The moon was up in the sky, and the wind howled against the palace's walls. The town was quiet, and everyone was sleeping. Well, of course, someone normal.
"Sissy!" Vanya whispered quietly in the dark, and Estrella groaned, covering her ears with a pillow.
"Leave me alone." She muttered angrily, but Vanya grabbed her hand and tugged at it. "No, come on," Vanya persisted, pulling her out of bed. "I need your help with something." Estrella raised her hand, feeling rage in her veins, but she dropped it when Vanya thought she wanted to hug her, placing her head on her shoulder. Estrella gazed frustratedly at her own hand.
She was about to hit Vanya.
God, now she feels terrible.
She took her hand with her smaller one, and Vanya pulled her out of bed, Estrella yawning loudly. "What is it?" She groggily muttered as she followed Vanya out of the room. "I want you to show me more of the palace. I liked the library today. I want to see more."
Estrella sighed through her nose, irritated.
"I don't know anything about that demolished place." She uttered, annoyed, but Vanya smiled at her softly, her blue eyes sparkling with faith. "We can discover it together!" Estrella couldn't resist Vanya's enthusiasm and nodded reluctantly, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. As they walked through the corridors, Estrella felt so irritated.
They carefully passed the kitchen, making sure no servants would see them, and they walked into the tiny hall, hushed.
There was a door separating the hallway from the stairs that led to the demolished part of the palace. Estrella didn't understand that. Why was there a door to separate it if it was a single palace?
The new palace was situated in the front, and the other part was far in the back.
Perhaps Henry kept it for more storage.
Estrella pressed the handle, and the door clicked. She grabbed Vanya's arm and dragged her inside, shutting the door quietly behind them. They stepped onto the old red carpet and walked forward towards the stairs that still remained after more than half of the palace was destroyed.
Vanya tripped, and Estrella caught her, wrapping her arms around her middle. "Are you okay?" She asked her softly, and the girl nodded, smiling at her.
Her irritation seemed to leave completely when Vanya took her hand and led her up the stairs.
The first room on the left is where Beverly, Max, and Jane had slept that night; they knew that. And in front of them was the tall corridor that led to the library.
Vanya pointed to the corridor on the right. "Can we go there?" Estrella hesitated for a moment before nodding, curious about what they might find. This part sided with Vanya's room, and thus it was less destroyed.
It was almost intact.
Estrella smiled. Vanya was eager to discover more, and she looked so silly; it was awesome.
They stopped.
There were doors on each side of the walls that probably led to rooms. Vanya giggled and dragged her sister with her, opening the first door on the right.
Inside, they found a small study room with bookshelves lining the walls, filled with dusty old books. There was also a desk with a lot of files on it, and there was a lantern there. Estrella entered with a small smile on her face.
There was a map of the whole kingdom in front of the desk above, fixed on the wall, with all of the names of locations vampires had discovered over time. There was a rounded window on the left, so large that it allowed moonlight to shine upon the desk. The glass resembled a rose, a bit wider in the interior and curved towards the outside; a small sofa fit in that curvature.
It was such a waste that this was abandoned.
As Estrella took a seat on the sofa, she couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. She looked outside. She could see the whole kingdom. The view was breathtaking, with the moonlight casting a soft glow over the land.
Vanya looked at the files on the table. They were covered in dust, untouched for years. She sighed and began to shuffle through the papers, trying to piece together what had happened in this once majestic room.
She couldn't read.
Estrella's parents haven't given her a proper education.
She put the files down, and she gazed at Estrella. "Come, there's still more, you know?" Vanya said quietly, seeing how Estrella was captivated by the moon, a gentle gaze on her usually hard face.
She shook her head, snapping out of some type of faze, walking to Vanya, and grabbing her hand. They left the room and closed the door behind them.
"There's no one, Vanya. You don't have to close it."
Vanya gazed at the ground.
"I'd rather do it for the respect of whoever worked there."
"You do you, I guess."
Estrella walked into the parallel room.
