Trance

Tahira's eyes locked onto the Vampire Lord, her heart racing with a mix of fear and fascination. She couldn't help but feel drawn to him, even as she knew that he was a danger to her and Ariana.

Ariana, sensing Tahira's gaze, followed her eyes to the palace rooftop. "It's him," she whispered, her voice trembling. "What does he want?"

Tahira shook her head, unsure of what to say. She knew that the Vampire Lord was a powerful and mysterious figure, and she had no idea what his true intentions were.

As they watched, the Vampire Lord began to move towards them, his long strides eating up the distance between the palace and the safe house. Tahira could feel his eyes on her, piercing and intense, and she knew that she had to make a decision.

"Ariana, we have to get out of here," she whispered urgently. "We can't let him catch us."