LucianPresent dayAngry bursts of rain banged on the window space cascading down the earth. I was restless and paced around Vlad's fancy dorm room, thinking of the next step to take.There were a whole lot of things to be done in such a short time, most especially, pretending to be Vlad until I got the staff of authority.I thought I was prepared for this, but after the swap, I discovered I didn't have the nerve to do half of my requirements of being Vlad's imposter.For four years, my uncle, Dimitri, coached me on my twin brother's mannerisms. He made me talk like him, walk like him, use his catchphrases and even wear his signature half-smile. Vlad trusted the king to death. He did no wrong in his eyes and so, Vlad couldn't go against him. The fool didn't know that our father and his evil wife were behind our mom's death. Revenge was the driving force behind my plan to take my rightful place and have the staff of authority. Dimitri taught me to be strong, no matter how hard it see
Raven I sat in the library, toying with a calligraphy pen and pricking my thumb with the metallic nib. I had so many tests and exams coming up, but I couldn't bring myself to concentrate. All the words in my textbooks became blurry lines. I tried everything I could, from taking long walks from one end of the school to another, practicing mindfulness exercises that Taylor had introduced to me, and even wearing more makeup and dressing better, which Taylor felt could attract Vlad back to me. None worked. Vlad never looked at me more than once, and I stopped everything altogether when that bitch Ivy mocked me when I wore a stupid tank top that revealed my stomach. I didn't know what to do anymore, or even who to tell. This was getting stranger by the day, and I knew that Vlad wasn't joking when he rejected me. But it bothered me that he hadn't asked about the staff of authority that was in my custody. And from the look of things, he didn't seem like he was planning to. I had n
Raven The weekend dragged on, and I remained in a haze, nursing my heartbreak. I held onto hope that Vlad would come back to his senses and return to the person I once knew and fell in love with, rather than the stranger who was determined to break my heart. Meditation and taking walks had failed to calm me, so I discovered that the only thing that could provide solace was chocolates. I consumed them in various forms: bars, truffles, spreads, hot chocolates, and beverages. They became my new companions, helping me drown my sorrows. Taylor's suggestion of sending an anonymous email to Clarissa lingered in my mind. It sounded like a plan, but it could either be a hit or miss. Nova would eventually involve herself, and I knew I had to be careful to avoid backfiring. I kept to myself, avoiding participating in conversations at the dinner table, thankfully going unnoticed. My dad and Clarissa were in a good mood, engaging in lively conversation and laughter. My dad's hands would wan
Vlad Raw agony shot all over my body, making me slouch and my limbs tremble. Everything that was happening seemed like a dream. I couldn't believe that I was locked up in this stupid prison in King Dracula's house. Dracula, my dad's trusted friend, betrayed him and kidnaped me for reasons I was yet to find out. To think my dad helped him countless times made my heart squeeze with raw hate. After Raven fled the car, a dozen henchmen surrounded my car, deflating my tires. They smashed the windows and overpowered me, bringing me here and imprisoning me in a cage with transparent walls and zero privacy. Then they did the worst by filling my body with poisons that weakened me. Outside, several henchmen took turns guarding me, mocking my helplessness. I was tired. My eyes watered with pain while I attempted to calm myself. I told myself that soon enough, my dad would find me. My parents must be so worried, and Raven... my lover. I worried that something had happened to her but rea
Nova "Ivy, I don't know what to do. This is getting serious. I don't even know who to believe anymore." I paraded around my room while Ivy lay on the bed, relaxed with a half-lidded look on her face and an easy smile. "You're not taking this seriously," I scowled at her. "What do you want me to say?" she chuckled, her feet angling out. "I just know you're worrying too much, first of all, and secondly, Vlad looks like he's done with Raven. "And what makes you think he's not going to do the same thing with me? Did you see how loved up he was with her? I'm fucking scared." Ivy hugged my teddy bear, grinning. "I think he realized how better you would be to his cred. I mean, you two are the homecoming king and queen. You're your father's legitimate daughter, and I'm sure Vlad must have heard several complicated stories about Raven." Her statement made sense. Still, I worried about the impending doom. "I don't know what to believe anymore. How can someone who hated me and my presence
Raven Taylor and I sat side by side on the bed, our eyes fixed on the luminous computer screen. I was hesitant to send the email to Clarissa unearthing Nova and Vlad's relationship. I had run short of making excuses, trying to deviate from this matter. Uneasy as hell, I stared blankly at my screen. "Come on, Raven. Don't be a coward," Taylor slurped her banana milkshake, making the freshly blended bananas and dairy fill my nostrils. "You know you want to do this." "I do," I bit my lip, uncertain about all of this. "I just don't want to get into trouble. My dad will find out about me and Vlad and kill me." She raised her hands, annoyed. "Well then, I'm going to bed." "No, no, wait," I grabbed her arm. "Come on, don't be stubborn." "If you don't want to send it, it's fine." I groaned loudly. "Oh, Taylor…" "I'm tired of listening to excuses. Maybe you should watch Nova and Vlad love up in your presence." "I don't want that." "Then send the damn email to your step-mum." My hea
Lucian The moonlight cast shadows on the soft petals of blooming jasmine in the garden. All night, I avoided Dimitri. His presence was choking the hell out of me because I still hadn't gathered the courage to ask King Vladislav for the password. It was strange to call him Dad. I was never going to do so. I had no dad. Because of Vladislav, I endured so much suffering as a child. My brain conjured several scenarios in my head and ways to ask him for the password, but none added up. How could I just ask him for the password without him suspecting foul play? The secret room was a place Vlad was used to all his life. And except I had a serious brain accident or memory loss, I had no excuse to forget the password. The screen door slammed on the porch and I froze, knowing it was Dimitri. He knew wherever I was and was monitoring me with the microchip. My boots hit the crumbling earth, and I sipped some cold water from the hose connected to the tap to quell my turmoil. Dimitri moved c
Nova The chaos in the house turned me speechless with alarm. My dad was so pissed, scowling at me like I was a piece of shit, and my mom was disappointed in me. I couldn't believe that this had happened. When Raven walked in, I knew she was the whistle-blower who sent that mail to my mom. She looked visibly frightened, but deep down, I knew she was satisfied I was in trouble and didn't regret what she did. She was so ridiculous to think she could escape this untouched. If I was going down, she had to go down with me. My dad's yelling intensified. "I need to know who the stupid vampire is and give him and his parents a stern warning to stay the hell away from you!" Hysterical tears flooded down my face, and I wiped them with the back of my hand. My mum paced around the room, angry and ashamed. "This is so awful. I hope you didn't let him kiss you. You're not even eighteen yet, and I'm certain the moon goddess would never give you a vampire as a mate." "Mum, please," I cried. "