Chapter 10 / Even when it hurts

June 2nd 15.001.  

Capital of Bloodspire, Bloodspire, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

Bloodspire only saw six hours of sunlight each day, and with evening already falling, the streets were glowing in their real light; lines of red and violet neon lights wrapped around black concrete walls, cutting through the dark like steady fire.

The group’s car rolled down the main avenue. Everything was clean. Perfect. The pavement shone like wet marble, no trash, no broken tiles. Gargoyles and demon statues crouched above on gothic arches, and right below them screens glowed with news, movie posters, music, or ads for blood banks. 

People filled the sidewalks, sharp and stylish. Long coats, high boots, lace, and leather mixed with the glow of tech tattoos strapped to their bodies. Black and red hairs were predominant, but you could spark, here and there, a shock of pink or silver that marked a bloodline. 

“I’ve never seen so many red eyes in my whole life before”, Risha said as he watched a sea of red dots coming ang going. 

“You are pretty young to be talking about ‘your whole life’, pup”. Dominique joked. 

Everyone looks like they’re about to either sing in a band or kill someone, she thought but instead, Eloise said: “They look like they walked out of a magazine.” She had her face close to the window.

The car turned onto a narrower street, passing art carved into the walls. Murals of battle scenes, saints with swords, poems written in long strokes across the gray and black walls. Some had holograms flickering over them, moving images layered onto the ancient posters and stencils. Old and new didn’t fight each other in this city; instead, they were merged. The city was loud, full of life.

Dominique exhaled, steadying herself as a group of towers came into view. At the heart of it all waited the Velaric mansion—though mansion wasn’t the exact word. The place was half fortress, half palace, its black concrete matching the rest of the city's architecture. Façade glowing under lines of crimson light traced every arch and balcony. A forest of spires behind it, some capped with glass-shining domes, stood in the center.

The wide steps leading to the main doors were spotless, the kind of clean that came from constant care, not chance. Servants moved across the grounds in quiet order, dressed in sharp black-and-gray minimalistic jumpsuits. Enhancing tattoos glowed faintly across their hands, necks, or arms. The guards at the gates held rifles strapped with energy cells, holsters heavy with sidearms. Their posture was military, precise.

As the van pulled into the driveway, a line of attendants was already waiting. The driver opened the door for Dominique first.

“Welcome home, Duchess,” one of the staff said, bowing slightly. His voice was steady, but his red eyes flicked with recognition at the others stepping out behind her.

Eloise’s gaze darted over the glowing tattoos and weapons. “Not like Eloria at all,” she murmured. “This feels heavier.”

Risha tugged on Cloud’s collar to keep him close, his own wide eyes fixed on the guards. 

Dominique noticed the kid’s fear. “Hey, Riri,” she said. Then, quieter, “Tomorrow I’ll show you around, it's not the lake house, but there is a few fun stuff we can do.” She said while trying to lighten the air. 

The group was escorted up the steps, the polished stone echoing under their boots. The doors—three times taller than any of them—swung open silently, revealing a hall of black marble. 

Portraits lined the walls: stern-faced Velarics, rulers of Umbra, each painted with the same glowing red eyes that now watched the team from every corner of the room.

“Feels like they’re staring right through me,” Elon muttered.

“That’s kinda the point, I guess,” Dominique answered. “Charades. They are intimidating only for the picture”. She stuck out her tongue at them while looking at Risha, who repeated the action. 

Servants moved quickly around them, whispering titles, bowing as they passed. Every single one addressed her with the same word—“Duchess.” Dominique didn’t react or even flinch; she looked way more serious than usual.

Two guards in light pink suits walked beside the group. Unlike the others, these guards didn’t answer to Vincent or Carmina, their parents. Instead, they bowed to Dominique alone.

“Take them to my chambers,” Dominique ordered quietly, her tone slipping into command. “No one enters without my word.”

