A knock on the door draws Caleb's attention, interrupting his train of thought. The young lord's eyes fall on his trusted butler and the document the man has in his hands.

"My lord, the report you need."

"Thank you, Richard."

Scanning the material of the investigation, the vampire slowly absorbs all the key details about recent events that have stirred the peaceful atmosphere of Forgotten Hollow. A few days after their successful rescue mission, butler Richard found the remains of the man whom he assumed to be Lord Voss. The brooch adorning the deceased bore the fox crest, symbolizing the Voss family, and was tightly clasped by their Lord in his final moments.

"How did he…?"

"He was burnt to death…" the wise advisor stops for a moment as he continues "…by the hands of Selene Voss…"

"She killed her own father?"

A firm nod from Richard sends a chill down his spine, his stomach churns at the horrendous act that wicked woman performed on her kins and blood.

The butler continues, believing that because Lord Voss posed a threat to the scheme Selene was planning, along with his reluctance to introduce her to Caleb during House Cents's party had sparked her bloodthirst to eliminate him, her father. The revelation of such familial betrayal strikes him with a profound sense of unease and dread, the thought of Selene Voss and her distorted desire leave a foul taste in his mind.

"My lord, it is known that Selene Voss visited the Bloodhaven's manor before this incident happened…"

The mention of House Bloodhaven draws his attention as he nods, motioning Richard to continue. As investigations are performed by Lilith and Kian at the Voss's manor, they stumble upon a picture of Lilian Collins hidden in a wooden box in Selene's private quarter. Although it doesn't specifically imply that the picture is given to that madwoman, the connection between House Bloodhaven and Lilian's incident can not be ignored.

Caleb closes his eyes, absorbing the new information he receives. Even during the battle, Selene Voss consistently called out the name of Seraphina Bloodhaven and she would rise above her. The cultist act of consuming mortals' blood, particularly those who are deemed high-status, is not a foreign concept to the vampire's culture. The plasma fruit House Vatore creates only existed for less than a decade compared to the centuries-old practice of consuming blood, it is not surprising that certain families follow the means to obtain eternal beauty and Selene Voss is one of the faithful followers of this cult.

"Keep a close eye on the Bloodhaven family, Richard. Do not fail me."

The usual gentle façade of Caleb is replaced by a stoic expression. He can never forgive those who bring harm to Forgotten Hollow and smear the legacy of House Vatore with such an atrocious act. Butler Richard bows, accepting his master's order.

Caleb leaves his seat and stands by the large window of his study room, observing the town and its people. With an eerie veil of mist, the historical structures of each house, and the ongoing gloomy weather, Forgotten Hollow, as the name suggests, is a land where no humans are allowed to step in. This town protects the centuries of vampire existence, the peaceful land that is hidden among mortals' eyes is now facing the threat of those who wish to destroy it.

The conflict between House Vatore and House Straud years ago becomes a constant reminder of how many lives have been sacrificed in order for them to find peace, not only between their kind but also the harmonious life with humans. No longer do they are the nocturnal creatures of the night, the victory of House Vatore allows the vampires to blend in with the world of mortals.

Butler Richard watches his lord from afar. He understands the burning anger within Caleb's heart. With his parents' sacrifice, the legacy of House Vatore, and the wish to live amongst the mortals, his lord has done everything he can to ensure that vision comes to light.

Yet, there are those who wish to destroy this peace...Unforgivable…

As the Head of House Vatore, Caleb has a duty to his family and his people. Every vampire family that resides in Forgotten Hollow is under the protection of House Vatore, the influence of his family serves as the bridge between mortals and vampires. Sighing, Caleb's hand slowly balls into a tight fist, he will not allow anything to threaten this peaceful era that he and his allies have sacrificed everything to obtain.

"I will take my leave, my lord."

Butler Richards turns around as he makes his way to the door. Before he touches the knob, Caleb stops him.

"Richard, how is Primrose?"

Even her name sounds broken in his lord's voice.

"She is…recovering…" remaining his stoic expression, the butler responds.

"I see…"

Caleb's silver eyes, once filled with an affectionate light reserved only for his beloved, now wear a rueful gaze. It has been many days since their cold war and the young lord, despite maintaining his stand on how disappointed he was at her stubbornness, also holds onto the guilt of the bruise he has unintentionally inflicted on her. That hand mark on her wrist, a vivid purple color that has yet to fade away, serves as a constant reminder of what he has done to her.

