Melora's heart dropped as she felt the carriage jerked to a stop. The wolfman in front of her smirked proudly. He stood up and grabbed her hand, roughly yanking her out of the carriage. She sneered at the man as he continued to yank her down the long, poorly done path.

She snuck a glance around her. Everything was dark. Huge, trees blocked the sunlight that was trying to shine through. Dead, drooping plants surrounded them as they continued their trek up the path. The stones underneath her were broken. She had to be careful and watch her step. Already she had tripped over a jagged stone twice.

Melora made sure to send a mental image of the castle to Drystan. The black brick of the castle made it feel as if it loomed over her. It was as if the castle knew that she was doomed. That she would never come out of its doors alive again. That she would never see the beautiful sunlight again.

She would never see Drystan again.

I'm coming, my love, Drystan growled in her mind. Hearing his voice made her calm. He helped her continue to move behind the putrid wolfman.

The wolfman stopped abruptly in front of the large double doors of the castle. He knocked twice rapidly before a slit in the right door opened.

"What do you want?" a rough voice barked through the slit.

The wolfman jerked Melora forward, placing her in front of him. "I brought my Masters's prize."

Melora shuddered as a pair of red eyes peered down at her through the slit. A dark chuckle came from the creature on the other side. The slit slammed shut as the doors opened up. A tall man stood in front of them. He was taller than Drystan, practically towering over her. His skin was milky white, making the red of his eyes pop even brighter. His black hair was slicked back against his scalp. He was dressed in a powerful-looking black suit.

The man bowed dramatically at the waist as another chuckle left his lips. "Welcome to your new home, my lady." He straightened up and smirked at her. His nostrils flared slightly. His red eyes flared as he snapped at the wolfman still holding tightly onto her arm. "Who does she smell like to you?" His fangs lengthened as he snarled.

"I know, sir," the wolfman's voice trembled. Melora could feel him shaking. "I assure you the vampire is dead. There is no way that he can come back."

The vampire gave the wolfman a skeptical look before he reached forward and gripped Melora's left arm, pulling her to him. "For your sake, you better hope that he didn't come back." He waved his hand and slammed the doors in the wolfman's face.

Melora's heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest. She was afraid. She tried to reach out to Drystan, but couldn't hear him respond.

"I can hear your heart beating, little mouse," the man chuckled at her again.

Melora looked up at him and couldn't help but think of how handsome the man truly was. Were all vampires this handsome? she thought to herself.

The man dropped his hand and bowed dramatically again. "The name is Sir Serek." He straightened as he held out his hand. "I will take you to your room for you to freshen up."

Melora looked down at his outstretched hand. She refused to take it as she took a step back from him.

Serek rolled his eyes and smirked as he turned on his heels. "Very well. You are the lady of this castle now, I cannot make you do what you don't want to do." He started to move forward. "I'll lead you to your room."

Melora struggled to keep up with him. His long legs made her jog to keep up with him. She continued to try to reach out to Drystan, but again, she never heard anything from him. She was worried that she wouldn't be able to communicate with him again. Melora wasn't going to ask if there was some sort of protection over the castle. She didn't want any of them to know that Drystan was still alive.

Finally, Serek stopped in front of a large, black door. He turned and smirked at her. "I suggest you clean up, little mouse. Master won't like the smell on you." He started to turn to leave, but stopped, looking back at her over his shoulder. "He'll take care of the rest of the smell later tonight."

Melora's heart sunk into her stomach. She reluctantly turned toward the door and opened it. Just like the rest of the castle, it was dark. She fumbled around the room looking for something to turn on for her to see.

It wasn't long until she felt a knob and turned it. She jumped slightly as a faint light filled the room. She didn't know where the light came from, but she would investigate that later. The room was lavished. It looked similar to her room back home, but with no color. Everything was black. It didn't matter, there was no color in the room.

Melora made her feet move toward the tub in the corner of the room. She slowly started to shed her clothes, letting them drop to the floor leaving a trail behind her. The water inside the tub was already warm to the touch.

"Someone must have already filled it for me," she whispered as she slowly sunk into the water. "Everyone must know that I'm here."

Melora sighed as she let her eyes close and her head rolled back, leaning against the edge of the tub. She felt numb inside. She knew that Drystan was on his way to save her, but she was afraid that he would never get here on time. She wouldn't be his anymore after tonight. She had no strength to fight a man, no matter what his age or what he was.

A light knock sounded at the door, startling her. She sunk deeper into the tub as the door opened. A small red-haired woman floated through the open door, closing it gently behind her. She turned to Melora and smiled sweetly. She moved toward Melora, practically floating toward her.

"Hello, my lady," her voice sounded like sugar. Instantly, Melora felt calmer. She didn't feel as scared anymore after hearing this woman's voice. The woman stopped in front of the tub and bowed at the waist. "My name is Zaya, my lady." She straightened up. "It is my pleasure to be your handmaid, my lady."

Melora sat up a little bit, her eyebrows furrowing. "My handmaid? A vampire is going to be my handmaid?"

Zaya smiled sweetly before turning around and floating to the closet. She opened it, pulling out a small, long black dress. "Yes, my lady." She floated over to the bed, placing the dress onto it. "You will soon join us."

"Join you?"

Zaya turned toward her, folding her hands in front of her. "Yes. You will be joining us soon. Master will want to make you one of us." Her smile grew. "You will bring us many heirs." Melora couldn't help but notice how her nostrils flared.

"Are you smelling me?" Melora asked. She crossed her arms over her chest.

Zaya's eyes didn't give her any warmth. Now they looked at her coldly. "I know who you smell like."

"What?"

Zaya stalked toward her. Melora watched as her fangs lengthened. "The vampire who claimed you. I recognize that sent," she growled.

Melora wrapped her arms tightly around herself. "W-who do I smell like?"

"Drystan Col," she spits. She took another deep breath before she continued. "You reek of him. Did he mate you?"

I've got to remember that everyone thinks he's dead, Melora reminded herself. I can't let her know that he's alive. Melora forced her mouth down as she nodded. "Yes, he did. That wolfman killed him when Drystan was protecting me."

"Bullshit," she snarled.

Melora's head snapped up. "What are you talking about?"

Zaya's long fingers curled around the edge of the tub. She leaned forward, inches away from Melora's face. "Drystan Col cannot be killed. I don't care how he found you, but I know that you know he cannot be killed. Even a spike through the heart wouldn't be able to kill him now."

"What do you mean?" Melora shrunk further into the water.

Zaya growled and ran a hand through her curly hair. "He's mated. Once a vampire mates, they are impossible to kill. The only way for that to happen is if their mate was to be killed." She looked Melora up and down before she smirked. "That might work."

Even though the water was warm, Melora shivered as she struggled to cover herself. She started to open her mouth to say something, but Zaya interrupted her.

"Master will want to have the pleasure to kill Drystan Col," she purred as she straightened. "Get dressed. Master will want to see you soon."