Vampire Queen : Fated Love

☞Arrival at the Old Mansion

The gravel crunched under the tires as the taxi pulled up in front of the old mansion. Leo stepped out first, smoothing his jacket before opening the door for Sarah. She climbed out, grabbing her suitcase with ease while Leo retrieved his own from the trunk.

The mansion loomed ahead, its ancient structure casting long shadows in the fading light. Leo squinted, scanning the area for the young masters and mistresses. His brow furrowed when he didn't see them immediately.

"Where are those boys?" he muttered to himself, hefting his suitcase.

Sarah, trailing behind, adjusted her grip on her bag, her gaze flickering toward the mansion with mild curiosity.

Leo's attention snapped to movement near the mansion's entrance. The siblings were already inside, their figures visible through the large, dusty windows. With a respectful wave, Leo called out,

"Hey, young masters!"

The group inside turned toward the door, their reactions as varied as their personalities.

Eithan, leaning casually against the doorframe, offered a polite nod, his tone light and carefree.

"Hey, Leo. Good to see you."

Josh barely glanced in Leo's direction, his focus locked on Sarah as if she were the only person present.

"Yeah, hi," he mumbled dismissively, not bothering to hide his grin as he tried to catch Sarah's attention.

Albert, happily munching on a cookie, waved enthusiastically, crumbs falling from his mouth.

"Leo! Want a cookie?"

Ruhr, balancing a bag on one arm and holding her brother's hand with the other, nodded respectfully.

"Welcome, Mr. Leo."

Adi clung tightly to Eithan's sleeve, his eyes darting nervously around the mansion.

"Hi... Leo," he said softly, his voice trembling as he tried to appear braver than he felt.

Leo chuckled at the chaotic yet endearing sight before him.

"All accounted for," he muttered, mostly to himself.

Once inside, Leo pulled out his phone and dialed Alia. The line connected after a few rings.

"Ma'am, all the young masters and mistresses are here," Leo reported.

On the other end, Alia's voice was calm and reassuring.

"Good. I was starting to worry. I'm glad everyone made it safely."

Leo nodded, even though she couldn't see him.

"Yes, ma'am. Everything is in order."

"Keep an eye on them," Alia added.

"You know how they can be."

"Of course," Leo replied.

Sarah stood nearby, quietly observing the exchange. When the call ended, Leo turned to her with a small smile.

"Well, let's get settled," he said, gesturing toward the mansion.

"We've got a lot of work ahead."

Sarah nodded, following him inside. As they crossed the threshold, the air felt heavy, as if the mansion itself was holding its breath, waiting for what was to come.

---

☞: The Mansion Entrance

Josh stepped forward, cutting off Sarah and Leo as they moved toward the mansion. His confident smirk only widened as he stood in her path, hands stuffed in his pockets.

"Wait a second, Sarah," he said, his tone dripping with mock seriousness.

Sarah paused, raising an eyebrow, already dreading whatever nonsense Josh was about to spew.

Josh leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a playful whisper.

"So, you actually kept your promise and came all the way here. Is it because you want to marry me?"

Sarah blinked, her face a perfect mask of indifference, but her fingers twitched at her side. Josh grinned, clearly pleased with himself.

Eithan, lounging nearby with his hands behind his head, laughed lightly.

"Not marry," he said, his tone carefree,

"but she might kill you. You're practically asking for it."

The group burst into laughter at that. Albert, in particular, laughed far too hard, his childlike giggles echoing around the mansion. He clutched his stomach, gasping between fits of over-the-top laughter.

"Kill him! That's a good one!" Albert wheezed, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

Ruhr shook her head with an amused sigh, while Adi peeked out from behind Eithan, giggling nervously.

Sarah's expression darkened slightly, her temper simmering just beneath the surface. She didn't say a word, but her narrowed eyes said enough.

She stepped forward, a small, almost serene smile on her face. Josh, oblivious to the storm brewing, stood his ground, grinning like an idiot.

"Josh," Sarah said sweetly, tilting her head.

Josh blinked, confused. "Huh?"

Before he could react, Sarah reached out and poked him hard—two quick eye, one directly into his eye Iris ,and another toward his pupil.

"Ouch! Ouch!" Josh yelped, stumbling back and clutching his head.

"What was that for?"

Sarah smirked, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Oh, nothing. Just thought you needed a little wake-up call."

Josh straightened, attempting to act brave despite the sting.

"You think that's enough to stop me?" He puffed out his chest, resisting the urge to rub the sore spot.

"I'm not giving up that easily."

Sarah laughed, a soft, melodic sound that felt both genuine and mocking.

"Good luck with that, I might now actually fall for you" she said, turning to follow Leo, who was already heading toward one of the mansion's old rooms.

As she walked away, Josh watched her go, muttering under his breath,

"She's scary, but totally worth it."

Eithan slapped a hand on Josh's shoulder, grinning.

"Careful there, lover boy. You might not survive the week."

Albert, still recovering from his laughter, chimed in,

"She's gonna squish you like a cookie!"

Ruhr shook her head again, pulling Albert along toward the main hall. Adi stayed close to Eithan, still glancing nervously around the old mansion.

