Vampires have hearts that does not beat, the definition of being dead. My heart beats, yet I am neither fully alive nor truly dead. I exist in the space between, a bridge between the two. Humans belong to the realm of the living and vampires to the realm of the dead. These two realms are separated by a thick veil, one that can only be crossed through a magical door. It's a door mainly vampires can cross and that's how we find our blood source.

Walking around in my slippers I dust off the furniture with a damp cloth and grab a broom from the cleaning supply room. I sweep the floors, scoop up the dust and throw the dust into a trash bag before tying it into a knot. Lastly, I pick up the mob and submerge it in a bucket of water and clean the floor. 

I clean the entire estate once a week and it takes me the whole day. I'd be up early in the morning and go to bed late at night. It keeps me busy at least. Good thing I don't have to clean all of the rooms daily. I'd be dead with exhausted. It takes hours to clean even though the rooms are not even that filthy. No uses them but dust piles up over time.  When I'm done cleaning all the rooms on the upper floors I take the stairs, gliding my left hand down the railings as I stare at my newly painted black nails that I did last night. 

I take a deep breath, inhaling the scent of nothingness; the estate has no smell. I was so used to my own scent that it faded into something odorless. Vintage portraits of vampires I never knew hang on the walls next to me as I pass them, their eyes piercing through me. Till this day I have no idea who they are and why my mother bought them.

Sometimes it feels like they're judging because they're the only ones who knows my secret. But they also share my loneliness, they're the only faces I see. The silence of the estate is broken by the unfamiliar ringing of our doorbell. I stop mid step and look towards the front door located downstairs. I glance down to what I'm wearing. An old dress that's been sewed many times, covered in stains and dust and the pair of black slippers. My hair is tied into a messy bun as well. I look like a homeless person at this point.

No one visits our estate and it couldn't be my mother either it's too early, too soon for her to be back. The only ones that do come around are the two ladies that works along aside my mother and they haven't been here in ages. The bell rings for the second time and with a deep breath I go down, twisting the doorknob and pull the door open. 

Immediately I feel the cold air on my skin as it hits me. A man stands in front of me wearing a black and red attire, the royal crest imprinted on his clothes. The light lamp above us softly glowing against his pale skin. I take a step back, panic creeping in. I haven't seen him around before, so what's he doing here?

"Can I help you?" I ask quietly, my voice shaking when our eyes meet.

"Just here to deliver a message." he replies calmly and reach into the bag hanging over his shoulder, reaching his hip. My fingers instinctively move towards my necklace for comfort. It was a small crystal that glows a red color from the bit of human blood it contains. My mother specifically made it for me so that I'll always have an excuse for the smell of human blood coming from me. So that no one realize what I really am. 

He pulls out a black envelope and hands it to me. "A personal letter from the King." he says and I reach out, taking the envelope from him. He closes the bag, gives me a nod and disappears down the street without another word. Delivering the letter like he was supposed to.

Sliding it in between my fingers I look around nervously, scanning the yard and making sure no one saw me before closing the door and staring at the envelope in my hand. The man said it was from the King. Why would the king send a letter to our estate? Then again, the letter could be for meant for my mother. But that wouldn't make any sense at all. Why would he send someone all the way here when he could've just gives the letter to her personally? She works directly under him in the palace.

I put the envelope on the small round table and go back upstairs to pick up the trash bag. I carry it all the way down and walk into the kitchen putting the trash bag at the backdoor. I'll have to take the trash out eventually but not today. I sigh remembering that I still have to clean this floor. For some reason the upper floor took longer than usual. I was hoping to be done soon but that doesn't seem to be the case. I walk past the front door to the living room and pick up my music player with my earphones still intact from the coffee table. I slide my music player into my dress pocket and walk out, stopping at the round table next to me. I left the envelope untouched. If it's not for my mother for who is it then? My sister?

With my own curiosity creeping in, I open the envelope and pull out the elegant folded paper, reading the letter.

January 20

To: The Second daughter of Rosemary

It has recently come to my attention that your existence was previously undisclosed to me. It appears your mother neglected to inform me of your presence. This oversight is regrettable, and appropriate measures will be taken to address it.

That said, being a member of a family such as yours, it is imperative that you receive the education and training necessary to serve and assist the royal family in the future. Your sister has already begun her studies at the Royal Assistance Academy, and it is expected that you do the same without any further delay.

You are hereby commanded to present yourself at the academy within two days of receiving this letter. Failure to comply will not be tolerated, as it is your duty and obligation to fulfill your role in our society.

Rest assured, your mother will be dealt with for her failure to disclose your existence. The matter will be addressed in due course.

By my hand and seal,

Your King

The paper shakes in my grasp and I cover my mouth with my hand as a shocked sound escapes me. No this can't be happening. We were careful and made sure no one suspected anything odd about me. My mother has always referred to me as the estate's housemaid and I played the part thoroughly. I brought every visitor blood and kept quiet, standing in the corner, pretending to be waiting for an order. I could feel myself starting to hyperventilate with each passing second.

He wants me to go study. I can't enroll into the Academy; it would put our life's at risk. I'm being forced to live amongst other vampires, it won't take them long to figure out my mother's secret and they'd hang the both of us. I wasn't even supposed to be born.

What am I supposed to do? I can't disobey a direct order from the King and neither can my mother. That's a death penalty. One of the worst things you can ever do towards your King is refuse an order from him. If he demands you to do something, you have to do it without hesitation. It's law especially for a family like ours. Being well known by the king comes with responsibilities. 

I run my fingers through my long curly hair, the ring I'm wearing getting stuck and pulling out a strand of hair when I withdraw. I hiss rubbing, my scalp and pull off the ring throwing it somewhere. I pull my knees up, place the envelope next to me and hug my legs closer to my chest as I stare at the floor blankly. I glance down at the paper again. In Two days. Which means I only have today and tomorrow to pack and prepare myself.

Does my mother know about this, will she come home today to talk to me?

I fold the paper back to how it was and insert it into its envelope. There's no way out of this, I'll just have to keep my distance from all the students. Most importantly, stay away from the royals. As long as I keep my performance at an average score and try to stay invisible to the royals. I can keep myself safe, keep my mother alive.