IMPERIA'S POV

I was fascinated by the number of books in this family home alone. It fascinate me that some of the history that written here, I was apart of.

"Oh! You're Evangeline's friend," I startled Evangeline's father when he enters the reading room.

"I hope I'm not intruding. Your collection is magnificent. I am a fan of history and reading them makes me think about the good old days," obviously he was confused by my words but he didn't ask about it. I'm beginning to like this man.

He's not the type to pestered into someone's personal matter.

"My grandfather was a historian and so does my father. I continued their legacy. It was on one of my expedition in ancient ruin that I met Angelica," he begins to tell me about the moment he met Mrs Odin.

"I am grateful that you came to give your respect to my wife. Most of the guest who came today were either trying to find something that belongs to my wife or try to make me agree to sponsor their future projects," I can see him beginning to hate the society for their pestering.

"Ahhh ... you wrote a book about the Romans? Interesting. It's one of my greatest achievement if I may add," Oh! I didn't mean to make him feel even more confused.

"What I mean to say was ... well ... hmm ..." Mr Odin waved it off.

"Don't worry. Daphne told me the truth. About you, your museum, your brides, your expedition and how you play an important role in some of the most historic tales ever told to mankind," Daphne ... babbling again.

"So you know about my identity?" Mr Odin nod.

"It's easy to pressured Daphne and she just blurts it out for me. At first, it was too unbelievable for me to accept but then I saw a woman with wings fly towards my backyard, giving you an elegant-looking case, that sums it all up," he saw the brides?

"Tell me, what do you mean when you say Pax Roman is actually your greatest achievement?" He asked before offering me a glass of wine.

"Do you even drink wine?" He asked.

"I do enjoy a glass or two once in a while," he offered which I took with a gentle smile. I try to remember my meeting with Caesar Augustus himself.

"Hmmm... as you may know, the Roman Empire has been in wars for almost 200 years. Augustus thought that it's time for his people to know what peace is. He came to see me, seeking the answer to his troubling mind," Mr Odin raised an eyebrow.

"A vampire who seek for peace? Are you sure you're even a vampire? Throughout history, in every single text that describe the vampire kind, they're all bloodsuckers who wish nothing but misery," I laughed at his logic. This is interesting.

"I admit, every vampire wish nothing but power and chaos but ... not me. I have to thank my mother for that. Her upbringing made me realise how important all living creatures alike," Mr Odin cheers to that.

"It was in the battle of Actium between Mark Anthony and Cleopatra I assisted Augustus and won the battle. That was the start of Pax Roman. Of course, every new political view has to overcome some problems that occur between its ruler and people," I took a sip of the wine and let it through my throat.

Honestly, I don't taste anything particular with it. It tastes just like water.

"When he became the Emperor of Rome, I advise her to create a junta of greatest military magnate and make himself as the front man. With that, he managed to eliminate the prospect of civil war. Of course, every decision has its own flaw since he has to deal with the fight that happened in Hispania and the alps," I explained. Mr Odin nodding his head.

"But the Romans sees that as being defeated, am I right?" I nod.

"Yes. Augustus was having a hard time convincing the Romans that the wealth and prosperity they could achieve will be better and rewarding than acquiring them by fighting a risky war. I can't blame them since they achieved so much by fighting a war with their enemies. That concept has been burned into their skull," I finished my wine and ignore the taste of water.

"One crucial question, what do you think of Cleopatra when you see her face to face? We only saw her sculpture and sarcophagus. From the way it was made, we assume she's the most beautiful woman of all Egypt in her time," I try to remember the moment I met Cleopatra in her bath.

She does have a beautiful figure but she's too ambitious for her own good.

"Oh, she's beautiful alright. Beautiful enough to make both Caesar and Mark Anthony, the strongest of all Roman bow to her. She's charming, smart and she's basically what you humans call as ... a perfect ruler. But she does have a tiny bit of an attitude. She is impossible to satisfy. She always wants more than what she can have," Mr Odin was intrigued by my view of her.

"It would be wonders to hear more of your exploits in historical events but I think it's time for me to retire for the night. Thank you for your share. There is always so much that ancient text can provide us with," he smile and bow before excusing himself.

I decided to stay and read a couple of books when I stumble upon a book that was written by Mrs Odin herself.

"Hmm ... The Royal Betrayal?" I read through the title and proceed to read chapter 1. It intrigued me when the first verse of the book was all about Gotus. How did she manage to know this much about my empire?

Did she really manage to decipher all the ancient text made by maids who buried me?

"Ahh .. you found my mother's prize belonging," I look up to see Evangeline in her nightgown looking down on the book that's in my hands.