Meanwhile, Sarah and Leo disappeared down the hallway, Sarah's steps measured and confident. She wasn't here for games—she was here for a reason. And she wasn't about to let Josh, or anyone else, get in her way.

---

☞: Leo and Sarah

As Sarah followed her father, Leo, down the dimly lit corridor, she couldn't help but glance over her shoulder, ensuring they were far enough from the group. Once they reached the room Leo had chosen, Sarah set her suitcase down and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Father," she whispered, her tone laced with subtle worry.

"I thought I got caught when Eithan joked about me killing someone."

Leo paused, the faintest hint of a smile playing on his lips as he turned to face her.

"Don't worry about Eithan," he said calmly.

"He's carefree, not suspicious. They're all just joking around."

Sarah frowned slightly, crossing her arms. "Still, it felt like a close call. I need to be careful."

Leo's eyes glinted for a moment, his voice lowering. "You're right, this isn't the time for any drastic actions. For now, just focus on blending in. Flirt with Josh if you must—it'll keep them distracted."

Sarah rolled her eyes but nodded. "Fine, but he's exhausting."

Leo chuckled lightly, the sound almost unnerving in the quiet room. "Just keep up the act. We'll deal with what needs to be done when the time is right."

---

☞: The Siblings Split

Back with the group of siblings, the eerie atmosphere of the old mansion was starting to sink in. The heavy wooden beams and antique furnishings gave off an unsettling vibe, especially for Adi, who clung tightly to Eithan's arm.

"I don't like this place," Adi mumbled, his voice trembling. "It's too creepy. Can we all sleep in one room?"

Eithan sighed, glancing at the others. "Come on, Adi, it's not that bad. Look—" he gestured around the dusty but sturdy room.

"This place has character. It's...haunted."

Josh scared. "Hey Eithan we should listen to adi"

because he was also present at that day when they kill a **Bird** (Vampire)

"Not helping," Eithan muttered.

Adi's grip tightened, and his wide eyes darted around the room.

"Please. I can't stay alone in a place like this."

Ruhr, who had been unpacking her things, chimed in. "We can work something out. How about we split into two groups?"

Josh raised an eyebrow.

"Split? Isn't that worse? At least I have someone to company me?"

Albert, munching on a cookie, grinned.

"I'm not scared. As long as I'm with Ruhr, I'm fine. She's got all the snacks."

Ruhr sighed but smiled at her brother.

"Fine. Albert and I will share a room since we're siblings anyway."

Eithan nodded, rubbing the back of his neck.

"That makes sense. And the rest of us—me, Josh, and Adi—will take another room."

Adi perked up slightly at the suggestion, his fear subsiding a little.

"Okay. As long as I'm not alone."

Josh groaned, flopping onto one of the antique sofas.

"Great. Just what I needed—a room full of dudes. Not exactly my idea of a fun trip."

Eithan shot him a look.

"You'll survive. Besides, weren't you the one trying to impress Sarah? Looks like you'll have to wait till morning to keep up your flirting routine."

Josh grinned, undeterred.

"Morning can't come fast enough."

Ruhr shook her head as she gathered her things. "You're hopeless, Josh. Come on, Albert, let's set up our room."

Albert followed his sister, still munching cookies and humming a cheerful tune.

"This is going to be fun!"

Eithan watched them go before turning to Adi and Josh.

"Alright, let's get settled. And Adi, try not to scare yourself before we even get to bed, alright?"

Adi nodded, clutching his bag tightly. "I'll try."

With that, the group headed to their respective rooms, the creaks and groans of the old mansion following them like whispers in the night.

---

☞: Dinner and Retreat

The long day at the old mansion came to a close with a hearty meal that Leo had thoughtfully brought along. The siblings and Sarah gathered around a makeshift dining area, the table loaded with steaming plates of meat dishes that filled the room with a savory aroma.

Eithan leaned back in his chair, tearing into a leg of roasted chicken.

"Well, at least the food makes up for this creepy vacation Dad forced on us."

Josh, sitting across from him, was too busy sneaking glances at Sarah to eat properly. He managed a half-smile and said,

"Yeah, sure. Great food."

Sarah, ever composed, focused on her plate, ignoring Josh's obvious attempts to get her attention.

Albert, meanwhile, was gleefully stuffing his face, pieces of food clinging to his cheeks as he laughed.

"This is the best meal ever! Thank you, Leo!"

Ruhr smiled at her brother, handing him a napkin.

"Albert, slow down. You're going to choke."

Adi sat at the edge of the table, nibbling on a piece of steak while darting glances at the dark windows.

"Are we... really going to sleep here tonight? What if something happens?"

Eithan rolled his eyes, wiping his hands on a napkin.

"Adi, nothing's going to happen. It's just an old house. You watch too many horror movies."

Adi didn't look convinced, but he stayed quiet, staring nervously at his plate.

Leo cleared his throat, addressing the group.

"I hope everyone's full. You should all get some rest. It's going to be a long week."

Josh leaned back with a grin, gesturing toward Sarah.

"Well, Sarah can protect us if anything happens, right? She's tough."

Sarah shot him a pointed look, but her tone was calm as she replied,

"I'd rather protect myself first."

The subtle jab went over Josh's head as he chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck.

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