Bound By The Midnight

ot's

icipation, the air heavy with

ed in the courtyard of my estate-loyal vampires who thrived under my rule, who knew the meaning of power and submission.

ourish us. Some offered themselves willingly, believing servitude was better than death. Others had been dragged from thei

alone commanded silence. I leaned back, tapping my fingers against the armre

crea

dark cloak billowed behind him as he spoke. "My Lord, we have collect

ow. "Were ther

milies tried to hide their d

h. The poor always thought they coul

prisoners and barke

ssions a mix of terror and reluctant submission. Tears glist

steps. The crowd parted as I moved, my people wa

than sixteen. Her chest heaved, her pulse visible a

wou

my gaze. She flinched but didn't resist.

on, I sank my fan

my veins. I swallowed deeply, feeling the familiar surge o

d y

from my lips, my satisfaction quickly

xt girl. Then the

ded. Each time, the taste was

thin. The hunger inside me remained unsatisfied, a deeper

nto indifference. My people could not see m

y mouth and returned to my throne, my i

ing was

mans I drank from, non

known yet craved more than anything. It was out ther

t, nothing would st

erine

smallest space possible beneath t

gh our house. My mother stood between them and the small trapdoor that hid me, her voice sha

ore one of the guards scoffed. "If we find out

me, the boots retreated. The door

rozen, listen

er tear-streaked face appearing in the dim

ch a tight space. My heart still pounded from t

he truth-we had

cky. Just fort

dragged other girls from their homes, nights when I listened to their screams echo t

as the blo

been captured. T

o them now. And the worst part? No one cou

ifying creatur

ay, I would escape this life. One

r when, but I knew o

belong to a m

ate had ot