Chapter 44: Somewhere unknown.

Off in a mysterious place, hidden from the public—known by few and visited by even fewer—lies a grand castle, nestled in a mountainous region far from America, in what some would call the Old World. The castle, shrouded in a powerful barrier, remains concealed from prying eyes.

Throughout the grand halls, maids, butlers, and groundskeepers work diligently, maintaining the castle's pristine and regal appearance. One such maid pushes a cart laden with food fit for royalty—delicate delights and exquisite pastries. She stops before a massive set of ornate doors and knocks gently. From the other side, a woman's voice, rich and commanding yet carrying an almost seductive intelligence and kindness—motherly in its own way—calls out, "Come in, darling."

Without hesitation, the maid enters, pushing the cart toward a tall woman dressed in a shimmering red silk gown. Her long black hair cascades well past her back, framing her flawlessly pale, porcelain skin. Her crimson nails lightly tap against a wine glass filled with deep red liquid. Her piercing red eyes, matching her dress, settle on the maid with an air of grace and quiet power, exuding both warmth and authority.

"Hello, darling. Thank you for bringing dessert—the meal was wonderful," she says, her voice smooth yet commanding.

The maid bows her head. "Yes, Mistress Priscilla. Thank you for the compliment."

Priscilla taps her nail against the glass once more. "Darling, summon Edwards at once. I wish to speak with him."

The maid nods. "Yes, Mistress!" She carefully places the food on the beautifully adorned table before swiftly leaving to seek out Edwards.

After only two minutes, a man dressed in a delicate tuxedo—the refined attire of a butler—steps inside. He bows deeply. "Mistress, you called."

Priscilla nods her head. "Sit down, dear. I wish to discuss some recent events that have transpired."

Edwards nods and walks over, seating himself two chairs away from Priscilla, not feeling worthy enough to sit beside her.

"Edwards, the vampire known as Laura—it's true that she was killed by that huntress, Sunny?"

Edwards nods. "Yes, Mistress."

"Good," Priscilla replies, tapping her glass, causing the wine inside to ripple. "I am still annoyed that vampires insist on trying to start families of their own. It disrupts the balance of things."

She pauses before tapping her glass again. "That girl, Luna—she was there as well. Her last name is Gold, correct? With the middle initial D?"

Edwards nods. "Yes, Mistress. She was there."

Priscilla taps her foot, the sharp sound of her heels echoing throughout the room. "Do you know what her middle initial stands for?"

Edwards shakes his head. "No, it seems no one does."

Priscilla lets out a sigh. "Unfortunate. When I heard that a member of the Gold family had run away from home, it piqued my interest. However… is it true that her birth father was a Cursed One?"

Edwards nods again. "That, we were able to confirm."

Priscilla suddenly laughs, clapping her hands together in delight. "Wonderful! Truly amazing! Edwards, how many Cursed Children still exist in the world?"

Edwards thinks for a moment. "I believe ten… maybe twelve are left."

Priscilla's smile widens, revealing her sharp fangs. "I see… I would love to meet her one day. A Cursed Child within the Gold family who became a hunter—no, scratch that. I must meet her. And that boy, Jamal—he was with them, yes?"

Edwards nods. "Yes, Mistress. There was a man there by the name of Jamal."

"Good, good. I've heard he's quite talented as a hunter… and quite the musician. I would love to hear him perform while using his Showman skill. I bet it would only enhance his performance." She smiles, sipping her wine.

"That woman, Sunny Jean, has a knack for finding talent. Well, she does possess the Eye of Talent. If only I had it… though, I imagine it would be exhausting. That poor woman—if she used it on a group of people, she'd likely have a pounding headache."

Priscilla places her wine glass down and rises to her feet. "Edwards, walk with me."

The woman stands, with the butler following closely beside her. She walks along the ornate halls, eventually stopping in front of a massive portrait. The painting depicts a man with long, jet-black hair cascading to his shoulders. His porcelain skin mirrors Priscilla's, and his deep red eyes exude an air of undeniable authority. He sits elegantly upon a grand chair, his cape black on the outside and crimson on the inside. His attire—a gorgeously crafted, old-time suit—reflects his noble stature.

She smiles while gazing at the painting. "Oh, Father… what are you doing right now, and where are you?" A tinge of sadness lingers in her eyes.

Edwards nods solemnly. "Yes, I too wonder where Lord Dracula is. He left quite some time ago, searching for Master Bram."

Priscilla's expression twists into a scowl. "That brutish imbecile, Bram… my idiotic brother, always getting into trouble with riffraff and ruffians!"

Edwards sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yes, he has always been a troublemaker. I heard a rumor that Master Bram was picking fights with Wolfgang."

Priscilla lets out a long sigh, slumping slightly, momentarily losing her noble posture. "Edwards, I swear, I will kill my foolish brother when I see him. I wish he'd stop worrying our poor father."

Edwards nods in agreement. "I understand, Mistress. He makes us all worry."

Priscilla readjusts her posture, standing upright once more, and continues walking. "Edwards, I wish to know the location of that Sunny woman and her group."

Edwards nods. "I believe they are somewhere near Aspen, Colorado, in the United States of America."

As she descends the grand staircase, her heels tapping elegantly against each step, she speaks again. "Edwards, arrange a flight for me at once, and contact the one known as Sunny. Inform her that I wish to have an audience with her and her lovely little team. I wish to meet them all."

She walks toward the front doors of the castle and steps out into the courtyard. Despite Priscilla being a vampire, the sun has very little effect on her. She looks up at the sky.

"Many of my other... kin," she says, her face twisting with a twinge of disgust, "fear the sun. But my family does not, for we can bathe in its gorgeous light without fear of burning."

She spins around gracefully, enjoying the sunlight as it washes over her. Her long black hair glistens under the golden rays, as does her elegant dress, shimmering with every movement.

After a final twirl, she gracefully settles onto a bench, laughing. "Edwards, every time I think the world is getting boring, humans keep surprising me!"

Edwards nods, a gentle smile on his face. "Yes, I agree."

Priscilla lets out a satisfied sigh, still catching her breath from laughing. "I'm looking forward to meeting Sunny."

With that, she stands up, re-enters the castle, and heads to her room to pack for her journey to America.