Continuation from Chapter Two.

Narrator- Melissa

Vampires don’t feel cold. Mother always told us that during old times vampires would go and hang around humans in winter because it was easier and they would never question us and thought it was normal that our bodies remained cold. If they did in summer, the humans were always puzzled over how our bodies remained cold and frozen on a scorching sunny day.

But today I feel different. It's winter and I am feeling cold too. The biting cold makes chills run all over my body. The atmosphere inside mother and father’s room looks really tense. Both mother and father stand still facing the large window of their room. And just like everyone else, they were looking at the sky. The red sky.

“We are here, mother.” I say with a curtsy.

Both mother and father turn around and give us a satisfying smile. It looks like they are proving to us that everything is alright. But it isn’t. For all that I know, something doesn’t feel right to me.

“Come here, my daughters.” Mother says as she embraces all of us with open arms. Father walks towards Catherine and hugs her, patting her head and then stroking her raven black hairs.

“My little goddess is here.” He says, smiling at her.

“How have you been, father?” Catty asks in a soft voice. “And is everything alright? We heard you were looking for us. What is it, father?”

Father gets silent at Catty’s questions. And after a while he looks at mother as if asking for her help. “Do you know why the sky is red today?” Mother asks as she walks towards the window again. “It’s red because she is awake, and the red sky is a sign of her awakening.”

“She? Who is this ‘she’, mother?” Patricia asks.

“Krulisa. She was summoned by her followers an hour ago.” Father says in a tensed voice.

“Who is Krulisa, father?” Catherine holds his hands in hers. Both mother and father exchange glances and then mother continues.

“Krulisa is someone we knew before you were all born. She is a vampire but nothing like us. She just wanted something more, something more than happiness. She wanted the whole world. She wanted to destroy the human kind, take over the world and rule over us all. So your father and I both casted a spell on her and locked her up and buried her deep. The spell would not last forever. We knew that. Your father and I decided to fight her again if she ever woke up. But things didn’t turn out the way we wanted.”

“What happened?” I ask. My body was slowly shaking in fear.

“This time she is not coming for us. She is going for the Immortal Hearts.”

“What are the Immortal Hearts?”

She takes a deep breath and continues. “The three powerful hearts that can give one the power of immortality and also the power to defeat anyone. Most importantly it gives you the power to get rid of any sort of spell and wipe out human kind.”

“Something this powerful actually exists? Why didn’t you ever tell us?” Patricia walks forward, closer to me.

“We never expected that she would go looking for them in the first place. And if Krulisa gets them, she will have the power to dis-”

“Destroy everything. We know. You explained that already. But why didn’t you tell us about this before?” I ask again. “Tell us!”

“We thought it was good if you didn’t know.’’ Father comes in mother’s favour. “No one ever knew about the Immortal Hearts. Except for your mother and me, no one other than us knew about it.”

“How did she know? Kryuliga or whatever her name is, how did she know?” Erica walks towards father.

“We don’t know.” Mother says. “It pains me that we couldn’t even save the secret.” I can see tears pooling in her eyes.

“It’s okay mother.” Catherine walks towards mother and hugs her. “It’s going to be alright. Is there any way we can help?”

“That’s why we summoned you all.” Father says, staring from mother to me. “Your mother and I have decided to send you all to the three major Institutes.”

“The three major Institutes? Are they another hidden immortal thing?” Erica asks.

“No. No they are not Erica!” Father says, as if irritated by Erica’s wild guessing. “The three major Institutes are the places where the Immortal Hearts are hidden. It was your great grandparent’s palace.”

“All three of them?” I ask.

“Yes. All three of them were their palaces. One was built for your grandparents, one for your great grandparents and one for me and Victoria. Your grandparents buried the hearts to save it from evil vampires like Krulisa. After they passed away, both me and Victoria decided to leave the palace and built this academy. We decided to live here.”

“Why did you leave?”

