Clara yelped to see a servant dressed in black.

"Forgive me madame, I am the head butler of this estate, my name is Antoine D'Collette." Antoine greeted with a stoic look.

"How do you know my name?" Clara cautiously asked.

But the butler's face remained unchanged at the Hedgehog's question.

"My Lord has informed me of your arrival. He's been expecting you."

Now this left her confused, how could a high ranking noble of the King's court, want anything to do with her? A commoner from a small village in the countryside.

"I-I'm sorry, sir, but there must have been a mistake. You see, I was just trying to get home, but there was a fog that blocked my way." Clara tried to explain the situation, but Antoine just raised his brow.

"Madame, there hasn't been any fog during this night."

Looking at the man like he'd gone insane, she turned around to see that he was right. The fog behind her had disappeared in an instant and that she was miles away from her village. Horrified and confused, Clara turned back to Antoine.

"Why did you say they were expecting me?"

"My Lord has sent you an invitation for this evening's Gala." Antoine said with a bow.

"What? I never once received an invitation."

"Why don't you look into your pocket?"

Clara eyes at the butler with suspicion as she reaches in the pocket of her apron dress, she feels something. It was thin and smooth like fine paper. She pulls out the item to reveal a sealed envelope with her name written in fine penmanship. Fear flooding into her body, she opens the envelope with shaky hands and reads from it.

"Dear Ms. Hedgehog,

You're cordially invited to Lord Shadow's Gala for this evening. We humbly wait for your arrival. If you are unable to dress formally, worry not, we shall provide you a beautiful dress. Tonight, will be a night that you'll never forget.

Signed,

Lord Shadow"

With those last words leaves her more frightened than ever. Unfazed by her scared demeanor, Antoine turns around and opens the gate with a loud creak.

"This way, madame."

He leads her towards the castle. Clara looks back to where she had come from, and eventually followed. The doors opened, on each side rows of maids awaited as they all bowed to her.

"Good evening, Ms. Hedgehog." they spoke in unison.

Clara awkwardly waves at them.

"H-Hello..."

Antoine nods to the maids before gesturing Clara to follow him, as they walked upstairs and through the hallway. She took notice at old portraits of the Mobians in their finest outfits with a hint of seriousness. They must have been the Lord's ancestors, yet there was something strange about these paintings. Finally, they made it to the golden doorway, Antoine opens the door with a key he pulled from his pocket vest. The butler allows Clara to see a luxurious bedroom worthy of a princess.

"This will be your room for tonight. Your dress has already been delivered. My Lord will be seeing you soon."

With that, Antoine closed the door behind him, leaving her to take in on what just happened. Clara walks over to the door and turns the doorknob, only to discover that the door has been locked! Feeling the panic shooting through her body, Clara rushes to the window of the room and tries to open it. Unfortunately, it was also locked, feeling the quick beat of her heart she sits in a chair that was near the window. Clara took deep calming breaths before sighing in distress.

Whoever Lord Shadow is, Clara knows that he could be a very dangerous man? The signs were all clear as day. The mysterious fog, the invitation that appeared in her pocket, and now locking her in this room. Clara may have her head in the clouds sometimes, but she is no fool. She must escape from this place and soon, but what could she do? She isn't as strong as Knuckles nor as fast as her brother Sonic, all she can do is wait for the moment to escape.

For now, she must go along with the Lord's game, she gets up from the chair and head over to the bed. There laid a beautiful red dress that even put roses to shame. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever get a chance to wear something so extravagant. She slips the dress on, Clara noticed it fit like a glove, seeing the makeup desk that was near the bed. Clara goes over, examining the items on the table she took hold of a brush that was decorated with fine jewels. The young hedgehog gently undo her ponytail and brush her quills.

After a while, she finally finished curling her quills, looking into the mirror of the desk.

"Is this really me?" Clara thought as she twirled around in her new dress.

Just then Clara heard the door being unlocked from the other side, she turned and sees the door was opened by a maid.

"Ms. Hedgehog, the Lord wishes to see you."

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she worked up the courage to walk towards the door, but something shined at the corner of her eye. Clara walks over to the dresser that was near the door. The maid noticed this and followed the hedgehog with a stern look upon her face.

"I almost left this behind."

With a small smile, Clara showed the maid her ruby necklace before putting it back on again. Showing no emotion, the maid soon exits the room to wait for the snow-white Hedgehog. As the maid turned, she didn't see that Clara hid a sharp letter opener within the long sleeve of her dress.

☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾

Passing through the long-stretched hallway, Clara was following the quiet maid, she looked through the tall windows, and saw that a red hue was growing upon the moon. Almost like blood was staining it. Shaking her head, Clara continues to follow the maid as they finally reached to two Grand doors larger than the room she was just in.

The maid opens the doors for Clara to enter, this was it, the den of the lion. Calming her mind Clara enters the room. The room was fit enough for a king to live in, though it had dark colors painting upon its walls it was still grand.

SLAM!!!

Once again, the maid closed the doors behind the woman, but with a loud slam. Seeing that the Lord was nowhere in sight, Clara brought her right arm close to her breast, looking within her sleeve she finds some comfort that the weapon she has hidden is still in its place. But the thought of harming someone made her sick to her stomach. If the Lord tries to take her, she would be able to defend herself. Yet, all her life she has followed God's laws and never once hurt anything not even a spider. However, after everything has happened, she must do something to escape.

CREAK~

Putting her arm down she turns to see the door was opening. Waiting for a person to enter in the room, she stood still like she was made of stone.

No one entered though.

Feeling her heartbeat in her ears she waited.

Still, no one enters...

....

....

....

....

....

....

"Good evening, Ms. Hedgehog."

