Days had passed so fast that I couldn’t believe that it was already a full moon. What was more unbelievable was the fact that I was being dressed up by two vampire maids. My face was crimson from the time they bathe me until they put the dress on me. I keep insisting on bathing alone, that I could do it on my own, but they insisted and said that they will lose their life if they wouldn’t be able to do their duty. And because of that, I consented. Why do vampires love to include death in almost everything?

“You look, beautiful Lady Sabrina.” Said Martha, one of the two vampire maids that was sent by Edmondo, while brushing my hair.

“Indeed, mademoiselle.” Agreed Griselda who was making sure that the dress fits me well. And that made me blush. I was not used to compliments so I didn’t know how to respond to it.

“The whole Erebus is celebrating in your return,” Martha added. “It keeps us at ease that you are here. We know that you will do great in leading the coven.”

I didn’t know what to say to their expectations? Are they expecting me to be someone like Edmondo, a powerful Vampire? Did they know that I don’t even remember how to use my power or what power I have? All I could do was smile at her as a response.

“Wow!” I turned my head and found Cassandra looking so stunning in her black cocktail dress and black high stiletto. I should be the one to say wow at her. “I knew it! You’ll look absolutely gorgeous in that dress!”

“You’re exaggerating, Cass.” I rolled my eyes on her. “You look stunning by the way… as always.”

She smiled from ear to ear and hopped her way towards me, not minding her stiletto. “Not as beautiful as you Sab, you’ll be the star for this night.”

“Oh please! Don’t remind me of that.” I groaned. I hate being the center of attention, if I only have a choice, I wouldn’t do this.

“C’mon, look at you.” She held both of my shoulders and let me face the body length mirror. I almost gawked at myself in the mirror. I looked so… different, I looked so intimidating with the dress and the kind of makeup that Griselda and Martha did. My hair was tied up in a ponytail, I only have stud ruby earrings and a silver necklace with a ruby pendant. Very simple yet it complimented the fierce makeup look that they did.

“That’s… me?” Martha and Griselda chuckled at my reaction. I really couldn’t believe my eyes.

“Thank you, Martha, Griselda. You did a great job.” She told the two of them and they bowed in response before going out of my room.

“Is it time already?” I nervously asked Cassandra.

She held both of my hands and nodded. “Everything’s going to be just fine. You have me… and your date for this night.” She said rolling her eyes.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. For sure Volt was so excited to be the center of attraction for tonight, I knew he loves attention. But where’s Cody? I wondered.

“How about your cousin?”

“Cody is currently with the guards,” she shrugged. “You know, because of what happened to you… But he will be at the ball for sure after his duty.”

I nodded. Because of what happened, Cody had been out patrolling even though they have been relieved of that duty. Cassandra always stays with me together with Volt who doesn’t seem to sleep while guarding me.

“Oh, before we go to the ball, I have to remind you that only a few people know that you lost your memories. So, you have to act like nothing’s changed.”

I just found out recently that the elders and the three of them were the only ones who know that my memories were altered to avoid more danger. I need to act like the way the old me would act, which made everything more difficult for me. Could I just stay in my room forever? That was more bearable I think.

“But what if they notice? What if someone approached me and didn’t know their name?” I panicked.

“I told you. You don’t need to worry about that, Sab. You are a great snob and have this attitude of not giving a damn about someone’s name or life especially if they weren’t worthy of your time. You only need to know the name of the Elders, believe me.”

I stared at her in disbelief. Was my attitude that bad? “Should that supposed to calm me down?”

“Don’t overthink, okay? We’ve got you.” She said giving me hug. “Are you ready?”

I took a deep breath. “Do I have an effin’ choice?”

She laughed at me and opened the door of my room. Outside, Volt was waiting with a big smile in his face, looking so handsome wearing a white tuxedo suit. I was expecting that he would wear a black one, as he always did with his casual clothes. I guess he really does love attention.

“You’re so gorgeous, milady.” He said not taking his eyes off me that made me turn into a tomato. My face felt like it was burning because of his compliment.

“Of course, she is. It’s not like your first time seeing her like that, duh?” she rolled her eyes at him.

“Could you stop ruining moments?”

“Could you just escort her to the ballroom? Everyone’s waiting.” She retorted.

“C’mon guys, stop fighting.” I intervened. If they started to bicker, who knows when they were going to stop. They both stopped but exchanged an ominous look before doing so.

