The vampire prince

es stood as enduring sentinels to the lives unfolding within their walls. The villagers, deeply rooted in tradition an

, framed a face marked by both youthful innocence and the resilience born of rural life. Her laughter, a rare and cherished sound in the

the villagers, each account more alarming than the last. Neighbors vanished without a trace, their homes left undisturbed, as if they had merely ste

been among the first to go missing. He had set out one morning to repair a roof in a neighboring village and had never c

village elders, but her inquiries were met with evasive glances and hurried excuses. The church offer

ows over Cortona, Zita sat with her mother by the hearth. The warmth of

this," Zita murmured, her gaze

e, sighed heavily. "What would you have us do, child?

being hunted," Zita replied, her voice tinged wit

reflected only sorrow. "Curiosity can be a dangerous

ld crumbled around her. That night, as the village slept under the watchful gaze of t

heard of in whispered legends-a world where shadows held secrets, and the line be

hel with essentials: a loaf of bread, a wedge of cheese, and a flask of water. As she fa

mother implored,

uca, and for all tho

ntirely believe. With a final kiss on her mother's cheek, she stepped into the

he tales of dangers lurking in the forests and along the roads were enough to deter even the bravest souls. Y

e scarcely recognized. Abandoned carts, dilapidated inns, and silent hamlets spoke of a populace gripped by

intimidating. The city, once a beacon of civilization and culture, now seemed shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere.

e of the guards demanded,

nces plaguing the villages," Zita replied, her

them sneered, "Curiosity can be dangerous

ong the missing," she insis

softened momentarily be