I felt so distant as I looked at myself in the mirror. The face that I used to know seemed too alien to me. I sighed deeply. I didn't know if I had an acceptable reason to be happy even though it was my birthday.

It hurts me, but after a few hours, their memories of me will be taken away from them. From all the people that meant a lot to me.

"Thank you, Mom." I hugged my Mom tightly as I held back the tears that were building up in my eyes. She was the one who braided my long black hair and placed some flowers on it.

"You're such a drama queen." My brother Benjamin said while capturing the moment with his video camera.

I smirked at him. "But at least I'm not a cry baby like you." I'm gonna miss my annoying brother Benjamin. There was not a day that we won't get on each other's nerves.

"That's enough. Try to be nice to each other for at least one second." Mom scolded. And I'm gonna miss my loving mother who was always acting like an umpire between me and my brother.

My father showed up in my room. He stood at the door looking handsome wearing his favorite suit that was given to him by his former boss, it was so far the most decent clothe he has and he only wears it for special occasions. He was one of the few people that I looked up to, he may not be able to give us everything we want but he was working very hard to provide us what we need.

"Ready?" He asked.

His question echoed in my mind. Ready? I know what he meant, but it was funny to mean different for me. Am I even ready to face the great changes ahead of me? I wondered. I didn't even know what to expect. I'll be leaving this house, my existence will be erased from their memories and they will no longer know me as a part of their family. Which I never was.

It took me quite some time to think about it, but it was the most reasonable decision that I've ever made. It was for their safety; it'll be the best for them not to know me and my existence, for them not to be involved in the life that I am about to face.

I let my thoughts wander while staring outside the window of my dad's old royal blue Ford Maverick car, which I think was handed over to him by grandpa. It was pretty old but surprisingly working well. My mom was sitting on the passenger's seat and I was sitting on the back seat with my brother. It would only take us 15 minutes to the City if the road had been friendlier. The road was muddy because of the rain that started early in the morning and it was drizzling still. The weather forecast said that it will last for almost two weeks.

I walked every morning on this road for almost a year to get to the nearest bus stop that would take you near the mouth of the city and from there I'm going to walk again to reach our school. I was glad that my father fixed our old bicycle and let me use it to make it easier for me.

Some people might be surprised that outside the great and famous Clark City lies Clark town, a small town where seems to be far from civilization. Roads weren't made of cement and there were only a few residences. Green was the color that was abundant in this place: trees, their trunks covered with moss, ferns covered the ground and hillsides so closely grassed over. There was even a part outside the City where people are restricted to enter, it is said to be a preserved forest where only people with proper authority can enter. There were also rumors about wild animals living there that could kill a human, there were also news about some hunters who tried to hunt in that forest and wasn't able to come back alive.

That made me realize how dangerous and mysterious this world was. Vampires exist and who knows what other creatures were living out there.

My thoughts had been interrupted by a sudden halt of the car.

"Hey get out of the way!" Dad yelled sticking his head outside the window, pressing the car horn.

"What's wrong?" I asked and saw a man standing in the middle of the narrow road, his back facing us. He was wearing a black hooded jacket, ripped jeans and was all drenched.

I started to feel uneasy upon seeing the man. He didn't move an inch, I didn't know who he was but seeing even just his back gave me chills.

"Are you deaf?" Dad yelled again honking the horns continually.

I gasped when the man turned facing us; his eyes were blue, glowing. I remembered the fearsome eyes of Cody, but the guy's eyes were more daunting. He's not vampire, is he?

"Oh my!" Mom blurted out.

"What is that!" My brother said in horror then suddenly passed out.

I didn't know what was happening.

But from where I was sitting I was able to feel his strong presence that I couldn't explain. My whole body started to feel numb when he locked his gazed on mine, I couldn't move. I still managed to remain conscious but I couldn't hardly breathe, I couldn't even say a word.

"What the hell?" Dad exclaimed and stepped on the accelerator but the car won't move.

"Damn it!" I saw his hands shaking out of panic but he was still trying to step on the accelerator. They tried to open the door but they couldn't. My heartbeat continued to race, the fear that I was feeling doubled. I was not only afraid for myself but I am most terrified for my family.

"Honey-" Mom looked at me at the back seat.

Her eyes widened, she held my face; panic can be seen all over her face while I remain motionless. "Sab, honey what's happening?"