“Shall we, milady?” Volt then offered his hand that I took without a second thought and placed it around his arm.

“I never thought that attending a ball could be scarier than being shot by an arrow.” I murmured as we start to walk in the hallway while Cassandra was following behind us. The place is really like a castle, I wondered how old it was. But even if I tried to distract myself by looking at the ancient walls and decorations on the hallways, I still couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Volt chuckled. “That was a very brave thing to say milady. Don’t you know how scared I was when I saw you lying in bed, unconscious?”

I looked up at him, and he met my gaze. He was smiling, but I could see that he really meant what he said. “I’m sorry.”

He chuckled again at my response. “You don’t need to apologize. I was just too scared to lose you again.”

I was about to open my mouth to reply when he suddenly stopped in front of a huge door. “Here we are.”

I gulped in the sight of the door. Behind this door, a lot of vampires were waiting for me. That thought made me want to run back to my room. My palms were sweating and I could hear the loud beating of my heart.

“Milady, you don’t need to be afraid…” He said smiling at me for assurance. "I’m with you." And he opened the door with one hand.

I was temporarily blinded by the bright light. And when my eyes adjusted, I saw a big and bright chandelier lighting the huge room below. I then realize that we were at the top of a staircase, and just like every fairytale that I read on books, I will descend together with my partner on the beautiful staircase that was seemed to be made with marbles and gold. The stairs were filled with rose petals, the railings were decorated by red roses and there was a piece of soft music coming from a violin playing on the background. It felt like I entered a fairytale world. I was in awe that I almost forgot that I was attending a ball. I came to my senses the moment that the surroundings became silent. All eyes were on me that I have look down because of the awkwardness and nervousness that I felt.

“Chin up, milady,” Volt whispered in my ears that made me almost jump on my toes. “Smile.”

Despite the loud beating of my heart, I took a deep breath and did as I was told. As much as possible I tried to avoid any gaze. Descending from the staircase felt like an eternity, I badly wanted to run my way downstairs and hide on the towering statues at the sides of the room. People were giving me applauses with big smiles as I walk downstairs. All of them were faces that I couldn’t remember, and that made me even nervous.

Volt held my hand that was wrapped around his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze, which made me look at him. He smiled an assuring smile. I smiled back at him and let him lead me towards the crowd which was like a curtain being drawn as we walk our way the dais where there was a long table. Edmondo and the Elders were sitting there watching us as we made our entrance.

The elder's encouraging smile and intimidating presence made me somehow forget that I am amidst a hundred vampires at the moment. You could immediately tell that they were individuals with high statuses.

We stopped in front of the table and faced the crowd. Just then I realized that Cassandra was no longer behind us. My heart was not going to calm any time soon. I just hoped that I wouldn’t have a heart attack here.

“Tonight, as the moon celebrates with us, let us be thankful for the return of our beloved princess, Sabrina.” From behind us, I heard Lorcan said. “Let us all welcome her home warmly.”

Cheers, applause, and smiles were given to me after the brief speech of Lorcan. I was just so glad that they didn’t require me to do my speech. I just smiled and waved at them awkwardly and was led by Volt to my seat beside Edmondo and Callidora.

“I’ll be right behind you,” Volt whispered to me before leaving me there.

“You did well, Sabrina.” Said Edmondo that made me flinch. Though he is my grandfather, I still feel tensed around him.

“You look stunning dear,” Callidora said with her motherly voice.

I smiled at both of them and said thank you. And just then that realized that there was food in the table, and they were edible for humans. I was expecting only blood to be served tonight, but I guess I just read too many vampire books. But just to be safe, I reminded myself not to drink anything that resembles the color of blood.

“Aren’t you famished dear?” Callidora anxiously asked when I just stared at the food in front of me. “Or you don’t like the food?”

“Oh, no, no. I was just…. surprised.” I sheepishly said which made her giggle.

“I understand dear. Now help yourself, it’s delicious I assure you. You need to eat since you’ll be roaming around the ballroom greeting our guests.” She said and started to eat.

I thought I was hungry but I couldn’t even properly chew a piece of broccoli in my mouth. The last thing that Callidora said raised my nervousness to a whole new level and stares from the crowd made it even worse. I’ll probably suffer from indigestion later.

After the meal, Edmondo called Voltaire to escort me and greet the guests. All of them seemed to be waiting for this moment.

“You still okay, milady?” Volt asked the moment that I anchored my hands to his arms.

