Daniel dashes into his house and then runs straight into his room. Luckily, his mom hasn't spotted him. If she found out that he went to fight monsters, then he's going to be in so much trouble.
He rushes into his closet to put on his white shirt and his suit. There's a party going on in the garden to announce themselves in Cupid's Hollow. They've invited all the prominent moroi that live in the United States.
And he has to be there or else his mom will be pissed. There's a reason why his mom's powers are fire.
He adjusts his bow tie before walking out of the closet. He jumps when he sees someone sitting with crossed legs on the bed.
His sister, Cecelia.
"Hello, brother," she says, smirking.
"God, you scared me, you look so much like mom, it's so fucking annoying." he moves over to the mirror.
"I really don't know if I should take that as an insult or emotional abuse."
"Oh come on, mom might be scary, but she's pretty at least."
Cecelia shurgs. "Yeah, whatever."
Daniel looks away from the mirror and then looks at her.
"You look good."
He says. She's dressed in a long French floral dress, a choker around her neck, and black heels. Her light blonde hair is straight and her eyes silver, but covered in dark eyeshadow. She looks like a model, which is what she wants to be. Her mother thinks it's unrealistic, her father doesn't really care what she does, but her twin brother supports her.
"Why, thank you, little bro," she says. Daniel gives her a look.
"You're two hours older than me."
"Still older," she winks. Daniel rolls his eyes, then snorts.
"But you're looking rather… chirpy at the moment."
Daniel shrugs. "You know me, I'm always chirpy."
"No, no no. This is different," she stands up from his bed and brings her brother's face closer and looks him in the eye. "And you are not like this because you killed a monster." Daniel tries to escape from her grip and but she holds him tight.
"Let me go."
"No!" Cece gasps. "You met a girl, didn't you?"
"No," he scoffs.
"Daniel, you can lie to our parents, but you can't lie to me," she says, raising her brows at him. Daniel tries to fight her persuasion off, but of course, he's not going to win this.
"Okay, fine." he walks away and then jumps on his bed, lying flat on it, face up at the ceiling. Cece joins him, but she sits on the bed waiting for him to explain himself.
"Her name's Rose," he says with a smile.
"Ooh, pretty name."
"Just like her, she has such beautiful star-like eyes, her lips are so full, I was tempted to kiss them, but consent is important. She's also so badass, and also…." he sits up.
"She's a hybrid."
Cece's eyes widen. "What?"
"Yes, you know there were rumours back in London that there was a witch werewolf hybrid in a small town in California, it's her, she's the hybrid."
"Whoa, I thought those were just rumours," Cece says, looking at the ground. "Are you sure she's a hybrid?"
"Yes, she is. I saw her bring out claws and perform magic. She even thought I was a hybrid because I used my powers to distract a wendigo."
"A wendigo. Oh, Daniel."
"I'm fine."
"Yeah, but you really need to be careful. With her, most especially."
Daniel gives her a look.
"What's that supposed to mean? Rose isn't going to hurt me. She and I are alike. She's a hybrid seen as an outcast, and I have spirit, which no moroi vampire is supposed to have."
"No, I didn't mean it that way, Daniel. I just want you to be careful because you know what happened last time. Your love for killing monsters and helping people is the reason why we're here in the first place."
Daniel doesn't say anything; he just looks away from her. His eyes are on the closet.
"But hey." She places her hand on his. "I love the way you light up when you talk about her," she says, and Daniel smiles.
"She's so pretty. I hope I see her again."
"It's a small town. I'm sure you will."
"There you two are," the twins stand when they hear a sharp voice with a thick British accent.
Katerina Ivanov stands regally in her red dress, pearls and her light blond hair up in a bun. She has that royal sharpness to her that makes her look like the queen. She is a queen in the eyes of many, but most especially her husband.
"Well, come on, there are people here who want to see you." She walks away. Daniel and Cece stare at each other, and they snort. Then they follow their mother to the garden.
The garden is filled with lots of rich moroi vampires, silver eyes everywhere. There are fairy lights decorated on the flowers, there's an orchestra playing nice music, and there's a tiny fountain full of human blood and animal blood on a table filled with sweets and pastries.
"I am kinda hungry," Cece says, and Daniel's stomach betrays him by growling.
"Me too," Daniel says
"Daniel! Cecelia!" their mother calls them over. She stands next to their handsome father in a brown suit, and they're talking to a short Asian woman in regal attire.
Her face is round, her skin pale, grey hair is still in a side bun. She's wearing an elegant floral print maxi dress.
Cece sighs before walking toward her parents and their guests.
"Wendy, these are my kids. Daniel and Cecelia."
"Oh, twins, they look so beautiful."
"They obviously got it from me." Mr Alexei Ivanov says in a Russian accent, and Katerina rolls her eyes playfully. Everyone giggles.
"Yes, they have your eyes."
But we all have the same eye colour.
Daniel says to himself.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Wendy," Daniel says.
"Nice to meet you, too, sweetheart. I really hope you guys enjoy Cupid's Hollow and you stay clear of the Lockwood family."
Lockwood. Rose?
Daniel looks at her with confused eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Who are the Lockwoods?" Cece asks. And Wendy looks at Alexei, who is scratching the back of his head.
"You mean you haven't told them?" Rose says.
"We were going to." Their dad says.
"Who are the Lockwoods and why should we avoid them?" Cece asks.
"Oh, my dear. They're a family of werewolves, and they have a complicated history with your family."
"How so?" Daniel asks.
"Well, a long time ago, the Ivanovs and Lockwoods lived in peace; they weren't friends nor enemies, but they became enemies when Darla Ivanov fell in love with Gabriel Lockwood. They fell for each other. It was a romance neither of the families loved. As soon as they got together, not only did the families declare war on each other, but weird things started happening, and there was a theory that because their love was against nature, they cursed Cupid's Hollow, and the only way the curse had to be broken was if they stayed away from each other."
"So did they stay away from each other?" Daniel asks, intrigued, wanting to know the story.
"No, their love was very strong, but people wanted them to stay away from each other, and they tried their best to keep them apart. Even their families. But then they both came up with a plan. For them to be together forever, they had to kill themselves. Darla stabbed Gabriel with a blade mixed with mountain ash, and Gabriel killed her with a silver one. After that, the Ivanovs were chased away from Cupid's Hollow, and they vowed never to come back. Well, until now," she looks at Alexei.
"We had no choice but to come; it's my job," their dad says.
"Yes, yes, I know. Let's just hope history doesn't repeat itself."
"It won't," their mother says.
Daniel can't stop thinking about Rose. And he couldn't help but have a pull toward her. He doesn't care about some curse; that's just absurd. He's going to get to know her.
And no one is going to stop him.
His mother is right, history isn't going to be repeating itself. Because things are going to be done the right way.