The windows were shattered, glass was on the floor, and the room was abandoned for, god knows, how long. Vanya followed Estrella into the other room, feeling a sense of sadness at the state of neglect it was in. She looked around at the broken windows and dusty furniture, feeling a pang of empathy for whoever used to occupy the space.
There was a king-sized bed, but there was dried blood on the sheets, making Estrella wince terribly hard and covering Vanya's eyes with her hands. "What happened here?" She muttered to herself, gazing at the fallen swords on the floor.
They were all rusty.
The wall that faced the outside was destroyed.
"What's the meaning of this?" Estrella asked herself.
Why were there signs of someone fighting? There hasn't been a war in decades. Estrella's heart raced as she pieced together the scene before her, wondering what dark secrets this abandoned room held. She couldn't shake the feeling that something sinister had taken place within these walls.
Vanya clenched her small fingers around her leg. "Let's get out of here." Estrella nodded in agreement, feeling a chill run down her spine. As they hurried out of the room, she couldn't help but glance back one last time, her mind filled with questions about the mysterious past of the abandoned place.
They went into the room right next to the study. The room next door was dimly lit, with dust particles dancing in the moonlight that filtered through the cracked window.
This wasn't as damaged.
The bed was made, the sheets were folded nicely, and the pillows were put into place. The air in this room felt less heavy and less haunted. There was a mirror on her left, still intact, with dust covering it; the reflection was mildly disturbed.
There was a wardrobe, and Estrella opened it out of curiosity.
Girl clothes.
A girl lived here.
But who? Estrella's grandparents only had Henry. Did he have a sister who died?
There were numerous black turtlenecks in all types of colors, especially white and green. Estrella picked up a white turtleneck and held it up to the dim light filtering through the window. It was in remarkably good condition considering the circumstances. As she rummaged through the wardrobe, she found a photo tucked behind some sweaters. It was a faded image of a young girl with long white hair with her back turned to the camera, as if someone had taken a picture of her secretly. Estrella's heart skipped a beat—could this be the girl who once lived in this room?
Or was it a photo of someone else?
"Can I see?" Vanya raised herself on her tiptoes, and Estrella nodded. She had to bend her knees so Vanya could see.
Her eyes gazed at the mysterious girl, and she pouted slightly. "Who do you think she is?"
"I don't know."
Estrella was genuine.
Her red eyes widened when she noticed a notebook hidden under a box. She took it and wiped the front with her sleeve.
"Diary" was written in elegant cursive on the cover. Estrella's curiosity peaked as she opened it, wondering if it held any clues about the mysterious girl in the photo.
And she did find something.
An entry. That's all the diary contains.
16 November.
Today's date.
But ten years in the past.
'Dear diary, my thoughts have been circling for a considerable period of time at this very moment. Since the time I first heard her delicate voice vibrate in my ears, I have not been able to recall a single moment without being preoccupied with it. Her laughter reverberates in my consciousness, evoking an indescribable sense of haze. Her laughter is so graceful that it is celestial and yearning, comparable to the chirp of a sparrow. Her influence has permeated every aspect of my being, rendering me incapable of directing my attention towards any other matter.
She possesses everything with grace.
When she enters the same room as me, I reprimand my gaze for being preoccupied with her features. She's enticing me into being in her fantasy.
My lips part whenever I catch a glimpse of her white, dense tresses that fall graciously down her small back, cascading like an icy river. Her eyes—oh my, their vivacious green never fail to make my heart pound my throat. If I could reach inside them, I'd step into a forest full of lively creatures, trees that oscillate gently from one side to another, and crescent mountains around a valley. I'm concerned that if I enter her realm when I get back into reality, I won't smile anymore. I find myself immersed in her universe, consumed by the beauty and enchantment she exudes. Every time she speaks, it's as if I am under a spell, unable to drag my gaze away from her enchanting presence. I fear that once I return to my own reality, the colors will diminish, the noises will mellow, and the vibrancy of life will dwindle in comparison to the vibrant world she has painted in my mind. But for now, I am content to be held captive by her allure, relishing in the radiance of her existence.