I want to tell them to run but I couldn't say a word. Tears ran down my face out of dismay, realizing how weak and helpless I was. I won't be able to forgive myself if something bad happened to them because of me.

The man started to walk towards the car. Dad suddenly stopped moving and that was when I realized that they have been petrified like me. Mom's hands were still on my face and not even her eyeballs were moving.

Is this the danger that Cody's been talking about?

Cody, where the heck is he? He should've been watching over me but where the on earth did he go? I was so frustrated that it made the tears in my eyes gushed out even more. I was like a crying statue, motionless as I watched the guy with terrifying blue eyes slowly walked towards us. I can feel his blood lust, his urge to kill. His gaze alone was already choking me as an impish smile forming on his lips.

I can feel death within my grasp.

I didn't know how many seconds had passed when I heard something landed on the top of the car and made the car wobble. I saw the guy with blue eyes lost his focus on me and within a flash, he swiftly backed off, meters away from the car.

In that second I was able to move my body, I gasped filling my lungs with oxygen. Mom's hand dropped and saw both of them unconscious.

"Mom, Dad, Benj! Wake up!" Tears were still rolling down my face while I tried to wake them up. My hands were shaking, my heart was pounding and felt my pulse thundering.

I looked outside and found three men with crimson eyes circling the guy with the blue fearsome eyes. They were not familiar, not even one of their faces I was able to recognize. They lunge at the guy simultaneously but the guy was able to dodge their attacks. I didn't even know how I was able to catch up to the speed of their movements now.

"Aaah!" Startled I raised a hand to cover my already racing heart when the door opened revealing Cody's face, but somehow I felt relieved upon seeing him.

"Are you just going to sit there?" He said and behind him was the other guy who was with him on the alley grinning from ear to ear. He moved swiftly around and opened of the driver's seat carrying my father out of the car while the other guy was doing the same thing to my mother and my brother. I hurried up and reached for the passenger seat's door since it was only a two-door car.

"Hi!" The petite girl who was also with Cody that night in the alley greeted me with her musical voice and smiling excitedly when I got out of the car. Funny that in this kind of situation, I still noticed that they were not wearing a cloak. The three of them are wearing faded jeans and black leather jacket but they still look like runway models.

I wondered how they act so calm while the three vampire guys are still fighting with that one guy with blue glowing eyes and I could tell that they were having a hard time.

"Cass, take her to the south part of the forest, guards are on their way." Cody commanded her.

"Aye! Aye! Captain!" She answered putting her arm over my shoulder.

"Let's go!" Cody ordered the other guy.

"Wait! Where are you taking them?!" I asked abruptly. They wouldn't do anything to my family, right? I just couldn't erase the fact that they were vampires and my family-foster family-were humans; prey and predators, and it doesn't sound good.

"Don't worry, we'll keep them safe mi'lady." The other guy answered winking at me.

"Damn! There's a lot of them." He suddenly uttered and a frown was formed in Cody's forehead. I didn't have the slightest idea of what he meant but I sensed that it was not a good thing.

"C'mon let's go!" They rapidly ran through the forest until they vanished.

"Let's go Sab, hold on to me." She slung me onto her back giving me a piggyback ride. If we were on a different situation I'd probably gawked in amazement of how strong she was.

I locked my legs around her waist and secured my arms in a chokehold around her neck. I glanced for the last time at the guy with blue glowing eyes and three vampires who were still fighting but regretted my action when he looked at me and a big evil grin formed on his face. I shuddered and looked away.

She ran in the opposite direction. Trees appeared blurry as she streaked through the underbrush of the forest. I felt the raindrops on my face pricking like needles that had kept me conscious despite feeling lightheaded.

In a minute or two we were able to reach the southern part of the forest. The surrounding was screaming green, it was beautiful but it was creepy at the same time. I stiffly unlocked my stranglehold on her body and almost slipped into the ground but she caught me just on time.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I said and struggled to get my balance. I was still woozy, not sure if it was because of the ride. I already feel so exhausted for that short time; being petrified by those blue spine-chilling eyes was enough to take almost all of my strength.

There wasn't anyone around and all I could hear was the drizzle touching the leaves. My navy blue dress was already drenched. I was no longer wearing my 3 inches high heels and was already barefooted, I didn't even realize it until we arrived there.

