[RUBY]“Have a seat,” Marco Salvatore gestured to the couch with a calm authority that sent a shiver down my spine. His office felt suffocatingly small, as though the walls themselves were pressing in on me. My hands had gone cold, clammy, and despite my best efforts, they trembled in my lap. His gaze, unreadable and unwavering, seemed to pierce right through me as he clasped his hands together in front of him.“Ruby… or should I say, Abbie.” His voice was like a blade, sharp and precise, slicing through the silence. My heart lurched, hammering violently against my ribs, and I felt the blood drain from my face. How did he know? What else did he know?“I’ve known about you long before James brought you to me,” Marco continued, his words deliberate, each one sinking in like a stone. “And I know about your father—once a member of the Camorra.”I swallowed hard and stole a glance at James. He offered me a reassuring smile, one that told me to keep calm and listen. But it was impossible to
[LUNA]I watched Abbie descend the stairs, unable to tear my gaze away even as I cradled Kylie on the couch. I tried to focus on our conversation, pretending I hadn’t noticed her, but the moment Abbie paused halfway down and looked our way, I got nervous. This shouldn’t happen in anyway. I have never felt nervous in my entire life. It must be the medallion’s doing. Her face was a mask of unreadable calm. Was she jealous? No, that was impossible. She’d only used me, played me like a pawn for her own agenda. The temptation to remove my medallion surged through me—just to glimpse her emotions, to know what she was hiding. My fingers brushed the cold metal, but I hesitated. If I lost control, if I went berserk, Kylie—and everyone else in the house—would be in danger. I sighed and let the thought slip away.I refused to hope. Hope was a dangerous thing, especially with Abbie. She’d blindsided me, twisted my emotions, and I hadn’t seen it coming. Or had I? Had I just ignored the signs? I pu
[ABBIE]As we drove home, my mind spun with confusion. Why would Mia, of all people, join the Camorra? A lawyer, fiercely dedicated to justice, diving into the very world of crime she’s sworn to fight against—it didn’t make sense. I glanced at James, hoping for answers, but he offered none. "It’s not my place to explain her reasons," he’d said. So I let it go, planning to ask Mia myself when I saw her. Lost in thought, I barely noticed when our car stopped at the gate. Another car had followed us in, trailing close behind. My gut churned with a mix of excitement and dread. Was it her? Mia? I hadn't seen my sister in so long, and the thought of her being part of the mafia made my heart pound. What could drive her to such a drastic choice? James, sensing my anxiety, gave me a knowing nod. I bolted out of the car, barely breathing as the door to the other car swung open. "Mia!" I cried, running toward her. She stepped out, and I was in her arms before I knew it, clinging to her like I
[LUNA]Frustration builds inside me as human emotions creep into me, weakening my senses. I need control—craving the strength that makes me who I am. The engine of my bike roars as I head toward the forest, where I trained with my father and hunted for food that truly sustains me. Human food is dull, a weak substitute for the raw power of blood. It's been months since I’ve tasted it, and that’s why I feel this way—vulnerable, almost human.As I reach the forest, I strip off my medallion, leaving it in the bike’s compartment. Instantly, my senses sharpen, flooding back with intensity. I hear everything: the heartbeat of every creature, the pulse of life, the emotions carried on the wind—fear, anger, joy. I am alive again, in control. Swiftly, I leap through the trees, my movements as seamless as the wind. I search for my target: deer, my favorite prey. Its blood will revive me.I spot it, the scent of its fear already filling my lungs. It flees, but I am faster. In a single motion, I d
[RUBY] "Welcome to the Camorra, Mia Kaufmann," the Boss finally announced, lifting his glass of crimson wine. The room followed suit, the soft clink of glass punctuating the silence. Mia undergone the ritual, pricking her finger just as I had done before, her face unreadable as the dark liquid beaded on her skin. Of course, this was all for show—an elaborate dance to keep suspicion at bay, especially from Luna’s watchful eyes. Mia was not yet a part of the Camorra. Not until her mission was complete. As the meeting wound down, I leaned closer to her, dropping my voice. "I need to talk to Luna after this," I murmured. She shot me a knowing glance, the kind that said she was already one step ahead. I furrowed my brows. "Stop imagining things. I’m just giving her my painting," I added hastily, trying to keep my tone casual. "Alright. I wasn’t thinking of anything, Ab—" she caught herself, nearly slipping up. "Ruby," she corrected herself. "And for the record, you're the one overthin
[LUNA] Maybe I should stop thinking about her. It’s the rational thing to do, after all. But the lump in my throat grows thick as I recall the way she averted her gaze, the silent rejection etched in her every movement. Every time she looks at me, she sees Xanthe. And that—it’s unbearable. The worst kind of torture. Foolish of me to fall into her web, only to find myself ensnared by a love that was never meant for me. Now, I’m trapped, struggling in vain to break free. My heightened senses, sharp as a blade, can perceive many things—but not her thoughts. Her heart, though, betrays her. It skips a beat every time I speak Xanthe’s name, a telltale sign of who truly owns her heart. It’s as though her very pulse is tethered to someone long gone. I press harder on the throttle, urging my bike to speed up, as if the rush of wind against my skin could numb the ache festering within. But it’s futile. This strange, suffocating feeling clings to me. I shouldn’t feel this way—I'm a vampire, a