Oh, dear diary, she's making me go insane! So insane that I would write day and night about her, and only her. She's a poem, and I am the eccentric writer behind it, studying and learning her like an instrument.
Her smile should be a crime. I'm so terrified. I have a terrible, terrible sense that if she says the word 'please' I will give her anything she desires. My thoughts are consumed by her presence, and my heart beats wildly whenever she is near. Every word she speaks is like a melody to my ears, and every glimpse she gives me sends chills down my spine. I am entirely entranced by her, unable to resist the strong pull she has over me. Despite my concerns about losing control, I am willing to surrender to her completely, unable to fathom a life without her captivating essence. She is my muse, my obsession, my everything.
I am hers completely, body, heart, and soul.
I've told you, she made me go insane!
Every time she smiles so tenderly at me, I melt into a puddle at her feet. The way she effortlessly captivates me with just a smile is beyond explanation. It's like she possesses power over me that I cannot resist, and I find myself willingly succumbing to her every desire. She is the inspiration behind every breath I take and the reason why my heart pulses with such intensity.
My green-eyed divine beauty.
𓍯𓂃𓏧♡ 𝓐 ♡𓂃𓏧𓍯
'
Estrella huffed.
"If he doesn't write about me like this, then I don't want him."
Vanya held the page in her palms, not comprehending any words but appreciating the exquisite handwriting. She so wanted to read this herself, but she didn't know how to read. If it weren't for Estrella to read it, she wouldn't even know what it was about. The truth is that Estrella hesitated while reading some syllables.
"Who wrote this?' Vanya's curiosity peaked as she looked up at Estrella, waiting for an answer. Estrella shrugged and smiled at her.
"I don't know, but I am envious of her handwriting. I want to write like that." She whimpered audibly, and Vanya exhaled, sitting next to her on the old bed. She placed her head on her shoulder and draped her arms around her.
"Be grateful you know how to read and write. I don't know any of that." Vanya muttered regrettably, and Estrella hummed quietly, placing Vanya's head on her lap and playing with her long hair.
"I really don't know why my parents won't enroll you in school. I've told them innumerable times."
Estrella really didn't comprehend why.
"There's no purpose. Maybe I'm just that oblivious. God, there's no way I'd be able to think intelligently." Estrella shook her head, feeling agitated for her stepsister. "You're not stupid, Vanya. You just haven't been given the opportunity to learn," she reassured her tenderly. Vanya closed her eyes, humming silently.
Estrella knew that Vanya had potential; she just needed the opportunity to prove it. "I'll talk to them again," Estrella vowed, determined to help her stepsister succeed.
"Don't. It's alright."
"It's not."
"I don't think I care anymore."
Vanya put the photo of the girl in her pocket. Maybe she'll find clues about her.
Estrella sighed sadly and gazed at her necklace, opening it to see her father.
Estrella rolled her eyes and raised Vanya on her shoulder, carrying her away from the room. The sun was already rising, and she didn't want her parents to know that they had been wandering in the old part of the palace, where it was clearly forbidden to go. As they walked back to their rooms, Estrella held her small sister up with ease. Her father was surely right. She had gotten so strong and so tall.
Vanya wasn't strong like her.
Which is what makes the difference between a royal and a regular vampire.
She sighed and went into the kitchen, taking a glass of blood and chugging it down her throat. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve and looked at Vanya from the corner of her eyes.
"You haven't drunk any blood. Drink, or you're going to decompose." She handed her the glass, feeling her small handshake considerably. Her lips twisted in disgust, and she slowly reached the glass to her lips, wincing the whole time.
She put the tip of her tongue on it, and Estrella hugged, grabbing the back of the glass and raising it up, forcing blood into her mouth. Vanya turned her head and spit it out, her eyes welling with tears, choking, and holding her throat.
"You're a vampire, Vanya! You have to actually guzzle blood. That's why you're so damn tiny, because your body can't develop." Estrella muttered furiously. In the past years, Vanya had grown very little, and her irises weren't even close to turning red. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could her own sister say such spiteful things to her?