I shivered; it was much colder in the forest. I wondered why I feel cold even though I was also a vampire like them. Is it because of the half-blood thing? I wondered.

"Guards will be here any minute. Don't worry." She said giving me a stunning smile. She was unimaginably beautiful and it somewhat made me conscious of my appearance at the moment. Her long black hair was soaked with the rain but she still managed to look gorgeous.

"What's that guy?" I asked her embracing myself as if it will lessen the cold.

"What guy?"

"The one with blue eyes. What is he?"

"Oh. That's one of the enemy clan." She said so casually.

"Enemy clan? They're vampires too, aren't they?"

"Nope. But they have a blood of a vampire running through their veins."

"What?" Not a vampire but related to vampires? My head spun even more as I tried to comprehend what she said.

"You'll know everything about them soon enough but for now we need to get you out of here." She said looking behind me.

"Sorry for the wait." I was taken aback by the deep voice of a man. I wobbled as I turned around and luckily the girl caught me in no time. When did they arrive? I never even heard any noise. Eight men wearing all black and with pair of crimson eyes are standing right behind me. It still gives me chills seeing a lot of crimson eyes; I was not used to it yet.

"Mademoiselle." The tall man that stood about six feet was standing in front of the other men greeted me with a 5 degrees bow. He was probably their leader. For a human he may be forty years of age, his hair was dark and smooth extending up to his shoulders.

"Just in time Arnoldo. We need to get her out of here now." The girl said with authority. Maybe her rank or something was higher than Arnoldo and his men. And I didn't have time to ask about unnecessary things right now.

He bowed and immediately went on our side. He extended his arms over our shoulders-the girl's shoulders & mine- and the other men circled around us. As much as I want to stay conscious but my head won't just let me, my vision was fuzzy and everything went black.

"Sabrina..." An unfamiliar voice of a woman was calling me in the middle of the forest.

The moon was so bright but darkness still covers the forest, I couldn't see anyone around. Confused by how I ended up there, I tried to walk through the deep dark forest following the voice but I was going nowhere. It was like an endless darkness.

"Shirina..." The voice seems to be getting nearer to where I am standing.

"Shirina..." Shirina? I thought she was calling on my name.

"Shirina..."

"Sabrina..." The voice changed from mystical to high-pitched musical voice.

I opened my eyes and two pairs of crimson eyes were anxiously looking at me. I then realized that it was just a dream.

I was lying on a bed in the same room where they have taken me before. I struggled to sit up but I felt light-headed still so the girl helped me up. It was the same room except for the deep purple drapes and the bed hangings with golden panel and the huge wooden closet near the bay window.

"Feeling better?" She asked sitting beside the bed. I nodded in response.

I looked around and found Cody leaning on the wall beside the door staring blankly at the floor. It was really hard to tell what he was thinking.

"Where are my parents? And my brother how is he?" I asked him.

He slowly met my gaze. "They're fine. I already altered their memories so there's no need for you to worry."

"But what if that guy comes for them and hurt them?" I panicked and remember those eyes.

"They are being guarded by some of Arnoldo's men don't worry." The girl answered.

My eyes widened. They were guarded by vampires and vampires feed on human blood, I didn't know if I will feel relieved by that.

The girl giggled. "Silly, they won't touch your family. They are well trained and loyal guards and besides it'll be the end of them if they even tried."

"Did you just read my mind?" I asked and realized that it was an idiotic question. Cody can alter and erase memories and read minds at the same time I think, so it was not far from possible for her to read minds.

She laughed. "No, I didn't. Your expression says it all."

"Oh. Right." I said embarrassed.

"What is this place?" I asked examining the room.

"This is Erebus." She answered with much enthusiasm. "And we're in Akeldama Academy to be exact."

"Academy?" I asked incredulously. Nor sire but I think I heard it right. Vampires have school? For real?

"Uh-huh. This is the place for the vampires to learn how to control their powers and their thirst, either purebloods or not."

Purebloods or not?

"And I'm categorized to 'not', am I right?"

She giggled.

"What I mean with 'not' were vampires who were not from the royals, like me." She said. "And I'm not sure where to categorize you though." She continued.

Great. Just great.

So where am I going to fit in? This is worse than I thought.

"I'm going to live and study here, am I not?" Upon seeing the room, it seems like it was going to be my bedroom.

"Yep. Akeldama academy is also the residence of the Blagojevich family. Your family administers this place."

