The Oldest Dream of Eternal Night
Chapter 43: All for love

Chapter 43: All for love

Sabrina’s villa, a Gothic mansion with stone turrets, stood in the residential area of Lewis Center. Stained-glass windows cast colorful shards of light on the polished parquet floor of the entrance, where crystal chandeliers flickered faintly. The air smelled of aged wood and a hint of jasmine, a remnant of Sabrina’s mother’s perfume, long gone.

Sabrina, in a burgundy velvet dress, paced nervously through the grand living room, her heels clicking on the floor. Her hair, loose, cascaded over her shoulders, and her glowing red eyes betrayed a rare anxiety. Her father, a noble vampire named Viktor, had returned from a trip to Prague. She wanted to believe this reunion would be warm, but a knot in her stomach whispered otherwise.

The front door creaked open, and Viktor entered, his imposing figure filling the space. His graying hair, pulled back, and his tailored black suit gave him the air of a lord from another time. His eyes, a deeper red than Sabrina’s, scanned the room before settling on his daughter. A fleeting smile crossed his face, and he opened his arms. "My dear Sabrina," he said, his voice deep and velvety. "You are the image of your mother."

Sabrina, momentarily forgetting her fears, rushed to him, embracing him. "Dad, I’ve missed you," she whispered, her voice trembling. The scent of his cologne, a blend of leather and sandalwood, brought her back to her childhood, when he would tell her horror stories of Wunder hunting their vampire ancestors.

Viktor stroked her hair, but his smile faded. He stepped back, his gaze sharpening. "Something has changed," he said, his tone turning cold. He grasped her chin, forcing Sabrina to look at him. "The blood bond. You’ve done it. With whom?"

Sabrina swallowed, her hands clenching. She had hoped he wouldn’t notice right away. "Dad, I..."

"Don’t lie to me," Viktor cut in, his voice sharp as a blade. "You were promised to Lord Darius, a 130-year-old vampire, a pillar of our hierarchy. And you dare to seal a blood bond with another?"

Sabrina stepped back, her eyes blazing with defiance. "Darius is a monster! He doesn’t love me, he just wants a trophy for his family! I love Ben. The bond was to protect him, to protect us!"

Viktor slapped her, the sound echoing in the living room. Sabrina brought a hand to her cheek, tears welling up, but she stood firm, her chin raised. "You dishonor me," Viktor growled, his fangs glinting in the light. "A commoner Wunder? A human? A bastard with no lineage? I don’t even want to know. You’ve broken a sacred alliance! Darius will not forgive, and our family will pay the price."

Sabrina clenched her fists, her voice trembling but firm. "I don’t care about Darius! Ben is my soulmate. The blood bond was my only chance to choose my life. You can’t understand, you who sold me like cattle!"

Viktor stepped forward, menacing, but stopped, his gaze wavering. "Your mother... she would have been ashamed of you."

Sabrina flinched, as if the words struck her harder than the slap. "Don’t talk about Mom," she whispered, her voice breaking. "She would have wanted me to be happy."

A heavy silence fell, broken only by the ticking of an antique clock. Viktor turned on his heel, stopping near a fireplace where a fire crackled. "You have a week to break this bond, find a solution," he said without turning around. "Otherwise, I’ll handle it myself. And this Ben... he won’t survive my wrath, even if I have to call upon a sorcerer."

Sabrina, tears streaming down her face, shouted, "You touch Ben, and I’ll kill you, Dad! I swear I’ll kill you!"

Viktor didn’t respond, leaving the room with measured steps. The door slammed, and Sabrina collapsed on a velvet sofa, her sobs muffled by the cushions. She clutched the moon amulet in her fingers, the one she had given to Ben, a symbol of their bond.

’I promised to protect you,’ she thought, ’and I will, even if it means defying my own father.’

Later, Sabrina stood on the balcony of her room, overlooking the gardens plunged into darkness. The stars twinkled, indifferent to her distress. She took out her phone, her fingers trembling as she typed to Ben.

Sabrina: My father’s back. He knows about the bond. He wants to break it... and kill you.

Ben, at home, lying on his bed, felt his heart race as he read the message.

’Isn’t the bond supposed to be unbreakable?’ He thought.

He typed a reply, his thoughts clouded with worry.

Ben: Fuck, seriously? Your dad’s like a vampire mob boss or something? Are you okay?

Sabrina, her eyes red, replied, her fingers tight on the screen.

Sabrina: No, I’m not okay. He slapped me, Ben. He says I’ve dishonored the family. But I don’t care. I won’t let you go.

Ben swallowed, his vampire instincts trembling at the thought of Sabrina hurt. He typed, his inner voice torn between anger and fear.

Ben: He touched you? That asshole will regret it. We’ll find a solution, Sabrina. You’re not alone.

Sabrina managed a bitter smile, touched by his words. She typed, her tone softer.

Sabrina: Thank you... I just need you. We have to be stronger than him. Together.

Ben nodded, alone in his room. He replied, determined.

Ben: Together, yeah. We won’t let him win. Get some rest, okay? We’ll talk tomorrow.

Sabrina put away her phone, leaning against the balustrade. The cool wind caressed her face, drying her tears. She knew defying her father meant risking everything—her family, her life, maybe even Ben’s. But for the first time, she felt ready to fight, not out of obligation, but out of choice.

’For you, Ben,’ she thought, her eyes fixed on the horizon.

In the living room, a servant, a silver-haired vampire named Elena, had heard everything. She discreetly picked up a broken glass, a remnant of Viktor’s anger, but her eyes gleamed with calculated intent. She had served the family for decades, loyal to Viktor, but more so to the ancient alliance with Lord Darius. She took out a crypted phone, typing a quick message.

Elena: Sabrina has sealed a blood bond with a transformed human. Viktor is furious. Lord Darius must be informed.

She sent the message, a cold smile on her lips.

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