"I can't." She sobbed, her mandible narrowing as she cleaned her mouth with her hand, wincing at the sight of blood. Estrella gritted her teeth.
"I've been taking care of you for years, and I haven't seen you touch a fucking drop of blood." She growled her way, and Vanya took a step back, her eyes quivering under the taller woman's gaze. Estrella wasn't usually furious, but her irises told it all.
She was growing worse with each year that passed. Vanya began to see Henry more and more in Estrella, but she decided to keep silent, yet she never disregarded it. The more blood she consumed, the more furious she got; the more animosity erupted inside her, the more revengeful she became. The notion of her becoming like Henry horrified Vanya, but she couldn't deny the similarities she was starting to see.
"Estrella."
"I took you away from that fucking orphanage because you were too fucking frail and I wanted someone to take care of. You've been starving there for, god knows, how long, and you still don't want to consume any blood when you could have it at any hour of the day?!" The glass fractured in her hands, and Vanya's pupils enlarged at the incisions the glass fragments had left when they penetrated her skin. Estrella's irises darkened with fury as she clenched her fists, her thirst for retribution growing stronger with each passing instant.
"Estrella, stop!" Vanya implored, attempting to soothe her down before things escalated even further. But Estrella's fury had reached a boiling point, and she was no longer in control of her actions. Her canines elongated, grazing her dark lips as she hardened her look. With a swift movement, Estrella dashed towards Vanya, her vampire instincts taking over completely.
She seized her shoulder and plunged her nails in there, towering over her. "Please, Estrella, don't do this," Vanya complained in terror, feeling the acute pain of Estrella's claws burrowing into her skin. Estrella's irises gleamed with a predatory glint as she leaned in closer, her canines inches away from Vanya's neck.
She still trusted that she wouldn't dare sink her fangs in.
She pinned her to the wall, gazing meticulously down at her, her nose wrinkled up and her lips into a scowl. "Look how small you are." She hissed, her crimson eyes glinting with sheer amusement. Vanya clinched her mandible and gazed at the ground, her cheekbones filled with dried tears.
"Estrella!" She cried out, hoping to appeal to whatever humanity remained in her.
"Yes, Vanya?" She asked quietly, her anger somewhat gone, replaced by something else as she gazed down at the girl. She moved her other hand to her hair, tangling her long fingers in there and caressing it slightly.
"Estrella, what are you doing?"
Her red eyes were beaming in the dim light, and they were conflicted. Estrella's grip on Vanya's hair tightened slightly. "I'm just admiring how fragile you are," she whispered, a chilling smile playing on her lips. Vanya shuddered, her innocent blue eyes scared. "Let me go, Estrella," Vanya pleaded, the fear evident in her voice. Estrella's smile widened, sending a shiver down Vanya's spine. "Why would I let go of something so precious?" Estrella murmured, her grip on Vanya's hair growing firmer.
She moved her hand from her shoulder to her neck, placing it around her throat, smirking pleasingly when she realized it covered all of it with ease, and up to her lips, parting them with her thumb. "You're so adorable." She cooed quietly.
This wasn't Estrella, but at least she wasn't hurting her. Her vampire apparently did not intend to hurt Vanya. So she stood quiet, with tears in her eyes, afraid of making her angry.
"I always thought you were beautiful." She spoke as she rubbed her thumb on her stained cheek, brushing it softly with her fingers. "That's why I chose to adopt you from all of the children at the warehouse." She smiled at her.
She was intoxicated with blood. Her eyes were fuzzy, a deep scarlet, and she looked out of her mind.
But yet, she didn't lay a single hand on Vanya.
"Mother said I was crazy when I wanted you." She whispered quietly, wiping a sliding tear away with her thumb. "But..." She sighed deeply, her eyes softening considerably, and her grip on her shoulder loosened. "I didn't listen to her. I wanted to make you healthy." She pressed her lips together, and the dark color cooled into a molten green.
"You were so frail, so skinny." Her eyes were like two weird sap crystals, different from anything she had seen at Henry or Elizabeth. They welled up with tears as her touch became gentle. "There were two children in front of you. They didn't want me to take you." Estrella clenched her jaw, and Vanya parted her lips slightly.