"That means..."

"You are an heiress next to the throne and run this place of course."

"What?" How can I be able to run this place when I even sucked at making friends? They've got to be kidding me.

"No worries we are here to help you. Right, Cody?"

"Sure." He answered monotonously and not looking our way.

She sighed. "Get used to him." She jerked her thumb in his direction. "He's an emotionless and expressionless one hell of a hot vampire."

We both looked at him but he didn't say a word nor made any reaction.

"See?" She smirked and that made me smile.

"Awww... This is the first time I saw you smile." She smiled from ear to ear. She really looked so happy seeing me smile.

"Well, I never saw you smiling ever since we met." She explained. "Oh, by the way, I'm Cassandra."

I really sucked at dealing with people, even vampires. I've been with her for a while now but didn't even ask her name.

I smiled sheepishly. "N-nice to meet you... Sorry, everything was just... so sudden and all of this is not yet sinking into me... that's why-"

"I understand, but believe me you're gonna learn to love this place just like you did before."

"Before?"

"Yeah, you used to love this place."

Everything was still a mystery to me. I never know the 'me' that they were talking about, all I have was my memory as a human. I know that my memories were altered as what Cody told me, but how am I gonna know if my past will remain unknown to me?

"Then is there a way to bring back my memories?" I asked not even sure if I like those memories to come back. What kind of life do I have in the past? What kind of a vampire am I? Do I drink blood? The thought made me shiver.

"Well there is, but it can only be brought back by the one who altered your memory." She said that seemed carefully choosing the words to say.

"It's not Cody, is it?" I asked confused. He's the only one who can do it, isn't he?

"No-"

"That's enough Cass. Leave the rest to the elders." Cody's tone was hard and commanding.

"Sure." She answered and gave me an apologetic smile.

I looked at Cody but he never threw a glance at me. If it was not him then who altered my memories? Is there someone else aside from Cody who can do something like that? Well, what do I know? Maybe some vampires have the same abilities. I thought.

The door opened and I saw Edmondo with three individuals behind him-two men and a woman. Cody and Cassandra stood up and bowed as a greeting.

"Isn't it so nice that our princess was already home." The man with thick silvery hair slicked back into a ponytail said as they danced their way inside the room. It was so amazing how they move so gracefully not to mention that they were all dressed elegantly.

Cody and Cassandra left the room as soon as they came in.

Edmondo seated on the chair beside the bed while the three of them stood behind him.

"How are you, my dear?" The man with silvery hair reached for my hand. His crimson eyes were full of amusement. He doesn't seem to be as old as Edmondo, it was like he was on his early fifties-well, humanly speaking.

"I-I'm well. Thank you." I answered and trying to catch Edmondo's eyes, expecting him to explain or introduce them to me.

The man also looked at Edmondo and seemed to understand my situation. "But of course you have forgotten about us. How silly of me, let me introduce myself, I'm Lorcan and I'm so delighted to see you again." He said and kissed the knuckles of my hand.

"My name is Callidora, my dear, it's a pleasure to see you again at last." The only lady among them said. She was like in her early forties but she was stunningly beautiful; her long black hair was tied up in a ponytail, her eyelashes were dramatically long. Her chalk-like skin compliments her elegant crimson velvet strapless gown revealing her collarbones.

"And I'm Cerberus. We missed you so much mi'lady." He smiled so kindly. He was like the same age as Edmondo. His eyes despite its color were so kind and calm. His grey hair was swept-back giving him an elegant and masculine look with his black suit.

"N-nice to meet you. I'm sorry I really can't remember all of you."

"We know dear, we know," Callidora said with a calm and motherly voice.

"Edmondo?" She looked at Edmondo.

He was only wearing a white shirt with black pants topped with a burgundy robe. He still looks like a multi-millionaire man on his house clothes.

I realized that maybe the three of them were only visiting the place that was why they were dressed like that.

"Sabrina, we know that you don't have any memories about us or our kind because of the tragedy that had happen to our coven. But we are here to explain everything to you that you might understand why we need to bring you back here." Edmondo said.

"If you are that eager to bring me back here, then why do I have to be thrown out and my memories to be erased in the first place?" I asked him trying to hide the sarcasm.

"We did not abandon you. You were taken away." He answered.

I frowned. "Taken away?"

