Vampire's Bride: Sold To The Dark Lord

l

an their own suicide bef

di

st night of the year, and it

e arrival of a day lik

warned about my terrible fate-the one that

ce pulled me from my tho

up from the vanity and heading down the rickety stairs

e. Ever since their arrival, progress had stopped. We had been condem

ere already beginning to fade and crack. We had spent over a century going backward in time, adapting to the

and gasoline-powered cars were already j

creaked under my weight, and found my w

smile, because being able to offer us a meal like this wasn't a co

ney, before i

ittle girl with copper-toned curls and honey-colored eyes. Sh

us. Maybe they

. Sometimes I thought he was only like this w

miserable fate. A fate where I was seen as a mere fo

d. "I've spent eighteen

my eyes, although I tried to c

ours, it would be my eighteenth birthday, and in just a few days, th

one would buy you, but cling

buy us anyway, whether you were attractive, bony, or sickly

ys," my brother chimed in, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't ask me to be

of him to resort to silly humor

younger brother by ten months, but he insi

hair, and honey-colored eyes like Abiga

o lack shine, from my eyes t

's gaze was on me, waiting for me to say something or react in

nd tied in a low bun at the nape of her neck. And although her

eliciou

ing, although my stomach wa

n't be proud to have raised such a selfish daughter, one willing to end her own life out

." my father said. "You know you shouldn't come back late. It's

Don't worry, w

beard with his finger

tentions? Were they wr

d his attention b

il asked. "Please

answered at t

and went back

t the threat hung in the air, and no one was willing to ignore it. In f

before getting up. I looked at my whol

ld one day forgive me for the price my death wo

rs and I couldn't take it anymore. That death seemed like a wa

and grabbed a fur-lined cloak Lea had given me years ago. I had kept it

's gaze. The cold air kissed my cheeks, and although the f

treets, eager to take refuge in the warmth of their homes. Some women were finishing gathering

e, all huddled in her cloak, her nose red from the cold. She smiled, and ev

steps toward me. "I tho

ough hers, and we started walking through the d

Sophie's letters every week, but it

sn't been arriving frequently l

A year ago, she entered The C

wed them to keep in touch with their family. Most wer

y someone who didn't care about anythi

d just be a coincidence

has been working too much. I think they are starting

hope." I stroked her hand with mine, giving it g

ing about those huge books that

d, she loved scouring the stalls of the small market

for hours about how people our age used to interact, or about the fashion back t

rm in arm, and I ended up getting

sacrifice meant that the f

was considered to have p

that they wouldn't lose any more children, along with a small pouch of coins to feed

listeni

apping out of

embarrassed. "Wha

was saying that yesterday, during the walk with Mom, Felippo, the baker's son,

ybe

eeks f

like F

e. Even so, I didn't give up and started nudging

illy, Felip

o w

pro

yebrow. "You're the most st

arted walking backward, spi

one who makes me feel alive. I don't want something tradition

e your parents a hear