She knew she was adopted, but she had no memories of the orphanage she was in.
"There was a girl." Estrella closed her eyes as if it hurt her, biting her inner cheeks and exhaling drily. "She was so agitated. She wouldn't let me touch you. She kept you behind her." Vanya's heart raced as she listened to Estrella's revelations about her past.
She was finally getting a bit of her own past.
Estrella's hands cupped her cheeks softly, every hint of anger gone, her eyes calmer than ever, emotional and alive. " The owner had to grab her from behind so I could see you. She fought against him." Vanya felt a lump form in her throat as she pictured the young girl protecting her from harm. It was a strange feeling to know that someone had looked out for her when she was so vulnerable.
"My mother asked how old you were. The owner didn't know." Estrella's voice was tender as she continued, "The girl's twin, a boy with glasses, told us you were four at the time. He looked older than me, but so did the girl. They both were around nine."
Estrella took a deep breath in.
"The owner left with my mother outside." She felt her eyes sting at the memory. "I asked them what your name was." She couldn't help the broken sob going past her lips. "The boy said your name was Vanya. My mother asked me to choose a name for you, but I didn't. I wanted you to be you." Estrella's voice cracked as she recalled the emotional moment. "I couldn't bear to give you a different name," she whispered, her heart heavy with regret. "Not after that girl collapsed to the ground with her head in her hands, muffling her cries. The boy seemed dizzy too; he braced himself against the wall with tears in his eyes."
Estrella's eyes filled with tears as she remembered the painful scene. "I don't think I'm ever going to forgive my mother for that." She mumbled, her eyes terrified, gazing forward. "She laughed in their faces." Estrella's voice trembled with anger as she recounted her mother's heartless reaction. "I will never forget how callous she was," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It haunts me to this day."
Estrella's eyes were greener than ever. She shook her head, trying to push the memories away. "I just can't understand how someone could be so cruel," she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. The pain in her heart was still raw years later.
Vanya swallowed thickly. "So, you don't even know how old I actually am?" Estrella shook her head, her eyes filled with tears. "No, he probably said it so you could get adopted. I saw him pressing his finger to his lips when his sister widened her eyes in protest. They protected you to the very end." Vanya's heart ached at Estrella's revelation.
"And I can't even remember them."
Vanya looked devastated.
Estrella swallowed thickly. "I don't know. You seem to not remember anything before the age of six. I took you to a psychiatrist some years ago, and he told me you had infantile amnesia due to a lack of sleep and a lot of stress."
"How old were you when you adopted me?"
"I was seven."
Vanya nodded silently. "God, this is so messed up." She mumbled to herself quietly. "I don't even know if I am eleven or not." Estrella reached out and hugged her sister, pulling her in and resting her palms on her back. "I'm sorry, Vanya. I wish I could give you all the answers."
"You're fourteen. They must be sixteen now. Do you remember how they looked?"
Estrella frowned a bit. "Not quite. Most of their appearance is a blur, but I remember the boy having blue eyes and glasses."
"And the girl?"
Estrella exhaled. "I didn't get to look much at her. They were twins, I know for sure."
Vanya nodded. "Thank you for telling me." Vanya wiped away a tear and smiled weakly. "I just wish I could remember them too." Estrella squeezed her hand in reassurance. "We'll figure it out together, okay?"
"Your eyes are green."
Estrella frowned. She laughed nervously. "What? That's impossible. I'm a vampire, Vanya."
"I'm not lying." She pulled away from her hug and pointed to the window. "Look for yourself." Estrella turned to face it, and she raised her eyebrows. She raised her hand to her eyes and pressed her lips together.
They really were green.
Estrella gasped in shock. "How is this possible?" Vanya shrugged, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "I think it's because you resisted your bloodlust. You could've killed me, but you didn't."
Estrella's face saddened at the mention. "I'm so sorry." She checked on her sister to see if there were any wounds, and sighed in relief when she saw none. It's all a blackout. The last thing she remembers is reading the diary entry and smiling at the text.
