Chapter Fifteen: Betrayal and Captivity

Elysia's mind went blank the moment she saw her uncle, Blade. She couldn't understand why he had appeared after all these years. His sudden presence filled her with fear—an uncontrollable dread that something terrible was about to happen. Before she could react, she lost consciousness as the man carried her away from the palace.

She had been taken by someone with evil intentions. Neither the king, Vlood, nor Sophie were aware of what had happened. The only one who knew was Elizabeth, who had orchestrated everything. She had bribed one of the king's servants to summon Elysia outside, using the king's name—a crime punishable by death. In return, Elizabeth promised the servant protection from execution.

Elizabeth was overjoyed with her scheme. She didn't care about the danger she had placed Elysia in. All that mattered to her was eliminating any obstacles that stood between her and Lord Draegon. She loved him deeply and would do anything to make him hers. But love was not her only ambition—she also longed to be his queen, to stand by his side forever.

That same afternoon, Sophie returned to the palace. She loved to travel around Drakhenholt (Dark World), always exploring different places. She was known for being playful and mischievous, often bothering her older brother even when he was busy. As soon as she arrived, she hurried to the grand dining hall.

The room was luxurious, filled with expensive furnishings. Chandeliers made of delicate glass hung from the ceiling, casting soft light throughout the space. At the center stood a long table large enough to seat eighteen people. A white tablecloth with golden embroidered edges covered it, decorated with fresh flowers and candles. The polished wooden floor reflected the warm glow of the room.

Sophie was puzzled upon entering. She knew that her brother usually spent time there drinking his favorite blood beverage. At the far end of the table, Lord Draegon sat sipping blood from an elegant glass with golden accents and embedded gemstones. Even the bottle containing the blood had a golden design with precious stones adorning it.

He drank the blood as if it were fine wine. Sophie frowned, realizing that once again, he was ignoring her presence. What confused her even more was that the room was fully lit. Normally, the chandeliers remained off—something they often argued about.

"Could it be because of Elysia that he turned on the lights?" Sophie wondered to herself.

She smirked at her brother and decided to tease him. With a mischievous grin, she moved closer and playfully tapped his cheek.

"Time to annoy him again," she thought.

"Are you here to be a nuisance again?" Lord Draegon asked coldly.

"Brother, I want a drink too. Can you order Elysia to bring me some Lugu?" she said with a sly smile.

"Do as you please," he replied indifferently.

"Alright then," Sophie said mischievously.

She picked up a small silver bell and rang it. The sound echoed through the room, summoning a servant. It was a signal used by the king or Sophie whenever they needed something. The servant hurried in and bowed.

"What is your command, Princess?" the servant asked respectfully.

"Lily, bring Elysia here," Sophie ordered with a grin.

"Yes, Princess," the servant replied before rushing out, knowing that any delay could mean punishment—or worse, death—at the king's hands. Unlike Sophie, who was kind to the servants, Lord Draegon despised slow actions. This fear made the palace staff extremely cautious around him.

Sophie waited for a while, but the servant did not return. Impatient, she glanced at Lord Draegon, who was growing visibly irritated. If the servant took any longer, there would surely be consequences. Just then, the doors burst open, and the exhausted servant stumbled in, sweating and looking terrified.

"Prin...ces...s... Elysia... is gone!" the servant gasped.

"What do you mean?" Sophie asked, confused.

"I asked the others to help search for her, but we couldn't find her anywhere," the servant explained.

"W-what... Brother!" Sophie turned to Lord Draegon in alarm.

"Leave her be," he said coldly.

"Brother! What if something bad happened to her? You can't just ignore this!" Sophie pleaded.

"Someone saw her this morning, Your Highness," the servant added.

"Bring them to me," Lord Draegon ordered, though he masked his concern.

The servant quickly fetched the witness. As soon as the person entered, Lord Draegon stepped forward and placed his hand on their forehead. He had the ability to see memories and read mortal minds. After a brief moment, he withdrew his hand, his expression darkening. His eyes glowed red with rage.

He recognized the man in the vision—Blade, the merchant from the distant lands of Drakhenholt (Dark World). And he knew exactly where to find him.

Sophie noticed the shift in her brother's demeanor. She had always suspected that he had feelings for Elysia, even if he refused to show it.

"Blade..." Lord Draegon muttered through clenched teeth.

In a distant place where Elysia was, she awoke from being carried by the man. She struggled to break free from his grasp. She had to do it because she knew what was about to happen to her. She couldn't let it happen—not after what this man had almost done before.

Elysia moved her legs, making it harder for the man to hold onto her properly. When his grip finally loosened, she immediately ran. She sprinted toward the withered trees, desperate to save herself from this evil creature that hadn't aged a day.

Elysia knew exactly what her uncle had become—a vampire. A vampire who intended to kill her.

As she ran, her black bandana accidentally slipped off. She had no time to retrieve it, knowing that at any moment, the man would catch up to her.

She suddenly recalled a painful memory from her childhood. Back when she lived with Uncle Blade and Aunt Eula, everything seemed fine at first. She had stayed with them for several days, happy and carefree. But people aren't always what they seem.

That fateful afternoon, her aunt hadn't returned yet from the market, leaving Elysia alone in the house. She was sitting on the sofa, playing with her doll, when she heard the door open. Thinking it was her aunt, she eagerly ran to greet her. But to her shock, it was Uncle Blade who had arrived.

Without warning, he grabbed Elysia and dragged her toward the bedroom. She screamed in fear, but no one could hear her. He pushed her onto the bed and hurriedly tried to remove her clothes.

Elysia cried out for help, but he silenced her with a brutal slap. The pain was so intense that her cheek went numb. Tears streamed down her face. Just as he was about to carry out his vile intentions, he was suddenly knocked down by a powerful blow—Aunt Eula had arrived in time.

But the man quickly got up, furious, ready to beat his wife.

"Run! Run now!" her aunt screamed.

Young Elysia ran as fast as she could. That was the horrifying memory that haunted her—the time she had barely escaped being violated.

She refused to let it happen again. She kept running without stopping, but the man suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking her path.

"Elysia..." the wicked man uttered.