*Note: I might upload later due to busy schedule but I'll try to update as fast as I can.

~~~

The moon hung high in the night sky, casting an ethereal glow over the quiet town as Karina, a centuries-old vampire, made her way through the shadows. Her past was dark and solitary, but everything changed the moment she laid eyes on Winter, an ordinary student with an extraordinary spirit.

Karina had watched Winter from a distance, captivated by her vibrant energy and the way her eyes sparkled with determination. Winter, unaware of the supernatural world that lurked in the shadows, was drawn to the world's mysterious allure. Their paths seemed destined to intertwine.

~~~

Karina found herself walking down the familiar streets, clutching onto the shiny ruby necklace. As she walked, memories flooded her mind, intertwining with the present.

The weight of her responsibilities as a vampire royal had settled upon her shoulders, and with it came the knowledge of the necklace's power

Each generation of the vampire royalty was entrusted with a unique necklace, passed down through the ages. Crafted with exquisite precision, the necklace contained a large, radiant ruby at its center, representing the bloodline and legacy of the vampire royal family. It was said that the necklace held the ability to intertwine the fates of the vampires who wore it, connecting them with a specific person who is called "soul mate".

With the artifact in hand, her shadow faded into darkness, leaving no trace behind as she flew away in her bat form.

~~~

Winter stretched her arms above her head, feeling the weariness of the morning classes settle in her bones.

The bell rang, its sound echoing in the air, signaling the long- awaited lunch break.

The cafeteria was abuzz with activity, students finding their usual spots at the tables, laughter and conversations filling the space. Winter glanced around, searching for Ningning, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Of course Ningning just has to hang out with Giselle, now she is all alone by herself.

With a shrug, Winter decided to venture into her favorite place, the library.

She settled onto an empty seat and began reaching into her bag to retrieve her lunch.

Her gaze fell upon the shimmering figure standing a few paces away—a captivating stranger with long, black hair. Winter sat frozen as she watched her approach.

"Excuse me," Karina spoke softly, her voice as smooth as silk. "I believe this belongs to you." She extended her hand, revealing a delicate silver necklace with a small ruby pendant.

Winter's eyes widened in surprise as she recognized the necklace. She had lost it a day ago and had not realized.

"How... How did you find this?" Winter stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Karina smiled gently. "I have my ways. Let's just say I found out about you through Giselle".

Winter hesitated for a moment, unsure how to reply. With a greatful nod, she took the necklace from Karina's outstretched hand.

"Thank you.." Winter said, her voice filled with genuine attitude.

A brief silence hung between them, as the two didn't know what to say.

Finally, Karina broke the silence. "It's a beautiful necklace," she remarked, her eyes lingering on Winter's neck where the pendant had once rested. "It suits you."

Winter blushed at the compliment, her gaze shifting to the ground. "Thank you again," she replied, her voice still tinged with surprise and confusion. "I didn't think I would lost it."

Karina's expression turned thoughtful. "Sometimes, things have a way of finding their way back to their rightful owners," she said cryptically. "But I must be on my way now. It was a pleasure meeting you, I'm Karina if you're curious."

Before Winter could respond, Karina turned and walked away, her figure slowly fading into the wintry landscape. Winter stood there, watching her departure, a mix of emotions swirling within her.

As Winter continue eating her lunch, she couldn't shake off the mysterious encounter with Karina. Who was she, and how did she know about Giselle? Winter's mind raced with questions, but for now, she decided to cherish the returned necklace and the serendipitous encounter.

~~~

"Giselle!"

Winter held her bag, running towards Giselle who is waiting for the bus. She was eagerly waiting to hear about Giselle and the stranger she met.

Breathless, Winter caught up with Giselle just as she was about to board the bus. "Giselle!" she called out, waving her hand to get her attention.

Giselle turned around, a surprised smile lighting up her face. "Winter! What's the rush?" she asked, stepping away from the bus door to join her friend.

Winter's eyes sparkled with excitement as she tried to catch her breath. "You won't believe what happened to me today," she said, her voice filled with anticipation. "I met someone named Karina, and she returned a necklace I lost yesterday!"

Giselle's eyes widened in surprise. "No way! How did she find it? I thought she didn't know about you"

Winter nodded, relieved to have someone to share her astonishment with. "I thought so too, but Karina said she had her ways. She mentioned she knew about me through you."

Giselle furrowed her brow, puzzled. "That's strange. I don't recall mentioning anything about you to anyone. I mean, apart from Ningning, of course."

Winter's curiosity deepened at Giselle's response. "Really? I wonder how Karina found out, then. It's like she had some kind of inside information."

Giselle shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "Well, sometimes connections and coincidences happen in mysterious ways. Maybe it's just a stroke of luck that she stumbled upon it."

Winter nodded slowly, still intrigued by the encounter. "Maybe... But there was something about Karina. She had an air of mystery around her. I can't help but wonder if there's more to her than meets the eye."

Giselle grinned mischievously. "Ooh, a mysterious stranger! That sounds like the beginning of an intriguing story. But trust me, she isn't that much of an entertainer."

As the bus driver called them, the two friends boarded the bus, sitting next to each other.

After Giselle and Winter had settled into their seats on the bus, Winter turned to her friend, curiosity shining in her eyes. "So, Giselle, tell me more about Karina. How do you know her?"

Giselle smiled, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Karina is an enigmatic person. We met a few months ago at a local art exhibition. She had this incredible talent for capturing emotions in her paintings, and we struck up a conversation about art."

Winter's mind raced with possibilities. "Do you think she might have had something to do with the necklace's disappearance?"

Giselle shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "It's hard to say for sure. Karina strikes me as someone with hidden depths and secrets. Maybe she stumbled upon the necklace by chance and decided to return it."

As the bus rumbled along, Giselle and Winter exchanged theories and speculations about Karina, eager to uncover the truth behind her enigmatic nature and her connection to the necklace.