CHAPTER TEN
Nahila's POV
I was hiding behind the curtain. The heavy one in the hallway. The one Mama told me never to touch.
But I was shaking so hard I couldn't stop the fabric from rustling.
Everything smelled like metal.
Like when Papa used to polish his swords.
But this wasn't polish.
This was... blood.
I heard screaming.
First my mother's voice-sharp, gasping-and then Papa's, yelling her name.
I peeked.
I wish I hadn't.
She was standing over them.
The woman in black.
Her hair was dark and long like Mama's, but her face was too pale-too perfect.
And her eyes...
They didn't blink.
They didn't feel.
Just like the stories Papa said weren't real.
Vampires.
Her hands were red.
Her lips... darker than red.
She was leaning over Mama, mouth at her neck like she was drinking water from a cup.
But it wasn't water.
It was Mama.
I bit my hand to stop myself from crying out. I wanted to run. I wanted to be brave. I wanted to do something.
But my legs wouldn't move.
They felt like the stone floor.
Then Papa shouted. "Get away from her, you monster!"
He lunged.
But she didn't even flinch.
She just flicked her wrist-so calm, so slow-and Papa flew back like a leaf in the wind.
He hit the wall hard.
He didn't move.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe.
She stood up, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and then turned.
Right toward me.
She looked straight at me.
Even though I hadn't made a sound. Even though I was hidden.
She knew.
She walked closer, her heels not making a sound, her face so calm it made everything worse.
"You have your mother's eyes," she said softly.
She crouched to my level. I saw her face clearly.
Perfect skin. Red lips. Long lashes.
And those eyes.
"You'll be beautiful when you're older."
She reached for me-fingers cold and slow-
And I finally screamed.
That's when I woke up.
"No... no..."
My voice cracked as I jolted upright, my chest heaving.
"Oh my... it's just a dream. It's just a dream."
But my body didn't believe me.
My heart was still racing like it wanted to rip out of my chest. My throat felt tight, dry, like I'd been screaming for hours.
Sweat clung to my skin. My sheets were twisted around my legs. My hands... were shaking.
Just a dream, Nahila.
Just a dream.
But I could still feel her breath on my face.
Still see her blood-soaked lips.
Still hear the way she said you have your mother's eyes like it was some kind of curse.
I wrapped my arms around myself, pulling my knees to my chest, rocking slowly. I tried to ground myself in the room-the soft hum of night bugs outside, the faint glow of moonlight through the window, the whisper of the wind against the glass.
But none of it made the weight leave my chest.
That woman.
That vampire.
Lady Vierell.
Even though I had never seen her face that clearly before, I knew.
Knew it was her.
The one who ended my family.
The one who haunted my childhood.
And now she was back. Not in my dreams. Not just in my head.
She was here.
I let out a shaky breath and climbed out of bed. My feet touched the cold wooden floor, and I stood slowly, my muscles tense like I was walking through that blood-stained hallway again.
I needed air.
I padded quietly to the window, half-expecting to see her standing there again, watching me like she had before.
But there was no one.
Just trees. Shadows. The faint rustle of leaves.
Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that she had marked me that day-not just with fear, but with something deeper. Something darker.
And now... she was waking it up.