Episode 20

...Amara Follen...

It was past seven in the morning when the chirping of the birds at the window roused Amara. Upon opening her eyes, she felt rejuvenated; after all, it was the first decent night of sleep she'd had in days. She walked over to one of the windows and flung it open to let in the fresh air, for the room carried a potent scent of mold and dust. Amara made her way to the small bathroom attached to the room with the intention of indulging in a long, hot shower, yet upon turning the tap to fill the tub, a gush of air hissed through the pipes, startling her. She was frustrated to discover that the water flowing from the faucet carried a strong smell and a suspicious coloration. With no immediate way to bathe, she decided to search for something to eat instead.

Descending the grand staircase, she took the opportunity to observe the castle's vast interior more clearly—it was indeed an exquisite structure. She crossed the enormous dining room, which featured a table so extensive she could barely count the chairs encircling it. The massive chandelier above lent the space an air of refined grace, and a grand floral centerpiece filled the entire room with its fragrance. A narrow door in the corner of the wall led to the kitchen, where Amara grabbed some food from the fridge and ate contentedly.

"The basics of lycanthropy didn't cover this? Your scent is detectable from miles away," Vincent queried with a furrowed brow.

Amara, with her mouth full, felt a wave of embarrassment crash over her—no one had spoken to her in such a manner before.

"I apologize, but the bathroom's out of water, the plumbing is outdated and corroded."

"Understandable. I'll have it fixed," Vincent replied as he strolled towards the cold fridge, fetching a blood bag and pouring its contents into two mugs.

"Is this for you?" he inquired, offering one of the mugs to her.

"I'm fine at the moment; no need to consume that right now," she replied, her face contorting in disgust—not yet accustomed to the powerful taste of blood.

"You must establish a routine of consuming a satisfying amount daily to keep your vampiric side in check, lest it control you," Vincent explained, patience wearing thin.

Without choice, Amara pinched her nose and gulped down several swigs of the beverage before her.

"From today onwards, I'll be responsible for your training. You'll excel, no doubt—you're a Moriarty, after all."

"Training?" Amara inquired, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.

"Yes. You need to master your newfound abilities. Be clear on this: I won't go easy on you just because you're family.

Meet me behind the castle as soon as you finish eating."

Vincent commanded as he exited the kitchen.

A lump formed in Amara's throat upon hearing Vincent refer to her as family—it evoked a profound emotional surge in her heart, and in that moment, she felt truly happy.

[...]

When Amara reached the castle's rear, she was awestruck by the vast training field set before her. Clearly, the vampires adhered to a far more rigorous training regime than the werewolves. Among the numerous unfamiliar objects scattered around, she recognized only a bow and arrow and a mini crossbow resting side by side.

"Impressed, are you not?" Vincent asked, his expression radiating pride.

"Yes."

"Let's postpone chatter for later. Take this."

"What's this?"

"A dagger. Have you never seen one before?"

"I've never wielded one before."

"Never handled a dagger, have you? What did those mangy curs teach you?

Never mind, it doesn't matter what they taught. Your task is to strike me with that dagger; I want to witness your attack and defensive skills, got it?"

"Yes."

"Begin."

Amara was uncertain about the best approach to attack a vampire of her uncle's stature. Her only option was to utilize her speed to an advantage. With this in mind, she charged swiftly towards Vincent and launched her first offensive. However, just like her, the authoritative vampire moved swiftly, evading her thrust and counter-attacking immediately, cutting her skin. Amara winced in pain as warm liquid trickled down her elbow, and thus, the bout continued, Vicent retaining his pristine appearance while Amara's was deplorable, her clothing nicked by the dagger and dry blood covering her body. Fortuitously, her skin healed rapidly, eliminating the gashes, but her body was weary—she stood no chance against the formidable Vincent Moriarty.

"You're the most ineffectual vampire to have ever stepped onto this training zone. You're slow, your defense is weak, and your assault—I hesitate to even call it that."

"I apologize, I promise to learn quickly."

"Don't apologize—it's not your fault you're lacking; it's not your fault you were poorly trained."

"You're dismissed; return tomorrow at the same time."

...Brandon Scott...

Brandon was grappling with anxiety over the lack of information regarding Amara's whereabouts. Despite attempts to fend off the thoughts, he constantly found himself lost in memories of their times together, recalling vividly her bare form on his bed, as well as her assuming the traits of a vampire. Confusion swirled within him—he couldn't ascertain whether his feelings were of resentment for her deceit in hiding her origins or simply a longing for her presence.

Ever since he had rejected her as his mate, his wolf had stayed distressed within him, albeit silent now. He was deep in contemplation when loud knocks at the door snatched his attention.

"Alpha Brandon, a pleasure to see you again!"

"Linkon? It's been days since you left—did you find her?"

"We found her at the edge of the royal territory. I can't fathom just how events unfolded, but all I recall is cornering Amara, only to find myself back at the castle."

"You don't remember your return?"

"No, none of us do.

But I'm convinced she sought refuge with the vampire clan."

"This is all very odd; perhaps she had a contingency plan should her true nature be exposed. I must uncover the true purpose behind her presence among us; surely she has relayed copious information about us."

"And Lian? What did he have to say?"

"Nothing of value."

"What's your course of action? We cannot simply storm into vampire territory."

"I need to think. I'm certain there's still a way to make her atone for everything."

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