I refused to comply, thinking of Sarah and John. I knew they were out there, fighting for survival just like me. And they would come at any moment now.
“Help! John !” I screamed, hoping my big brother might hear me.
Seraphine’s eyes widened in fury and panic as she quickly silenced me again, her hand clamping down hard. “You little—” she hissed, but before she could finish, Vesper’s grip tightened on my legs, spreading them open.
Just as I braced for the worst, the door to the room burst open with a thunderous crash. Dracula stormed. With one swift, brutal motion, he decapitated Vesper with his bare hands. The body fell lifelessly to the ground, and the room fell into a stunned silence.
Dracula’s cold, commanding voice cut through the air. “Release her.”
Seraphine, now visibly terrified, complied immediately. I scrambled off the bed, my body trembling, and hid behind Dracula, clinging to his dark mantle for protection. The dark fabric felt like a shield against the nightmare I endured.
Seraphine fell to her knees, her voice quivering with fear. “Please, my lord, spare me! She’s just a lowly human, not worth your attention!”
Dracula’s gaze turned icy. “Silence”.
An invisible **** seemed to grab Seraphine by the face, lifting her into the air and bringing her close to me. She dangled helplessly as Dracula ordered, “Apologize.”
Seraphine’s eyes darted wildly as she choked out, “I’m sorry, my lord!”
Dracula’s voice remained cold and commanding. “Not to me. To her.”
Seraphine’s eyes met mine, her expression a mix of fear and resentment. “I’m sorry,” she spat, barely able to mask her hatred.
Dracula’s gaze shifted to me, his voice softer but no less powerful. “What should her punishment be?”
I hesitated, still clinging to his mantle, my mind reeling from the events. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself and met Seraphine’s gaze with as much courage as I could muster.
