JOVITA The clothes were rags. They were ugly, oversized, and drapey. After looking at the clothes, I only realized Ana was dressed the same way too. I thought she became skinnier, but the dress made her look that way. "Uhm... female humans are not allowed to wear anything fitting,” Ana said as if she read my mind. "Why?" "We are not just supposed to look attractive. I feel the vampires are insecure about their pale skin— the female vampires. They do not want the men getting carried away by us— I don't really know why, but it has been like this since we came." "Hmm, well, they should brace themselves for me because I love breaking the rules." "Jo, please. I do not want to lose you. You cannot play the hero here. You must wear the dress immediately so I can take you to him." The knock came at the door again, and I saw a flash of fear in Ana's eyes. I furrowed my brows at her because her level of anxiety irritated me. Ana was never a fearful
RALPH How dare she? How dare she disrespect me like that? First, she crashed into my club from the roof and fought my men. Now she talked to me like she had never heard of me? I wanted to get out of Colbert's hands and strangle the female, collapsed in a fit of cough with my hands. Who does she think she is? "Insolent humans," I gritted. By now, I had forgotten all about the prophecy and wanted to drive the bitch beyond. "I can take her away if she is proving too difficult to answer," Colbert offered. I had encountered many beautiful women, but none affected me as she did. I was intrigued by her at first. She was fearless and irrationally bold for a human, especially a female. Female humans were fearful and obedient and do not meet my eyes or try to fight with my men. I knew she must be something special, but I did not want to focus on the wrong person while the right person fulfilled her destiny. Viktor said there would be distractions, and it was true.
JOVITA A few hours passed after Uncle Kala left me in the living room, but nothing happened. I sat there waiting for anyone to come and pick me up. I knew the outside was filled with thirsty vampires, and they easily hurt humans. I did not want anything that would trigger me to retaliate again. I heard pounding footsteps and muffled voices a few minutes later and hid behind one sofa in the living room. The footsteps became louder, and the voices became more apparent. It was Lord Ralph and the other man. I stayed there, holding my breath, hoping they would not smell me. In no time, he came into my view. His demeanor was relaxed now, and he spoke with his brother, telling him he would get back to him. I did not know what they discussed or what his brother did to make him calm. He suddenly turned toward the direction I was in. I ducked behind the chair immediately, hoping he did not see me. I did not want him to see me, but I knew I would be discovered sooner. He left the
JOVITA Approaching footsteps reached my ears, and when I opened my eyes, I saw different faces peering down at me— human faces. "Jo?" I heard Ana's voice call slowly. I tried to sit up and was helped by many other hands. When I sat up, I saw girls of all ages staring at me in awe. My ribs pricked, and my mouth hurt, but I was more than glad to be with my fellow humans. Something tickled down my nose, and I saw blood when I touched it. "Oh, my God," one of the girls exclaimed, wiping my nose as quickly as possible. "If they see your blood, it will get worse. These vampires can never get enough of our blood. That is why they are not allowed in here." Ana came and shoved some of the girls away and hugged me. "You made it," she said, relief flooding her voice. I was surprised at first and confused about why she was overwhelmed seeing me, but then I remembered What the jealous vampire had said to me. Ana pulled away from me. "You must be the luck
JOVITA I did not even touch my food before another male vampire dragged me away. The other girls gasped as I was taken away, thinking they would harm me. My hands were tied this time, and I was dragged up the stairs toward the same library room I had run away from. He opened the door and shoved me inside; I did not fall this time. Lord Ralph was dressed in a black tailored suit that hugged his frame like a second skin. His back was on me when I entered. His physique was attractive. I cautioned myself when I realized I was assessing him. "Leave us alone," he said to the vampire that brought me in. The man stepped back and left the room, gently closing the door behind him. We were alone in the room, and I felt strange once again. Goosebumps that did not come out of fear blanketed my skin once more. Lord Ralph turned to face me with a clap of his hands. I glared into his eyes, momentarily forgetting their compelling power. "I have your time now. Have a
RALPH Jovita. Jovita. Jovita. The name kept replaying in my head. I knew there was something about her that wasn't just right. My driver opened the door immediately, and I got into the back seat with my face crumpled with a frown. I have never come across anyone with that name in centuries. Everything about this woman was mysterious, and what's more bizarre was that I could not bring myself to punish her the way I wanted. Something was holding me back, and for the first time in my vampiric life, I could not put my hand to the reason I took action. She tried to hide it after my first assault on her, but she was feisty and mysterious. She was unique. Now, I am torn between showing this human who ruled the world and finding out who she was. If she is not the one the prophecy spoke about, I don't know who is. I am firmly convinced that she is the one. The reactions I get when she is around, I have never gotten since I became a vampire. For the first time in centuries, I
JOVITA Darkness. Pitch darkness wrapped around me like a blanket, clutching me, ready to drain the life out of me. My eyes could not be accustomed to it; I could see nothing. My eyes dashed around, looking for a source of light and escape, but there was none. There was only darkness. Where is this place? Who is here? What am I doing in this dark place? Those questions rang in my head, but I could not provide the answers myself. The darkness was suffocating me, and I waved my hands in front to make out what was before me, but it was only space, yet I felt a presence. Movement. Swift, an almost undetectable movement. I stood in the darkness alone, yet I felt eyes on me. Someone was watching me, lurking in the darkness that surrounded me. My hand reached for my stake tucked into my waistband, gripping it so tightly that my knuckles went white. My heart was hammering in my ribcage, and goosebumps had taken over my skin, but I kept hope alive an
JOVITA The hallway was dark and empty. The only source of light was the flame torches fixed on the walls. Lord Ralph was so modern; why does his castle look like something from the medieval age? There was no technology, only cameras. Humans were not even allowed to have phones. I do not know where the men are kept in the castle, as I have not encountered any human male since I came. I was curious about many things and wanted to get my mission done quickly so that the world would be at rest. I did not come here to repeat patterns every day of my life. I came to liberate my kind and must do it quickly because delay is dangerous. I did not see Uncle Kala again after that encounter with him, and I did not see Lord Ralph before going to bed. I started to go up the stairs toward his library. Secrets were always buried on those shelves. I might get just one thing tonight if he were careless enough to leave his library door open. I got eerie feelings, but I knew it was fear