Chapter 3

"Cassandra."

"You chopped off one of Seraphina's fingers, and she's still having nightmares because of it."

His tone was flat, as if he were discussing something trivial.

"I consulted with a mystic. They said Seraphina is being tormented by a malevolent spirit. They deduced it's our unborn child, so—"

Julian's breathing was steady.

He was waiting for my response.

Excellent.

Just excellent.

I wiped away my tears and told Julian.

"I received your gift."

"As for anything else," I carefully cradled the box of ashes, looking at the empty space where only a half-burnt mystical seal remained, sensing my child's agony before fading away, my heart twisting in agony. "Julian Blackwood, protect your true love well."

"Because."

"When I truly snap."

"Ten of you."

"Wouldn't be my match!"

Julian hung up. A voice message followed: "You're utterly unreasonable."

I listened to that voice message repeatedly, recalling a century ago, when he marked my neck. His eyes had been crimson as he said, "40th generation successor of the Vance family, I have admired you for a long time. Please don't blame me for using such despicable means to save your life."

"I only want to be with you."

Later.

We slaughtered all the vampires in the mountains.

We went from a life of turmoil to one of stability, watching eras of chaos transition to prosperity. I finally became pregnant, but because of the vampire blood in my veins, I couldn't carry the child to term. My baby emerged from my body bruised and cold. I used all my cultivation to preserve his physical form.

I kept him safe in a small coffin, meticulously creating a tiny ice chamber.

Julian had held me, sobbing.

"It's my fault."

"I made you unable to be a mother."

"I was selfish and vile, using such filthy methods, defiling your status."

That year, our souls were entwined. I couldn't help but feel Julian's heartbreak.

Now, Julian had finally found his true love from a century ago. If he truly loved her that much, we could have separated peacefully. But since he dared to cross me, I shattered the coffin. With a mere gesture, the love nest Julian and I shared was engulfed in flames.

I walked out of the inferno, looking at the media and the so-called demon hunters blocking the estate gates.

A mere gust of dark wind.

Sent them scrambling in terror, screaming, "Don't kill me!"

I heard the crisp vampire roars echoing through the mountains. When I arrived at Julian's office, I saw Seraphina sitting on the sofa, her mouth full of potato chips. I pushed open the door, smiling as I asked her.

"Are they delicious?"

The chips clattered to the floor.

I caught her jaw in my hand, meeting Seraphina's terrified expression. I smiled faintly, baring my teeth. "It actually hurt quite a bit back then."

"But," I squeezed Seraphina's chin, "Julian was indeed clever. He concealed your existence, used me for a century, and ascended to his current position."

Seraphina's tears fell, and she began to sob.

"Cassandra Vance!"

"If you dare to hurt me, Julian won't let you get away with it!"

"Oh," Seraphina cried, then laughed. "I understand. Your little bastard's soul has been scattered, hasn't it?"

"So, you're desperate to avenge your little bastard?"

"But Julian told me it was because you weren't pure enough."

Seraphina's challenging gaze made me utterly uncomfortable.

"That's why you couldn't keep your child, couldn't be a mother," Seraphina looked at me triumphantly. "What you'll never have in this lifetime, I can easily take—"

Her words were cut short.

A piercing scream ripped from her throat.

Along with Seraphina's shriek, Julian rushed in, yelling, "Cassandra Vance! What madness are you up to now!"

I lifted Seraphina, who now had an eye gouged out. Blood splattered across my face, but I laughed, wild and unhinged.

"Last time was a warning."

"This time," I licked the blood from my lips, "the game begins."

Seraphina, dangling in my grip like a tiny chicken, struggled frantically, screaming through the hand pressed against her empty eye socket.

"Kill her!"

"Julian!"

"Kill her!"

"Kill her, Julian!"