Ruby POV

 I had walked for miles without seeing much of anything apart from the breath-taking rocky landscapes.

What struck me the most was how big this realm was! Back home, every path I took through the enchanted forest would always magically loop me back around to the same spot.

But here, the further I walked, the more land there seemed to be! After a few hours, the trees started to become sparse and far between and the paths grew wider and more stable under my feet.

More of those cars started to rocket past me and seemed to be heading in the same direction.

A town.

I stopped on the path by a sign that read, ‘Welcome to Hood River, Oregon’.

What a strange name.

As I looked up, I spotted figures of people strolling along the streets and my heart began to race.

Humans.

Other people.

Were they friendly? Would they help me find this Vampire King Arius? From everything Maggie had told me about them, I was certain that I would be able to find at least one person who would be willing to help, although I should probably refrain from using any of my abilities whilst in their presence.

The whole reason I am in this mess in the first place is because of what I am.

Out of nowhere, a tall human man with grey hair barged past my arm and I shrieked.

He turned and glared at me, looking me harshly up and down as he stormed past.He muttered angrily, "Damn Satan worshiper.Out my way."

Satan worshiper? Like the devil? What did that mean? Does he know I'm part vampire? Sh*t.

I was already risking my safety and I hadn’t even stepped foot in the strange little town yet.I ducked behind a tree and took my eyes, I focused on the smell of that human and masked my own scent with his.I would be less suspicious if smelled like a human.

Making my way through the narrow streets of this charming town, I found myself taking in every little detail with fascination.

The sweet scent of flowers mixed with the deliciousness of freshly baked bread and pastries filled the air.

I bent down to study some of the vibrant blue flowers that were sitting inside a pot rather than growing from the ground, when I felt the cool shade from a figure hovering above me, blocking the warmth of the sunlight.I peered up, squinting my eyes to see a rather beautiful woman with dark skin and long tight brown curls cascading over her shoulders.

"Are you okay there?" she asked with a look of concern and uncertainty on her face.

She must have been about my age, maybe a few years older, but her scent was definitely not the same as that human's.

I stood up slowly and her light brown eyes looked me up and down suspiciously.I swallowed before speaking.

"Er...yes.I was just admiring your flowers.They smell amazing."

The corners of her lips turned up into a sideways smirk and she c*cked her head to the side, folding her arms.

"Well, thank you but I can’t take any credit for them.I didn’t plant them."

She looked amused as she took in my black dress.I looked down at it as well, feeling suddenly self-conscious about my appearance.She was wearing a colorful cotton woven, floor-length dress and beautiful jewelry that matched her outfit perfectly.

A thick necklace made from gold and dangly coral earrings.She looked exotic and beautiful.

I, on the other hand, was wearing my long sleeved, off-the-shoulder corset dress, that fell in ragged material just above my knees.It was my own design.I made all my clothes back home with the hem of my dress nervously.

"Um, no, not exactly.I am visiting.Actually, I am looking for someone.I wonder if you could help me?"

She didn’t seem threatening so I was willing to take the risk, but by the way she was staring into my eyes intensely, it started to make me uncomfortable.

"You're eyes! They are magnificent.What are you?"

She stepped forward closer to me and inhaled.Her face screwed into a tight frown.

"I’m..er...human," I said, not as convincingly as I intended.

She chuckled and stepped back.

"No human answers that they are human.You may smell like a human but you’re not fooling me," she held out her hand in front of me.

"My name is Calliope but my friends call me Calli." I took her hand and she shook it firmly.

"My name is..."

I was hesitant to give her my real name without trusting her intentions.I frantically glanced over her shoulder to look for inspiration.

Seeing a sign above a shop that read, ‘Lily’s florist’, I quickly replied, "Lily."

Her eyes narrowed slightly but she smiled warmly.

"Ok Lily, you said you were looking for someone?"

"Yes, Iam looking for the Vampire King.His name is Arius?"

I noticed her face contort into a look of shock and perhaps fear at the name.

She glanced over her shoulder to check no one heard us and grabbed me by the upper arm aggressively, pulling me down a narrow passage just off the main street.

"Are you crazy?" she whisper-yelled, her eyes wide and filled with alarm.

"What?"

her dumbfounded they know the vampire King! Are you trying to get yourself killed?" she

trying to do the exact opposite!" I argued

know who you are or what rock you have just crawled out of, but you cannot ask humans about super

vampire king was

to her even more that I was a clueless danger to

a clue, do you?" she pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers

I getting

her with a look of pure confusion

opened her eyes

chance of not being taken to the council before the day is out, then I need you to start being honest with me.Panic started to rise in me as I realized the questions were about to start.This was the first person I'd interacted with and she

I have been

the ones who killed my

really did

trust her? She seemed nice enough, but Maggie had warned me that the people in the human realm are not always who they appear

hadn’t made any attempt

"Look...Lily"

know you are a

mouth dropped

you know

magic.But you should really try and disguise them when you are around humans.Humans do not know about our kind.There is a very strict rule in this world, that

‘our kind’?

as I made the connection with her scent

could tell that it

We are on the same side

choice did I have? She was right.I knew nothing about surviving in this realm and I would need to

still a secret but I hadn’t exactly lied by revealing I was a witch, I closed

opened them again, I hoped they were an icy blue like the colour of that stunning lake in the

eyes better now?"

the Vampire King?" I still detect the fear in her

a long story and one which I am still trying to unpick myself, but apparently he will be able to give me my memories back," I

understand what that

 "You lost your memories? Oh well, that explains A LOT!" she chuckled, but I remained

might have been an

"Well, good people."

"Why?" I asked curiously.

She sighs deeply.

is also a very long story and one for another time.You know you could make life a lot easier for yourself and just get another powerful witch

what Mag-

easy man to track down.His castle isin England but I heard he is rarely there.He spends most

"What! Why?"

need to get you something a little more conventional to wear

myself...don’t

of all my designs and I couldn’t help but

you look incredible.The way that corset pushes your t**s up to your chin and the fabric is to

peculiar for this town.Did you not notice all the stares you were getting

with my surroundings

would probably get away with it, but unlucky for you that was

My eyebrows creased, "October?"

up

sort some things out and let some people know I will be gone for a few days.Will you

me as if! am a child that she shouldn’t really be letting out

I smiled at her.

"Of course! Shopping.No problem."

well, this whole street is full of clothes shops so just go and have a mooch around and buy a few items and I

innocently and she shook

as much! Please tell me you have

bag that Maggie gave me and showed her the contents.It was full of strange notes with faces and

money?" I

with that! I will meet you in the end shop called ‘Flair’ in an hour, okay? And remember, no

so bad.I have made a

nice as Calli, I couldn't see this

main street, I started to notice all the heated stares from human

me hostile looks, taking in my dress,

it became too much, I quickly scrambled through a door into a quiet shop to get away from the relentless attention.I hadn’t even noticed what type of shop I had entered and the first

door beeped loudly as it shut and made me jump a mile towards me with a warm

trousers with strange patterns all over them and a black

clothes," I said awkwardly, starting to walk in between the racks of trousers that looked like the ones

reason?" he asked, leaning against

on my body," I

"I mean what do you need them for? Hiking? Camping? Rock

into overdrive as I scrambled my brain to try and make

human town? Luckily, two stunningly beautiful

brown wavy hair and

I was

Children.

I

for ages!" one of

got to watch your stupid doll show this morning and now it’s my turn to choose!" the other argued and I smiled at

ruffling one of the girl’s hair.They both glanced up at me, suddenly realizing there was

You are really pretty!" one said with her mouth

love your dress!" the other one chirped, skipping up to me

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