The guards nodded, guiding Elon, Eloise, Risha, and Cloud down one of the branching halls. Eloise glanced over her shoulder at Dominique, worry flickering in her face. Dominique's eyes met hers for a second, but she returned the biggest smile at her. 

“That will work, " she said in an almost imperceptible tone. She turned to Sukira. “Okay, it's showtime.”

The air seemed colder as the two women walked together down the hall, past the murals of power and blood that decorated every wall. For Sukira, this was the seat of the family that betrayed hers. For Dominique, it was the place she swore she’d never kneel to again.

And yet, here they were. Dominique grabbed Sukira’s hand, just like when they were little. Dominique was always clingy and needy, and neither of their parents gave her much attention, but Sukira was always there for her; whenever she was afraid, insecure, happy, or sad, she was there. No matter how loud, annoying, or messy she was, Sukira always held her hand back. 

And without previous notice, she hugged her. 

“Oh, asshole, you had MONTHS to do this and you’re doing it NOW? That’s it, I’m gonna cry.” Dominique’s voice cracked between sarcasm and truth. “This will make me look so fucking weak in front of the pigs.” 

Sukira was way smaller than her little cousin. She pressed her forehead against Dominique’s shoulder, hiding her worried smile. “Then let them choke on it.”

♥︎

The doors at the end of the corridor opened without a sound. A long chamber stretched inside, the light flowing through glass straps in the floor and ceiling. At its center stood a long black table polished to a mirror. At the far end sat Vincent Velaric, the current ruler of Umbra, Dominique’s father. He was handsome but also looked severe, a man who seemed carved out of the same stone as the city, tall and robust, but in an athletic way. His hair was pink, a few shades paler than his daughter’s, and his gaze was steady and sharp as a blade.

Beside him lounged Carmina, draped in silk like she was attending a party instead of a meeting. A gorgeous woman, her sexiness could start wars if she wanted to. Her lips were painted in a burgundy shade, and her laugh, high-pitched voice, spilled across the hall before they had even stepped into the room.

“My daughter returns,” Carmina said dramatically. “And she brings… baggage.” Her eyes switched to Sukira. “You look awful, my dear. I guess the passing of time does affect some of us.”

Carmina leaned forward, resting her chin in her palm, her smile wide and mocking, eyes back again on her daughter. “Look at you, Dominique. All grown up and still stomping around like an angry child. And you—” her gaze slid again towards Sukira “—the tragic orphan. You do know you’re the talk of half Umbra, don’t you? Nothing sells like tragedy!”

Somehow, this feels like when we were getting scolded, like when we were children. Dominique’s teeth clenched. “You’re disgusting.” 

“Careful, my child,” Vincent cut in, calm but heavy with warning. “Words are weapons, and you’ve never been skilled with yours.” 

“Oh, Dad, hi, there you are! Sorry, I completely missed you behind your big-mouthed wife. Don’t worry, the whole continent knows she is the one actually ruling. Nevermind. What were you saying?” 

“HA! Talking about big mouths. Maybe you are my daughter after all. Ay, Domi, you always are so disappointing that when you say things like that, you make my hopes all up. I wish you could live up to the standards of our family, following my ex–” 

“Quiet. Both of you.” The room trembled a little. 

He paused and then continued, looking at Dominique: “You forget where you stand. You rebel because it makes you feel strong, but strength is wasted without order. And order begins with me, not with reckless daughters nor sassy wives who don’t know their place.”

Dominique was about to shoot back, but Sukira lifted a hand to stop her. 

Sukira rolled her eyes. “You can save the lecture. Lift the bounty, and I’ll disappear.”

Carmina clapped her hands together dramatically. “Straight to business! Oh, Suki, I missed you! Some things don’t change. I must admit you were always my favorite! This one right here was always so good in spirit, and Tech… my boy, he’s a type of smart that holds no worth to me. But you, oh, you are a true high-vampire. A shame you have your mother’s factions, otherwise I could have replaced them with you.” She tipped her head back in laughter, careless and bright like broken glass.

