A week had passed. The wheels of the carriage beat in a steady rhythm against the stony road, carrying the family farther and farther away from the Village of the Forsaken.
Gray and Grace could hardly sit still. Their eyes shone with anticipation, and smiles kept lighting up their faces. Today was a special day, they were finally setting out on their long-awaited excursion to the city of vampires.
Katherine watched the children with tenderness, while Cassia kept adjusting the cushions that had slipped out of place from the jolting ride.
As they drew closer to the city, the landscape grew more subdued, and the air filled with a mysterious haze. In the distance, majestic spires and towers came into view.
It was the city of Melrose, a place where elegance intertwined with a somber charm, where centuries-old history wove itself into the enigmas of the present.
A light mist lingered in the air. An atmosphere of eternal twilight reigned here. Even during the day, the sun did not dare rise high enough to illuminate the outlines of the city.
Narrow streets, paved with smooth black stone, wound between dark gothic mansions, their facades adorned with intricate carvings and gargoyles frozen in eternal vigil. Stained glass windows glimmered with a dim light.
Despite its gloom, the city radiated a peculiar beauty and tranquility, like a terrifying masterpiece of art suspended in time.
The carriage moved slowly through the streets, drawing closer to the Duke of Melrose's castle.
The twins stared out the windows without pause, drinking in every detail. Katherine used wind magic to suppress the spread of the human scent, so she wouldn't have to worry about their presence attracting the attention of bloodthirsty passersby.
A calm liveliness filled the streets.
Elegant vampires in refined attire strolled leisurely along the sidewalks, exchanging courteous bows. No one here was in a hurry. Why rush, when you live forever? That was how nearly all vampires thought.
The children noticed with surprise that many vampires drank blood from glass vessels openly sold along the streets. From Konstantin and Constancia's lessons, they knew that for a vampire, blood was not only a necessity, but also a means of growth.
Blood was the foundation of their existence.
The blind grandfather had said that vampires could live peacefully in Nightingale solely because of the regular blood supplies from the Neutral Continent. However, hearing about it and seeing it with one's own eyes were entirely different things.
For the twins, who had only traveled across the Alaz Continent and even then at a very young age, everything seemed strange and unusual.
When the carriage approached the gates of the Duke of Melrose's castle, Gray and Grace gasped in awe. The massive wrought-iron gates slowly opened, allowing them inside. On either side of the entrance stood guards in dark uniforms with silver insignia. Their pale faces remained expressionless.
As they entered, the delegation was personally welcomed by the Duke of Melrose and his wife.
The Duke of Melrose was a tall, slender man with an aristocratic bearing. His pale face, with its sharp features, looked as though it had been carved from marble. Deep-set eyes of dark amber glimmered with a faint predatory light. His long black hair was tied back in a tail, and his thin lips curved into a slight half-smile.
Beside him stood the duchess, her vivid emerald eyes striking against hair the color of a raven's wing, cascading down to her waist. Her full lips, like ripe cherries, contrasted with the whiteness of her face. She wore a form-fitting black dress that accentuated her graceful figure. Her entire appearance was the embodiment of a noble vampire lady.
Grace stared at the vampiress without blinking.
She looked like a fan who had just met her idol.
The girl still remembered the expression on her brother's face when he had first seen her in a black dress. She would be lying if she said she hadn't liked his stunned look.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Melrose cast a predatory glance at Katherine and Cassia's figures, but quickly replaced it with a polite and courteous expression when he remembered what kind of monsters were currently hidden within his castle.
The duke himself was no weakling. He was a vampire aristocrat, a noble lord among vampires, one of the strongest beings under the king's banner. Through his own efforts, he had attained the rank of Magistrant and could influence the tides across the Nightingale Continent. A seat on the Council of Elders was within arm's reach.
Yet even he could not suppress a shiver when he recalled the guests visiting his castle today.
He broke out in a cold sweat at the mere thought of ten old men watching him with appraising eyes. And all these venerable elders had come for one reason alone, to celebrate the birthday of two small children who were, at that very moment, looking at him as if he were some kind of exotic animal.
Remembering his duties, the Duke of Melrose spoke.
"Welcome, esteemed guests. My name is Lazarus Melrose, and this is my wife, Valentina Melrose. We are delighted to receive you in our humble abode. I hope your stay here will be to your liking."
"Pleased to meet you. And what are the names of our dear little guests?" Valentina interjected, politely yet gently asking for the twins' names.