"She wrote a story about me, about my exploration and how I bring peace to Gotus and my people. How is this possible?" Evangeline shrugged.

"She never says anything when I ask her about it. The book never sells like she hopes to. It's sad to see all her hard work goes down the drain just like that," she gave me a sad smile.

"Why is that? Even I know this book is well written. The facts and history are from true events," Evangeline shrugged.

"The curator was the reason that the book didn't sell. He told the critics that the book my mother had written were based on false history. It took a lot from my mother and she died not knowing how to fix it. My father tried to help her by using his name in the society but it backfired," again with this curator.

Maybe I should end his career in this field instead. I smile mischievously.

***

"Mr Odin, if I may be bold, why are you against Evangeline from continuing her mother's legacy?" Mr Odin looks up from his morning paper before folding and places it on the table. He sighs before gesturing his hand on a picture of him and his family.

"I've lost my wife because of a curse. I don't want to lose another one due to it," a curse?

"Curse? What curse?" I asked since I'm curious.

"My wife came from a family of professors. Her father was a world-renowned meteorologist while her mother was a well-known Egyptologist. I remembered how my mother in law mentioned that her family is a curse after she accidentally exposed one of the most powerful group of man in the society," I raised an eyebrow.

"But Mr Odin, that is not a curse. That is a threat," he gave me a small smile.

"That is why I changed my profession into a college professor instead of doing any fieldwork. But Evangeline ... she has the same passion as her mother does. It's hard for me to convince her to continuing with this mission of hers," Evangeline has a mission?

"She wants to make her mother's name well known throughout the world as the one who found and finally manage to crack the codes that were left on your final resting place. Your finding was such a controversial one and it cost my wife's life," this sound more like pinning her death at me for some reason.

"Mr Odin. I think your wife was murder. Why do you keep on saying it's a curse?" He looks around as if making sure no one was listening to our conversation.

"Because knowing Evangeline, she will do whatever it takes to seek revenge. Lady Imperia, I know it's important that you make yourself known but ... it will only end up destroying you in the end. My wife didn't survive and I don't want my only daughter to face the same consequences," he has a point.

There is only one question that stuck in my mind. Who murdered Angelica Odin?

"Good morning father," Evangeline walks into the dining room together with Daphne and Beatrice.

"Morning," they took a seat side by side from each other.

"Did Lady Keres informed you of Miss Waters achievement, Lady Imperia?" Daphne asked. I shake my head no while cutting my raw meat into pieces.

"She finished making a full report of the naval admiral sword and it's ready for opening day. I can't believe it only took her a few days to complete," that is what I expect Miss Waters to do at least. She is a reliable one. I can't say the same for Miss Kingston.

"Seems like I wasn't invited to this huh?" I was surprised to see Keres walking into the dining room wearing such a revealing clothing. I was confused with her presence here.

"What are you doing here?" She shrugged and took a seat next to mine.

"Where are your manners? Is that how a ruler should act? You didn't even tell the host that you're coming. Apologise," I am appalled that my kind showing this kind of manners in front of the humans.

She was obviously surprised but apologised to Mr Odin for her intrusion.

"I thought I wanted to surprise you. Your family just arrived at the museum. But that plan backfired huh?" My family is at the museum?

"Hotep manage to find them?" Keres nod.

"They're waiting for you. Your mother and sisters. I just have to warn you though. They look different than they use to. It's like they're not even the member of the royal family! And the Luna was one a dignified vampire royalty," I close my eyes to process this.

"Hmm ... it was father's fault they became the vampire they're now. He trusted that half-breed more than his own pureblood daughter. Serve him right," Keres laughed before pouring me something from the bottle she brought.

"Fresh blood, for the queen of course," ahhh... the scent of fresh blood invading my nostril, making me want to have a sip. It's been fun tasting water but ... this is my favourite.

"Hmmm ... male ... early 40's ... oh ... I love it. Nothing can beat a blood that came from someone who tired of living," I chuckled. I was so into my refreshment that I almost forgot that I am in the vicinity of the humans.

"I do apologise for my action," Mr Odin waved it off.

"It's fine, vampire. Just enjoy your food. I do have a question. Did you kill the poor man?" Keres shakes her head.

"I was flying around the city when I came across a man who's about to jump off a building. I kindly asked for his blood. I mean, he's going to die so why not he donate some for us vampires to enjoy, right?" Mr Odin was speechless and so does the other humans.

"And you didn't try to talk him out of jumping off the building?!" Beatrice asked. Keres shakes her head no.

"It's not my problem that he just tired of living," Keres shrugged her shoulder.

