I gawked in surprise upon seeing the dresses that were sent to me by Edmondo. They were the ones that I love wearing for special occasions, he said. Was he freaking kidding me? All I could see were revealing clothes. They were beautiful dresses, alright, but I don't wear those kinds—well, maybe the Sabrina who hasn't lost her memory do love them.

"Sab, wear this," said Cassandra holding a small piece of sparkly black dress. It was a sequin dress that I guess the length was six inches above the knee, one wrong move and my underwear will definitely show. I only saw those kinds of dresses in Dianna's closet and she even wanted me to try it, but I answered her with a flat refusal. I wondered how my previous self, handled this kind of dress.

"For real?" I asked her incredulously. It has been an hour since she was rummaging on a pile of clothes on top of my bed while I was sitting on the sofa across it. "You expect me to wear that? No thanks. I'll be good wearing jeans." and it has been an hour that I kept on rejecting all her suggestions. I wanted to find decent clothes on my own but she insisted on finding the 'right one' for me (you could imagine me rolling my eyes).

I had no idea how but she has been more obedient to me since we performed the blood oath ritual. Maybe that was the result of the ritual, I wasn't sure since Cody remained the same, I believe, for he still has that sharp tongue when he was supposed to be more respectful to me. Volt, on the other hand, was still the same only that he became more concerned about my safety that he insisted to become my partner in the coming ball to make sure that I was well protected.

And talking about the ritual, the last thing that happened totally blew me away. I was astonished at myself when I saw my reflection on the mirror the moment they swore their loyalty to me. My eyes were glowing red that I even gasped in total surprise. I thought it would stay that way but after a few moments, they turned back to green, the normal color of my eyes. That event erased all my remaining doubt that I am one of them. It was so weird how I easily accepted everything, I was someone who always doubts, skeptical about everything, that's what I believe I am. But it seems like this place really has something to do with it.

"Isn't there any dress that could cover my skin? Those dresses are too vulgar." I complained.

"But you love them!"

I rolled my eyes at her. "Loved." I pointed out. "I loved them when I was the old Sabrina that I couldn't even remember, okay?"

"Alright, alright." she started rummaging again and after a few seconds she squeaked "Try this one!"

She held out a crimson gown made of knee-length soft, satiny fabric and a long and loose flowy chiffon overlay. It has very classic lines with a sweetheart neckline. I was not a fan of striking colors that would call everyone's attention, but this dress really attracted me.

"It's gorgeous, right?" she eccentrically said with an evident of excitement in her eyes.

"Yeah..." I nodded feeling weirded out with myself. "Yeah, it is." And it truly sounded sincere.

She jumped like a little kid when she finally heard my approval. "It's going to be the best night ever! Trust me!"

And her reaction made me want to take back what I said, but upon seeing her genuine happiness, it made me smile.

"Ah!" my smile faded when I suddenly felt a stinging pain on my left cheek followed by a clattering metallic sound behind me that seems to hit the wall before it fell.

I looked at the hand that I used touched my cheek and there was blood in it. In a heartbeat, Cassandra was already in front of me in a protective stance and at the same second the door swung open followed by a blurred image of Cody jumping out of my window while Voltaire stopped for a moment to look at me.

"Take care of her," he said looking hesitant before jumping after Cody.

It all happened for less than a minute, that it made my head felt dizzy. Or was it really because of it? I saw Cassandra's anxious eyes while examining my cheek. When I turned my head to look at what caused my wound, I was shocked to find an arrow lying on the floor. If it had been an inch closer to my face I would be dead by now.

"Sab, are you okay?" Cassandra asked me. Worry was written all over her face.

I nodded wincing as I felt the stinging pain in my cheek. "Yeah, I’m okay... just... a bit dizzy."

Her eyes widened with my answer. “We need to get you treated this instant.” She took out a mobile phone from her pocket that made me frown. I didn’t think of the possibilities that vampires care about technology. I mean, do they still need that when they have powers?

“We need to get her treated right away.” She said to someone on the other line. “We’re dead if Edmondo found out so get back here and let Volt do the searching.”

