Chapter 3

Aurora's POV

Pain.

The word had become oddly familiar to me ever since my rebirth.

It always crept through my body like a knife but now, it felt like poison.

It was dull now, sharp. My limbs were growing heavier by the second and my throat was dry.

What was happening to me?

I threw my eyes open to a dimly lit room.

The candle light blinked each time wind escaped into the room, heavy draperies covered the windows, casting shadows around the room.

I inhaled and the scent of burning herbs filled my nostrils.

“What is this place?” My mind raced.

I tried to move but something pushed me down.

That was when I realized my body was sprawled on a giant bed. And I wasn't alone.

I tried to scream but his hands covered my mouth.

“Mmmng!” My screams were muffled and I struggled in his tight grip.

I panicked when the stranger began to lean closer.

My breath hitched. No. What was he about to do?

Suddenly, he pressed his face against my neck and sniffed.

A low rumble of laughter vibrated from his throat. “Smells wonderful.”

‘No!’ My mind screamed.

Before I could move, warmth —no— heat was being pulled from my veins.

It took a heartbeat for the horror to set in.

He was drinking my blood!

I yanked his hand from my mouth and gave him a shove. My body moved on its own, twisting and kicking out wildly in a rush of adrenaline.

The man was startled for a second before he relaxed his gaze.

“You're awake.” He said in a smooth voice.

“You're stealing my life!” I yelled, rage exploding inside of me.

“Not when it's mine for the taking.” The flash of a smirk gleamed across his face and I boiled.

“Eat shit!”

With every ounce of strength left in me, I covered my hand over his throat, pressing hard the same way he did. Blood from his mouth splattered across the sheet. My blood!

My rage tripled just by looking at it. “You bastard!”

I pushed him backwards, slamming an elbow into his chest.

He staggered back, choking, but that lasted only for a second because the next moment, he was wiping his mouth with the back of his mouth.

His eyes burned with fury as he growled. “You shouldn't have done that, slave!”

Slave!

I'm queen, not a slave!

He advanced towards me and I lunged, dodging the fatal blow only by a hare's breath.

I was lucky. But I was also lucky to have snatched a silver dagger from his person — his silver dagger.

Without hesitation, I drove it forward but he was quick on his feet. His fist collided against my ribs and pain erupted from my side. I had to stop. But I couldn't.

With one mighty scream, I grabbed the dagger again and plunged it into his chest.

His eyes went round, his lips parting as though he wanted to speak but instead, he choked out a gasp and slumped, his body hitting the floor in a loud thud.

Silence swallowed the room followed by the sound of my ragged breathing.

Where the man laid, blood began to pool around that area.

I froze.

Blood.

Then, I stared down at my hands.

“No.” I stumbled back, hitting the edge of the bed.

My bloody fingers trembled as I panicked.

He was dead.

He was dead and I had killed him.

Not in battle, not as self-defense. I had murdered him.

The realization was a punch to the gut. I had killed a man.

Then suddenly, something clicked.

I was a queen, a warrior. I was used to taking countless lives and plundering my enemies. Now was not the time to think like a cornered animal. Now, was the time I fought to survive.

Aurora move, think!

My eyes fell on the sheets and I moved on instinct.

“I have to cover this up.” I whispered to myself.

Peeling off the bed sheets off the bed, I wiped my face, hands and arms with it, erasing all evidence.

Then I looked at the body and guilt washed all over me again.

But I shook my head. Now was the time to act, not sulk.

I threw the sheets over the man's body and dragged it away from the center of the room. The body was gone but the blood was still there. I needed to clean up.

My eyes fell on what looked like a bathroom door and I stumbled inside.

I caught sight of a mirror and when I looked, I froze.

The face staring back at me wasn't mine.

Gone was the ethereal beauty of the Vampire Queen – The porcelain skin, sharp cheekbones, delicate features that made grown men blush like teenagers. Now… Now, I was plain!

Chubby cheeks, rounded nose, freckled face!

Horror crept up my spine as I touched my cheek. This couldn't be me! But it was.

A new body.

A new face.

A new curse.

My hands curled into a fist.

If Jason thought this would stop me! If fate thought this would stop me from my revenge, then they were dead wrong!

I was reborn and I would have my revenge! No matter the cost!

A sudden gasp behind me made my blood run cold.

I spun around only to catch a maid standing by the doorway, her face pale as she stared at the body on the floor.

Her lips parted like she was about to scream. Before I could speak, she already did.

In a flash, I crossed the room and clamped my hand over her mouth.

“Shut up!” I hissed.

Her wide, terrified eyes met mine. She trembled nervously but nodded.

It was quiet now but it was already too late.

Distant pounding of boots filled the halls and I panicked. The maid's scream had alerted them.

I had seconds to decide – leave the maid and run or get caught.

Screw it.

I pushed the maid, ignoring her muffled sobs and bolted towards the windows.

Shouts echoed outside the door.

“Break it down!”

The first impact rattled the walls.

There was no time to waste.

“What are you doing?!” The maid called out.

The wind howled against the skin. Below the dark forest stretched endlessly.

Another slam against the door.

Fuck it.

I hurled myself out the window, the wind whooshing as I plummeted three stories down. I didn't stick the landing and the fall wasn't very graceful either.

“Oof!” My body smacked the snowy ground with a painful thud.

I winced. “Son of a - -”

“Find the slave!” A loud voice rang out.

How did they find me so quickly?

“I see her. She's escaping!” A guard cried out from the room above.

Well, no shit!

Ignoring the pain, I dragged myself to my feet and sprinted barefooted into the cold woods.

I had no idea where I was going but one thing was certain.

I could not getting caught now.

Not until I had my revenge.