***

"Mother!" For the very first time after so many years, I get to hug my mother. I don't know if it's just me but she looks ... old. This is weird since vampires don't age!

"Mother! What happened to you?" I asked when I pulled away. She was crying the tears of blood when we look at each other eye to eye.

My mother wiped the tears off and lifted her sleeve. I was bewildered when my eyes witness something horrific.

"Mother! What happened to you?!" There is a lot of punctures wound on her arms. I turned to my sisters who had similar wound. I was angry! I was ... curious about what had happened to them!

For darkness sake, they're the royal members of the Gotus Empire!

"We were sold by Baracus to one prominent asylum that studies the existence of vampires. Our blood was used to create more ... artificial vampires. Your sisters were used for breeding purposes. They want to know if vampires, especially purebloods can carry the child of a human and other creatures," I was bewildered.

"Zena, Zilla, what happened to your children?" They look away, lost at words.

"Their children were sacrificed by those who bought us. Every time they gave birth, the child would be used to create more. There was time that I decided to save my grandchildren but it ended up bad, very bad Imperia," I turned to Keres with fury.

She gave me a little nod before excusing herself.

"Humans with the heart of a monster. I can't believe our kind did all those things to you," Miss Kingston looks a little defeated.

"I never thought I will say this but humanity nowadays are horrible!" Miss Waters added.

"It's being controlled by Gotard. What do you expect from him?" I noticed my sisters were a bit down.

"What's wrong? You're safe now that you're under my care," they both smile, grateful about it.

"It's just ... there was a lot of those who don't have much choice in life. Including our partners that we aren't supposed to fall in love with. They were glad when Hotep came to save us but ... who knows what happen to them now," partners? Ahh .. for the breeding they mention earlier.

"Those filthy humans assigned you two partners?" They nod and so does my mother.

"There were humans as well. I don't know what kind of experiment they did to them but some of them even turn to ghoul right in front of our eyes," ghouls?

They even try to be God. It's a wonder that those barbaric angels didn't catch on about this yet.

"I am so glad that you're alive Imperia. I really did try to stop your father from casting you away like that but ... because I can't give him a male heir, he doesn't care about me or your sisters," Well, where does that mindset had in store for him now?!

"Father was killed, am I right?" Mother nod.

"Serve him right. Being killed by the person he trusted the most. The same person he said will bring Gotus to its glory. What a joke! If only I know where he was buried, I'll spit on his grave and stab my sword into his corpse!" It angers me whenever I remembered that moment when he pushed me into the casket.

"I can't blame you for hating your father for what he has done to you and your partner. Anyway, enough about him. I see you still have the same passion. You even open up a museum for your collection! I am proud of you, Imperia," I smiled at my mother.

She always understands me when it comes to my hobby.

"I have asked Keres to provided you with your own art gallery. You can continue your passion for the arts as well, mother. I miss indulging myself in your world. Every piece your created always brings so much story in them. I miss the olden days when you always brought us into your old gallery and tell us a story about the piece you currently working on. That's one of the best memories I had with you," mother smile.

"I don't know if I still had it in me," Musashi walks into the room and leaning into my ear.

She informed me that Keres had found the founder of the asylum my family were in and it was owned by Gotard's clan.

"Seems like work has called on me. Mother, if you wish to be clean, the brides will be happy to serve you," I excuse myself from my family and motioned for Miss Kingston's and the others to see Keres.

"I just got off from the phone. Anastasia confirms it. She doesn't know what kind of experiment that happened inside the asylum but it's bad. What should we do? We haven't even convinced the other clan leaders to be on our side," Keres has a point there.

What should I do?

We were in the middle of a discussion when my mother appears by the door.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt but ... it's about your sisters'. Imperia, I think your niece and nephew is still alive, somewhere in the asylum. It was not that long ago they gave birth," they're alive?

"I saw the same flame in your eyes when you excusing yourself from us earlier. They were too devastated to even have any hope in them that their child is alive. But, I know they are. Please save them, Imperia. They're the future of Luna, of Gotus," I can't say no to that.

I turned to face the others.

"We have no allies except for Anastasia. It's not enough to bring Gotard down but I think I have enough to save my niece and nephew. What do you think?" I asked.

"I'm down. It's been that long since I had any action. The only adventure I had was diving into the ocean bed," Keres shrugged.

"I am ready to be at your service, lady Imperia," Musashi saluted.

"Well, it is for the future of Gotus. I don't see why not. And besides, we can use this as one of our propaganda. We can show the other clan leaders that we're not joking around," Hotep has a point. She surely knows how to make use of any kind of situation.

"We'll save them, mother," she smiles and hugged me once again.