I had no idea if what was making her so worried. “Is everything okay?”

“Obviously not, Sab.” She said as a matter-of-fact and I know that it was such an idiotic question since I was nearly shot dead by an arrow. “You have a wound and though it was just a graze it’s lethal.”

I gaped at what she said. Did she just say that it was lethal?

“Oh,” It seemed like she didn’t mean to blurt it out so casually to me. “I… didn’t just… It’s okay Sab. You’re going to be alright.”

“Which part of the word lethal is okay?!” I freaked out. I started to panic since the dizziness that I was feeling was not getting better.

"Okay, the word I used was just exaggerated. A doctor will be here soo to treat you, so just relax, okay?"

I felt dizzier as the second's pass I couldn't even move my hands even if I wanted to. I even felt like my energy was being drained that I didn't have enough left to argue. Was this the feeling of someone whose life was slowing being taken? I wondered. My lids are starting to get heavy. I saw Cassandra opening her mouth as if telling me something but I couldn't hear a word. My lids are becoming heavier and the next thing I saw was darkness.

I was running again in a dark forest, it's like a labyrinth and I couldn't find my way out. I looked around but everything seemed to look the same, no matter how fast and far I run, I always ended up at the same place.

"Shirina..."

Frightened, I turned around upon hearing a woman's mystical voice again. There was no one there. Afraid to see a dead girl's body again, I ran. I kept on running but I was going nowhere, the trees still look the same, the moon was shining bright but the forest remained dark. I stopped running, catching my breath.

"Shirina..." I gasped when I heard the voice again. It was getting closer like the last time. I closed my eyes as I tried to calm myself. This is only a dream. I told myself. I badly wanted to wake up. If only Cody was with me, he could have woken me up already. Why am I not waking up?

My eyes were still closed as I felt the cold wind blew and instinctively embraced myself. I need to wake up. Seeing the girl that looks like me covered in blood was the last thing that I wanted to see.

"Shirina..." I screamed when I heard a whisper in my ear. It was like the last time when I saw the body so I kept my eyes tightly shut waiting for this nightmare to end.

“Why are so afraid?” shocked that she spoke other than the name Shirina, I widely opened my eyes. I still couldn’t see anyone around. Who is Shirina anyway?

“W-who are you?” with a shaky voice I asked.

There was no answer, only silence. But the silence was making it worse, my hands and knees were trembling in fear and I knew that it could give up anytime.

“H-hello?”

“You don’t know me?” I turned around and found a girl sitting under a tree. She was smiling at me so eerily that it made every hair in my body rose. She was about six years old and she kept that eerie smile with her as she rose and started to walk towards me.

She was only a child but the fear that I was feeling worsened in her every step. My feet were glued to the ground as she approaches me and what made me even more terrified was her image that was changing as she was getting near me. She was getting taller and it seems like her looks are being fast-forwarded to adolescence.

I gasped when she was just about half a meter away from me. She was starting to look a lot like me. I tried to take a step backward with my trembling leg but the moment I took another step, she vanished. I turned around ready to run but before I even move, she was already standing right in front of me.

It feels like I was looking at myself in the mirror, only that she was still smiling with that eerie smile. “W-who are you?” I managed to ask with my trembling lips.

Her smile faded at my question and was replaced by an ominous look and the second I know was that I was struggling to breathe. She was choking me with her bare hands. Her angry eyes bored into mine and I couldn’t fight her strength.

“You need to die.” She said and I suddenly woke up gasping for breath.

“See, she’s fine now.” Said an unfamiliar baritone voice of a man.

“Thank goodness you’re okay.” I heard Cassandra said. My vision was still blurry. I tried to sit up but my arms still feel weak.

“Here let me help you.” Said the unfamiliar voice again. He was beside me and helped me sit up. My vision was starting to get clearer.

“Who are you?” I asked, still panting.

“Oh, I’m sorry, princess. I forgot that you don’t remember your past.” He said with a smile on his face. “I’m Rune. You’re okay now since I’m here.”

