𝙳𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚛: 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗.

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...𝒊: Story Background...

Cassie Arlette was a world-leading psychologist, one of the best in her field. At just twenty-four years old, her research led to the groundbreaking discovery of the latent second mind, earning her a Nobel Prize and a grand debut in the world of psychology. Following her widespread fame and success, she was fondly acclaimed as the 'Mind Whisperer' because of her expertise in understanding and healing broken minds. Ironically, no one would ever suspect that beneath all that bravado was a broken woman with an impenetrable heart of stone.

Every person has a skeleton or two in their closet, but hers took the gold for being the darkest of all. The accumulation of years of childhood trauma she never addressed culminated in her deep-rooted hatred for the male kind. She was well aware that she, of all people, wasn't meant to harbor such a malicious mindset, but it couldn’t be helped—not after everything she went through at the hands of men. Even after time had done its part, making her the beloved psychologist the masses idolized, she still had no power over the panic attacks and mental breakdowns that struck whenever certain words were uttered or certain images flashed in her mind. She knew she was a hypocritical wreck: Cassie Arlette, the beautifully divine Mind Whisperer sentenced to fix all the other wrecks that thrived on her closeted hypocrisy.

But what else could she do except mask her pain and scars beneath the wise, sympathetic smile that washed away her patients' troubles like a calming stream? It was her duty as a mental health professional to ensure that no one ever experienced the same things she did. She believed she owed that to the world. Thus, she worked herself to weariness every day to make this desire of hers a permanent reality, while she drowned hopelessly in the murky pits of her trauma.

The savior who never saved herself or had anyone to save her… until the end. A tale of tragedy at its finest.

Nevertheless, there was one outlet Cassie had, a harbour that kept her from completely spiraling off the rails all those years: Cassie loved to read. She was never picky, as she saw all genres as an invitation to explore new prospects. She basked in the liberty she felt every time a world so different from the one she knew unfolded in her mind. Each letter, each word, each paragraph made her want to reach out and grasp that reality, even for a fleeting second. Whenever she imagined herself in the place of a character she had taken a liking to, she'd feel an unfamiliar grief shake her core. She knew she was being a coward by wishing to run far away from her life’s demons, but running was the only solace in her life at the time.

The day she discovered the unpopular web novel The Vampire King's Obsession Leads to Ruin, she had mixed feelings. The novel was still being serialized and had a viewer count close to zero, which was eerie considering it had over four hundred chapters released. Now, Cassie was a curious person by nature, which was why she made such an apt psychologist. She had to see for herself why a novel so consistent wasn't getting any engagement at all.

Five chapters in, and she still had her doubts. Fifty chapters in, and she was sold. It was one hell of a good novel! The author had an uncanny way with words, almost as if they were baiting the reader to use the full strength of their wits and imagination. They kept the reader on the edge of their seat, then sharply plunged them into a well of twists and uncertainty. Making them sure of their theories and predictions one moment, then making utter rubbish out of them the next. It was indeed a chaotic masterpiece of a book, one that soon became the apple of Cassie's eye.

Contrary to what one might expect, given her great fondness for the novel, Cassie utterly despised the male lead. In fact, you could say she despised all the characters in the novel except the male lead's mother: Elysia de Valmont. The human queen consort married off to the current vampire king, and the male lead's father, as a rite for the preservation of the peace treaty that was signed between both races to bring an end to centuries of bloodshed. She was but a young princess from a humble monarchy when she was chosen by the vampire king as his grand consort. As she wasn't in line for the throne and was exempted from typical royal duties due to her ‘fragile gender,’ she had planned on living the rest of her life quietly, and maybe someday leave the palace to pursue her dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Unfortunately, her ambitions were soiled shortly after her debutante ball when she received a marriage proposal from the big shot, widely desired ruler of the vampires. She wasn't given a choice or say in it. She was to obediently play her role as the human bride of the vampire king for the sake of world peace. Become a sacrifice for the well-being of others—a fate that deeply resonated with Cassie; she sympathized with Elysia. They were the same, after all. Two women forced to live up to the expectations of the masses, completely forsaking their own.

Cassian de Valmont was the first son born of the vampire king’s union with his human mate, and the male lead of the novel. She loathed him not only because he grew to become a wicked, vain tyrant who wreaked havoc on society; her detest for him was irredeemable after he committed treason that led to the death of his parents and his immediate ascension to the throne. He murdered her precious Elysia—his own mother. Cassian was a character that made Cassie's hostility towards the male kind justified. No man was worth it in her book. All they were ever capable of was lying, cheating, and ruining people. Like they did to her. It was no different regardless of what world or reality they were from. They were all the same: sick, haughty, and greedy.