“The mortals. We were scared the mortals would be aware of our existence. And speaking about a decent neighbourhood, we were surrounded by mortals. Soon after we left, the mortals took over the three Palaces and made them into mortal Institutes. A school for the mortals.”

“So, you’re saying we have to go live with mortals in order to protect the Institutes and the Immortal Hearts from Krulisa?”

“Yes. You are right, my daughter. This is the only way we have. Both your mother and I can’t do anything because the Institutes are a place for youngsters like you.”

“We will do it.” Catherine volunteers before any of us get to even think. “If this is the only way, we have no choice but to do as you say, father. Right, sisters?”

“She is right, father.” Erica joins Catty. So do Patricia and Alicia. I think about myself. They are right. This is the only way. After hearing everything about someone like Krulisa, I can’t stand a chance to let her take over everything. I have to join my sisters. If this is the only way, I have to fight.

“We will do it. We will go to the Institutes and save the Immortal Hearts.” I say, joining my sisters.

“I am so proud of you all.” Mother says, wiping her tears.

“I have faith in you all. I know you can do it.” Father says, coming to stand next to mother.

“So when do we start our journey? How do we let the mortals know we are coming?” I ask. Interrupting the moment.

“You will have to leave right now.”

“Right now?” Alicia asks in disbelief. “But how can we just walk inside the Institutes with no notice? I mean, shouldn’t we at least let them know that we are coming?”

“If that’s your concern, your father and I have already sent one of our guards to let them know. And besides, they are already awaiting your arrival.” Mother says.

“So is it only us? No one else?” I’m not sure if I was supposed to ask such a question.

“No Melissa. No one else. It’s hard for me to trust anyone in the Academy other than my own daughters.”

“You said there were three Institutes that have the Immortal Hearts. How are we five supposed to protect all three of them?”

“She is right, mother.” Patricia joins. “How are we going to do it alone?”

“Not all of you are going to the same Institutes.” Mother says. “You will split up into two and go to each Institute. Melissa, you will have to go alone.”

I can do it alone. Besides, I am even stronger when I am alone. The only reason that wasn’t satisfying was the fact that we will all be separated. I won’t even be able to know if my sisters are safe. And neither will they be aware if I am safe.

“I can do it alone, mother.” I say confidently. “But I can’t let the rest be alone on their own.”

“That’s why they will be going in pairs, Melissa. I know you’re worried as an elder sister.”

“We can do it, sister.” Patricia says, before mom can even complete her sentence. “We will be fine. It’s you we are worried about. Are you sure you will be alright alone?”

“I will be. As long as you guys are fine. I am fine too.” I give them a satisfying smile.’’

“So, it's decided. Melissa, you shall go to The Journey Institute, Patricia and Alicia shall go to The Prestige Institute and Erica along with Catty shall go to Heatherhalls Institute.” Father says. I can see his face full of worry and sadness. It was both mother and father’s first time sending us away on a mission.

“I hope you are fine, my love.” Father says, hugging Catty. Catherine is the youngest and still learning about her powers. Both mother and father love Catty the most. And I know how it feels for them to send their most loved one on this dangerous mission. To them it’s like feeding five young lambs to a hungry wolf.

“I am going to be alright, father.” Catty says. Her voice is heard like a whisper from father’s chest. “I will be alright. Besides, I am the goddess of spell, remember?” She unlocks father’s hands from her shoulders and smiles at him. I can see she is crying as well. But still, smiling.

“Yes, my daughter.” Father says, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. “You are indeed the goddess of spells.” He hugs her again. Mother joins too, so do Patricia, Alicia and Erica. In the end I do too.

I hope this is not our last hug. I think, as we stand there hugging one another. I wish we could be like this forever. I hope we get back safe once everything is over. I hope we get back soon and have this same hug again.

My mind keeps whispering to me. I smile as I think about a family reunion after everything ends. Suddenly the smile on my face vanishes and then I start sobbing. Just like the rest of them.

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