'Oh my goodness, is this for real?"

Charlotte glanced at Casper's disturbed face, and instantly felt contrite about her slip of tongue.


'Yes, this is the only headache of the Vampire Kingdom. The Devil."

He drew two lines below this name to highlight it and pasted a post-it on the board.

'As a tradition, it's the era of his rise. This was the first issue which I was bombarded with at the first day of my crown."


Charlotte counted on her fingers and checked the date on her mobile phone.

'Yes, you are right. It will be a blood moon soon and the devil will be out for the hunt again."


The mere mention of that sadistic murderer brought goosebumps to her skin. She gazed up at him, who was posting the details of the devil's previous attacks.

'The first killing spree was noticed in the late eighties, when a hundred corpses were found headless in a bar. The sheriff of the East London called it a homicide and tried to bury this matter, but my father lord investigated it in person.

This commotion also alerted that killer and a package was received with a warning letter, a confession that a rebel vampire was behind all this.

Father lord announced that vampire as a ripper, a maniac who could not control the thirst. If he once started feeding, the prey's neck would be ripped off in the end."

Charlotte shrugged at the graphical details of the murderous events, a shiver ran down her spine.

'I remember its wake in the late nineties, my father took me out of the Vampire Kingdom for a music festival. The Devil also ambushed that concert.

Even the stamps of his name were pasted on the heads of the dead bodies. That was a pure horror."

She covered herself with an extra layer of a thin blanket and inquired.

'Is there any other incident reported yet?"

'Yes!"

Prior to her terror, King Casper was only anxious.

'Three attacks within twelve hours were reported. Six, five, and then eighty, men and women died in these unfortunate events."

Charlotte's heart bled for the families of the victims, her voice was laced with empathy.

'It's so sad. Can you do something to catch that culprit?"

'No!"

He placed the marker on the table and sat down on the chair.

'Why?"

She read the latest report and questioned.

'There was no mark of the Devil on the dead bodies. Is it a style change or a copycat killer?

As the devil never drain any less than a century of preys."

'Good point. You are a genius, Star."

His mysterious smile left her puzzled.

'The Royal Court has forwarded these matters because they don't know that you have lost your control recently. Three accidents in America was your haze.

But don't worry, I have covered it. The Devil has sent a message again that he will wage a war at the sixth anniversary of his reign of terror.

I suspect that the combat in Eric's Pack is also a continuation of this celebration."

King Casper kept explaining about his ambitions and defense strategies, but Charlotte's world stopped after the revelation.

'I am a killer!"

This sentence rang in her mind like a death announcement. Charlotte realized that she had become like the monster she always dreaded.

'Killing is fatal for a vampire, Charlotte. It's a road of no return, no one can resist the lure of the fresh prey.

Promise me, my doll. You will never kill for hunger."

Remembering her father's words at her 60th birthday, the day of her first feeding on living flashed across her mind.

'Hunting is not a fun activity, Dad. Let's go back home."

Running behind a deer wasn't spiking the interest of baby Charlotte, who found it hard to run with her lazy nature.

'Why should we hunt on dirt and sweat when we can buy food from the grocery store?"

Her innocent question amused Mr. William, he kissed her forehead.

'This is a default setting of a vampire, Charlotte. If you don't see in your enemy's eyes, how will you fight against it?

Learn about hunting so that you don't have to face any problem in the future."

'Star!"

Casper jerked her body forcefully, bringing her back to the real world.

'It's not your fault, are you even listening to me?

Ramla!"

Looking into her empty eyes, his heart pounded like a wild drum, every cell in his body screamed in fear.

'I am fine, it's OK."

Charlotte's forced smile couldn't hide her heartache, two hollow, strained red orbs were the evidence of her inner turmoil.

'There is no difference left between me and that serial killer. According to our laws, I have broken five rules, including endangering the vampire species.

I am a criminal with a record now."

Casper dragged his chair close to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

'No one has ever faced the trial that you have gone through due to the bonds of soul. You are innocent in the eyes of law."

Ramla added to the King Casper's affirmation.

'As the vampire King, Your Majesty's words are the laws now. Don't stress over this lost cause, Your Highness.

The main point here is that psychopath's warning."

She diverted their attention towards the main topic.

'I, I think I should inform Eric about it."

King Casper nodded his head and dialed his number, Charlotte stopped him.

'It's better to send an official report to the Alpha King, he can handle this situation in a better way."

For the next one hour, they joined their intellects to prepare a proper case for an immediate action, the result of their efforts was according to their wishes.

'Alpha King has invited me to the Lycan's Capital, I will leave now."

He left shortly after the email received from the Royal Court, Charlotte felt the emptiness in her heart due to the absence of his cheerful presence, an unknown desolation enveloped her whole existence.

Ramla's company allowed her to relax a bit, her magical medicines boosted her immunity within days.

As soon as Charlotte was able to go to the bathroom on her own, she requested Ramla,

'You can go back to the Castle. As I am fine now, I have booked tomorrow's flight for England."

Ramla held her hand and spoke solemnly.

'His Majesty has commanded me to stay with you until your full recovery.

And don't bother about this plane, we can go there by magic."

She assisted her in a dress change, and they decided to leave the same night.

...

Back in the Pack, Charlotte was aghast to see the closed gates, black flags were hoisted at both corners.

'I have talked to Alpha yesterday, but he didn't mention anything. Why are there mourning signs at the Pack's entrance?"

Deep in her thoughts, they moved forward and knocked at the window of the guard's post.

'Luna is here."

Her uninformed return panicked the border security team, a Mercedes came to escort them to the Pack's house.

Ramla was curiously looking around the new place, but Charlotte's thundering heart was giving her red signals.

'Why didn't Alpha come out to receive me? Is he alright?"

Feeling no special discomfort in her body, she rejected the notion of him being injured. The driver changed the direction of the car, and they reached at the Pack's ground directly.