Casting a glance at their mother and receiving an approving nod, the twins quickly introduced themselves, using their real names. Their manners were as refined as those of true aristocrats. The lessons of the elders and their rehearsals at home had not gone to waste.
"Thank you. I hope we will not cause too much trouble," Katherine replied politely.
"My, not at all. I can hardly wait to introduce these lovely children to my little Rose. She will surely be delighted to meet someone her own age," Madame Valentina said with a smile.
"Please, follow me. We took the liberty of preparing a welcoming dinner. As you know, vampires cannot consume anything but blood, but rest assured, we still know how to please our guests," Lazarus said, politely gesturing toward the castle.
"Let's go," Grace tugged at everyone impatiently, eager to explore the vampire castle from the inside.
The small group followed the duke through long corridors.
Gray and Grace looked around with admiration at the ancient tapestries, the flickering candelabras, and the portraits of ancient vampires whose eyes seemed to follow them. Cassia nervously adjusted her tail, while Katherine whispered about something with the duchess.
When they approached the massive doors of the main hall, Lazarus Melrose stopped and, with a slight bow, pushed them open.
A burst of bright light and the sound of music flooded into the corridor, making the twins squeeze their eyes shut for a moment.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Grace and Gray, happy birthday to you!"
"Bang, bang, bang!"
A chorus rang out from the hall, accompanied by the popping of party crackers and bursts of confetti.
The twins froze in place, their eyes widening in astonishment.
The vast gothic hall was decorated with colorful ribbons and candles. Long tables were laden with exquisite dishes and drinks. At the center stood an enormous cake with ten candles. All the villagers were present, while vampire servants of various races and ages, dressed in festive attire, smiled and applauded.
Gray and Grace stood as if spellbound, their eyes wide with amazement, their faces reflecting a whole cascade of emotions.
They had completely forgotten that today was their birthday. And it was no wonder. Not only was it difficult to keep track of dates and time in this world, but birthdays were celebrated only once every five years.
A flicker of surprise passed over the twins' faces, followed by realization, then replaced by joyful excitement. Their cheeks flushed, and their eyes shimmered with rising tears of happiness.
"Waaah," Grace couldn't hold back an excited squeal and pressed her palms to her face, trying to hide both her embarrassment and her joy at once. Gray, usually more restrained, stood with his mouth slightly open, unable to say a word, yet his eyes shone with an unusual brightness.
In that moment, they felt like the happiest children in the world, surrounded by the love and care of those close to them, in the most incredible place one could imagine.
"Mom, why didn't you tell us!" Grace whispered in mock reproach, though her eyes were brimming with happy tears.
Gray, recovering from the shock, hurriedly tried to wipe his eyes with his sleeve. He remained silent, sincerely savoring the emotional moment. If Grace was simply embarrassed and happy, then in the boy's mind a whole storm of emotions was swirling.
Although he had thought he had fully come to terms with his status as a cripple and an outcast, now, as he saw the sincere smiles of the elders and even strangers, a feeling of happiness he had never known before seized him, threatening to swallow him whole.
"My dears, did you like our surprise? All the villagers took part in it!" Cassia said with a smile, noticing her mistress's prolonged silence.
Meanwhile, Katherine's blue eyes shimmered with tears as well. She had never thought this moment would move her so deeply. Though she maintained her composure, wearing a gentle smile just as befitted a noble lady and a Sky-dweller, inside, everything within her was turning over from the emotions she struggled to contain.
All the memories rushed over her at once.
The moment the twins were born, when she held those tiny bundles of happiness in her own hands and simply gazed at them. Gray's injury, the hurried escape, the endless attempts at healing, the training, she remembered it all in vivid detail. She remembered their travels, the children's antics. The memory of painted Lucky and their messy appearances with carefree smiles. Evenings spent within the circle of their small family. The proud faces of the children as they treated her to dinner, their happy smiles, their laughter, and their sincere words of love.
All those memories crashed over her in a single overwhelming wave. She could no longer hold herself back. Katherine broke down into uncontrollable sobs. She pulled her most precious, now nearly grown children into her arms and, forcing the words through her tears, managed to say:
"Happy birthday, my dears! Sob..."
=============
Dear readers, please don't forget to write the reviews, support book with Power Stones, and express your opinion in the comments.
Your reactions not only inspire me, but also influence the algorithms that promote the work and allow it to find more readers.
Thank you so much for your support.