A/N: Long time no see! Oof, life sure has been busy for me lately -.- But on the bright side, midterms are over and I’m on break now, so I finally had time to play the Sims and get some pics for ya. Hopefully I’ll be able to write a few chapters and post them for you guys. But for now, enjoy this one!

One week later

“So this is what my line has come to.” A vampire I had never seen before glared down at me through the bars. He was dressed like all the other vampires, but something about him seemed… different. Maybe he was more civilized? Or maybe it was the more urban vibe that surrounded him.

I blinked and realized he was still looking at me, scorn blazing in his eyes. What had I done? He couldn’t have meant that I was part of his line… Could he?

She is one of us.

Though maybe it was true. What if this vampire standing in front of me really was my ancestor?

Treznor entered the room then, and the visitor turned to face him. “I came as soon as I heard about her,” he said. “Unfortunately she and her father are part of my line after all. If you don’t mind, I would like to ask her a few questions.”

“Not a problem. Take all the time you need, James.” Treznor smirked and slipped out the door.

James spent a while just pacing back and forth by the bars, studying me. Nodding to himself. Sighing. Eventually, he whipped a hand through his hair and declared, “Even though I am your ancestor, perhaps we should start with introductions. I am James Deen, though I sometimes go by The Count.”

“Karissa,” I muttered.

“What? Speak up.”

“Karissa.”

He tutted and shook his head. “So weak. Tell me, Kara, have you ever heard of your ancestor, Rose Walker?”

“It’s Karissa. And no, I haven’t.”

“Can you believe this?” The Count lifted his gaze to Elubarin, who had sat motionless on the plank thus far. Maybe I was just paranoid, but there seemed to be a shared understanding that passed between them. “Pathetic, isn’t it, wizard? A girl who doesn’t know her own ancestry. I knew falling in love with a mortal was a grave mistake”

Elubarin grimaced at that, then quickly changed his facial expression to something more neutral and nodded.

“Well, Krystal, I married Rose many years ago. She is dead now, as are our children and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. You get the idea.”

“My name is-“

He kept talking over me, his facial expression cold and unwavering. “I really did love them. But I despise all the unnecessary suffering mortals bring upon us longer-lived people. Vampires and wizards alike.”

“Why are you here?” I didn’t like where this conversation was going. James seemed to be trying to win Elubarin over to his side.

“Your father forced us from our homes when he turned all of Earth against us. We only want justice.”

“But he’s letting you live on Svartur.”

“It’s not the same!” he roared. His pale fingers clutched one of the bars, as if he wished he could get inside and shake some sense into me. “This place is our home just as much as that jail cell is yours. Now tell me how to lure your damn father out of the palace so he can fix things and we vampires can go back.”

“I… Don’t know.” Dad was stubborn. Even if I begged him to come, he probably would just think it was a trap. Maybe it was.

“You ignorant little girl!” The Count huffed and slammed the door opened. “You lived with him for years and you know absolutely nothing.” He stomped out into the hall and began muttering to someone outside.

I slumped against the wall and sighed. If the vampires wanted information they should have kidnapped Lily.

“Maybe she will listen to you more than me.” James’ voice carried faintly through the open door. Footsteps headed my way.

“Hello, Kar. It’s been a while.”

His real leather shoes tread across the stone floor in even, practiced steps. He was wearing a flowing robe similar to the vampires’. Those emerald-green eyes were no longer glazed over. No bruises on his face.

“I never thought I’d see the day all my training paid off. But look at me now.” Duncan smirked and beckoned me closer to the bars. He leaned in and whispered, “James likes me better than you. He says I’m stronger. More resilient.”

“But your dad abused you.”

“He did.” My mouth fell open. He was openly admitting it now. “But my dad prepared me by hurting me with the truth while yours shielded you with lies, and now look who is better off.”

“You aren’t truly better off though. Dad loves me and one day I’ll eventually be freed from here, so how far ahead of me are you really?”

“I’ll be Prince. I’m already farther ahead than you will ever be.” I blinked and slowly backed away from the bars. Duncan was turning into a condescending, power-hungry Prince, a Prince I didn’t like.

This wasn’t fair. I was the rightful ruler, not him. “The people won’t like you,” I spat. “In fact, the vampires won’t even like you because you can’t make things right with Earth. Only my dad can.”

“Well, James said-“

“He lied! He’s using you to get to dad so they can get their home back.”

“You’re lying!” Duncan roared and shoved his hand between two bars. He caught my wrist and yanked it towards him.

My knees slammed against the bars, sending a loud clang echoing around the room. His nails dug into my arm. “Dad always did like you better,” he snarled. “But he’ll be the only one who does.”

“You’re wrong,” I croaked out. From the corner of my eye, I saw Elubarin start to stand up, anticipating trouble.

“Sit down or I’ll kill her!” Duncan yanked my wrist again. My head knocked against the cell bars. Elubarin started to sit down, then changed his mind and hovered where he was. “I will kill her. I don’t care what they say! Now sit. Down.”

“Duncan-” I tried to reason with my twin, but suddenly his hand was gripping my neck and bashing my face against the bars.

I heard Duncan screaming, “Don’t move or I’ll kill her!” Elubarin must have started forward again.

“Why did he always like you best?! Why?” He shook me a few times for good measure. I felt blood dripping down my forehead. Spots of blackness were beginning to appear in my vision. “You’ve always had it easy. You’ve always been the favorite. Why couldn’t it have been me?”

“You’re so worthless! Why did they love you more?” My whole face stung. My ears started cutting in and out. Elubarin shouted a bit. Duncan kept hitting.

A loud bang! made me jolt out of the daze. The door had been flung open.

“Drop her!” a voice commanded. “Drop her now!”

He did. Duncan turned to face the intruder. “Sorry, I just-“

“Get out. Treznor’s orders.”

“Yessir,” he huffed under his breath. He shoved his way out of the room. “James, let’s leave now.” His voice faded in the distance.

I rolled over on the floor and stared at this guy on the other side of the bars. He was Vox, wasn’t he? His eyes locked with mine, but there was no smile. No sign that he actually recognized me. My heart began to sink. It’d been years, after all. There was no reason he should remember me.

“Well, are you just going to sit there or are you going to help her?” Vox’s voice was full of scorn, not at all the way I remembered it. Elubarin jumped up and mumbled something. Pretty soon two strong arms wrapped around me and carried me to the plank.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

I groaned in return. Against my will, my eyes turned to the door and searched for Vox. He had already disappeared. “Why didn’t… Vox… remember me?”

“Vox? Vox…” Elubarin muttered. “That guy who saved you when you were a kid? I have no idea. He could be anywhere right now…” He trailed off. I sensed a lot of pieces clicking together in his head.

“Wait a second, was Vox that guy who just walked in? The reddish-blonde one?”

I nodded. “I wanna… talk to him.”

“I don’t know why he was here,” Elubarin admitted. “But if he ever comes back in this cell, I’ll make sure he stays long enough for a proper talk.”