The journey finally came to an end.
As the carriage rolled through the towering gates of Helexia, the Southern Empire, I slowly lifted my gaze toward the royal palace standing beyond the marble courtyards. My breath caught.
The palace was magnificent. Unlike the harsh beauty of the North, where towering stone walls and icy silver spires stood against endless snowstorms, Helexia's palace seemed as if it had been crafted from sunlight itself. Ivory-white towers rose toward the heavens, their golden rooftops glittering beneath the morning sun. Elegant balconies wrapped around the upper floors, draped with flowering vines in shades of crimson and violet. Countless stained-glass windows reflected rainbow colors across the courtyard below.
It looked less like a fortress and more like a dream.
A home built by angels.
And for a moment...
I remembered my own home. My northern palace. My kingdom. My parents. My mother smiling warmly while brushing my hair. My father laughing as he taught Lorenzo swordsmanship.
Then Fire.
Gone.
A sharp ache stabbed through my chest. Tears gathered in my eyes.
Quickly, I lowered the brim of my cartwheel hat to hide them.
"Eirlys..." Lorenzo said quietly.
His hand rested gently on my shoulder, comforting me though I could also feel the pain in him. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Then the enormous palace doors opened.
"Your Highnesses!"
The royal guards bowed deeply. Relief filled their faces. They were glad to see the royal family return safely.
Of course...
None of them knew what had happened to me, what I had become. Cassian stepped out of the carriage first, he extended his hand toward me. I placed my hand in his hesitantly. He helped me down. Then Lorenzo helped Seraphina descend from the carriage as well. Together, we entered the palace.
And immediately...
I forgot how to breathe. Again.
The inside was even more beautiful.
Massive crystal chandeliers hung from ceilings so high they seemed to disappear into the clouds. Sunlight poured through stained-glass windows, painting the polished marble floors with brilliant colors. The walls were covered in breathtaking murals.
One painting showed the founding of the Southern Empire. Another depicted ancient heroes slaying terrifying beasts.
Golden pillars stretched from floor to ceiling, carved with intricate patterns of serpents, flowers, and celestial stars. Silk banners flowed softly in the breeze coming from the open balconies.
Everywhere I looked, there was beauty.
The palace felt less like a building and more like heaven itself.
"Prince Lorenzo, your room will be next to mine."
Cassian pointed toward an enormous dark mahogany door adorned with silver carvings of lions and suns.
"And Princess Eirlys, your room will be next to mine, on the second floor." Sera smiled.
"Mm." I replied.
I removed my cartwheel hat and placed it on a nearby golden hat stand.
Suddenly—
A sharp sting pulsed through my waist. I kept my expression perfectly calm. No one noticed.
"Well, Sera," I said hesitantly, "can you lead the way to my room. I need some rest."
"Oh, of course, dear." Sera said as she led the way.
---
A few minutes later, we arrived at my room. The moment the doors opened, my eyes widened.
The room was enormous. A large canopy bed stood at the center, draped with white silk curtains embroidered with silver thread. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the palace gardens. Elegant bookshelves lined one wall. A marble fireplace occupied another.
Fresh flowers filled crystal vases throughout the room, filling the air with a sweet fragrance. The furniture was crafted from polished white wood decorated with golden accents. Soft carpets covered the floor. And beyond a pair of glass doors lay a private balcony overlooking the empire.
"Nice room." I walked inside, impressed.
"I'm glad you find it nice. Rest now, dear."
A smile tugged at her lips. Then she left. The door clicked shut.
Silence.
But...
I kept staring at the closed door.
Something felt wrong.
Ever since I became this creature... I could sense things, energies, instincts,
And the energy surrounding Seraphina felt... strange, different, dangerous.
I couldn't explain why. Eventually, I pushed the thought away.
I showered. Changed into simple robes. The servants had already unpacked my belongings. Afterward, I collapsed onto the soft bed.
---
A sharp pain exploded from my waist. My eyes snapped open. I winced.
But—
This wasn't my room. The bed was gone. The palace was gone. Everything was gone.
I stood inside a massive black cavern.
Darkness surrounded me.
Torches burned with eerie green flames. Several figures dressed in black cloaks stood around me. Masks concealed their faces. My stomach dropped. They were the attackers. The same ones from the woods.
The ones who injured Sera.
And standing at the center...
Was him. The masked man. The one who had bit me and make me this creature.
I bared my fangs. "Who are you?"
The man slowly turned toward me. He wore entirely black clothing. A long coat reached his boots. Dark leather gloves covered his hands. Silver chains hung from his belt. The hood cast deep shadows across his mask. Only his pale eyes were visible.