[LUNA]Here I am again, at the bar, trying to drown myself in liquor. But this isn't just any liquor—this one is different. A darker brew, gifted by the elder vampires themselves. I don’t know what’s in it, but it grips me, sends a shiver down my spine, makes the room spin just the way I want it to. Life as Luna Salvatore isn’t something you wish for. People think they want to be me, but they don’t carry the weight I do. They wouldn’t last a day in my skin. I don’t even know who my mother is—never had the chance to ask. Normal? That’s something I’ve never been. While other kids were playing with dolls, I was given weapons. A gun in one hand, a blade in the other. My father made sure of that. I was trained, forged in fire, taught to be self-reliant, never to trust in others' strength. Wisdom, leadership—those were my toys. I used to watch the other children from a distance, laughing and chasing one another, wondering what it felt like to belong to something as innocent as that. But I
[RUBY]I arrived at the bar, my eyes immediately finding her. She was sitting on the pavement next to her motorbike, her back slumped against the wall. The sight of her like that—head buried in her knees, arms wrapped tightly around herself—made my heart twist painfully. She looked so small, so lost, like a child who didn’t know where to turn. I had never seen her this vulnerable before.I rushed toward her, my footsteps quick and quiet. Kneeling beside her, I gently reached out, running my fingers through her hair, brushing it away from her face. “Luna,” I whispered softly. Her head lifted slowly, and when she finally looked at me, her face was streaked with tears. The sight of her like this, broken and raw, hit me harder than anything ever had. Without thinking, I knelt down fully and pulled her into a tight embrace. Her arms wrapped around me instantly, her face pressing into the crook of my neck. I could feel her shaking, feel her breath cold against my skin as she tried to stif
[LUNA]I woke up with a heavy head, the weight of last night’s decisions crashing down on me. I need to remind myself to never drink like that again. But then the memories flooded back—was it all just a dream? I quickly checked for my medallion, my fingers grazing my neck. Nothing. Shit! It wasn’t a dream. Panic twisted in my gut as I found the medallion lying on my bed. Frustration bubbled up inside me; Ruby now knew my secret. I imagined her fear and shuddered—of course she would be scared. I bet she wouldn’t dare step foot in the mansion again, and maybe that was a good thing. Perhaps she would walk away from the Camorra and return to being Abbie Gomez, living a life untouched by the darkness I inhabited.I sighed, feeling oddly empty. What the hell was I so sad about? I shouldn’t be sulking over the fact that I scared Ruby just because she discovered I was a vampire. Kylie had reacted similarly, and look at her now—she was in love with me. So why was I worried at all?Resolutely,
[RUBY]I arrived at the bar, my eyes immediately finding her. She was sitting on the pavement next to her motorbike, her back slumped against the wall. The sight of her like that—head buried in her knees, arms wrapped tightly around herself—made my heart twist painfully. She looked so small, so lost, like a child who didn’t know where to turn. I had never seen her this vulnerable before.I rushed toward her, my footsteps quick and quiet. Kneeling beside her, I gently reached out, running my fingers through her hair, brushing it away from her face. “Luna,” I whispered softly. Her head lifted slowly, and when she finally looked at me, her face was streaked with tears. The sight of her like this, broken and raw, hit me harder than anything ever had. Without thinking, I knelt down fully and pulled her into a tight embrace. Her arms wrapped around me instantly, her face pressing into the crook of my neck. I could feel her shaking, feel her breath cold against my skin as she tried to stif
[LUNA]Here I am again, at the bar, trying to drown myself in liquor. But this isn't just any liquor—this one is different. A darker brew, gifted by the elder vampires themselves. I don’t know what’s in it, but it grips me, sends a shiver down my spine, makes the room spin just the way I want it to. Life as Luna Salvatore isn’t something you wish for. People think they want to be me, but they don’t carry the weight I do. They wouldn’t last a day in my skin. I don’t even know who my mother is—never had the chance to ask. Normal? That’s something I’ve never been. While other kids were playing with dolls, I was given weapons. A gun in one hand, a blade in the other. My father made sure of that. I was trained, forged in fire, taught to be self-reliant, never to trust in others' strength. Wisdom, leadership—those were my toys. I used to watch the other children from a distance, laughing and chasing one another, wondering what it felt like to belong to something as innocent as that. But I
