Chapter 1

Amelia’s POV

That feeling of loneliness was a feeling I was very well familiar with now. Born into a powerful vampire family, I was only but a human, and that was when it all began—the hate. They called me an outcast, a disgrace.

“A beautiful face and curves are all you’ve got, Human slut!” My sister, Emily, would always remind me.

But this, this was just evil.

Standing in the middle of the hall, my family stared down at me like I was some plague they desperately wanted to get rid of. I could feel my palm sweating and trembling. What do they mean by this? I looked at my father and his eyes held no emotions, Just pure disgust.

Sighing deeply, I fixed them a stare, “Why? You all know that sending me there is a death sentence, why would you do this to me?” I asked, my lips quivering as I tried to hold back the tears that were already forming and threatening to fall.

“Oh please, Amelia. Why are you being ungrateful? You should be thanking us for such privilege,” my mother responded.

“I know you all hate me, but I am still your family” I urged, hoping they would change their minds.

“Family? You think you are family? A human being family with powerful vampires? You are delusional, Amelia. An eyesore” Emily said with mockery in her eyes.

“But… this is so unfair. Other families never send their daughters, but you are sending your own daughter? You all have hated me since I was a child untill this moment, why didn’t you just kill me? Why bring me into this world just to treat me like shit!” I directed my anger to my dad, yelling at him.

He got upset and slapped me so hard my cheeks burned as the taste of copper filled my mouth, “stupid child, ungrateful little brat! how dare you speak to me like that, are you insane!”

“Do you know how much I’ve wanted to fucking kill you? You should be grateful to the grand elder, he’s the reason you are still alive. Now, since I can’t kill you, you will have to die in someone else hands”

I was stunned, the hatred was indeed very deep. I blinked back the tears welling up in my eyes and clenched my fists.

“You are a mistake, Amelia, deal with that” Emily said grabbing my father’s arm trying to calm him down, he gave her an affectionate look, one he had never given me my entire life.

I still couldn’t believe that my own family would send me away to die.

“It’s time to go, the men from the king’s palace are here already “ I heard my father say.

“I am not going anywhere! I won’t accept this!” I shook my head violently in decline.

“What did you just say?” My father said, taking slow steps toward me.

I stood my ground, “if you send me away, I promise you all will regret this“ I muttered, loud enough for them to hear.

“Are you threatening me?” my father growled and swiftly grabbed my neck, choking me, “I can kill you right now if I want to. Don’t push me, Amelia.” he gritted his teeth and shoved me roughly to the ground.

All this just because I was born a human. Because I wasn’t a powerful vampire like they all were. I’ve been stepped on and treated like a slave my whole life. Now, they are offering me to the most evil being in the world, knowing fully well he will kill me. The thought of it sent shivers running down my spine.

“Why are you still here? Get out! Or do you want me to throw you out? I never want to set eyes on you again” my father growled, his eyes filled with hatred.

I let out a sad and broken laugh, staggering up to my feet. I’ll go. But you all should just pray I don’t survive.

I walked out of the hall as the heavy oak doors slammed shut behind me to what’s been my room these past few years: a small storage space. I had close to nothing, a few clothes, a comb with just a few teeth left, a small mirror and a mat, Nothing else. Looking around, I decided to take nothing. What was the point? I changed into different clothes, pulled my hair into a tight ponytail then I walked out of the room.

I got to the iron gates of the mansion and opened it, taking one last look at where I had mistakenly called home for twenty years. Then I stepped out and slammed the gate shut.

Spotting a black old rusty van with two men standing in front of it, the expression on their faces were unsettling. The door was already opened so I walked over and stepped in. Several girls around my age were cramped up in the vehicle, my shoulders fell with a numb sigh as I stared at them. I have heard a lot of stories about ‘The king’, he is an original, the first vampire. He became a demon after he was cursed, and has lived for a long, long time.

It was said that the curse, turned him into a monster—a devil. It is still unclear what he does with the girls that are sent to his palace, but from what I heard, they usually don’t come back alive. The car suddenly stopped at a grocery convenience store which had a fuel station. One of the stone faced men came down to fill the tank, and that took quite a while. The words of my family from earlier kept repeating in my head. My stomach rumbled for the hundred and one times today, I rubbed it gently, starving was something I was already used to.

The engine of the car later roared to life as we set out and continued on our journey to death. I let my thoughts take over till I suddenly fell asleep.

* * * *

The screeching sound from the tires of the old rusty van snapped me awake, I peered out through the window to see we had arrived at the king’s palace,

“Come out!” One of the men barked as we all stepped out and stood in front of the palace. An old castle that looked and smelt like death itself, with branches and thorns spiraling all the way to the top. Taking a deep breath, I followed the other girls inside. We walked through a dimly lit hallway untill we reached a room, a strange woman was standing by the door.

“Is this all of them?” She asked. I looked at her as i took in her appearance—red hair, a heavy makeup, Red clothes that clinged to her body like a second skin, red heels.

“Yes, this is all” the mean looking man responded.

“Alright. I’ll take it from here“ she said to the man, he nodded and walked away, his shoes making loud thumping sounds until it completely died down.

“Come with me “ she urged us as she opened the door and walked in, we all followed closely behind her. The room was massive and beautiful, several beds were arranged for each of us.

“Form a line” her high pitched tone ordered and we did. She picked up a folder and started taking down our names, I was the last in line.

She fixed me a sharp stare before asking, “your name?”

“Amelia Salvatore“ I responded.

“Elder Salvatore’s daughter?” she asked, surprise written all over her face.

“Well, not anymore “ I murmured, my eyes fixed on the ground.

She stared at me for a while, clicked her tongue and walked away.

“Strip!” she ordered, her voice booming across the room.