A few hours later, Mallen walked outside his castle with a bundle of clothing to give to people. He designed and made clothing for everyone, believing it was important for everyone to have nice clothes.

He heard children laughing and glanced in the direction the sound was coming from. He smiled when he saw a group of children riding horses, having taken them out of the stables and going for a ride around the castle grounds. Iérti was with them, teaching kids how to put a bridle on a horse, how to sit properly on a horse, how to comb and brush them, among other things.

It's good to see the people I once preyed on enjoy something as simple and fun as horseback riding, Mallen thought, noticing some adults were horseback riding with the children. He wished Olivia was among them, with Iérti and Katlyn at her side. Beautiful wife, sweet child, and loving husband. Killing them is my biggest regret. I'm forever haunted by what I've done.

Mallen stood watching them for a moment before he turned back to his work. He felt tears sting his eyes at the thought of Katlyn and Olivia. I wish I could redo that entire night and spare their lives like I originally intended instead of killing them. I was so selfish, so driven by my own desires. Now I'm a changed man and still having to face the consequences of my actions.

Later that night, Mallen went to the library and set Vostok free from his mind compulsion, allowing the dragon to go as he pleased. Vostok thanked Mallen, giving him a low bow, before taking off towards the mountains. The library unguarded, Mallen took the vase with the remaining mystical water and burned it along with the fairy wand, destroying the last of the mystical water. He didn't want the fairy wand to fall into the wrong hands, so he burnt it as well.

He kept the rest of the library as is, leaving all its books and stories behind. He shut the door so snow and ice wouldn't get inside, taking a long look at the building before walking away. He carried several books under his arm, including the book he came from, titled The First Vampire.

Iérti visited his family's grave for the last time, putting fresh wildflowers at the gravesite. He bid farewell to them, tears falling on his face as he expressed his wishes to reunite with them in the afterlife. He knew that day wouldn't come for a long time.

Later that night, just as the sky was about to become dawn, Iérti went to Mallen's castle. Everyone else had already settled in the ships and everything was ready for the move. Iérti picked his room to be beside Mallen's room. He knew Mallen would like a nice cabin room with the large windows. Most rooms were arranged in similar fashion, though Iérti knew Mallen would like a stylish suite, so he picked an available room for him to move into.

The sun wasn't up yet though it was getting close to daylight. Most other ships had already left the planet, charting their course towards planets that could sustain life for humans and vampires.

All ships had interstellar maps on the screens showing all the different planets in the galaxies, including all the known dimensions. They had no knowledge of what those planets are or whether or not they could sustain life, so they went by simple things such as if the planet had oxygen and plant life.

Planets Monshalow and Natvolo were the closest planets that could sustain life. Some ships went for those planets while others wanted to venture further towards other planets in other dimensions. They ended up taking refuge on planets Ghatom, Mijoria, and Earth. All were in different dimensions.

stood patiently waiting, watching as Mallen said goodbye to his horse Iulia. His velvet olive green cape was slung dramatically to the side, his dark hair tied back with an olive green ribbon matching his eye color, his fair skin glistening, his purple clothing and dark brown boots stylish as ever.

All the other horses have been set free from the stables, allowed to roam free in the land, for they would no longer be needed.

Mallen was gently stroking Iulia, unwilling to let go of his favorite horse, but he knew he had to. Tears slid from his eyes as he hugged her. "I'll miss you, Iulia," Mallen said softly, continuing to stroke her for the last time.

After a few more moments, Mallen finally pulled away, gently swatting at her side as he said, "Go now. Be free."

The horse took off at his urging, shaking her head as she galloped away. Mallen stood watching his horse ride off, his eyes misting with tears. He heard Iérti come close, but he made no move to dry his tears. They stood watching the horse for a while before Iérti told Mallen, "We need to leave now before it's daylight."

Mallen took one last long look at his fairytale castle, waiting until the sun started gleaming from above its towers before he turned into crows and headed for the ship, following Iérti who was already in bat form, the sun chasing them as they flew.

They turned back into their vampire forms as they got inside the ship, the doors shutting tightly in place as Blaise called out to Corden inside the cockpit, saying, "Mallen and Iérti are aboard the ship! Everyone's inside! Prepare for takeoff!"

Mallen looked outside the window, Iérti standing at his right side and hugging him tightly from his left side as the ship began to leave planet Verdamnt. They watched the sun shimmer over the stunning landscape, spreading its warm light everywhere.

It was one of the few times they were able to see daylight in plain view. The beautiful, enchanted fairytale planet became smaller and smaller in size as the ship took the surviving humans and vampires farther and farther away.

Iérti felt a sinking feeling in his stomach in knowing they would never return. Mallen was uncertain of the future, feeling pensive and contemplative. Írásom thought it was the adventure of a lifetime to be moving to another planet. Blaise felt responsibility more than anything, making sure people were healthy and taken care of.

Vajir and Stellan were aboard another ship, as were Collin, Ewelline, and Roulade, though they were too frightened and traumatized to consider feeding on anyone. To make sure things were kept in order, Mallen compelled all the vampires not to feed on anyone, to ensure the humans' safety and wellbeing.

Though Iérti was considered the leader and overseer of the ship, he allowed Corden to pilot the ship, declaring him captain of the ship. This made people think highly of Iérti for giving an esteemed position to a human rather than a vampire.

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✨ I don't know why, but this scene/chapter always makes me cry when Mallen says goodbye to his horse.

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