horrendous event in this sinister place strikes him with a deep sense of dread.
Selene, now donning a pretty white dress that resembles a bride, steps out of her makeshift throne. Her eyes lay on the handsome young lord, taking a sadistic pleasure upon seeing the horrific expression on his face.
"My lord, I never expect your arrival…" her voice, a haunting melody that amplifies the malevolent aura around her, addresses Caleb "What an honor to finally meet you, Lord Vatore."
"What is the meaning of this?" Caleb, still struggling to maintain his thirst, glares at her "I never thought that Lord Voss would allow such a horrendous act to happen within the realm of Forgotten Hollow."
"Oh, my father? You don't need to worry about him. He is…busy…"
The implication adds more pressure to the appalling scene in their eyes.
"So you're the one who orchestrates this cultist behavior?"
"My lord, cultist or not, we as vampires always rely on blood for survival…"
She descends the stairs with chilling grace, her dress hem draping on each step, revealing the gruesome trophies of her victims, a macabre display of the horrors that have unfolded in this cursed castle. The dreaded and lifeless expression on those faces, Primrose is almost too afraid to see them with her own eyes. Had they arrived late, even for a few seconds, Lilian would have met the same end as those missing women…
Caleb's anger intensifies, a burning flame within him as he witnesses the extent of Selene's depravity. Lilian is trembling as she turns around, catching a glimpse of his blood-red eyes and the terrified expression of her best friend.
"Let Lilian go, now!" Primrose stands tall, she doesn't allow fear to take over her heart and demands the release of the brunette.
"Ah, it's you, that worthless human mate of my Lord…"
The woman's eerie chuckle sends a chill down her spine, but the raven head doesn't back down. Caleb steps forward, the thirst for blood is now replaced by an immense wrath. He is the Head of House Vatore has allowed this atrocious act to happen within the land of Forgotten Hollow, a disgrace to the name Vatore and his parent's legacy.
"Release her now!" he demands, his voice carrying a tone of authority that echoes through the hall.
Selene's blue eyes shine a light of admiration. The young lord has finally paid attention to her, she can feel her heart thumping loudly against her chest, such a majestic sight to behold…
"My lord, you finally look at me with that passion in your eyes. I am thrilled…" with both hands touching her face, fingers draping lines of blood on her blueish skin "I have heard stories of your victories against Vladislaus Straud on this ground, an immense triumph. Please allow me to be a part of your world too…"
"What madness are you speaking of, devil?" Edward knits his brows, unable to process the sinful sight "Your sickening plan has brought nothing but despair to your kind. Do you wish to rage a war against your own people?"
"Silence! I am talking to Lord Vatore!" she roars at him before turning her attention to Caleb "Oh, I'm so sorry, my lord. Where is my manner?"
She draws closer to Lilian, circling around the brunette like a predator closing to its prey.
"Allow me to explain myself, why this human here bore the blood that transcends my expectation."
The blood of a high-value woman, a doctor at San Myshuno's Hospital, one like Lilian Collins here is the most delicate treat she wishes to try. Just one pint of her exquisite blood can help Selene transcend the ladder of beauty, grace, and eternal youth. Not only Lilian, but any high-value woman will become her source of ultimate power.
"Seraphina Bloodhaven will no longer be the most beautiful maiden of this town. It is I, Selene Voss, the fairest lady of all." holding a silver cup in her hand, she laughs like a madwoman before turning to Caleb, and offering her drink "And you, my lord, an exquisite individual like you are destined to be by my side. Allow me to offer you this drink, the taste of blood is divining."
Caleb knits his brows, this time, the scent of blood is right in front of his nose. Edward turns to him, knowing the temptation is unbearable for the young lord. The close distance of blood is slowly awakening the beast he has tried to tame in all these years.
"Caleb, no!" Nathaniel voices his support, grounding the vampire lord to the present moment "For the sake of Primrose, you must not!"
"My lord, that little mate of yours is a worthless human being. Come with me, we will rule this land together." leering at Primrose, who stands her ground "And she can be the next meal for both of us."
