Chapter 2

Without a doubt, it was Eduardo’s voice praising a job well done. Everything would have been fine, if the male in question hadn't thanked him, adding that Olson had not even realized where the strike had come from, especially after the poison had already limited his movements.

"Oh my God!"

I brought my hand to my mouth as sobs began to wrack my body, tears streaming down my face. I collapsed to my knees in shock.

My body paralyzed, even as I realized that silence had fallen back into the air and the door was opening further. I wanted to run, to flee far away, but my body would not obey my commands.

A shadow approached; I knew who it had to be, and I did not want to face him—not now. I didn't have the strength for that.

Eduardo knelt before me, lifting my chin, and placed a finger over my lips to ensure I remained silent, the threats following immediately after.

In truth, who could I even tell? Would anyone believe me?

A simple dhampir, accepted only out of pity, with no status whatsoever within the clan. It would be my word against his, and worse... I was his cursed alibi. His scent still lingered on my body, a proof he required so that no vampire would doubt his defense.

I had been a pawn in a macabre game, where he had planned to use me, keeping me bound to his whims and his commands.

But I did not belong to him, nor did I belong to the Camarilla clan, and away from there, I could attempt to prove that he was a cruel murderer.

As they mourned for my master, I observed that it was impossible to continue living in that house. Eduardo gave me no respite, harassing me as if I belonged to him, threatening me, and it had to end.

My tears would have to cease; my attitude as a zombie walking through the corridors of that mansion without knowing what place I occupied, fulfilling orders from someone I detested, had to end.

Eduardo had known the naive and foolish girl that night; he thought he could force me into his bed whenever he pleased, but he was mistaken. Now, I would show him the determined woman capable of avenging the death of her master.

Without a doubt, he would pay—it didn't matter how, but he would. And the start of my journey began right here, on a morning where the sun shone intensely, warming my cold skin.

That's right, I am a Dhampir: half-human, half-vampire.

I walk in the daylight, I need food, I have no fangs, and I do not drink blood. But I possess vampire strength and a few other extras that my mixed blood provides, along with the advantage of walking in the daylight while they had to hide; it was a good margin to do what I should have done immediately after that night.

Taking several deep breaths, I fixed my hair after the frantic running, trying to pass unnoticed among the pedestrians filling the sidewalks.

Humans were focused on their daily routines, not worrying about a latent threat among them.

Despite the rules that forbade vampires from feeding without consent, there were still renegades who did not respect human life; even though the punishment was death, many risked it for the pleasure of the hunt.

Deep down, being under the protection of these law enforcers was an effective way to keep Eduardo away until I could gather evidence to accuse him and make him pay for his crime.

Looking around, I searched for the mark that indicates establishments managed by vampire sympathizers, finally obtaining valid information about the defenders of the weak after several attempts that bore no fruit and only made me lose precious time.

To my relief, I still had a few hours until nightfall. Perhaps Eduardo, in his own insanity, would forget about me for a time; after all, he thought I would be a girl obedient to his desires, so he would be relaxed, never imagining that I had disappeared that night.

Bastard!

I had such a desire to rip out his fangs, one by one, while watching him choke on his own blood.