Following Elysia's death, Cassie remained devastated. She simply wanted to know why. Elysia was a doting mother to Cassian. She raised him with an endearment that no mother could ever replicate, so why? She refused to believe it was just Cassian’s insatiable thirst for power that made him commit a crime so heinous and unforgivable. Something must have occurred between the lines, and she was itching to know what it was. Cassie's frustration only mounted when the novel's author abruptly stopped posting new chapters after chapter 550. Oh, how she waited. Hours became days; those days became weeks, and those weeks became months. Yet, there were no signs of an update from the author. Not resigning, she looked into every source that could give her a lead on their whereabouts, even going as far as hiring private investigators. She knew she was going too far for a hobby—a mere recreational activity—but she was far from reasonable. Seeing the end of that story wasn't a want, it was a need. She needed to have that closure.

Alas, all evidence that surfaced pointed to such a person never having existed to begin with. The only thing that tied their existence to this world was the novel itself. Cassie admitted defeat then, her spirit utterly crushed. She was never going to see the end of Elysia's story. She was never going to see her death avenged. Not only that, but she was never going to see Cassian get every last drop of karma he deserved. She was never going to know why he did it. Likewise, she was never going to know whether the vampire king knew about his son's planned mutiny, and if he had done anything to stop it. She had a trunk full of unresolved questions; ones she knew were never going to get answers, so in the interest of her heart, she decided to drop everything then. There was no point in crying over spilt milk.

The events of her life went back to fake-normal, back to the days before she discovered the novel. She was still Cassie Arlette, after all, and the world needed Cassie Arlette. It was time she stopped giving excuses and running away; she couldn’t do that forever. Just when she had finally mustered the spirit to confront the greying skeletons in her closet, one at a time, the most unexpected and mind-boggling incident happened, altering the future she had predicted entirely. It was absolutely ridiculous—no, downright absurd. How was this even possible? More importantly, what was she supposed to do now that it had happened?

Just how was she supposed to survive in this unfamiliar world as Elysia de Valmont—the unfortunate mother of the future tyrant vampire king who was damned to meet a tragic end? More importantly, how was she supposed to ‘mother’ that monster? Ah, she was going to end up losing her mind before the story reached its climax. Heavens help her as all the events she spent a good portion of her free time rereading start to unfold before her very eyes.

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...𝒊𝒊: World History...

The Vampire King's Obsession Leads To Ruin

𝐋ong ago, in a distant eon when the earth was still young and naive, supernatural entities roamed and dominated its surface. Their reach extended across vast lands, the endless sky, deep waters, and the mysterious realms beneath the earth.

These beings were known as the Primordials, as they existed to maintain balance in the newly formed Gaîa. Over time, they diverged into distinct groups and lineages, each developing unique traits that set them apart. This diversification continued for millennia until these lineages became separate civilizations of their own: Vampires, Werewolves, Faeries, Centaurs, Zombies, Ghouls, Dragons, Phoenixes, Goblins, Merpeople, Witches, and other species that eventually faced extinction.

Each race claimed its own territory and coexisted in relative harmony with neighboring kingdoms. To bolster a sense of order and sovereignty, one group was appointed as the supreme ruler of all, though each had its own monarchy. This supreme race was the vampire clan, chosen for their regal nature and unparalleled unity, which none of their peers could rival.

This era of tranquility persisted until the emergence of a new race that soon tipped the balance: humans. Though physically weak and mortal, humans were distinguished by their trailblazing tendencies, scientific curiosity, and troubling inclination toward violence. Before long, they became a thorn in the Primordials' sides.

Their willful and stubborn disposition made them incapable of pledging allegiance to any higher authority. They refused to see their race as subordinates to the vampires or any other kind. This defiance sparked the first global war, which lasted for centuries and led to the extinction of several species, along with the near subjugation of mankind.

However, humanity did not remain idle in defeat. They initiated a resistance that led to the second global war, which persisted even longer than the first. This time, they were strategic enough to ally with willing empires: the Werewolves and the Witches. Other empires, like the sky- and sea-dwelling Phoenixes, Dragons, and Merpeople, remained neutral, abstaining from the war entirely. On the other hand, the ever-loyal Faeries, Ghouls, Zombies, Goblins, and Centaurs rallied with the supreme empire. The war saw unprecedented levels of genocide on all sides.

The eventual aftermath of the war was a peace treaty signed by the ruling Vampire King and Human Emperor, bringing an end to the long era of dispute and war. A key condition of the treaty required a recurring marriage rite between the two kingdoms. Every 3,000 years, a fair virgin maiden of noble heritage was to be wed to the reigning Vampire King. Typically, the Council of Elders selected the bride, but if the Vampire King had already chosen someone, he could claim her directly. With the exception of the vampire overlord and his human mate, any union between a human and a vampire was strictly forbidden.