As Selene draws the cup closer to Caleb, he stares at her dead in the eyes, the bloody red meets her blue ones. He has trained himself for so long, that such temptation can not ruin the promise he makes to his parents. And Primrose…his beloved…his precious gem…
I have to protect her…
A small figure stands in front of him and Selene, slapping the cup away. The cup lies shattered on the floor, the spilled blood forming an eerie pattern on the tiles. The Voss maiden glares at her, those blue eyes pierce through those onyx orbs, how dare she…?
"Caleb will not fall for your wicked plan! He is a nobleman, you will not bring him down on a path of shame!" Primrose, determined to protect his family legacy, steps in and pushes away her vile intention.
"You insolence trash, how dare you defy the future queen of this realm?"
Snatching on Primrose's neck, her nails digging deep into her skin, drawing the blood out of the raven head. She gasps out in pain, thrashing to break free. Nathaniel tries to charge in, unable to see his sister in pain but Marlin stops him, one wrong move, and Primrose's life will be gone for good.
"Primrose!" Lilian desperately calls her friend, fearing for her life.
Caleb's eyes flare with anger at the sight of Primrose being harmed. He lets out a reverberates roar, a mixture of concern and rage. In a swift move, he draws out the sword, slashing that sinister hand off Selene, freeing the raven head in the process. Capturing her small frame in his arms, worries echo in his eyes when he sees the painful expression on her face.
A loud, screeching scream fills the hall as Selene clutches her wounded arm, glaring at Caleb with a mixture of fury and disbelief. The severed hand on the floor twitches, a grotesque testament to the conflict unfolding.
"My hand!" her screeching continues and her confidence is soon replaced by madness "Lord Vatore! How could you?"
Seizing the opportunity, Marline quickly comes to Lilian's aid, helping the poor woman get out of the deadly machine that has taken countless lives. Edward opens his pocket watch, slowing down the time as Selene's goons try to capture them. Nathaniel acts fast, freezing the floor along with their legs, stopping their movement.
"T-thank you…"
Lilian struggles to offer her gratitude as Marlin snaps his fingers, fire dances on the frozen tile, slowly melting the ice away. Once the ice turns back to its liquid form, bolts of lightning strike the enemy, and the shocking ailment intensifies due to the liquid underneath their feet.
"You're not getting away that easily!" Selene screams at them "Get them, kill them all!"
With all her might, the madwoman draws shadows towards her and unleashes a torrent of dark matter at Primrose and Caleb, but the raven head is quick to counter, forming a sturdy water shield around them. Her body trembles as she hisses in pain, the wound on her neck is not a mere scratch, it slowly bleeds into her clothes.
"My lord, why did you defy me? We could rule this land together, humans or nothing but stepping stones to our victory?" the shadows follow her command, attacking Marlin as they try to snatch Lilian from him "Why must you defy me?"
The admiration Selene harbors for Caleb is nothing more than an ill obsession. The mere thought of having his silver eyes on her already sends her on cloud nine and now, she can not contemplate the reason for his insolence act. The sadistic nature of Selene Voss is clear, she doesn't want to be the mate of Caleb Vatore, she wants him to be her slave. She has to be number one, she must be on top. And for that to happen, the vile woman is willing to sacrifice all innocent lives to obtain that goal.
A devil with no limit to her desires, that is Selene Voss herself…
"Your delusion ends here, monster!"
Marlin ignites and throws a wave of fireballs at her yet the maiden avoids the attack with ease. Even with an injured arm, she is proven to be a skillful fighter as her body moves swiftly on the battleground, dodging their efforts to bring her down.
She can not lose, her reign has yet to start, and her long-lasting life with the young lord is yet to be achieved.
To obtain eternal beauty, to be the Lady of House Vatore, to defeat that wicked woman named Seraphina Bloodhaven, she must not lose.
Selene's insatiable thirst for power and dominance disgusted Caleb to his core. Never in his life had he seen such a grotesque woman like her, one who had a thirst for power that knows no bounds.
"Despicable woman…" muttering under his breath, Caleb steps out of the water shield as he is ready to face her head-on.
A black mist forms on his arm as he raises his hand, black lines run through his upper body as the crest of the Vatore family appears on the top of his palm. The young lord murmurs to himself, some kind of chant as he is more intuned with his vampiric side, and the veins on his arm become more visible.
