“The Blood Moon has just passed by. Why must I break Eoghan and Zafrina’s marriage as soon as possible?” My brows went up as I talked with Ozym at his breakfast table in his own chambers.

The Vampire King was taking his time while drinking the fresh blood that was served in a glass. It was from a human Caucasian girl and a pretty one. She was unconscious, lying on the long sofa next to the table. I think she was no more than eighteen.

‘Poor girl. Now, she can’t get away from this place ever. Ozym will make sure of that. She will be one of his sources for food from now on. And maybe for something else, too…’

I tried to get the sexual scene of Ozym and this girl out my head. Instead, I looked at him with confusion.

“And you’ll let me travel all the way to Latvia? Without you?”

“You married those two, so you have to break them up yourself. That’s your job as a priestess—Blood Moon or not.”

“But you know that my powers for breaking the binds are at their peak during Blood Moon. That’s why—”

“As you said, they’re at their peak. Meaning to say, Albi, that you can do it whenever you can. It’s just that it’s unprecedented for you. Other priestesses don’t rely on the Blood Moon.”

My mouth gaped open. And I was rewarded with a smile even with my whining. He stood up and caressed my cheek. His eyes moved from mine down to my lips. With his thumb, he caressed my lower lip. He leaned closer to kiss me but I turned my face away from him. I simply stepped back and gestured in the air.

“If that’s what you want. But if there’s a drawback, which they may experience, it won’t be my fault. Okay?”

He sighed while looking at me. “Albi, you must trust your powers. You’ve been using them for over a century now.”

“I still have a lot to learn. Nobody teaches me here, anyway. I did what I could, for you. Everything… everything that I managed to do was all self-discovery. It’s a bit frustrating! All the other priestesses don’t want me around, especially Szonja. It’s no secret to you, Ozym.” I met his gaze.

“And you think it’s my fault?” he calmly asked. He took a few steps closer to me. “You think if I hadn’t favored you more than the others, things would’ve been different for you? For us?” He towered me and cupped my face, looking deep into my eyes. “How could I make things different when I love you, Adri? How can I not treasure you when my heart is yours?”

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. I didn’t know what to say or how to answer him. That scene with Szonja in my chambers some days ago crossed my mind. If Kragen had no intention of committing treason, then why did he want me dead? And in front of Ozym to boot! It was no secret that the Vampire King adored me. All his loyal subjects—or not—knew it. Wouldn’t it be considered treason if they harmed me? How could I ask Ozym about this?

I decided to keep it quiet. More or less, Ozym may have thought it ridiculous. All this time, I never told him that it was Kragen who killed the people I loved. I was young and shocked at the time. He might say that it was just my imagination because I never liked Kragen since I first saw him in the castle. That much Ozym knew. And then, something crossed my mind.

“Alright, I will go to Latvia with my acolytes. I hope your meeting with our allies goes well, Ozym,” I said instead, forcing a smile.

“If only Eoghan and Zafrina aren’t a pain in the ass, nagging me about their breakup, I won’t send you there all alone at this time.”

“I understand.” I nodded at him. “They are important to you and you don’t want any of them to suffer or die because of their marriage bond. So, I’ll manage even without you, I’m sure.” The couple was my first one to bind when I first became a priestess. For some reason, I don’t want them to suffer, too, because they were nice to me. Whenever they visited the Supreme Palace, they would give me some expensive gifts and ask me to visit them in Latvia so they could show me around. They knew I seldom travel, and I always stick by Ozym’s side. Even with my over-a-century age, there were only a few countries that I visited. However, I did know how to speak different languages as learning them was one of my pastimes.

“Get ready for your flight in a couple of hours. Priestesses Malka and Kezia will be with you.”

“Your personal warrior priestesses will come with me to Latvia?” I was awed… and a bit worried. Unlike me and the others, the warrior priestesses were actually elite bodyguards. Only a few knew of their real function in Ozym’s life and status. Even his most loyal subjects just believed that all priestesses under Ozym were all the same.

“Of course, Albi! How can I send you there without protection?” He then smiled at me.

***

The warrior priestesses, my acolytes and I paraded into Eoghan and Zafrina’s mansion that night. We actually arrived in Latvia by mid-afternoon. However, I secretly sent Hestia to gather some information about Kragen’s current whereabouts. We stayed in a hotel in the pretext to rest. When Hestia came with some news, that was when I decided to get us to our destination.

The two-story mansion was located some couples miles away from Krimulda Castle, just outside the municipality of Sigulda. The mansion was hidden by a thick forest. More than a dozen vampires stood guard around the couple’s territory. I could sense and sniff them.

I looked at the massive crystal chandelier that hung in the middle of the huge living room. A human-size portrait of the couple hanged on the wall near the fireplace. The rest of cream-colored wall was bare. The living room appliance and furniture were complete, from TV to sofa set. The modern interior design was classic and elegant.

“Welcome to our home, Priestess Adri!”