"Make sure she is well taken care of, Richard." Caleb's voice softens "I want her to feel comfortable here…"

Butler Richard looks at him, the tensed shoulders his lord is wearing at the mention of his beloved's name. The wise advisor wonders if she can truly be comfortable when this chilling atmosphere keeps hawking them.

"Understood, my lord."

As he leaves the room, Richard stumbles upon a small figure leaning against the wall outside of Caleb's study room. She too, wears a regretful gaze, struggling to maintain her usual vibrant expression. The butler's eyes fall onto her, the mere human girl who has captured the heart of his master. She is the reason for Caleb's willingness to put himself in danger time after time, despite his subordinate's plead for his safety.

Lilith once asked him to extend his loyalty to this girl and Caleb ensured him that he would never let this human go. He wonders what kind of spell this woman has put on his lord and lady, how she has bewitched everyone to think that she is a benevolent creature that fits to be the Lady of House Vatore.

Such a disgrace to the title…

Richard thinks to himself.

"My lady, is there anything I can do for you?"

Primrose flinches. Despite the caring words, the ominous tone is thickened. She knows that Richard is not fond of her, nor her relationship with Caleb.

"H-how is he?"

"My lord is doing well, he has business to attend to."

Is Caleb that busy to the point he can not see me?

Primrose bites her tongue, knowing that she is out of line to think like that. His cold demeanor doesn't go unnoticed as Caleb constantly shuts himself in the office, refusing to spend time with her, even if it is just a small stroll to the rose garden. At night, in the comfort of his quarter, their shared bedroom, Caleb continues to avoid her, only coming to bed when he believes she has fallen asleep. Even when they share the same bed, his back always faces her.

The raven head knows she was at fault for not listening to his request, she understands how her reckless actions worried him, but for the young lord to give her a cold shoulder and refuse to talk to her is unfair…

It makes her feel like history is slowly repeating itself, that he is slipping away from her. Years ago, he refused to answer her affection and left without a single word. This time, is he trying to make her feel like she holds no place in his heart anymore?

"You should rest, my lady. Lord Caleb is worried that you might overwork yourself."

Overwork?

What kind of work does Caleb think she is doing?

The butler excuses himself and takes his leave, the corner of his eyes still lands on Primrose as she stands there, pondering her thoughts of how and what she should do to mend this gap between them.

Sighing, Primrose chooses to return to the safe space of Caleb's quarter. This place, once a haven of love between them, is now filled with an ambient air. Sitting on the corner of the bed, she dials Lilian's number, finding solace in her friend's voice.

"Hello, little miss secrecy!" as lively as ever, the brunette's voice booms through her phone.

"Lilian, how are you doing?"

"Well, I can still feel my head almost float away, so…" a warm giggle draws a smile from Primrose as Lilian continues "How about you? Everything good?"

"Everything is…good…"

Her answer doesn't sound convincing, especially when she trails off on the last word. Lilian, on the other side of the line, hums in response.

"Still a battleground?"

"Yeah, still a battleground…"

The thought of the rift between her and Caleb slowly brings her to tears, Primrose bites her bottom lips, hoping to stop a sob from escaping. However, she underestimates Lilian. Knowing her friend since diapers, the brunette can easily see through the wall she is trying to build.

"Primrose…" Lilian stops for a moment "How about an escape tonight?"

The raven head gasps at her request, wondering if she should accept it or not. The thought is nice, a little escape from this suffocated silence between her and Caleb.

"I will call Nathaniel and Ember too, we're gonna have a lot of fun!" the brunette continues to persuade her "Come, you need to get out of that place, Prims."

After a moment of consideration, the water mage agrees. Lilian is right, she needs to find a way out of this place. Their shared bedroom, her last hope of finding peace, is now an isolated place that fills her heart with doubt and fear. She has wished for a different outcome, that despite his anger he would still hold her close when they sleep, but Caleb's cold shoulders strike a dagger to her heart. The painful memories of their separation resurface…

This ominous silence is suffocating…

"Primrose, good evening!"

Lilith has come to check on her, that kind smile never once leaves her face. Ever since the distance Caleb installs between him and Primrose, Lilith has become her pillar of support. She, along with Kian, offers their companionship in the hopes of easing the tension between her brother and the raven head.

"Hello Lilith…" forcing herself to smile, Primrose raises her head, meeting Lilith's warm brown eyes with her onyx ones "I'm going out with Lilian tonight."

"O-oh, that is lovely." Surprised at her plan, the younger Vatore continues to press on "Where are you guys going?"