"Caleb!" Primrose calls out his name, fearing for what will unfold in front of them.
The shadows of Selene are acting more bloodlust and she is struggling to maintain a shield for them as well as fight off the foes.
"Primrose, watch out!"
An axe flies towards her, knocking off the guard who is planning a sneak attack on the raven head. She turns to see Lilian with a short axe in her hand, hoping to provide her service. Despite not knowing any magic, her axe-throwing sessions have proven to be useful for Primrose. Fire ignites in Marlin's palm as the flame burns down their assailants, covering for Lilian when she is knocking down the enemies with any flying weapon she lays her hands on.
"Lord Vatore! I love you! I love you!" Selene screams hysterically "I am your bride, your mate! Why must you defy me?"
A torrent of shadows charges at him, but Caleb breaks the attack with ease.
"Why? I am better than Seraphina Bloodhaven. I am better than Inna Cents." she continues to shriek, her voice becoming unbearable to listen to "I am better than that lowlife human, why must you choose her instead of me?"
His eyes twitch annoyingly at the claim, anger rising within him. This vile woman attacks his beloved Primrose and yet, she still claims her desire to be by his side. The crest of the Vatore family glows an eerie red hue, a crystal blade that mirrors the color of blood forms on his hand.
"Blood manipulation: Bloodforged Blade..."
Primrose flinches when she sees the weapon, her weariness grows even more when she catches a glimpse of Caleb's expression. As if he is fully embracing the vampire nature within him, his skin a greying color, his blood-red eyes bearing no life within, the dark circles amplifying his sockets, the cracks on his skin becoming visible.
No…this is not…Caleb…
Caleb wastes no time, charging at Selene Voss.
"There is it, the true Lord of this land! Lord Caleb Vatore!" Selene's chaotic cheer causes the hall to rumble "I will be your bride, my lord. Your eternal bride!"
The shadows charge forwards, this time, aiming at Primrose. The raven head forms a water barrier in front of her, ready for the impact. But the torrents of shadows overpower her as they break through her shield, knocking Primrose far away. However, unbeknownst to her, Lilian jumps in, trying to catch the raven head.
"Primrose!"
"Lilian!"
The impact is too strong, knocking them into the body of water nearby.
Caleb, wielding the bloodforged blade, clashes with Selene. The madwoman, undeterred, continues to revel in her delusion of being his eternal bride. The shadows respond to her command, launching a relentless assault on Caleb. The Vatore crest on his hand glows ominously, a surge of energy fueled by his will to slay this grotesque monster.
The young lord, once a nobleman, is now consumed by his vampire instinct, to protect his loved ones and put an end to the chaotic madness named Selene Voss. The bloodforged blade clashes with her shadows, a mixture of darkness and crimson hues as her maniacal laughs echo through the walls of the battleground.
"Look at her, witness the death of your pathetic human bride!"
The shadows intensify, swirling around her in a chaotic dance. Her once-white dress, a symbol of purity, is drenched in the blood of her wound and those she has laid her hands on. With a powerful strike, Caleb shatters Selene's shadows, dispelling the dark matter surrounding them.
Selene releases a pitiful scream, agonizing by the pain of her wound and the defeat of her shadows. She stumbles on her feet, taking a few steps back as she stares at him, the root of her obsession. This man… She wants him more than anything else… If she can not have him, then no one will…
"Lord Vatore!"
Seizing his arms, she stares at him with vile eyes, her grip on him tightens as she transcends into the chaotic psychopath she truly is.
"Tell me, do you find me beautiful?" tugging his arm, she continues "Do you find me worthy to be your bride?" the once fair maiden is now embracing her own madness "I am your bride, aren't I? For you, my lord, I will do everything. Everything!"
His brows knit at her heartfelt confession and as she keeps rambling on about how worthy she is for the position of his bride, Caleb decides it is time to end her suffering. Grabbing a handful of her hair, he pulls her face upward, meeting his blood-red orbs. Selene's eerie smile stays on her face, however, that smile soon morphs into an ugly gasp as his blade pierces through her heart, his last resolve to free her soul.
"Selene Voss, may your soul find its way to Hell…"
The remnants of Selene's delusional confessions linger in the air as the bloodforged blade is withdrawn. Caleb, his expression stoic and resolute, watches as Selene crumples to the ground.
