Chapter 1 Someone's Mistress

In the land of Bougreve, believed to be the only territory where humans resided, there existed three surrounding realms-Rivelle, Borreve, and Poetwyth-lands known to harbor the night creatures. Witches lived in all four lands. Some lived among the humans in disguise, taking on human forms, while the more rebellious ones remained in the night creature territories. These witches hid their true identities, for if discovered, they would be burned alive. This threat had long pushed them to seek the unbinding of dark magic-a force that, if unleashed, could help them rule over all four lands.

But unbinding it came at a price: it required a series of massacres.

Each of the four lands was ruled by a Lord. Bougreve was governed by Lord Jeffrey, a human. Rivelle belonged to Lord Xyle, Borreve to Lord Xavier, and Poetwyth to Lord Zirreve-all vampires. Among them, Xavier was the most feared. Rumors claimed he was no ordinary vampire but a demon. While vampires could tear bodies apart with their bare hands, Lord Xavier could do far worse-setting people ablaze with just a look. Perhaps he was one of the First Generation vampires... or the demon they all whispered about.

Back in Bougreve lived a girl named Hazel. Her father had gone missing during the last "riot" involving Poetwyth. Yes, you heard right-riot. These weren't your ordinary skirmishes; they were blood raids. Vampires would come to abduct humans-some for slaves, some as pets, and others for their blood. Her father had been taken in one of them. Ever since Hazel was little, her family would flee into the forests whenever such attacks began, returning only after the vampires left.

There was a rule-though not always honored-that vampires were not to abduct elite humans: those in powerful or wealthy positions. But even then, the elites were still at the mercy of the night creatures.

"Take Hazel with you and run into the forest. The others are already there," Lionel said.

"But where will you go?" Vivian asked.

"I'll try to grab what I can."

"They could abduct you!"

"They won't."

"How can you be sure?"

"I promise. I'll be back." He turned to Hazel, his now-grown daughter. "Daddy will be back."

"I know," Hazel said, hugging him tightly.

"Wait for me." He kissed his wife, then ran off as Hazel and Vivian fled into the woods.

After the riot ended, Hazel, Vivian, and the others returned. They searched and waited for days, but Lionel never came back. Eventually, they accepted the heartbreaking truth-he had been taken. All they could now do was pray that another raid wouldn't come anytime soon. They tried reporting it to Lord Jeffrey, but his reply never changed:

"We are at their mercy. They are vampires... and we are only human."

Vivian and Hazel struggled to survive. Everything they once owned had been burned in the last raid. Vivian turned to selling wool in the marketplace to make ends meet.

"Hazel," Vivian called one evening after dinner.

"Yes, Mum?"

"You should start looking for a suitor, you know."

"..."

"You're already eighteen. Girls your age are married by now."

"I haven't found the right one."

"Seriously? With all the men who come around?"

"I don't like any of them."

"Then I'm sure you'll love being Mr. Helios's wife."

"Mr. Helios? Lord Jeffrey's deputy?"

"Yep. You've met him before?"

"Yes... no... I mean, yes. When I went to the meadows, he was there too."

"And you never told me?"

"There's nothing to tell, Mum. Besides, he already has a wife."

"Who cares? You could be his mistress."

"What?! Mum! You can't say such a thing! I'll only marry someone I love-not someone just to change my status."

"Hazel, do you want to keep running to the forest every time a riot begins? Don't you want to be among the elites?"

"I do... but not as someone's mistress."

"Fine. I'll give you time to think about it. Now, go bring the clothes in. Looks like it's about to rain."

Hazel stepped outside to gather the clothes when she spotted something white moving near the fence. Curious, she crept closer and discovered it was a rabbit. Surprisingly, it didn't run from her. She loved animals, so she picked it up and brought it inside.

"Looks like we'll be eating meat tonight," Vivian teased.

"No, I'm keeping this one."

"I see why animals aren't scared of you."

"Why?"

"Because they know you'd never hurt them."

Hazel noticed her mother smiled for the first time in a long while. Ever since Lionel was taken, she hadn't smiled like that.

"Do you think Dad's dead... or maybe he's a slave?" Hazel asked.

Vivian's expression darkened.

"I don't know," she whispered as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Don't worry, Mum. You still have me."

Weeks passed. Vivian added sweaters to her market stall, and Hazel started attending dance classes. She also bought a small cage for her rabbit, whom she named Relles. Suitors kept coming, but Hazel refused them all.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Soon, two years had passed.