In a fright, Clara turns around to see the owner of the voice. She silently gasps at the sight; the owner of the voice was a male hedgehog, but he was different. His fur was pitch black with a few red highlights along his quills, he was much taller than her brother, he also wore a fine suit and cape that showed a little of his white fluffy chest. However, what struck her the most was his eyes, the hedgehog's crimson eyes were so enchanting yet so familiar.

"Forgive me for startling you my dear." he apologized with a bow.

But Clara remains silent.

"Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost, my dear." he jested, making the girl shake her head.

"Apologies my Lord, I didn't here you come into the room, and I was startled. You moved very swiftly."

Clara bowed to the mysterious handsome Lord.

"Well, I don't need to announce myself in my own chambers now, do I." the Lord replied.

"No, I suppose not." Clara smiled as the Lord walks closer to her.

His eyes glistened against the soft glow of the candles; Clara backed away from the Lord as he drew near.

"Why do you run?"

"Forgive me, it's just, this feels improper for an unmarried man and woman to be in a room alone." she said, fiddling with her slim fingers as the Lord was merely inches away from the snow-white hedgehog.

Gently lifting her chin up so their eyes could meet.

"I believe that those rules, you mortals created limited your imagination. What happens behind closed doors should only concern those inside the room."

The light of the candles started to dim as the darkness crypt closer. Clara felt lightheaded as if she was being pulled by a force stronger than herself. Her green eyes that were full of fear is now cloudy with a soft red glow covering the emerald, green color. Lord Shadow's smile grew as it seemed that his charm was working on the girl. Shadow's crimson eyes traveled down to Clara's cleavage to see that the ruby necklace that laid upon her breast was glowing.

Finally! After all these long years...

No... Centuries!

Now, all he must do is wait a little longer, but it wouldn't hurt if he had a taste of her innocence. Lord Shadow pulled Clara by her waist, as their bodies pressed up against each other. Clara tried to pull away from the dark hedgehog, but her body wouldn't budge.

"What is this?!" Clara cried but even her voice couldn't be reached.

She felt like a marionette doll being pulled around by strings.

WHAT IS HAPPENING!!!

Shadow drew closer to Clara, her whole body tingled as she felt his hot breath on her neck. Clara gasps as she felt Shadow's tongue on the base of her neck, to her chin. Her cheeks glowed with a bright red hue as Shadow began to nibble it. The silver hedgehog almost lost herself to the pleasure that the Lord was giving her. Until she saw the mirror across from them.

Her eyes widened in horror, she saw was her own reflection and only her! Where was the Lord's reflection?! As the ruby's glow began to dim, Clara was finally able to regain strength in her body, almost like she was breaking free from chains. Before Lord Shadow could do anything else, Clara used all her strength to push the male away from her. In the confusion, Clara grabbed the hidden weapon from her sleeve and sliced Shadow's hand and face. Clara froze staring at the damage she caused, her hands shaking in panic. While Shadow seemed to not be fazed from pain as he licked off the blood casually from his cheek while making his blood disappear from his hand using magic, Clara could see two sharp fangs from his teeth. She realizes in horror that he's a vampire as his eyes glows red to show that he is.

Without a word, she quickly pushed the door open that was luckily unlocked and ran out of the room towards the hallways. Shadow's laughter echoed the entire castle. She tried her best to get out of the castle, but it seemed like the hallway was changing every time she run. She didn't noticed the portraits she was looking at earlier had their eyes moved on its own as they stare at where she's running off to. Clara could feel her heart beating fast as she looked around for any exits. When she sees the grand doors, she immediately pushed it open. She expected there to be a way out only to witness a horrible scene before her eyes.

Hundreds of young girls were bleeding out and some of them were from her village as she recognizes them. The aristocrats were laughing and drinking the blood from the crystal champagne cups. They also bared the same fangs Lord Shadow has. Clara feel herself about to vomit when she see a poor woman being sucked alive as their body is now pale with a hint of familiar greyish pink, leaving a trail of blood drip down from her neck. She covered her mouth in horror as their body turned to reveal Amy as those dead green eyes stare back at her. She remembered her telling her about going the gala, and now she's gone. Clara looked around to see two more girls that were mean to her are also dead. She needs to get out of here. Before she could escape, a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her waist and turned her body around to reveal a smirking Shadow.

"Going somewhere?"

In an act of desperation, she brought out the letter opener she had been holding the whole time when she was running and slashed the Lord's cheek again in hope that he would let her go. But to her horror, his eyes glowed bright red as he licks the blood off again that runs down his cheek. Then he slapped the weapon from her hands and grabbed her again, holding her close. He turned to the other vampires.

"Attention!"

They turned and immediately stopped at what they're doing as they recognized him before bowing.

"I like to thank you all for coming to my Gala and it's a great pleasure seeing you enjoy yourselves. But I have an announcement."

Lord Shadow glances down at the scared Clara and looks back at them. For some reason, she gets a bad feeling where this is going and he said those words that completely changed her life.

"I like you to meet Clara the Hedgehog. And she will become my bride as I offered a hand in marriage."

Clara froze at such news. No way... This is not happening. Surprised murmurs could be heard as they whisper among each other while looking at Clara. Shadow kept her in a protective hold and glared at them.

"If anyone tries to drink her blood, put any harm to her, or have a problem with me marrying her, I won't hesitate to tear you all apart where you wish you were never born..."

With those threats, his eyes glowed red in the process. No objections were heard as they stayed silent. Clara wanted to object that she doesn't want anything to do with him, but she couldn't open her mouth as she stare at the ground in shock. A hand gripped her chin and made her look up to face the red eyes of Shadow.

"You're mine now, Clara. I won't let anyone have you."

She knows that he made sure of that as she couldn't utter a word but just stare fearfully back at him.