As the young lord triumphs, Primrose and Lilian find themselves struggling to get out of the body of water. Upon landing in the water, the creatures living underneath this castle seize their opportunity to devour their prey. Lilian is the first one to be captured, the underwater grass grabs onto her leg, pulling the brunette deeper into the water. Looking at the creature on her leg and back at Primrose, it is only a matter of time before they are both out of breath.
The raven head extends her hand, trying to hold onto Lilian's. The young doctor looks at her friend, a rueful smile forms on her lips, knowing this is where she meets her ends. Instead of dying at the hands of that madwoman, she will accept her end here, in this cold freezing body of water. At least all body parts will be intact.
But Primrose refuses to leave things like this, a water blade cuts through the grass, forcing the creature to release her friend. Despite them being in the water, tears well in her onyx eyes as she struggles to hold onto her friend's hands. Lilian knows that desperate look on her face, she shakes her head lightly, silently telling her to let go. However, the raven head tightens her grip, refusing to yield no matter what.
As Lilian slowly slips into unconsciousness, fear strikes Primrose to her core. The water mage holds onto her friend tightly and swims to the surface, but the cursed grass doesn't give up, wrapping both their legs this time and pulling them down the abyss.
Lilian, you can't sleep on me like this…
Primrose finds herself slowly out of breath as their lives are hanging on thin threads. Is this also where she meets her end…?
Looking at her friend, her mind wanders back to the days of their childhood, the promise of always being by each other's side through thicks and thins. Is this truly the furthest they can go…?
"Primrose, look at this!"
A young Lilian smiles brightly as she places a flower crown on her friend's head, fitting for a lovely princess.
"Lilian, this is…?"
"A flower crown, I saw it on TV the other day and want to make it." the brunette beams lively "You look very cute wearing it though."
Primrose, blushing at her friend's kind words, accepts the gift with gratitude. However, it is what Lilian said next that makes the raven head turn crimson.
"Hey, when you get married in the future, I will make the most beautiful flower crown for you to wear."
"M-married?"
Lilian grins widely, nodding to herself at how amazing that promise sounds. Bringing her pinky in front of Primrose, she winks at her friend, asking to make a pinky promise. The raven head stares at her friend's little finger then back at her, the beaming smile on Lilian's face finally persuades her to make the promise.
"Pinky swear?"
"Pinky swear!" the brunette giggles in excitement "I'm sure you will be the most beautiful bride, Primrose!"
The sound of children's laughter fills her mind as Primrose remembers the promise they made when they were just little kids, that she would wear a flower crown made by Lilian on her wedding day. The freezing temperature, the dimly lit depths, surrounded by the eerie silence of the underwater realm…
Caleb…
That's right, Caleb…
Has he won the battle?
Lilian…
Summoning her last willpower, Primrose channels her final source of magic, a cocoon wraps around them, cutting the grass from pulling the duo down in the pit of darkness. With one last effort, the raven head pushes the cocoon to the shore.
"Has anyone seen them?" Edward frantically searches for his daughter and Lilian, looking around the water's surface in the hopes of finding them.
"Damn it! Where are they?" Marlin's worries are an unusual departure from his nonchalant face.
Caleb can feel his heart racing, the thought of losing Primrose becomes too unbearable for him to handle. Where can his lovely raven head be?
"Guys, come here!"
Nathaniel's relief call draws their attention as the younger blond tries to pull Lilian and Primrose onto the surface. With the help of everyone, they successfully secured both young ladies to the shore. The young lord wastes no time performing CPR on Primrose, along with Edward on Lilian, they all pray silently for the safety of the raven head and her friend.
After a few tries, Primrose is the first one to cough off the water as she turns to her side, feeling her stomach churning at the prospect of being drowned. Lilian follows her suit, shivering at how cold she feels right now.
"Prims!"
Nathaniel's voice is as loud and lively as she can remember. Primrose slowly opens her eyes, finding her surroundings hazy and blurry. Turning to her side, she catches a glimpse of a familiar gaze. A hand rests on her head and Lilian's smile is the last thing she sees before everything goes black again.