Dominique’s fists curled at her sides, punching the big black table, cracking it a little. “Pigs. Both of you.”

“You are giving exactly what they want, Domi,” Sukira murmured, with a low voice.

“Listen to your cousin,” Vincent said. “She, at least, understands what’s within her reach.” 

“As you don’t have any questions for us, nor any interest in knowing more about the past, let’s move ahead.” He slid an envelope and a knife across the table. “What stands in front of you is a blood contract. You sign that you will never rule this land, and the bounty dies with it.”

Blood contracts were not promises between equals. Unlike a blood pact, an oath sworn between two people, a blood contract was law, and it was unbreakable. It was signed in blood, and always enforced by death. If the signer broke even a single clause, their life would end instantly, no matter where they were.

“As if, old man. Do you really think she will give up that easily??” Dominique shouted. 

“Okay,” Sukira said flatly while looking at the paper. “Let’s end this joke so I can finally live.”

“What? No, you gotta be kidding”. Dominique was in shock. 

Sukira ignored her and immediately picked up the knife, dragging the blade from the tip of her index finger down to the start of her palm, a straight, deep cut. She already knew the protocol. 

Dominique slammed her hand on the table again. “No, stop!” Her voice cracked through the chamber, raw and fierce. “Don’t you see what you’re doing? You’re Rintaro’s blood. His heir. People would follow you! You have the Varn lastname, and you have the blood power. You are your mother’s daughter, for the spirits’ sake!! You could change this rotten system, you could take him down!” She stabbed her finger toward Vincent. 

“You’re the only one strong enough to rip him from that throne!” Dominique’s words echoed, heavy and full of fire, while tears started to gather in her eyelids.

In Umbra, rule wasn’t inherited by simple birthright. Power shifted through the system of democracy by blood. A ruler’s strength came usually, but not always, from their lineage, their clan’s loyalty. The government was divided into ministries, each with its own sphere of power. Every fifteen years, elections were held to choose the highest governor among them. But not just anyone could run. Only vampires with powerful blood could stand for office—blood that was “felt” by others, strong enough to demand respect the moment it entered a room. This kind of blood was usually inherited, thick and pure, which meant the same families often remained in power for centuries. 

Among vampires, nothing carried more weight than what ran through their veins. And a pure name with enough power behind it could sway the council and win leadership. Dominique knew it, and so did everyone in that room.

Dominique noticed that she wasn’t listening to her, and she kept going. “Look at me, fuckin’ look at me. Don’t give u—” Her hand tried to reach Sukira’s shoulder, but she was caught as Vincent raised a hand, and the guards behind them took her immediately. 

Sukira didn’t even look up. “Dominique, stop. I’ve been hunted since I was Risha’s age. I can’t do this anymore.” Her voice lacked any emotion while she could hear Dominique’s breath behind her, her tears dropping and hitting the floor. 

“Did you hear me? I hope you can forgive me. I can’t keep running. I just can’t. ” Her voice switched and showed how exhausted she was. 

It’s the only way. Even when it hurts.

She pressed her blood hard to the contract, watching the crimson seal close around her name. The blood sank fully into the parchment in less than a second. Sukira pulled her hand back, wiping the blood carelessly on the jacket of Vincent’s secretary, who was right behind her, taking away the contract and the knife.

Carmina was the first to react, clapping her hands like she had just watched a play end exactly as she wanted. “Finally! Rintaro’s story ends. Corinne, I hope you are watching. Your little baby gave up on your dream. Pretty enough, but weak. Weak, weak, weak.” Her smile twisted, all teeth. “At least all of you have the same thing in common. That’s why they died. Weak things don’t last.”

Dominique stepped forward, rage lighting her eyes, letting go of the guards. “Shut your mouth.”

But Carmina only laughed harder, throwing her head back. “Oh, Dominique, don’t look at me like that. You wanted the truth, didn’t you? Here it is. Your cousin was born into weakness, and she’s proved it by signing that paper. Now she won’t be dangling like bait for the rest of us to deal with.”