Without warning—He vanished.
My eyes widened. A cold hand suddenly grabbed my head from behind.
"Firstly," he said coldly, "behave, Child of Dracula."
Then his grip tightened.
"Secondly... if you wish to know who I am..."
His voice darkened. "Get on your knees."
I immediately twisted around and struck toward him. He caught my arm effortlessly.
Then—
CRACK.
Pain shot through my entire body. I gasped and dropped onto my knees. My eyes flashed crimson with rage.
"Eyes."
His fingers tightened.
"On."
Pain surged through my arm.
"The."
A long nail pierced my skin.
Blood trickled down.
"Floor."
I clenched my jaw. Slowly lowering my head.
"Good." His voice held satisfaction. "Now listen carefully, Princess Eirlys of the North." His grip tightened further. "Child of Dracula."
He motioned toward the cloaked figures. Several approached. They forcibly pulled my robe aside enough to reveal my waist. I struggled. Kicked. Scratched. Bit. But then, The mark burned.
A crimson glow erupted from the tattoo on my waist. Golden light outlined the shape. Dracula's fangs. The symbol blazed like molten metal.
The masked man chuckled. "There it is."
I glared at him. Before I could speak, he placed a finger against my lips.
"Quiet." His voice became almost gentle. Which somehow made it worse.
"Be a good girl." His finger slid toward the mark.
"Do you know what this is?"
"No.." I said.
"That mark," he said calmly, "belongs to Dracula's bloodline."
I stared at him.
"It connects you to ancient vampire royalty."
Then, slowly.... He removed his mask.
I froze.
His face was horrifying.
Deep scars covered his skin. One eye was entirely white. His lips were permanently scarred. His nose crooked from old injuries. Yet somehow... the most frightening thing was his smile.
"I am the one," he said softly, "who awakened the monsters."
My eyes widened. "Monsters?"
I blinked.
"There are more monsters than vampires?"
A dark laugh echoed through the cave.
"Oh, Child of Dracula." He tilted his head. "You truly know nothing." He stepped closer. "The strange energy you feel from your future sister-in-law."
My heartbeat stopped.
"You thought that was normal?"
I stared at him. Slowly. Fearfully. Realization began forming.
"There are many monsters." His fingers gripped my chin. "For now, only four truly matter."
He leaned closer. "Vampires. Werewolves. Spiders. Snakes."
My eyes widened. The ones we had only read about in stories. No way they were real.
"No..."
His smile grew. "Yes." He squeezed my chin. "Sera is a snake."
My stomach dropped.
"Not an ordinary snake." His voice became icy. "Snake royalty."
"What?!" I jerked backward. "How? And how do you know that?"
He released me. Then laughed. "My followers attacked both of you using blades coated with a special potion."
I froze.
"What?"
"The wounds delivered the potion directly into your blood," His white eye gleamed. "The potion awakens snake hybrids bloodlines."
"You..."
Rage exploded inside me.
"You did this?!"
I lunged. My claws wrapped around his throat.
His eyes narrowed. Instantly, he spoke a spell.
Agony erupted through me. The mark on my waist felt as though it were crushing every one of my internal organs. I collapsed, screaming.
He rubbed his neck where my claws had left marks.
"Annoying child."
Then his expression darkened.
"When the world treats you like garbage..." His voice trembled with bitterness. "And you discover a way to awaken mythical creatures... Who only belonged to stories..." His smile returned. "Why wouldn't you use it?"
Silence filled the cave.
Then he crouched before me.
"Now listen carefully." His voice became deadly. "Throughout history, snakes and vampires were enemies."
I frowned.
"Snakes traditionally protected humanity." His gaze sharpened. "Which makes them dangerous." He grabbed my chin once more. "Your task is simple."
I already hated where this was going.
"Watch Sera."
My stomach twisted.
"Learn everything."
His white eye stared directly into mine.
"And report it to me."
I clenched my fists.
"If you value your life..." His smile disappeared. "...and your brother's life."
Cold terror washed through me. For Lorenzo. He was threatening Lorenzo.
I hesitated for a long time, then he pressed my chin tightly. My voice came out barely above a whisper.
"Yes."
"Good."
He stood.
The cavern began dissolving around me.
Darkness swallowed everything.
And as consciousness faded— One thought echoed through my mind. I had just been ordered to spy on Sera, to betray the very woman who had welcomed me into her home. And I still didn't know... whether the man was lying.
Or if the true monster in this story wasn't Sera at all.