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CHLOE

THIRTEEN YEARS LATER

“No… Please, Dad, Mum, run with me, please, let’s run together, that way we’ll all be safe. Please!” I begged as I saw the vampires raise their swords toward my parents. “Get away from them... Get the fvck away from them! Mum! Dad!. No!!”

My body was dripping with sweat when I woke up. I had yet another nightmare. I couldn't remember the last time I slept without having nightmares of how the vampires raided my Pack and killed everyone, including my parents. Or how my house was razed with my father inside and how my mother was killed right in front of my eyes. All because the vampire king desired to demonstrate to the world that he was the king and should be feared. 

Well, I didn’t give a fvck about him. He took two valuable gifts from me, gifts that can never be replaced, my parents, so I will make certain that I avenge them. 

I thought of ways to kill him when I finally come in contact with him and came to the conclusion that making him suffer and bleed slowly before staking his heart was the best choice. I was going to give him a painful death.

The sound of my alarm jolted me out of my reverie, and as I slowly rose from my bed to turn it off, I heard a knock on the door.

“Are you still asleep, little princess?” Trisha's voice came from the other side of the door.

Trisha was Damien's wife, the man who had saved me that night. They decided to raise me as their child because they couldn't have their own. I was grateful to Damien because I know if he hadn't saved my life back then, I would have broken my mother's promise and charged after the vampires, and I would have most likely been killed by now. I wouldn't have been able to avenge my parents’ deaths. 

“I’m coming in right now, Chloe.” She walked in through the door, standing in front of me, and raised my chin to face her. “Are you all right, princess?”

“Mum, I’m fine. I just couldn’t sleep at night, but other than that, I’m fine,” I lied

Calling them Mum and Dad always made them smile. I remembered how I always cried about wanting to be with my parents and how they should take me there. It took years for me to adjust to life without my birth parents and to accept Damien and Trisha as my parents. Even though Damien was close to my father, he was still a stranger to me, and even though I had grown accustomed to them, I still yearned for my parents and wanted to avenge their deaths.

“How come you couldn’t sleep? Are you sick, or did you have nightmares?” With a worried expression on her face, she asked.

“Nothing like that, Mum. I was just scared, that’s all. It's nothing serious,” I said, trying not to give her any signs that something was wrong with me. I didn’t want to bother her by telling her about the nightmares I’d been having since seeing my parents killed in front of me.

They have both done well in raising a 7-year-old who was initially unkind to them. Despite the fact that I was not their biological child, they showered me with gifts, love, and affection.

I attended the best high school and recently received a scholarship to one of the best colleges. All of this would not have happened if they didn’t care about me. That was more than enough for me, but I couldn’t tell them about my dreams or my revenge plans. I planned to do everything on my own.

“Chloe, did you hear what I just said?”

Trisha's voice brought me back to the present. I realized I had zoned out because I had only heard her last sentence. I had forgotten we were in the middle of a conversation and had become totally absorbed in thoughts of the past and my plan for vengeance.

“I’m sorry, mum, could you please repeat what you said?” I politely asked.

“I asked if you were okay, but seeing you act like this just confirmed my fears that you aren’t. So spill it, love, or I’ll go tell your father. You know how he gets under your skin until you spill,” she warned.

I had no choice but to make an excuse to tell her because if she succeeded in bringing Damien over, I would be forced to tell him everything. He had a way of getting all the answers he needed from me.

“No, mum, you don’t have to. I’ll tell you everything you want to know... I’m just scared... Today is my first day of college, and I'm not sure if I’ll make new friends, if anyone will like me, or if I’ll be able to find my way around,” I replied, telling yet another lie. I was uninterested in school. By being the loner in high school, I was able to blend in well. I didn’t have any friends and didn’t try to make any.

“Is that why you’re looking this way, baby? There’s nothing to worry about. You will do well, as you have always done, and you will come out great, as you did in high school. There's nothing to worry about,” she said as she cupped my cheeks in her hands. “I believe you will do exceptionally well.”

“I'm not sure about that. I have this pang in my stomach that tells me I’m not going to do well,” I said, revealing my stomach to her, which made her laugh.

“Silly, you. You’ll be fine. Now go get ready for school; you don’t want to be late on your first day of college. Or would you prefer to skip school today?” Trisha asked, and I shook my head.

“No, not at all. Thank you, Mum, for boosting me up this morning. I feel like I can do anything,” I teased, and she smiled and kissed my forehead before leaving the room.

I dashed to the bathroom to clean up, and when I was finished, I dressed in black trousers, a black hoodie, and matching black shoes, and then tied my hair into a ponytail before applying powder and lipstick to my face just to make Trisha happy. If I didn’t put on makeup, I would be forced to sit while she applies heavy makeup to my face. It was all for the best.

I grabbed my bag and dashed downstairs to find Damien and Trisha already eating breakfast in the dining room. I said hello to Damien before sitting down to eat my meal.

“Good morning, little one. Did you sleep well?” Damien asked, using the nickname I hated the most.

“I'm not little, Dad. I'm a grown-up, and yes, I slept well,” I replied.

“Hohoho. She is now speaking big,” Damien teased. “I remember changing your diapers when you were little.”

“Dad, please stop... It’s embarrassing, please.” I pleaded, and he burst out laughing.

“All right, I’ll stop. Should I drop you off on my way to work?”

“No, Dad, that won’t be necessary. I’d rather take the bus... shoot! If I don’t hurry, I’ll miss the bus,” I yelled as I stuffed my mouth and stood up. I rushed out of the house, after kissing both of their cheeks, to catch the next bus to school.

Trisha, Damien, and I, along with less than 15 others, were the only survivors of the vampire king’s and his enemies’ bloody night parade. We wandered around for a long time before arriving in Roseville, a small town where vampires, werewolves, and humans cohabited.

Even though Roseville was peaceful, we were all afraid of the unknown. No one knew when the vampire king would strike again, so everyone was on high alert. After being a victim of the vampire king's brutality, everyone was on high alert to avoid being caught off guard again.

I arrived at the bus stop just in time. The bus arrived at the same time I did. I boarded the bus and paid before settling into a window seat. As the bus sped away, I rested my head on the window, allowing the gentle breeze to cool my face.

I knew I had to blend in for the time being until I could finally carry out my mission.