"It's not because of the blood." Estrella winced to herself. "I've been like that ever since I finished reading the diary." Vanya's eyes widened in realization. "So it's the diary that triggered this change in you?" Estrella shook her head.
"No, it's the diary that stopped the change in me." Estrella came to her own realization. She had been grumpy the whole day; her anger would snap easily, and she almost wanted to hit Vanya when she asked her to explore the other part of the palace.
She had been sassy, careless, and very violent. But after she had entered the other part of the palace, the moment she put her foot onto the stairs, it all melted away, and she remembers smiling a lot more than usual. She was calmer and more patient.
The diary was just a distraction, and when she looked at her father's photo, that anger came rushing back tenfold.
"Father's doing something to me." Estrella clenched her hands on her knees. Vanya raised an innocent blonde eyebrow. "How come?" Estrella's eyes narrowed as she recounted the memories flooding back. "I feel like he's controlling me somehow," she confessed, her voice tinged with fear.
"Controlling you?"
Estrella nodded, her green eyes very soft. "Can I sleep in your room tonight?"
Vanya's room was the closest to the old part of the palace. Estrella didn't want to have any more blackouts. The pure blackout is her whole day, except for the part where she discovers more of the castle with her sister.
Maybe being closer to that part of the palace would help her somehow.
"Of course!"
Estrella smiled gently at her, something lighter dancing in her gaze. Vanya took her hand and led her to her room, as Estrella watched with a silly grin on her face.
"I think your eyes are prettier now," Vanya whispered quietly, her cheeks shy.
Estrella was slightly taken aback by the compliment, but she nodded. "Thank you. So are yours."
God, it is so much easier to be gentle now.
Vanya closed the door behind them and locked it manually. This room was part of the old palace. Estrella couldn't be mistaken.
The walls were tall, pure white, and the furniture was old—a big wardrobe where Vanya had her clothes and a small library.
Vanya didn't even know how to read.
This only proved her point. All of the rooms had small libraries in the other palace.
Why hadn't her father renovated this room if Vanya had slept in it? Truthfully, there weren't many rooms in their palace, and Vanya's room was last in the hall. So why? Did it cost him so much that he didn't want to renovate Vanya's room?
Vanya was humble.
She didn't complain.
Estrella took her sweater off and tucked her T-shirt in, taking her shoes off and placing them in the corner, next to Vanya's. She sat on the bed and smiled at her sister.
"Your room is nice. Mine is too red." Vanya smiled back at her sister. She had always been content with her simple room, despite its lack of renovation. She liked her room the way it was.
She went to her wardrobe, getting on her tiptoes to open it and rummaging through her clothes. She reached for a plain white shirt. She turned her back to Estrella and took her T-shirt off, sliding it off her head and shaking it a bit, her blonde curls bouncing slightly.
Estrella raised an eyebrow, putting her jaw in her hand.
There was no way that was the body of an eleven-year-old.
Her waist was slim and fit, and her back was pale. When she raised her arms, they flexed, her shoulders were defined, and her biceps were subtly toned. There was barely any fat on her. Her muscles tensed when she put her T-shirt in the wardrobe, folding it and placing it in a corner. She reached for the blouse and raised her head, putting her arms in first. Her neck was strong, and her collarbones stood out proudly. As she smoothed the blouse over her shoulders, she couldn't help but admire the strength and definition of her arms. She was already in a pair of oversized pajama pants, so there wasn't any need to change those two.
She took the lantern and raised an eyebrow, looking at her sister. "Anything wrong?"
"You're more fit than me." Her sister shrugged, not seeming bothered by the observation. She smiled and replied. "I'm small. Take being tall to your advantage."
Estrella nodded with a smile, and she lay on her back, placing her arms under her head. "This bed is so freaking soft." She closed her eyes, feeling the comfort enveloping her body. Vanya settled next to her, getting on her knees on the bed and praying silently.
"You do that every night?"
Vanya raised an eyebrow.
"It's muscle memory."
Estrella hummed and covered herself with the blanket. She fell asleep faster than usual.