I heard Zafrina’s husky soft voice that came from the stairs. I took off the hood of my dark green cloak but the green cover of my lower face remained. Meanwhile, Priestesses Malka’s and Kezia’s hoods and face cover were not removed. My acolytes stood in front of me in a subtle protective stance, while the two warrior priestesses stood alert beside me. Nonetheless, nobody noticed they were guarding me, even though I believed the couple was no threat.

I looked at them with passive eyes. Zafrina wore a floor-length crimson gown, while her husband Eoghan wore a three-piece suit of black color. They both always looked sophisticated, in their mid-thirties in human age. Zafrina’s healthy olive skin complemented Eoghan’s white complexion. I always thought they were good together. I wondered now why they wanted to break up. Unlike the wedding ceremony, which was always held at the priestess’ place, the break-up ritual was held at the couple’s abode, a sign that they would end it there. Their home will then be destroyed right after the ritual. In whatever way, it didn’t matter.

“Shall we begin?” Eoghan said after clearing his throat. His deep voice was gentle.

I moved my eyes in his direction, who was a few steps away from his wife. “Why? Why do you want a speedy breakup now? Why can’t you wait for the next Blood Moon?” I queried softly.

He looked at his wife with contempt. “Because we both can’t live together until then,” he answered simply.

Zafrina harrumphed. “It’s you who can’t live with me any longer, Eoghan. Just tell the priestess the truth!”

“About what?” I asked.

“He just married me to save his clan at the time. And now that he found the one, he can’t wait to break up with me!” she revealed.

I narrowed my eyes while looking at them. That only meant one thing. Eoghan’s clan needed help from Zafrina’s, whose clan was stronger and larger indeed. It was from our common enemy that wanted to expand their territory just like we do… and it had been for forever.

“So you married for politics? You… you deceived me? I thought you loved each other!” I was almost hysterical.

Fen touched my arm to calm me down. But it was too late. I was pissed. With my powers, I banged their heads together. They both groaned and fell to the floor side by side. I waved my hand over them, to unbind and curse them. To punish them.

“With my blood within you, I unshackle you from your marriage troth. Natheless, with my blood inside you, you will both serve me for as long as you and your clan live!” I glared at them, and they stared back at me with fear. They both kneeled down in front of me, with their heads on the floor. I wrapped a light blue essence of my powers on each of them with a clockwise motion of my hand.

“Grant us forgiveness, Priestess Adri!” they pleaded.

“Serve me or die! Which punishment do you prefer?” I demanded in a hard tone.

My acolytes looked at me with reverence. I knew they had never seen me mad like this before. But it seemed they admired me even more tonight.

I trusted this couple, only to find out that they deceived me! I just couldn’t let them off easily like that. What if they would deceive another priestess like me? What if Eoghan’s future wedding be the same? Maybe Zafrina shouldn’t be punished as much as her husband, but she knew the reason why he married her in the first place, from the very beginning. Even if that meant she loved him for real. That made them deceivers. And no one should deceive me for my pure intention!

The couple bowed their heads in resignation. Of course, they couldn’t do anything against me even if they want to.

I waved my hand and the fireplace was lit. The flames got bigger and bigger to the couple’s horrified expression on their faces. I turned on my heels, and my companions followed me outside the blazing mansion. The couple was also out before the entire place was eaten by the raging flames, which mirrored the rage inside me.

I looked up at the sky with the lovely crescent moon. I thought it was a beautiful night. Somehow, my heart felt light. I hid a smile as the snowflakes rained on us gently. I pulled up my hood as the couple’s underlings joined us upon seeing the blaze.

“Hestia, go with Zafrina to tell the news. I am now the head of her and Eoghan’s clans. You meet us at the train station in Sigulda, two hours tops.”

“Yes, Priestess Adri,” she replied and bowed. Her thin acolyte cloak hid her in the dark as she, Zafrina and half of the other vampires moved in lightning speed.

“We’re supposed to go to the airport,” Priestess Malka reminded me in a quiet voice.

“I have something important to do in Vienna. I might need your help,” I told her.

“What is in Vienna?” she inquired, curious.

Before I could even reply, Priestess Kezia’s hand gripped my arm, which halted me. All of us were quiet and listened to our surroundings. A loud howl from our right side made the hair on my neck stand up and my heart ram against my chest. My eyes tried to see where the owner of that howl was.

Priestesses Malka and Kezia turned their backs to me, to face our enemies. Their hands were up in the air, ready to strike anyone… or anything.

“When they saw the fire, they knew that the territory is now theirs,” Eoghan stated the obvious.

“What? Are you just telling me now that the entire Silguda region is now theirs?”

My words just hung in the air as their eyes focused in one direction. Behind me. I slowly turned around, and my dark brown eyes collided with the pair of almost luminous champagne-colored orbs. Its—or rather his—superb shiny red fur made me forget for a moment that this prowling gigantic beast was an enemy. But why did I feel such amazement and not fear?

Suddenly, I remembered my dream, where this beast was chasing me. That was when trepidation rose up in my chest.

‘No! Madre de Dios! This can’t be. It can’t be him!’