Tragically, none could foresee that this very condition would serve as the catalyst for the third global war, ignited by Cassian de Valmont, the 97th Vampire King, countless millennia after the treaty was formed. His revolt ended with the death of his precursor and father, King Thorne de Valmont, and his queen, Elysia de Valmont. 

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...𝟏.𝟏: Lingering Scars...

For as long as she could remember, Cassie Arlette had always been the odd one out—a loner. Years of having no one to relate to or confide in had made her accustomed to the feeling of isolation.

Oh, but it’s not that she never tried being friendly, smiling brightly, or sharing her snacks and toys with her peers to gain their attention and favor. All the effort she poured into making friends always ended in futility because no one wanted to be seen around the creepy girl with ghastly scars littering her skin.

“You’re an eyesore. Why would I want to be friends with an ugly weirdo like you?” the new girl spat, smacking Cassie’s offered hand away.

Cassie had simply nodded with a weak smile, having anticipated that reaction. But it didn’t stop her chest from squeezing painfully.

“Yes, I understand. . . Sorry I asked.”

Again.

“It’s okay, it’s my fault for being so ugly. . .”

And again.

“I’m so sorry my scars scared you. . .”

And again.

“Sorry, I’ll leave you alone. . .”

Again, and again, and again. Like clockwork, the dreaded cycle of rejection haunted Cassie and ate away at her resilience, until all that was left of her was a bleeding heart with too many open wounds that never healed.

But it was fine. Those bleeding wounds were the reason she could look into a mirror and not break down in hysterics. She was grateful for them because they kept her sane; they distracted her from the repulsive reflection that stared back at her every time she locked gazes with those tear-stained eyes. To her, the rips in her heart made better company than the ones smeared along the skin of her arms, chest, back, and thighs. No matter how skillfully she covered those up, they always stung, reminding her of the inhumane ways she got them.

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STERLINGTON APARTMENTS, SUITE 12B

Bathroom

Cassie let out a shaky sigh, brushing aside the gloomy thoughts while she fiddled with the remaining undone buttons on her shirt. As usual, she gave the thin scar that ran from beneath her left collarbone to her sternum a piteous glance. The epidermal layer above the scar was still wrinkled and discolored. She always thought it looked out of place on her clear, porcelain skin—like a nasty stain on a milky white fabric.

“How repulsive. What person would want to be seen with a freak like you? You deserve this now, stay still.”

Cassie’s fingers began to tremble as the burning memory of her blood-curdling screams and sobs from that day flooded into her mind without warning, spiking her pulse. She rapidly shook her head, her knuckles gripping tightly onto the bathroom sink for support. She didn’t want to go down the rabbit hole again. At least, not now. Today was an important day for her career. It would be downright pathetic if she lost it here and ruined everything. No, she wouldn’t do that.

She took a deep breath before fixing the last button on her shirt, hiding the scar from her sight—much to her relief. Smoothly, she took down her waist-length chestnut hair from its messy bun and ran a brush through the curly locks a few times until they glowed and bristled. A few minutes later, she was out of the bathroom and slipping on her work shoes. She was in the middle of shrugging on her blazer jacket when a call came in through the home stereo system, startling her for a second. Her cheeks warmed with embarrassment as she cleared her throat.

“Cassie, you have an incoming call from your personal manager, Ms. Winfred O’Bryant. Would you like to accept it?” The silence in the apartment was momentarily broken by the artificial voice’s feedback.

“Yes, Kiri. Put her through,” Cassie replied, now standing in front of her full-length mirror, patting down her outfit. She heard the familiar beep go off before her senses were invaded by Winfred’s voice.

“Miss Arlette,” the woman’s rich, silky voice passed a short greeting.

A woman of few words, as always, the brunette thought. “Good morning, Winfred. I’m guessing you’ve called to tell me you’re out front?”

“You’re never wrong, Miss,” came her simple rejoinder, and Cassie could tell that she was humoring her. After all, it was classic for the personal manager to call at exactly 8 AM every morning to inform her employer of her arrival.

Cassie’s smile grew as she picked up her work bag from her desk and made her way toward the door. “Accept my thanks for the ego boost, Miss O’Bryant. Luckily, I was just leaving the apartment. I’ll see you in five.”

The other end of the line was silent for a pause until Winfred’s suave voice finally resurfaced. “Always a pleasure, Miss Arlette. I’ll be waiting.”

The call disconnected.

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