My breathing slowed down and my vision got back to normal and I was now able to clearly see his face. He was I guess three years older than me. His chocolate brown hair was a bit unkempt and his deep brown eyes seem too mysterious. He had a dimple on his left cheek that was visible as he was smiling at me and his unshaved beard surprisingly added a manly charm on him.

“He’s a friend Sab and a doctor but not practicing it though. Only when needed.” Cassandra butted in, and I was glad she did because I was already gawking at him.

“O-Oh,” I nodded. “Nice to meet you.”

Then he burst out laughing. I had no idea what’s so funny about what I said. I looked at Cassandra who was sitting on the couch, trying to know what could’ve gotten into him but she just shrugged.

“Ah, my apologies princess.” He said after laughing. “I just couldn’t believe that you are really here. If you weren’t on a life and death situation, that moron wouldn’t have let me know for sure.”

Moron? I had no idea whom he was talking about and him calling me princess is making me uncomfortable. “Oh, I… umm… thank you. You saved me, right?”

“Yes, princess. And you are always welcome.” She caught my hands and brought it to his lips.

I awkwardly withdrew my hand and smiled at him. “You can just call me Sab.”

“But you love it when I call you princess.” He said with a brow raised and a crooked smile.

I guessed that he was referring to the 'Sabrina' before. I was starting to get irritated when they always pointed out what I love when I couldn’t even remember it myself. I sighed and forced a smile. “But I prefer that you don’t call me that anymore. Sab is okay.”

“Your wish is my command.” He bowed to me making me feel more uncomfortable. I wouldn’t be able to get used to this kind of gesture anytime soon.

“T-thank you.” I muttered. “Where’s Volt and Cody?”

“Cody’s with Edmondo and Voltaire was talking to the guards outside the gates. They’ll be back soon.” Cassandra answered.

Right, someone shot an arrow that had grazed my face, the reason why I passed out. “What happened to me?”

“You nearly died from one of the things that could kill a vampire, juniper. Enemies are getting craftier these days that they were able to use a concentrated chemical from it and used it on the arrow.” Rune answered. “You need to be more careful, especially that you haven’t regained your memories along with your vampire senses.”

“Juniper?” I never thought that something like that exists to kill a vampire. I thought garlic could kill a vampire but I have eaten a lot of garlic before so that means it’s just a myth.

“Well, juniper alone can’t kill a vampire, it can just paralyze a vampire but could leave you vulnerable to any attacks. All your vampire senses and power will be suppressed, you'll be as weak as a human. And a concentrated one could get you killed if mixed with other poisons just like what the arrow has.” He explained.

“Forgive me Sab, if I hadn’t got distracted from the picking the dress for you and let my guard down, this wouldn’t have happened.” Said Cassandra, looking truly apologetic.

“Oh, you should be Cassandra," Rune said as a matter-of-fact. "You know what awaits you if she died, right? Edmondo doesn’t need to do anything since you are already bounded to her.”

My brows furrowed, wondering what he meant by that. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, haven’t they told you about the consequences of being bound by the blood oath? I happened to found out that you performed a forbidden ritual.”

“Rune,” she warned that made me even more curious.

“She needs to know.” He didn’t seem to be fazed by Cassandra but rather looked at her with the same degree of seriousness.

“Tell me.” I insisted and heard Cassandra let out a sigh.

He then turned to face me. “Their life is already at your hands the moment they decided to be bounded to you,” he said “If they dare betray you, they will suffer different degrees of punishment unless you lift the punishment or simply forgive them. Depending on the anger you felt out of their betrayal, they could die from excruciating pain inside them, which is your blood’s doing. That is the main role of your blood that they drank during the ritual. And most importantly, you die, they die. Simple as that.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked her accusingly.

“We know that you wouldn’t agree.”

“But still you should’ve told me!” I yelled at her. I couldn’t contain the anger that I felt, they didn’t tell me about the most important thing about the ritual and it was not anywhere near amusing!

