THE KING'S WIFE

Corolla's eyes widened as she read the last page of the journal. She felt like she had been punched in the gut. Vampire hunters? Vessels? It all sounded like a crazy fairy tale.

But as she looked up at the woman, she saw the seriousness in her eyes. This was real.

"What does it mean?" Corolla asked, her voice shaking.

The woman sat down next to her. "You, Corolla, are the last living heir of a long line of vampire hunters. Your ancestors made a pact with a powerful vampire lord to protect their village from other vampires. But this pact came with a price."

Corolla's mind was racing. "What price?"

The woman's eyes were somber. "Each generation of your family must produce a Vessel, a person with the ability to absorb and neutralize vampire powers. You, Corolla, are the chosen Vessel."

Corolla felt like she was living in a dream. This couldn't be real.

But as she looked down at the journal, she saw the words on the page. They were her family's secrets, secrets that had been hidden for centuries.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Ayden walked in. His eyes locked onto Corolla's, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

"Ayden, what are you doing here?" the woman asked, her voice stern.

Ayden's eyes never left Corolla's. "I've come for her," he said, his voice low and husky.

Corolla's heart skipped a beat. What did Ayden want from her?

The woman stood up, her eyes flashing with anger. "You'll never take her," she spat.

Ayden smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice dripping with menace.

And with that, the room erupted into chaos.

______________________________

Corolla's heart was racing as she watched Ayden and the woman face off. She didn't know what was happening, but she knew she had to get out of there.

She tried to make a run for the door, but Ayden was too quick. He caught her arm and spun her around, his eyes blazing with intensity.

"You're not going anywhere, Corolla," he growled.

The woman stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. "Let her go, Ayden," she spat.

Ayden sneered. "You think you can stop me? I've been waiting for this moment for centuries."

Corolla's mind was reeling. What was going on? Why was Ayden acting like this?

Suddenly, the woman lunged at Ayden, a small dagger flashing in her hand. Ayden laughed, his eyes glinting with amusement, and caught her wrist.

"You shouldn't have done that," he hissed, his fangs bared.

Corolla's eyes widened in horror. Ayden was a vampire!

The woman struggled against Ayden's grip, but he was too strong. Corolla knew she had to do something, but what?

Just as Ayden was about to sink his fangs into the woman's neck, Corolla remembered the journal. She rummaged through her bag and pulled it out, flipping through the pages until she found the right passage.

She read the words aloud, feeling a strange energy building up inside her. The air around her seemed to charged with electricity, and Ayden's eyes widened in surprise.

The woman took advantage of the distraction to break free from Ayden's grip. "Run, Corolla!" she shouted, grabbing Corolla's arm and pulling her towards the door.

Corolla didn't need to be told twice. She followed the woman out of the cottage, not stopping until they were deep in the forest.

Only then did Corolla turn to the woman, her heart still racing with fear. "What just happened?" she asked, her voice shaking.

The woman's eyes were serious. "You just discovered your true power, Corolla. And Ayden... he's not what he seems."

Corolla's mind was reeling. What did it all mean? And what lay ahead?

______________________________

Corolla's eyes locked onto the woman's, searching for answers. "What do you mean, Ayden's not what he seems?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The woman hesitated, as if unsure of how much to reveal. "Ayden is a vampire, Corolla," she said finally. "But he's not just any vampire. He's the son of the vampire lord who made the pact with your ancestors."

Corolla's mind reeled as she processed the information. Ayden, the charming and mysterious stranger, was a vampire prince?

The woman continued, her words spilling out in a rush. "Ayden's been watching you, Corolla. He's been waiting for you to discover your true power, to fulfill your destiny as the Vessel."

Corolla felt a shiver run down her spine. "What destiny?" she asked, her voice shaking.

The woman's eyes were somber. "You, Corolla, are the key to breaking the curse that's been cast over your family for centuries. You have the power to absorb and neutralize vampire powers, to free your family from their bond to the vampire lord."

Corolla's head spun as she tried to process the revelation. She was a Vessel, a key to breaking a centuries-old curse?

Suddenly, a faint rustling sound came from the underbrush. The woman's head snapped up, her eyes scanning the surrounding trees.

"What is it?" Corolla whispered, her heart racing with fear.

The woman's voice was barely audible. "Ayden's found us."

And with that, a figure emerged from the shadows, his eyes fixed intently on Corolla. Ayden.

"Ayden, don't!" the woman warned, stepping forward to block his path.

But Ayden just smiled, his fangs glinting in the moonlight. "I'm not here to hurt her," he said, his voice low and husky. "I'm here to claim her."

Corolla's heart skipped a beat as Ayden's eyes locked onto hers. What did he mean? And what lay ahead?