Once Betrayed Never Forgotten

Chapter 15: Cleansing

As the days stretch on, the castle becomes both my playground an

my puzzle. I’m on a mission to gather information, uncover secrets, anything that might help me convince my mom not to participate in the ominous Blood Moon Ceremony. The library becomes my haven, a maze of dusty tomes and ancient scrolls that might hold the key to changing her mind.

But the Vasiliev family seems to be playing a game of hide–and–seek. They’re elusive, barely seen as they prepare for the grand Blood Moon Ball. Aleksandr, in particular, becomes a ghost, disappearing after that encounter in the library. My attempts to find him again yield no results. It’s as if he’s deliberately avoiding me, and the thought both frustrates and intrigues me.

I retrace my steps, making my way back to the library, determined to find him. Yet, each time I enter the room, it’s empty, untouched, as though he was never there. The thrill of the chase heightens my curiosity about him, his enigmatic presence, and his brooding demeanour that’s

etched into my mind.

I summon Seraphina repeatedly over the next few days, my impatience growing. She materialises

in a swirl of shadows, her dark eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Can I help you with something, Arianna?” she asks sweetly, as if she knows exactly why I’ve

summoned her.

“Yeah,” I respond, trying to keep my irritation in check. “I want to see my mom. When can I see

her?

Seraphina tilts her head, considering, before finally responding, “In a few days, you’ll be reunited

with her at the Blood Moon Ball.”

I press my lips into a thin line, wanting more but knowing that’s all I’ll get for now. With an exasperated sigh, I dismiss her and turn my attention back to my explorations.

Days blend into each other as I continue my explorations throughout the castle. I become a lone adventurer, unravelling its mysteries, room by room. Each new discovery brings a mix of awe and unease. The castle’s labyrinthine corridors hide a plethora of hidden chambers–an armoury packed with weapons, an opulent parlour where old portraits stare with unsettling intensity, at tranquil conservatory filled with strange, fragrant night–blooming plants that seem to shimmer in the moonlight.

Yet, despite the grandeur, there’s a sense of disconnection, as if the rooms exist in their own worlds, barely touched by time. It’s as if I’m straddling two realities–the past and the present. Servants flit at the edges of my vision, like fleeting shadows, gone the moment I try to focus on

Chapter 15: Cleansing

them. I lose track of mical times, but every time I feel the first pangs of hunger, I somehow find myself in the vast dining hall, and any food I desire appears before me the moment I’m seated. In the past few days, I’ve eaten everything from lobster and the wildest gourmet meals I can dream up, to a McDonald’s Happy Meal and my favourite discontinued flavour of Doritos. And whenever I begin to feel sleepy, I somehow find myself walking back into my chambers, where a hot bath has been run in the adjoining bathroom, still steaming and fragrant with rare oils.

One day, I stumble upon a grand ballroom, unlike any I’ve seen before. It’s vast, the ceiling soaring high above me, and a breathtaking double spiral staircase graces the centre of the room. Painted. scenes decorate the dome above, depicting the heavens, stars, and a luminous moon. My imagination runs wild, envisioning the grand balls that might have taken place here, the gowns swirling, laughter echoing off the walls.

The romance of the space is tinged with an unexplainable sorrow, a sense of longing that’s almost palpable, I’m drawn to the room, as if it’s whispering secrets just out of my grasp.

As evening falls, I head back to my room, the anticipation of the Blood Moon Ball looming over My thoughts inevitably drift to Aleksandr, his magnetic presence, and the spark that ignited between us. I let out a frustrated groan, burying my face in my pillow. It’s ridiculous to feel this way, I scold myself. Even though we’re not related by blood, it’s still forbidden, wrong, practically incestuous. He’s the “sort of” brother of my “sort of” stepdad, which makes him my “sort of” step uncle, which would make anything happening between us all kinds of gross. But still….