I took a deep breath before answering him. “With this too much crowd? Sure.”

He smiled in amusement. “Just remember to keep your head up and smile.”

“Just remind me to massage my face afterward.”

He just chuckled at my response then led me to the crowd.

“Remember what I told you.” From behind us, I heard Cassandra suddenly said. Where was she all the time?

I was about to give her a death stare for startling me when Volt suddenly stopped. When I look in front of us a beautiful lady, whom I think was just our age greeted us—more of greeting Voltaire actually, for she was looking at him, not me.

“Oh, welcome back lady Sabrina.” she said after being smitten by my partner. I couldn’t blame her; Voltaire does look handsome tonight.

“S-sure, Thanks.”

“But I really wished you never came back and just rot to wherever you are hiding. In that way, I could make Voltaire my very own royal guard and I can have him all to myself.”

I was caught off-guard by what she said that I couldn’t utter a single word. How could she have said it so bluntly in front of me and Volt? This lady got a lot of guts. I wish I had some.

“How can you make him your royal guard when you are not royal blood in the first place.” Cassandra suddenly retorted in pure sarcasm. That changed the emerald eyes of the lady to burning red.

“How dare you, a mere guard try to defy me, a noble?”

Voltaire cleared his throat that got the lady’s attention and stopped whatever she was about to do. “I am rather flattered to know that lady Primrose would want me to be her guard among other gentlemen.” He said. “I would if I could. But I am a sworn royal guard to the Blagojevich family. It is my duty to serve them. But I am truly grateful to hear your flattering words.” With his free hand, he reached for her hand and kissed it. Lady Prim was obviously delighted by Volt’s gesture. He really does know how to charm a woman.

“Well, it can’t be helped.” She said with a lady-like tone again. “It’s not like you are already mated to somebody. I still have my chance.”

I heard Cassandra’s fake cough behind us and I really did my best not to burst out laughing.

“Well then, lady Primrose.” She said emphasizing the word lady. “You are not the only guest here, so we shall go on our way now.”

“It was nice to see you lady Primrose. You look beautiful tonight.” Volt said leaving the lady dumfounded with his signature crooked smile. I was expecting the lady to get angry again at Cassandra but Volt was too fast to change her mood.

When Cassandra said that there were a lot of lady vampires who hates my existence. I guess I already knew the reason why. With Volt being this popular to ladies, it would never surprise me if I had a haters club here.

“Don’t worry too much Sab, I got your back,” Cassandra said grinning. She looked so contented with what she did to lady Primrose. She really was a vampire counterpart of Dianna.

More scenes like this happened, and I really didn’t need to do anything since Cassandra and Volt almost do all the talking since most of the vampires that were greeting us were ladies if not older gentlemen—Cassandra did rather all the roasting.

“You look so stiff.” Cody Suddenly appeared after we talked to one noble from east Erebus. I learned as we went around greeting guests that Erebus was a vast land that can be considered as a country and was totally isolated that is why humans couldn't simply go here.

“It’s not like I’m expecting a good word coming from you.” I told him. He was wearing a black tux with a red tie. It was really refreshing to see them not in their usual combat clothes.

I was waiting for him to answer me back but he didn’t, only a frown from his forehead formed looking past me.

“Well, well, well. I was about to greet Lady Sabrina when an eyesore suddenly appeared.”

We turned around to see who it was. In front of us was a young man around our age, tall and lean with black raven hair and hazel brown eyes. His aura gives a vibe of someone with high status like the elders. I was waiting for Cassandra to talk back like she always does, but she remained silent. And Cody— with a sharp tongue—didn’t answer him back when obviously the guy was talking about him.

“Greetings, lord Sebastian.” Voltaire was the first one to talk.

The guy just ignored his greetings and reached for my hand and kissed the knuckles of it. “It was a great pleasure to see you again, lady Sabrina. Welcome back.”

“I-it’s also a pleasure to see you again, Sebastian.” I tried my best to act natural—when I say natural, someone who was proud and intimidating. Why does the old me have to be this way? I was just glad that Volt always did the initiative to tell me their names by greeting them first which made me less tense.

“I would want to talk to you longer but I’d rather do it some other time where there was just the two of us.” He said smiling not yet letting go of my hand.

I smiled at him and gently withdrew my hand. “Sure.”