“I-I’m sorry.” She said clenching her chest. Her white skin turning red and she seems to have trouble breathing. “Aaagh!”

“W-what’s happening?” I tried to get up but my knees still felt like jelly.

“This is an example of punishment. You felt anger for not telling you about the consequences of the oath, you felt betrayal. Unless you forgive her, she will suffer like that.” Rune said so casually like it wasn’t something serious.

“O-okay! Okay! I forgive you,” I said, panicked. “I’m sorry.”

She gasped for air the moment I said that. I couldn’t believe that the ritual we performed could be this powerful. Now I fully understand when they said that they didn’t want to end up like the betrayers of my parents. They meant it; they were willing to take the oath even if they knew the consequences that go along with it.

“Are you okay, Cass?”

“I’m okay Sab,” she answered, still panting like she had run a mile. “It’s just… I never thought… that it… could be this… excruciating.” She even smiled that made me feel guilty for getting angry at her since she only wanted to remain loyal to me no matter what.

“It’s not a bad thing though since this only proves their loyalty to you, princess. And if you are willing, I could perform the same oath for you. You are someone worth dying for, you know.” He winked at me.

“Oh, no. Please, I don’t want to let another person suffer like this again…” I couldn’t possibly bear to let someone die just because of my emotions. "and don’t call me princess."

“Well, I don’t need to perform such thing anyway since I could swear on my life that I will remain loyal to you until my last breath.”

I didn’t know what to feel from what he said. I couldn’t get myself to be happy since I knew and felt the sincerity in his words. And an oath of loyalty for them means even if they lose their life. “T-thank you.” Was all I managed to say.

“Oh, and princess please don’t tell Allen about this.” He suddenly leaned closer to me and kissed me on the cheek that left me astounded.

“You're pushing your luck too much Rune,” A hand suddenly pulled him away from me and that made me recover from being caught off guard.

Rune was laughing while Volt was dragging him away from me. “Relax, Voltaire.”

“Shut up or I’ll rip your throat.”

Rune just shrugged and comfortably sat on the empty couch beside Cassandra then winked at me when he caught me looking. That made my face flush. How could he just casually do that, and why am I not freaking out.

“You never learned, do you?” Cassandra told him.

“Sorry about that mi’lady.” Volt said. Worry was still evident in his eyes. I couldn’t point out what he was apologizing for, was it because of Rune or because of what happened to me? Either way, after what happened to Cassandra, I couldn’t bring myself to get angry at him for not telling me about everything about the blood oath.

“I-It’s okay,” I told him and he smiled.

“And you,” He turned to Rune. “You better behave or I’ll rip your head off and feed you to Chupacabras.”

“Why do you guys always treat me so rudely? I just saved a life here!” Rune exclaimed followed a sigh of great dismay.

“And we saved your ass countless times,” Volt retorted followed by Cassandra's laugh as if remembering something funny.

“Fine, fine” he raised both hands. “You win.” Then he remained silent, pouting. It was not something his age should probably act and that made me smile. They might not treat each other nicely but I could definitely tell that they were good friends—not that I am an expert in that field.

“Why are you still here?” Out of nowhere, Cody appeared like a cat on my window. And I’m sure he was asking Rune.

“Dude, really?” Rune said incredulously. “Could you be a bit nice to give me some time to rest? Even just for a minute? Like dude, I literally ran a mile to reach Erebus as fast as I can.”

“Volt, have you informed the guards?” Cody straightly went to Volt that made Rune gape for ignoring him.

“Always the nice guy,” Rune muttered which made me chuckle. I could really get where he is coming from.

Somehow the atmosphere made me relax a bit, not thinking about the near-death experience that I faced and the nightmare that I saw. I never thought that the threat in my life was this serious. I only decided to come here because of my family, exposing them to great danger was the last thing I wanted to happen. I had no idea as to why the enemies of this coven want me dead, was it because I will be the one inheriting my grandfather’s position? Nevertheless, if I wanted to stay alive, I must know how to become a proper vampire who doesn’t need any protection.