Sukira didn’t even look at her. She kept her gaze low, as if Carmina’s words slid off her skin without leaving a mark.

Vincent finally spoke, his voice steady, heavy, and calm. “Carmina”, shushing her and her annoying voice. His eyes were fixed on Sukira, sharp but not mocking. “The Varn family’s fall was never my desire. But it was necessary. Umbra needed a ruler who could hold it together. Your father, a great man, was not fit for that role. It was always going to be me. No one else was.”

He leaned back, his pale-pink hair catching the light, his expression carved in certainty. “This is destiny, not cruelty. I took what had to be taken because there was no other way.”

Dominique’s voice broke the silence, bitter and hot: “You keep telling yourself that.” She left the room immediately. Sukira followed her. 

♥︎

The walk back down the endless corridor felt heavier than the one in. Dominique kept her fists tight at her sides, shoulders rigid, walking faster than needed. Sukira followed a step behind; her moves were soft, dragging with the weight of someone who’d been moving without a stop for a lifetime.

“I’m sorry.”

Dominique blinked, snapping her head around. “What?”

“I said I’m sorry.” Sukira’s voice didn’t soften. “Not for what I did, but—”

Their pace slowed. Dominique let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “You don’t understand what’s happening.”

“Funny,” Sukira muttered, gaze locked straight ahead. “I was about to tell you the same thing.”

Both of them froze mid-step. They looked at each other as they were both caught cheating. Their senses flared—blood never lies, and neither did scent. Secrets. They could smell them on each other; it was clear now. They smirked at the same time, as if silently agreeing that keep lying was off the table.

“I’ll go first, then,” Sukira said. “Elexi is coming back.”

Dominique turned fast, giving her a sharp Are you kidding me? look. “That’s your secret? I travelled with you, remember? I heard the same rumors.”

“No.” Sukira’s tone dropped, firmer. “You don’t get it. I know it. For a fact. And when she comes—and it’s when, not if—I’ll be the only one who can stop her.”

Dominique snorted, half laughing, half spitting the sound. “How the fuck would you know—”

Sukira cut her off with a raised hand. Her tone was incredibly calm. “No. Your turn. What are you hiding?”

Dominique clenched her jaw, pacing half a step in place. She hated this. Sukira’s no was always a no, and after years she’d learned there was no prying past it. But she could see it too; she wasn’t telling her the whole truth.

Dominique exhaled hard. Her voice dropped. “I’ve been building something. A new alliance. We call it La Paz.”

Sukira’s head tilted, her expression unreadable.

“A rebellion, a resistance. A new country, of sorts. For everyone. Equal ground, equal power. Vampires, humans, elves… all of us standing side by side so when the next war comes, we don’t get swallowed alive, like it happened before. If we don’t start now, there’ll be nothing left to fight for when Elexi eventually shows up.”

For a long moment, Sukira only stared, then she gave a short, tired laugh. 

“Fuck you, rebel duchess. You serious?”

“Fuck you, Sukira Nothing.” Dominique shot back without hesitation, her voice sharp as glass. “While you’re planning to vanish body and soul—thanks for that, by the way—I’ve spent my best years choking down Council dinners, writing endless letters to the Fethronts, moving money under the table. I almost got married just to make La Paz stronger.” Her bitter laugh cracked into anger. “In my plan, you ruling Umbra was the perfect piece. And now you’ve set the damn house on fire.”

Sukira tilted her head, exhaustion written all over her face. But also a pinch of relief. For the first time, her voice softened. “I’m proud of you.”

Dominique froze when Sukira brushed her cheek with cold fingers, wiping out her running tears.

“But that bigger plan of yours was probably shit,” Sukira added with a cold little smile. 

Dominique’s breath caught, fury and affection knotting in her chest.