"She is taking me to a bowling alley and I accept…" Primrose trails off "You know…"

Lilith nods, understanding the context of her hesitation. The Vatore's estate that fills with the vibrant smile of Primrose now wears a cloak of stillness, despite being so close, Primrose and Caleb seem so far away, almost out of each other's reach. The younger Vatore wishes she could help, but her brother's avoidance and Primrose's reluctance to communicate only add fuel to their ongoing tension.

"Can I come with you?"

"Oh, o-of course…"

Primrose, confused at the request, agrees without a second thought. It's not like Lilith is policing her or anything.

Unbeknownst to her, a shadow figure is watching from afar, hiding behind the corner as he sighs. The weight of his actions has manifested into visible pain and Caleb notices it, the light in her onyx eyes carries the same rueful gaze as his.

Kian, Lilith's husband, urges him to speak up instead of staying silent, his cold shoulders are damaging the fragile connection he and Primrose have built together. The blond vampire believes that their inability to communicate will hurt both of them more as Primrose has experienced his silence before. Kian fears that Caleb's actions will bring back the painful memories of their previous separation and this time, the young lord is intentionally doing this.

But Caleb is reluctant to reach out…

His anger stems from how stubborn and reckless she is at saving Lilian. Despite knowing how capable Primrose is at handling dangerous situations, his protective instinct doesn't allow him to see her throwing herself on the battleground. Her safety is the most important thing to Caleb and he refuses to watch her get hurt.

His silver eyes trail down to the bandage around her neck and the bruise that is still imprinted on her wrist, constantly reminding him of the pain he has inflicted on her. While the wound on her neck was due to Selene's wrath, had he been strong enough to fight back the temptation that wicked woman posed in front of him, Primrose would not have interfered and got hurt.

"Caleb, she doesn't blame you at all for what happened…" Kian leans against the railing, looking at his brother-in-law with worries filling his eyes "Why must you make it difficult for both of you?"

"You don't understand, Kian!"

His strong response startles the blond vampire as he takes his leave, unable to watch his beloved and Lilith walk out of the front door. He has sworn to always protect her, to shield her from all the harm and love her with every fiber of his being, yet that bruise…

The monster within him, the beast that he had tamed all those years ago slowly resurfaces, tempting the young lord to unleash it. He can not let Primrose see that darkness within his heart, she is too pure for that. Staring at his trembling hand, Caleb sighs in defeat. For the first time in his almost 300 years of existence, he can not find an answer to his heart…

"Prims!"

Lilian waves her hand, calling her to their registered spot. Behind her is Lilith, who casts a warm smile at everyone. The brunette, perceptive as ever, questions the younger Vatore's intention to be here tonight.

"Don't worry, Lilian. She is here for fun, just like the rest of us."

Primrose reminds her friend with a soft gaze, telling her that there is no one policing them tonight. Nathaniel and Ember wear an understanding expression, welcoming Lilith to the group with open arms.

They have fun bantering about their daily lives, how Nathaniel and Ember are going to graduate soon, how Lilian is struggling to lie about why she was able to get out of her kidnapping case, how Lilith is helping her avoid legal stuff, and so on. Primrose, surrounding herself with the love and warmth of her friends and family, smiles to herself. At least in this place, she is able to strip away her heartache and just enjoys the fun.

When it is Lilith's turn to bowl, Lilian seizes the opportunity to pry into Primrose's matter, particularly her cold war with the young lord. Even after everything that has happened, the brunette can not believe that she has been friends with a mage and working alongside a vampire this whole time. The revelation almost knocks her unconscious.

"Why didn't you tell me? I thought we were friends?"

"Lilian, you are my only human friend. I don't want the complexities of supernatural beings to get in the way of our friendship. Besides…" Primrose continues "My parents raised me and Nathaniel to be more in tune with our human side, it's easier for us to blend in instead of standing out like a sore thumb."

"Alright, I believe you. But still, Caleb Vatore the vampire? Now that is a stretch!"

The raven head giggles, awarding the jesting remark of her friend. However, even the mention of his name pains her heart. Lilian, realizing that she may just step onto a landmine, defuses the situation by clapping at a strike Lilith just made.

Her mind wanders back to Caleb, how warm his smile is, how those eyes shine with affection, how safe she feels in his embrace, and so much more. Primrose wraps her arms around herself, craving to be held by him, to hear those loving words coming from his mouth. The thought of them makes her heart clench as the grip on her sweater tightens, reflecting the turmoil within.

"Come now, Prims. We're here to have fun, just let go and let loose!" Lilian grabs her hand and pulls her out on the bowling alley "Drinks on me if you can win."

"Lilian, is that a challenge?" huffing at her friend's playful antic, Primrose raises her eyebrow "I hope that you are not a sore loser."