"You were taken away by a trusted friend who happened to betray us as I have told you before." He said. Yeah, I remember that he told me that the first time I was here, but taken away by whom?

"Kali Aemilius, she was a dear friend to your parents, she had taken away your memories and altered it. We thought you were already dead but we found out that she had taken you to a human family and living as a human." He said like he was able to read my mind, or perhaps the expression on my face.

I remembered what Cassandra said. "Where is she? She's the only one who can bring back my memories right?"

"She has been killed by the Lycans but her body wasn't retrieved. There might be a possibility that she's still alive but we have searched for years and we never found her. They might have torn her body apart and burned them." Cerberus answered.

"Lycans?"

"They're our enemy, werewolves," Lorcan explained.

Enemy? Could it be that the guy with blue eyes a werewolf? But Cassandra said that they have a blood of a vampire and I haven't seen that guy change into a wolf while fighting those three vampires.

My head pounded, sharp and heavy. I closed my eyes, trying to get a grip of myself. It was an exhausting day for me but I need to get some answers.

"We know that it's too much for you to understand today. We may just come back when you are feeling better." Callidora said full of concern. She reminded me of my mother, my foster mother.

"No. I want to know everything that I need to know now." I insisted. I wanted to lessen all the questions that have been bugging me.

"Okay then." Edmondo permitted.

"Why did you bring me back here?" I asked.

"The reason why we brought you back here was because you are the last Blagojevich. Well, aside from your grandfather here of course. Your coven is the strongest coven among us. We need you." Lorcan said.

"Grandfather?" I automatically asked.

"Edmondo, you haven't told her yet that she is your granddaughter, have you?" Callidora scolded but Edmondo didn't say any word.

So that explains his urge to take me back. I was her precious granddaughter.

"My parents, how about them?" I asked. I know that it was a stupid thing to ask since from what they said I already know the answer but I want them to explain to me what happened.

They looked at each other, a glimpse of sadness in their eyes. "We're very sorry my dear, but they are gone. They were assassinated the day that you were also taken away. Alessandro and Layla, they died in the hands of their trusted friend." Cerberus said with sympathy.

My heart ached for the first time, I wasn't expecting that.

Layla, it was a very beautiful name. I felt great familiarity upon hearing their names but I couldn't remember them, not even the slightest. Whoever that Kali person was I was sure that she wanted me to forget something or maybe everything about being a vampire, about all the things that are connected from being a vampire. But why? Why would she do that? And why would she betray my parents? Her Friends? I was more curious than angered.

"A trusted friend? You mean Kali?"

"Not her but her husband, one of your father's royal guard and closest friend, Darius," Edmondo answered casually but there was a glint of anger in his eyes.

My hands also clenched into a fist. I didn't have any memory of my parents but when I heard how they were killed, anger aroused within me. I didn't know the story or reason behind their betrayal but it was just so unfair. If they were their friends, why would they do such a thing?

"Why did they do that to my parents?"

"Power, perhaps. We are not sure about their motives but there are no other reasons." Lorcan shrugged.

Power. What a disgusting reason to betray a person who trusted you so much.

"And where is Darius?"

"He's already dead. He was found dead on the woods the same day your parents were killed." Lorcan answered again.

Both my parents and their betrayers died on the same day, it was so bizarre. There was something that was just not right.

"Then how did you know that it was him who killed my parents?"

"By how they were killed. Only Darius can kill the way your parents were killed." Edmondo answered.

I wasn't able to get what he meant by that. What kind of way?

I still wanted to ask a lot of question but my head was pounding crazily. I winced, my brows furrowed tight with pain, the rhythm of blood throbbing in my temple.

"Perhaps you should rest first dear. That's what you needed to know so far, but you are welcome to come to us if there is something you need to ask. We are just so happy to have you again here." Lorcan said holding my hand.

I know that I couldn't argue with that.

At that point, I didn't even know who I am but at least I learned something about my family, my real family. Funny, but I did accept the fact that they were my family.

They left the room without making any sound. My eyes still could not get used to their mystical features and how graceful they move without any effort.

It was a weird feeling but I felt at home. Perhaps only my mind couldn't remember this place but my entire being remembers it well.

Akeldama, the name itself was dark but strangely comforting.

I lay down again and closed my eyes, exhausted. I fell asleep thinking about all the things that they have told me.

★★★★★