He seemed happy with my response. But his hazel eyes suddenly turned red when he looked at Cody. “I just can’t accept the fact that you still have this piece of trash with you after what happened to you and the whole coven. If not for Primus, I’ll make sure that not even a single ash would remain from him.”

Confused, I wasn’t able to say anything.

“Sebastian, stop being rude.” A lady in her sophisticated black cocktail dress, gracefully walked towards us with a glass of wine in her hand—or was it a glass of blood? It kinda’ looks too red for a glass of wine.

“Greetings, Lady Arianna.” Both Cassandra and Voltaire gave their respect to her.

“Forgive my brother, lady Sabrina. I’ll make sure to punish him for his rudeness.” She said smiling kindly at me.

“I was only saying the truth, sister—”

“Shut your mouth, Sebastian. He might be a fallen royalty but you don’t need to be this rude to him.”

Fallen royalty? I looked at Cody over my shoulder but his expression remained the same. I really couldn’t guess what he was thinking. I looked at Volt and Cassandra but they kept their eyes on the floor. Sebastian on the other hand immediately turned around looking angry and left us.

“My apologies again, Lady Sabrina, Lord Allen.” She smiled apologetically then left.

I turned to face Cody. “You’re a royalty?”

He averted his gaze. “Tonight’s not the time to discuss this.” He coldly said then left disappearing from the crowd.

I looked at Voltaire and Cassandra, hoping that they could explain what the siblings had said. “Sorry, milady. It’s better to hear it directly from him.”

Cody didn’t show himself up again at the ball. My thoughts were wandering after what happened. Somehow it helped me reduce the nervousness that I felt. What could’ve happened to him? What did he do to deserve that hate from Sebastian and why Arianna called him a fallen royalty?

“Sebastian and Arianna are siblings from a royal family like you,” Voltaire said the moment that the party was over and was escorting me back to my room. It must’ve have been too obvious that my thoughts are preoccupied with what Arianna and Sebastian said. “Four families, including the Blagojevich are considered as royalties, not just because they are powerful families but because the founder of each family was once a direct disciple of Vladimir Dracul. They were the first four individuals that were turned into a vampire by the father of all vampires.” He continued, and I just listened intently. “Cody’s family was one of them, but his story’s not mine to tell, milady.”

“I understand,” I said and let out a sigh. “I thought status was only a thing for humans, but it's much worse here.”

“Hierarchy here is very important, Sab,” Cassandra uttered. “It’s what had kept the whole place in order. Coz if there wasn’t, many could’ve been out there hunting humans openly. Vampires aren’t like humans; we have supernatural abilities that can be abused.”

I nodded, fully understanding what she meant.

“Primus, your grandfather Edmondo, has the highest authority in Erebus. You can say that he is the king of this place, and that includes his family. Your family is at the top followed by the three remaining royal families, then followed by the purebloods who are called nobles. Next to them are the generals of the army.” He explained.

“Then, you guys belong to the army?” I asked.

“Not exactly.” He answered. “We have different factions. As a royal guards, we are above the army officers except for the generals.”

I nodded. Then I remembered how Cassandra roasted a lot of so-called nobles at the ball. “But Cassandra just dissed a lot of nobles, does that make you in trouble?” I was truly concerned since they said that they have a higher status than them.

“Don’t worry, they couldn’t even touch the tip of my hair. They are one of those nobles who enjoy their status and never cared to learn how to combat.” She said. “And they couldn’t do anything to me especially that I am your royal guard. They wouldn’t want to go on the bad side of Edmondo, but they have much pride, I could give them that.”

“That wasn’t even praise, Cass.” I chuckled.

We all stopped walking when we saw Cody standing in front of my room. He looked at Volt and Cassandra meaningfully, then both of them nodded. He must’ve been talking to them in their minds.

“What is it that you couldn’t even say it out loud?” I asked irritated.

“We’ll leave first, milady.” Volt kissed the knuckles of my hand before letting it go.

“Where are you both going?”

“We’ll be back later, don’t worry.” Cassandra winked at me then they were both gone in a flash.

I sighed. “What is that all about?” I asked him, confused.

“Don’t you need to get in first and change your clothes?” he said instead of answering me.

“Fine.” I know that I couldn't force him to tell me so I marched my way past him.

“I just need to tell you something important… about me” He said before I could close the door. I turned my head but he wasn’t looking at me but rather at his feet. “Call me when you're done. I’ll stay here.”

“Okay,” I answered without any complaint since I badly wanted to know about what the two royal siblings said.