Madeline’s POV

I shook my head indulgently. This can't be...

“He said surreal things to me last night, and he kept pushing that he is CountDarius. If you don’t know, Jade was dead because this count sucked his blood from his nape. And who is a crazy man who would do that except for a vampire who is thirsty for blood?”

I let the prince think about what I just said and continued venturing into the book. Every time I know something, my curiosity would elevate, and it just does not stop naturally. My heart dropped when I turned to the next page and felt shattered due to surprise and anxiety. Countess Marissa, the one and only daughter of Count Reymar and Countess Hera. The countess is known to be the last guardian of the magic crystal due to the blessings the gods gave her. She ended up being dead by her unknown mate, who until now has remained a mystery.

“Whoa, are you okay?” Prince asked me and caught my body when I was about to fall from my stance. “Come here and I’ll ask a servant to get you some water.”

I was speechless as he led me to his bed for me to sit down. The prince then went outside for a brief moment, and I guessed that he was asking for a cup of water. I stared at the wall, my lips a bit apart while thinking deeply.

No, this is beyond impossible. What the creature said to me last night matched the information in this book. No. I can’t believe it. But why would I be in denial when I can even see visions and dreams that I never created, right? What about Uriel, the alpha? And the encounter I had with a vampire? It only leads to the truth that I may be Countess Marissa of vampires.

So… am I a vampire?

I dropped the book on the bed and ran through the window. I don’t have time to tell the prince about these things, because right now, I want to know the answers in my mind. I left the castle and went to the stable where I put my horse. I don’t recall talking to the owner of the stable and just found myself riding my horse on the road, leaving the town behind me.

Uriel killed Marissa. He is her mate. He is a werewolf, while Marissa is a vampire. They are not supposed to be meant to be because their kinds are enemies to each other. And yet, love knows no boundaries, as the saying goes.

The gallops of my horse became loud, as well as the thoughts I still cannot puzzle together. I was brightened up when I could already see the forest where our headquarters is located. I slowed down my ride, dismounted from the horse, and tied the animal to a tree branch. I am alone right now since the organization will only meet up during the nights when we have missions to accomplish. I opened the tank and climbed down the wooden stairs after closing the entrance. There were no torches lit up, but there were rays from the sun that penetrated through the small holes of the tank, making me barely see the dark and ominous hallway.

“Oh, shit…” I cursed under my breath when I saw the chains empty.

He must have escaped!

I lurched forward to the chains, and there were stains of blood. I felt a presence suddenly behind me, so I got alarmed. When it was already near, I shifted my weight, drew out my two daggers from my sheaths just under the cloak I was wearing, and pointed them at the presence.

“Relax, my sister. It’s only me.”

I glared at the vampire. And even though I want to be serious and aware that he would attack me, I am simply amused by the fact that he is flying into the thin air. His feet were floating, and his red eyes were glowing in the middle of darkness and light rays from the sun.

“How did you escape from the chains?” I asked him while following him as he went down to the ground.

“It does not matter,” he said and inhaled sharply. “And I was about to go to where you live to watch you.”

I squinted my eyes. “How long have you been watching me?”

“Since I got here in your time.”

“If what you were telling me last night was true, why would you go to this lifetime?” I asked him intently. “Yes, I may look like Countess Marissa…. if that pushes you to believe that I am her, but I am human.”

He smirked and shrugged. “Yes, you are human. As a vampire, I can even smell your blood. I could eat you right now,” he said and grinned with a tease in his tone.

Because of what he did, I threw one of my daggers that passed by over his shoulder. He did not react, but he shut up. The dagger stuck to the wall just behind him.

“Quit kidding around because I am not playing with you,” I threatened him. “Now, I want you to answer my questions."

“If that’s what you wish, countess, I would grant it,” he said with a nonchalant smile.”

“Why are you here?”

“To persuade you to return to our world to save our kind,” he answered abruptly.

“What makes you think that I am the only one who can save the vampires? Your sister is dead. I have read about it in the palace just a while ago."

“But your soul is inside you,” he continued. “The gods in the underworld told me that you are her shell to make right the wrongs of the past. Since… your death was the reason why our kind has gone into extinction.”

“How come?” I asked again, hiding the confusion in my austere attitude.