The heat that rises to my cheeks at the memory of his gaze, his touch, can’t be ignored. I resign myself to a litany of restless nights, plagued by both guilt and longing. The castle’s ancient walls hold so many secrets, yet the one that consumes me most is the mystery of my own heart.

The day of the Blood Moon Ball dawns, and I wake up with a mix of excitement and nerves fluttering in my stomach. I’m not sure if it’s the adrenaline or the anticipation that jolts me awake. Seraphina appears, her presence a dance of shadows and moonlight.

“Hello Arianna,” she chimes, her voice like a melody. “Today – or tonight rather is a very special night. There are preparations to be made.”

I stretch, yawning and rubbing my eyes. “Preparations? What kind?“, Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

She smiles mysteriously. “For the ball, of course. Your mother has been cleansing herself for this week in preparation. And now, it’s your turn.”

My brow furrows. ‘Cleansing?”

Chapter 15: Cleansing

Seraphina nods, her dark eyes gleaming. “Yes, cleansing. Follow me.”

I slip out of bed, my nightgown whispering against my skin as I stand. Seraphina leads me through the castle’s labyrinthine corridors, her steps graceful and silent. I follow in a half–awake daze, still trying to wrap my head around the idea of preparing for a ball in a place where there’s no concept of morning, noon, or night. I feel like it’s morning, because I just woke up, but it could be eleven o’clock at night for all I know.

We arrive at a simple wooden door I’ve never seen before, and Seraphina pushes it open, revealing a snowy courtyard. The cold air nips at my skin, and I shiver involuntarily. Snowflakes tumble from the heavens, creating a serene white landscape.

“Where are we?” I ask, goosebumps forming on my arms.

Seraphina’s smile is enigmatic as she gestures for me to follow her. “In a place of preparation. Come.

I pad after her, my bare feet sinking into the cold ground with each step. The snowflakes fall around us like a gentle flurry, and I can’t help but admire the magical scene. We pass through a grove of evergreen pine trees, their branches laden with snow, before reaching the centre of the courtyard.

A hot spring emerges, steam rising from its depths like ethereal tendrils. Rocks adorned with emerald moss create a natural border around it. I stand at the edge of the pool, the heat radiating from the water sending tendrils of warmth through the chilly air.

Seraphina gestures for me to step closer. I find myself drawn to the hot spring, its steam

m wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. Seraphina steps back, giving me a moment of privacy.

“Take your time, Arianna,” she says softly. And remember, leave your nightgown on the snow. You won’t need it after this. Call for me when you are done and I will come for you.”

As she takes her bat form and flies off towards a distant turret, I slip out of my nightgown, leaving it in a delicate pile on the snow. The cold air nips at my skin, but the heat of the spring beckons. I step into the water, the warmth enveloping me like a cocoon. Steam rises in delicate tendrils, merging with the falling snowflakes, creating a veil of mist.

I sink deeper into the spring, the water’s embrace soothing and rejuvenating. The weight of the past few days, the worry, the longing–it all begins to melt away. I close my eyes, allowing the spring’s magic to seep into every pore.

In this moment, surrounded by the whispering pines, the falling snow, and the embrace of the hot spring, I feel a connection to something ancient and profound. The story of Thalassa and Eamon,

Chapter 15: Cleansing

of sacrifice and love, resonates within me. And as the steam rises, turning the falling snowflakes to water just inches above the spring, I emerge from the spring, feeling cleansed, renewed and for just a moment, free of the endless anxieties that have burdened me since arriving in this creepy castle.

I’m about to call for Seraphina when I feel a cold breath on the back of my neck, colder than the surrounding freezing air and falling snow.

Every nerve in my body is screaming at me.

DANGER! DANGER!

I’m not alone, and whoever is here with me, they are literally right behind me.

And with that, I open up my mouth to scream for my life.

Chapter Comments

Ed

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ugh…I know everything will be explained eventually. But, so many unanswered questions?? They are vampires, not witches or mages, so how come all the magic??…

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