[LUNA] Maybe I should stop thinking about her. It’s the rational thing to do, after all. But the lump in my throat grows thick as I recall the way she averted her gaze, the silent rejection etched in her every movement. Every time she looks at me, she sees Xanthe. And that—it’s unbearable. The worst kind of torture. Foolish of me to fall into her web, only to find myself ensnared by a love that was never meant for me. Now, I’m trapped, struggling in vain to break free. My heightened senses, sharp as a blade, can perceive many things—but not her thoughts. Her heart, though, betrays her. It skips a beat every time I speak Xanthe’s name, a telltale sign of who truly owns her heart. It’s as though her very pulse is tethered to someone long gone. I press harder on the throttle, urging my bike to speed up, as if the rush of wind against my skin could numb the ache festering within. But it’s futile. This strange, suffocating feeling clings to me. I shouldn’t feel this way—I'm a vampire, a
[RUBY] "Welcome to the Camorra, Mia Kaufmann," the Boss finally announced, lifting his glass of crimson wine. The room followed suit, the soft clink of glass punctuating the silence. Mia undergone the ritual, pricking her finger just as I had done before, her face unreadable as the dark liquid beaded on her skin. Of course, this was all for show—an elaborate dance to keep suspicion at bay, especially from Luna’s watchful eyes. Mia was not yet a part of the Camorra. Not until her mission was complete. As the meeting wound down, I leaned closer to her, dropping my voice. "I need to talk to Luna after this," I murmured. She shot me a knowing glance, the kind that said she was already one step ahead. I furrowed my brows. "Stop imagining things. I’m just giving her my painting," I added hastily, trying to keep my tone casual. "Alright. I wasn’t thinking of anything, Ab—" she caught herself, nearly slipping up. "Ruby," she corrected herself. "And for the record, you're the one overthin
[LUNA]Frustration builds inside me as human emotions creep into me, weakening my senses. I need control—craving the strength that makes me who I am. The engine of my bike roars as I head toward the forest, where I trained with my father and hunted for food that truly sustains me. Human food is dull, a weak substitute for the raw power of blood. It's been months since I’ve tasted it, and that’s why I feel this way—vulnerable, almost human.As I reach the forest, I strip off my medallion, leaving it in the bike’s compartment. Instantly, my senses sharpen, flooding back with intensity. I hear everything: the heartbeat of every creature, the pulse of life, the emotions carried on the wind—fear, anger, joy. I am alive again, in control. Swiftly, I leap through the trees, my movements as seamless as the wind. I search for my target: deer, my favorite prey. Its blood will revive me.I spot it, the scent of its fear already filling my lungs. It flees, but I am faster. In a single motion, I d
[ABBIE]As we drove home, my mind spun with confusion. Why would Mia, of all people, join the Camorra? A lawyer, fiercely dedicated to justice, diving into the very world of crime she’s sworn to fight against—it didn’t make sense. I glanced at James, hoping for answers, but he offered none. "It’s not my place to explain her reasons," he’d said. So I let it go, planning to ask Mia myself when I saw her. Lost in thought, I barely noticed when our car stopped at the gate. Another car had followed us in, trailing close behind. My gut churned with a mix of excitement and dread. Was it her? Mia? I hadn't seen my sister in so long, and the thought of her being part of the mafia made my heart pound. What could drive her to such a drastic choice? James, sensing my anxiety, gave me a knowing nod. I bolted out of the car, barely breathing as the door to the other car swung open. "Mia!" I cried, running toward her. She stepped out, and I was in her arms before I knew it, clinging to her like I
[LUNA]I watched Abbie descend the stairs, unable to tear my gaze away even as I cradled Kylie on the couch. I tried to focus on our conversation, pretending I hadn’t noticed her, but the moment Abbie paused halfway down and looked our way, I got nervous. This shouldn’t happen in anyway. I have never felt nervous in my entire life. It must be the medallion’s doing. Her face was a mask of unreadable calm. Was she jealous? No, that was impossible. She’d only used me, played me like a pawn for her own agenda. The temptation to remove my medallion surged through me—just to glimpse her emotions, to know what she was hiding. My fingers brushed the cold metal, but I hesitated. If I lost control, if I went berserk, Kylie—and everyone else in the house—would be in danger. I sighed and let the thought slip away.I refused to hope. Hope was a dangerous thing, especially with Abbie. She’d blindsided me, twisted my emotions, and I hadn’t seen it coming. Or had I? Had I just ignored the signs? I pu
[RUBY]“Have a seat,” Marco Salvatore gestured to the couch with a calm authority that sent a shiver down my spine. His office felt suffocatingly small, as though the walls themselves were pressing in on me. My hands had gone cold, clammy, and despite my best efforts, they trembled in my lap. His gaze, unreadable and unwavering, seemed to pierce right through me as he clasped his hands together in front of him.“Ruby… or should I say, Abbie.” His voice was like a blade, sharp and precise, slicing through the silence. My heart lurched, hammering violently against my ribs, and I felt the blood drain from my face. How did he know? What else did he know?“I’ve known about you long before James brought you to me,” Marco continued, his words deliberate, each one sinking in like a stone. “And I know about your father—once a member of the Camorra.”I swallowed hard and stole a glance at James. He offered me a reassuring smile, one that told me to keep calm and listen. But it was impossible to