Sukira turned back down the corridor, already moving. “Let’s go get the others. They’re probably worried. I can’t wait to see Elon’s face when he realizes I’m still in one piece.”

♥︎

Dominique pushed the door open. Everyone turned at once. She didn’t give them time to ask.

“Everyone’s alive,” she announced. “Though honestly, it might’ve been more useful if she’d stayed missing.”

Everyone was silent. Eloise was in shock; whatever happened back there left Dominique in a mood she had never seen before. Risha, though, leapt from his chair with a cry. “You’re back!” He darted straight for Dominique, who actually crouched down to catch him. 

Elon and Sukira exchanged a long and paused look in silence across the room. 

“Hey, Riri.” She ruffled his hair, voice softening for him alone. “I checked the calendar. Your birthday’s in three days, on the fifth. Shall we throw a big party? We’re not dragging you halfway across the world without a cake first. So… banquet. The whole thing.”

Her knuckles are destroyed. Eloise broke into a smile, the tension draining from her face as she looked at Dominique’s hand, the one she used to break the table a moment ago. “Perfect. He deserves it.”

“Now, let’s get some rest. Rooms are ready and waiting for us upstairs. It’s almost midnight, and if anyone argues, I’ll throw you into bed myself.”

That won her a few tired laughs—enough to ease the mood. One by one, they trailed off toward their rooms.

♥︎

Past midnight, not a sound. Even the guards that walked through the corridors were moving like ghosts. It was clear that vampires could reach that sort of ability when trained. 

Elon shifted his weight against the wall, arms folded, keeping watch outside Risha’s room. Through the half-closed door, he could glimpse the boy sleeping peacefully, Cloud curled up protectively beside him.

They noticed each other at the same time.

“Of course you weren’t sleeping,” Elon muttered, frustrated. He pressed his head to the wall while talking. 

Sukira shook her head from the other side of the hall, walking slowly and peeking to see the same scene Elon witnessed seconds ago. “I tried. For a stupid moment, I thought I could actually stop worrying and get a night of rest.”

Elon asked, straightforward. “What happened with the bounty?”

“After eighty years, they pull it off.”

Elon studied her in the dim light; her gaze wouldn’t move from Risha. 

“That easily?”, Elon asked. 

“Of course not, but what they asked was something I don’t care about.” 

“Can you please stop giving me information on rates?”

She laughed without making any sound, dry. She didn’t move her body, but her eyes switched and looked at him. “Sure. They made me sign a blood contract that said I could never rule Umbra; I killed my family’s name. Dominique got angry because in her mind, I was going to save the country, or something like that.”

Elon reached out to her hand. “So, that explains this,” he muttered, his thumb running over the mark on her index. His other hand closed gently around hers. The difference in size was big but not nearly as striking as the contrast in their body temperatures.

Almost without thinking, his touch shifted lower, tracing the scar from their pact. His brow furrowed slightly, as if searching the lines of her skin for answers on how this blood magic worked. He was intrigued, but once again, it didn’t feel right to be asking those sorts of questions. 

“You’re burning,” she muttered.

“I’ll stop touching you if you don’t want to, but that’s a bit exaggerated, even for you.”

She clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. “No, look—you are burning me.”

The corridor lamps were dim, but if one looked closely, faint red marks appeared where his fingers had touched her skin.

He pulled back almost instantly. “I apologise.” 

“Don’t be so formal, prince. This isn’t the worst thing you’ve done to me.” Her tone was sarcastic, but her eyes softened despite herself, touching the finger marks already leaving her body. 

They both sat down with their backs against the wall right next to the door, still cracked open, close enough to hear Risha’s steady breathing.

“Should we take turns?”

“You go first. I can put you to sleep with a spell.” He was already pointing at her forehead with a finger; his face was emotionless, but he was doing it in a joking way.

“Ha, ha. No.” Sukira’s voice was dry, but after that, she leaned her body against Elon’s. Their breathing synced. They enjoyed the silence, and before she knew it, she fell asleep.

♥︎