1 PROLOGUE

The year 1023.

"M-Mother?" I was shocked when I saw her in front of a giant coffin. She stopped and looked at me. With just a snap of her finger, I smelled an unfamiliar scent that caused me a little bit dizzy. She caught me off-guard.

I looked at my mom, smiling sadly and preventing a tear from her eyes.

"W-What's happening?" I asked.

"Coreen, listen to me." My mother walks beside me. "W-We need to do this to protect you. This isn't the right time for you."

"What do you mean? You don't need to protect me, Mom. I can handle myself," I said, looking her in the eyes.

She shook her head and said, "Every single thing in this world will always come to an end—even us. But you don't need to worry, my sweet Coreen; we made a coffin that will hide your power and existence for a thousand years. We need to put you under a spell of sleeping, and when the right time comes, you will wake up at the appointed time of the prophecy."

I tried to fight my dizziness and grabbed my mom's wrist. I don't know exactly what's happening, but I think that Dad knows it, or maybe that's why he left us without telling us why.

Who in the hell has the guts to overpower us?

"We're pureblood vampires, mother. No one can hurt us. No one can destroy us!" I said and tried to step away from her but failed.

She smiled bitterly. "Someday, you will figure out why we have to do this. The coffin you will be lying in is covered with a powerful spell, and no one can find you." She wiped her tears and continued. "W-When the right time comes, you will wake up, and a good witch will save you."

A good witch? Why? Did she foresee this?

I was clouded with many questions, but as I looked into my mother's eyes, I knew she wouldn't answer me.

"But mot—" I didn't finish talking when she suddenly started casting a spell. I felt like my powers were weakening. "M-Mother, please!" I begged, but she didn't listen. Instead, she continues the oration.

No! I gathered enough strength to get away from her. I surprised her and quickly took the dagger hidden under my pillow. I always put it beside me. I always have a hidden weapon for these situations. Without hesitation, I slit my palm and got ready to counterspell her. I may not be as strong as her, but she taught me to undo every powerful incantation.

"Coreen! Stop it; this is for your safety!" she shouted, and in an instant, she was beside me, trying to snatch the dagger. "Listen to me, honey. You need to live and survive!"

"You don't need to do this, mother! I can survive without you doing this," I said while moving the dagger away from her.

"You don't understand; powerful vampires and witches combine their power just to put us down. I can't save you or your father! So, you need to listen to me!"

"No! I won't let––ah!" I screamed as I felt a stinging pain in my head. I saw my mom's good friend—Baxa, a powerful witch, blurting out new magic to me.

"Baxa, please, s-stop it," I pleaded, but it seemed like she did not hear me and went on reciting the oration continuously.

"This is for your good, Coreen," she said between casting a spell. "You need to survive. You're the only hope of the vampires' clan."

My mother firmly held me to stop me from doing anything. Our eyes met, and I couldn't comprehend her intention. Why do I need to live and survive? Do they have to force me to sleep and detain me in a coffin for a fucking thousand years? And why do I need to hide from the other vampire?

"W-We love you, Coreen." I saw the sadness in my mother's eyes. "Time will come when you understand everything we're doing is for you."

I shrugged my shoulders unattentively, and with my remaining strength, I could throw the dagger I held at Baxa. An unacquainted dread slowly consumed her as she realized what had just happened. I-I'm sorry, Baxa. I didn't mean to do it.

"Baxa!" my mother shouted in surprise but still held me tightly.

"She's too strong; you need to do it, Cristina! I'm fine, don't worry about me!" Baxa commanded. "Do it while everything is still under control!"

"What?" my sight flew to my mother. I couldn't react when she put me under the spell of hypnotism. Her eyes glistened, and I was too late to avoid it. When she fixed her eyes on me, I was already under her control.

"Mother, please don't do this," I said as my tears began to fall. I don't want to be locked in that coffin! What will happen to them when I'm gone? If our lives are in such danger, why will they only hide me? Damn it, I want answers!

"It's okay, honey. Try to calm down and close your eyes," he said in the softest voice, and I couldn't do anything but follow her. I started to calm down, but it was just in a moment. A severe pain stung my chest as she began to cast a spell again.

"Fuck!" I shouted and couldn't do anything because I was still under her hypnotism, and even if I could, Baxa was casting me another spell. Both of them are sealing my power, and resisting them will cause more damage to me.

I felt weak, sluggishly closed my eyes, and suddenly, I felt scrawny. I felt my mother's warmth as she hugged me. Even if my eyes are closed, I can still hear them.

"You've done the right thing, Cristina. Coreen was the only one who could survive all this. We both saw it, and the prophecy never failed." It was Baxa talking.

I heard my mother sigh and gently caress my long curly black hair. "I know. Someday, when she wakes up and finds the truth, I hope she can forgive me."

Mother . . .

"She loves you; I know she will," Baxa said.

"You're wounded. Drink my blood. It will easily heal you." It was my mother.

B-But witches are not allowed to drink the blood of the Pureblood Vampires!

"Cristina, you know that it's not–"

"Come on. Nobody sees us." My mom laughed. "Let's not fool ourselves. I was hoping you could use a powerful coat and protection spell that will last a thousand years. I want to ensure she is safe until that day comes."

I couldn't comprehend my mother's words, as the spell deliberately affected me. But before I lost consciousness, an image of a mighty wolf occupied my vision. He's tall, dark, strong, and has fierce green eyes that could light up the world's darkness.

Wyclef . . .