[5 years later]
"Have you checked the slots, Hiln?"
The polished veranda tiles squealed under my shoes, with Ion's low whisper causing me to skid to a sudden halt. I stared hard at Ion, confused.
"Yes, I did this morning," I responded, my voice barely audible. "Is something wrong?"
Our routines were steady. Boring, but safe. Sudden changes were not a good sign. They either signified disposing a lifeless body or tending to an unexpected visitor from another castle.
"More or less," Ion's red eyes darted to the evening sky and back to me. The laundry basket she carried seemed too heavy all of a sudden.
This did not bode well.
A slight tremble accompanied my voice. "Ion. What is it?"
"I met with Matadre today. Hiln, the other servants will be returning to the castle tomorrow."
My tongue went dry.
'No…'
"That means..." I began, and my voice trailed off the moment Ion nodded.
A subtle breeze tussled at her straight dark hair and her lips thinned.
"If they're returning, all the Lords are coming…" I whispered, my voice hoarse.
Ion frowned. "I am not sure what the occasion is, but please get some rest. It's a good thing you're retiring early today." Her frown faded. "I still have my duties to finish before I can rest."
Ion sighs and turns away from me. "Matadre has gone to inform the others. I'll make sure she knows I've relayed the message to you, Hiln."
A tentative smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "I understand. Thank you."
Ion offered a sympathetic nod and hurried away.
She vanishes around a corner, and without a moment's hesitation, I sprang into action. My feet carried me through boundless halls and across numerous flights of stairs until I reached the servant quarters. I dove straight into my room and locked the door behind me.
I slowly sat on my bed, looking at the open window. The night sky painted a mesmerizing canvas of grey, blue, and red hues that merged seamlessly overhead.
All the Lords were coming.
I did not like this. I did not like this at all.
It was on a dark and foreboding evening much like this one, that I first laid eyes upon all the Lords of the castle. The air held a biting chill, heavy with the scent of an impending heavy rain. I had snuck up to one of the overhanging balconies, accompanied by Becca, while our superiors departed the castle under the gleaming gaze of a crimson moon.
There they stood, five figures draped in the most opulent attire I had ever seen. Their coats, ruffled sleeves, and gleaming boots surpassed even the finery of the most esteemed town governors. The eerie glow of the blood moon bathed them in an ethereal haze, amplifying their commanding presence.
Yet, one in particular captured our attention the most. A mane of striking red hair cascaded down his back in sleek waves, and he exuded a sense of cruelty that surpassed the harsh moonlight itself. As the Lords moved on, he had stopped and titled his head, his gaze fixated in our direction.
Quick-witted Becca had managed to duck out of sight.
I wasn't as quick.
Even if she could not completely elude his detection, it was good enough for her that she didn't have to face him. I had unfortunately remained frozen in place. While I couldn't see clearly enough and not too far either to make out minute details, I was certain our eyes locked.
Words cannot adequately describe the sheer dread and terror that consumed me that moment.
Since I began working within these castle walls, fortune had spared me from being assigned anywhere near the Lords. The mere thought of being in proximity to their private wings rendered me immobile with fear.
Then again, it was ironic how I made the decision to be surrounded by vampires.
"Hiln…"
A muffled voice reached my ears, followed by a gentle knock on my door. I sat up. My drowsiness slipped away as I noticed how dark my room had become.
How long was I asleep for?
I swung the door open. Becca's youthful face greeted me. My tense frame relaxed and I smiled.
Her crimson eyes widened with excitement. "Awake now, are we? What are you doing in bed? Heaven knows how many times I've called out to you." She bounced on her toes, brimming with energy. Like a spring, her blonde curls followed suit. "Hurry out before Matadre comes looking for you."
I stood there, perplexed. Then, my smile faded. Panic slowly set in.
I woke up at the slightest sounds, how could she have been repeatedly calling me?
Unless…
I reigned in the unpleasant feeling. Becca was one of them. She would notice the slip in my demeanour if I wasn't careful. And thankfully, something else occupied her mind at the moment.
I asked, "Matadre? Why? I was informed that I had no further duties for the evening."
"No, no," she exclaimed, shaking her head.
I could not miss the twinkle of excitement in her voice.
It was highly likely that Becca was about to drag me into some misadventure. And what did Matadre have to do with it? Also, wasn't this the dead of night?
"Lady Gremlin and Lord Fashire brought in fresh blood!" Becca exclaimed. "Pretty young things. We have to feed them."
I stiffened. The hairs at the nape of my neck stood on end.
"They… I was told the Lords were arriving tomo—"
No. Ion had spoke about the other servants, not the Lords.
Becca paused, her excitement fading as she studied me. "Hiln?"
"I'll be right down," I assured her, nodding. "Just—just give me a moment to get ready."
"Oh, alright!" Her smile slowly returned as she side stepped away from me. "I'll be waiting for you by the steps. Please, hurry!"
The moment I shut the door, I dashed towards my bed. It was dark, but I knew the layout of my room like the back of my hand.
It shouldn't be this dark!
My eyesight had dwindled considerably as the effects of the potion were already wearing off.
The hunting of humans had long been abolished. Yet, it remained common for high-ranking vampires to acquire human 'pets' or, more accurately, 'blood bags.'
These unfortunate people, considered lucky if they survived beyond a decade, were subjected to varying degrees of cruelty. Lady Gremlin, in her own peculiar way, cared for her pet. However, he had recently succumbed to old age. I am sure her new pet would fare just fine.
Lord Fashire was a terrifying problem. The red-haired monster who had cast his horrifying gaze upon me that ill-fated evening.
Among the Lords who roamed the castle, he was the most ruthless. His notoriety extended far beyond the confines of the castle walls. The other servants would speak of outlandish tales that painted a terrifying portrait of this abominable Lord.
And within just a few months, I witnessed it myself.
His ever-changing parade of pets. Human playthings discarded like broken toys and replaced with alarming frequency. Rarely did any survive beyond a few weeks, their lives abruptly snuffed out on a whim.
In the bath chamber, I splashed my face with cool water to get rid of a few unpleasant imageries. I retraced my steps to my sleeping quarters. With practised ease, I lifted the feathered mattress of my bed to reveal a hidden compartment. I pulled out the small vial and took a sip of the crimson liquid. Ignoring the shudder that coursed through me, I returned the vial, arranged my bed, and rushed back to the bathing chamber.
I paused before the mirror's reflective surface.
There, the fading red of my eyes flared to life once more, a vibrant crimson hue replacing the dullness that was previously there. My shoulders slumped as I sighed in relief. My heightened senses returned, and my hearing sharpened to its supernatural acuity.
I would need to head back to the village to get more potions from my aunt. This vampiric disguise would not mask my true nature for long.