CHAPTER TWO
1410 Words
Ziaani's POV
Ouch. Where am I?
I stood up, looking around in confusion. One moment, I had been near a waterfall—then suddenly, I was back in the woods. But something was off. They looked... different.
Noooooo! Why now?! I shouted, panic rising in my chest.
I ran through the forest, desperately trying to find my friends, but then I realized—I was lost.
What? No, no, no, no. This can’t be happening.
I spun around, trying to figure out where I had come from. Was it this way? Or that way? Every direction looked the same. Suddenly, I heard a rustling in the bushes. My heart pounded as I turned toward the noise and cautiously stepped closer.
Out of nowhere, something wrapped around my leg. Before I could react, my body was yanked into the air. I lost balance, flipped upside down, and my head slammed against a rock.
Everything went black.
A loud noise jolted me awake. My body ached, and a sharp pain shot through my leg.
I groaned. "What the—owwww!"
"Shhhhh!" a voice hissed.
I tried to focus, but I couldn’t see anything in the dim light. "Who's there?" I called out.
A rough hand clamped over my mouth. "Shut the f**k up," the stranger whispered urgently. "You’ll get us caught."
I froze, my breath hitching in my throat. Slowly, I nodded, and she removed her hand.
Silence stretched between us. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. Finally, she spoke again.
"Okay, they’re gone. Let’s get to the others." She grabbed my hand, tugging me forward.
I yanked my hand back. "Wait, wait, wait! What’s going on? Where am I? Who are you? I have to find my friends!" My voice rose in panic.
She scowled at me. "What are you talking about? And why are you wearing that? We’re in a war, in case you forgot!"
"A war?!" I echoed, my confusion deepening. "Where am I?!"
She sighed in frustration. "I don’t have time for this. You’ll report to the queen about—" she gestured at my clothes "—whatever this is."
"The... queen?" My stomach dropped.
She narrowed her eyes. "Wait. I’ve never seen you before. Are you new? If you are, what the hell are you doing in the middle of a war? You’re supposed to be in training!"
She grabbed my hand again, but instinctively, I pulled away. The sudden movement threw me off balance, and I tumbled backward into the river behind me.
Cold water engulfed me. Gasping, I struggled to pull myself up, shivering as I reached for the riverbank. A hand extended toward me, and I grabbed it.
"What the f**k?!" The girl recoiled as soon as she saw me.
Her eyes widened in a mix of fear and confusion.
"Who—what are you?" she whispered.
I hugged myself, trembling. "What are you talking about?"
"You're... you're a hum—"
Before she could finish, a sharp sting shot through my thigh. My vision blurred. A wave of dizziness washed over me.
Then—darkness.
I woke up to a loud, metallic banging sound—like something was being slammed against metal.
Dazed, I opened my eyes to see who or what was making the noise. My breath caught in my throat.
The stranger from yesterday was in a cage, just like me. She was thrashing violently against the bars, trying to break free—as if she were trying to get to me. Her eyes were red as blood, her skin deathly pale.
Heart pounding, I instinctively shifted backward, but there was nowhere to go. Fear coursed through me as I watched her, her gaze locked onto me with an unsettling hunger.
Suddenly, a group of men rushed out. One of them raised a wooden pipe and shot something at her. The projectile struck her in the back, and slowly, she began to calm down.
Just as I thought things might settle, another group appeared—but they weren’t like the men who had arrived first. They looked like her. Pale skin. Red eyes.
Before I could fully process what was happening, chaos erupted. The newcomers overpowered the first group with terrifying ease, cutting them down one by one.
What is happening? I whispered to myself, tears streaming down my face.
They moved to the other cage, unlocking it and pulling the woman out. Then, they turned toward me.
Dozens of red eyes locked onto mine.
I could feel their hunger, their confusion. Then, as if drawn by instinct, they started moving toward me.
One of them yanked the cage door open and dragged me out, tossing me onto the ground. A circle of them surrounded me, their presence suffocating.
One of them grabbed my arm, pulling me up forcefully. I flinched as he leaned in close and began sniffing me. My body stiffened when his breath ghosted over my neck. Then, I saw his mouth open, revealing sharp fangs.
He was going to bite me.
Wait, what?! My mind screamed in realization. These are vampires!
Tears filled my eyes as I squeezed them shut, bracing for the worst.
"Put her down."
A cold, commanding female voice cut through the tension.
I was too terrified to open my eyes, but I felt a hand touch my face. The sensation sent a jolt through me, just like before.
"Let’s move out," the woman ordered.
Before I could react, strong arms lifted me into a bridal carry. I remained frozen, too overwhelmed to fight back.
The journey was long, every step filled with tension. I kept my eyes tightly shut, afraid of what I might see.
Then, I felt a rush of warmth.
We were inside.
A few minutes later, I was carefully placed onto something soft—a bed.
Slowly, I cracked my eyes open. I had been right.
I turned, searching for the one who had brought me here, but the room was empty.
Moments passed as I desperately tried to open the door, but no matter how hard I pulled, it wouldn’t budge.
It was locked.
Frustrated, I finally gave up, letting my back slide down against the door until I sat on the floor.
"Giving up already, little human?"
A chill ran down my spine.
I looked up—and there she was.
Then, I saw her.
She was tall, dressed in a long black gown that cascaded down her body, accentuating her flawless figure. Her dark hair was styled in a loose bun, with a few stray strands framing her heart-shaped face. Her skin was pale, almost luminescent, and her eyes—red as blood—held an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.
She was magnificent. A beauty I couldn't define.
Then, fear set in.
She stood before me, extending her hand for me to take. But I didn't.
Seeing my hesitation, she knelt to my level, her gaze locking onto mine. Her eyes, though eerily red, were unexpectedly soft, filled with an unfamiliar warmth.
She held out her hand again, waiting. When I still didn't take it, she exhaled lightly, standing back up with a small, knowing smile.
What was that? Why do I feel like this? Who is she?
As if reading my thoughts, she finally spoke.
"I am Queen Nikita of Valtoria, the Queen of the Valtorians. And you are?" she asked, her voice smooth and controlled, her lips curling into a slight smile.
I clenched my fists, my body trembling. "You kidn*pped me, and now you're asking who I am? Who— actually, what are you? And why am I here?" My voice cracked, my eyes burning with unshed tears.
She tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "I think you already know what I am. And as for why you're here, it's because—"
Before she could finish, the doors burst open.
A guard rushed in, breathless. Thank God it was a double door, or it might've been ripped from its hinges.
The queen's expression shifted instantly. The warmth in her face vanished, replaced by cold, sharp anger.
She turned to the guard, and they spoke in a language I had never heard before—one that sent chills down my spine. Their exchange was brief, urgent.
Then, with a single command from her, the guard bowed and left, closing the doors behind them.
And I remained there, still sitting on the floor, utterly confused.
- Writer
