Lumi paced anxiously, panic rising in her chest. Her mistress still hadn't returned. Grabbing her coat, she hurried out, praying that nothing bad had happened to her.
When she reached the main palace, the place was eerily deserted. The silence made her heart pound even harder. Deciding to check the maids' quarters, she started in that direction—but before she could take another step, a rough hand seized her from behind.
"Let me go! I'm a palace maid!" she cried, struggling to break free.
"I've got one!" the guard shouted to his companion a few paces away.
"Let me go, I serve the princess!" Lumi protested desperately as he dragged her along.
"Everyone serves the princess these days," the man sneered, earning laughter from the others.
"You won't believe this," one of them mocked. "Last week, I caught a maid claiming to be the king's lover—just because she didn't want to give her blood to the vampire dignitaries."
They all laughed again, their voices echoing in the empty corridor.
Hearing them mention vampires, Lumi's blood ran cold. Please… let Bella be safe, she prayed silently.
One of the guards noticed her pale face and smirked. "Can you blame them? None of the girls sent to those vampires ever come back alive."
Tears welled up in Lumi's eyes. "Please, let me go," she begged. "I don't want to die. I'm the only maid who serves the princess."
The guard scoffed. "You're a terrible liar. Do you think I don't know how many maids work for Her Royal Highness?"
"The other princess....Princess Bella," Lumi quickly corrected, desperate to clear the misunderstanding.
"If you serve Princess Bella, then what are you doing outside? Everyone knows she's locked up in her tower." His voice turned harsh. "Don't think I'll let you go for trying to escape the blood test. Women across this kingdom are being shipped to the Vampire Empire as slaves, and all you have to do is give a little blood—yet you're complaining?"
He dragged Lumi into the grand hall, where rows of frightened young maids stood lined up as blood was drawn from their arms for testing.
"Madam Cynthia," the guard called, grinning smugly as he shoved Lumi forward. "Caught this one trying to escape."
A short plumpy woman in her late fourties with a stern look on her face her sharp eyes narrowed. "Good job bringing her here," she said coldly.
"Please, Madam, it's not what you think" Lumi began, but the woman cut her off with a glare.
"Strip her," Madam Cynthia ordered another group of maids. "She's due for inspection."
Lumi froze as the others stepped forward, her heart pounding in terror.
Meanwhile, Bella was no better off as she followed the vampire down the dimly lit corridor toward his chamber. Each step made her realize just how naïve she'd been to think she could run away.
Damien walked ahead in silence, his presence filling the space with quiet menace. When they reached the door, he stopped abruptly. Turning slightly, he gestured toward it, his crimson eyes never leaving her pale, trembling face.
"Ladies first," he said, his voice low and edged with amusement.
Bella stumbled forward, her steps clumsy as she entered the room. Damien followed close behind, his eyes instantly narrowing at the figure seated on his bed.
The room was dim, their shadows curling along the walls ,but his vision pierced through the darkness with ease. With a casual snap of his fingers, the lights flared to life.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice cold and edged with authority.
Bella blinked against the sudden brightness, her gaze landing on the maid in a white dress. Her heart skipped a beat as recognition struck.
"Lumi…" she whispered.
Confusion clouded Bella's face, while Lumi's expression shifted from relief at the sight of Bella to sheer terror beneath Damien's piercing gaze.
"One of the guards threw me in here," Lumi stammered quickly, her voice trembling.
"Oh?" Damien's lips curved into a slow, amused smile. "So, you're my drink for the night?" he murmured, his tone curling with dark delight.
Both girls froze in panic, dread rippling through them. Damien's eyes flicked between them, easily sensing their fear.
Bella's brows furrowed as she took a step forward, her resolve hardening. "Please," she said firmly. "Drink from me instead just let her go."
"Your Highness no!" Lumi gasped in horror. "You don't have to do this. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to you." She has heard the guards say –none of the maids who were sent ever returned alive, she had already made up her maid to die when thrown inside the room.
"Your Highness?" Damien repeated, his voice laced with amusement. "Now, that's an unexpected surprise." A dangerous smirk tugged at his lips. "How intriguing this night has become."
He stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "You'll warm my bed tonight, base on your performace I would release her." he said to Bella, eyes glinting with wicked humor,