"We'll see about that."

Lilith is taking a step back, sitting on the bench as she watches the duo play their game. She admires how fast and quick-witted Lilian is at bringing joy back to the raven head, even if it is just for this single night. Her mind wanders back to her brother, wondering how he is holding up. Even when they are not talking, Lilith knows that Caleb's eyes always revolve around Primrose and the water mage never once stays out of his sight.

He loves her that much and yet, refuses to initiate any form of communication. What is her brother thinking?

Nathaniel and Ember make their way to the bench, watching Primrose and Lilian's little game with amusement in their eyes. The blond turns his attention to Lilith, asking if everything between his sister and Caleb is okay, and the answer disappoints him.

The younger Vatore crosses her arms, huffing at how annoying it is to watch the love birds awkwardly navigate their relationship while they can just come out and say sorry to each other. Nathaniel agrees with the sentiment, believing that Primrose should at least acknowledge her fault for being reckless during the rescue mission and Caleb should man up and confront her about their strained connection. But Ember has something else in her mind, believing that the matter of the heart is a delicate subject, especially for both Primrose and Caleb who are very intune with their feelings.

"But seeing them like that drives me insane…" Lilith confesses "You don't know how many times Kian and I try to talk to Caleb about this. He may think that Primrose is stubborn, but he is just as mulish as her."

"Maybe that is why they are a couple, a pair of stubborn mules."

Nathaniel's jokes draw a laugh from both women, who wholeheartedly agree with his observation.

"I think they will be okay. Primrose and Caleb have gone through so much in their lives, a small rift won't be an obstacle in their way." Ember's gentle smile is filled with hope for them.

As the night goes on, Primrose returns to the Vatore's estate with Lilith. Kian welcomes them with a warm smile and Caleb, once again, is nowhere to be found. She feels a tug in her heartstrings but swallows the pain as she puts on a brave face, masking the emotional struggle within her. Lilith and Kian escort her back to Caleb's quarter, before they take their leave, the younger Vatore pulls her into a warm embrace, surprising her in return.

"Primrose, don't give up, okay?" whispering in her ears, Lilith continues "Caleb will come around, I'm sure of it."

Her onyx eyes soften at the encouragement as she nods her head, saying goodnight to them both before shutting the door behind her.

In the privacy of Caleb's quarter, Primrose allows herself to slide down onto the floor and becomes vulnerable in the emptiness of their bedroom. Wiping away the tears with her hand, she wishes for Lilith's words to be true, that everything between them will go back to the way it was.

But when will it happen?

With a heavy heart, Primrose changes into her nightgown and lies on the bed, reminiscing about the happy time they spent together. Holding the pendant in her hand, the item that Caleb has given her in the hopes that it would protect her from harm. This pendant, bearing the crest of House Vatore, significant her role as the only maiden in his heart. But with their current situation, can she still wear this pendant, knowing that the silence between them only grows louder?

"Caleb…"

Her fragile heart hurts at the thought of him slipping away, of them becoming strangers. Had she known things would end up like this, she would never accepted him back in her life again. It's painful, too painful for her to bear. The same man who has promised to never let her go again is now actively pushing her away. His cold shoulders serve as a reminder to her that history is slowly repeating itself and she is a fool for believing that he would change this time…

As Primrose cries herself to sleep, the door creaks open. A tall figure steps in, his raven hair tousles after a long day of work and silver eyes gaze at the small body lying on their bed.

Caleb's heart clenches at the sight of his beloved, holding onto the pendant he gave her as her lashes are wet, evidence of her tears. He leans down to her, his gaze softens at the sight of her slumber, the strain of their connection is slowly taking a toll on her, physically and emotionally. He turns his attention to the bruise on her wrist, finding himself unable to look at the pain he inflicted on her.

Despite the love he has for Primrose, Caleb wonders how he can forgive himself when he has done such a horrible deed to her. Even if she forgives him, the guilt of that bruise still haunts him no matter how much he wishes to overcome it.

"Primrose…"

Caressing her soft raven locks in his fingers, he sighs. He has been doing this for some time now, it is only when she falls asleep that he allows himself to be close to her, to watch her attentively without the fear of hurting her.

"I love you…"

Planting a kiss on her hair, he walks to the closet to change into something more comfortable. He needs a bath, something that can wash away this sinful feeling he is carrying within his heart. As the bathroom door closes, Primrose slowly opens her eyes. Her lips quiver, trying her best to swallow a sob.

Why Caleb…

Why are you doing this to us?