Chapter 4: Gone Before Dawn

The castle was silent long before dawn.

Most of the servants were still asleep after the birthday celebration.

Only the night guards remained awake, patrolling the endless marble corridors beneath flickering crystal lamps.

I sat alone in my bedroom, staring at the packed leather satchel resting beside the door.

It contained almost nothing.

Two simple dresses.

A sketchbook.

A handful of charcoal pencils.

A small pouch of coins I had earned from selling paintings before meeting Alistair.

That was all.

I refused to take a single jewel, gown, or treasure purchased with his wealth.

I wanted to leave exactly as I had arrived five years ago.

With nothing except myself.

The only difference was that this time, I carried a broken heart instead of hope.

I slowly removed the silver wedding ring from my finger.

Its diamond reflected the pale moonlight pouring through the window.

Alistair had designed it himself.

He once told me it represented eternity.

"Forever begins here," he had whispered while sliding it onto my finger.

Forever.

What a cruel joke.

I placed the ring carefully on the bedside table.

Beside it, I left the castle keys.

The royal seal.

Every symbol proving I had once been the Vampire Prince's beloved wife.

None of them belonged to me anymore.

Before leaving, I took one final look around the room.

Every corner held a memory.

The fireplace where we spent snowy evenings together.

The reading chair where Alistair often held me while reading ancient poetry.

The balcony where he promised we would watch centuries pass together.

I closed my eyes.

"Goodbye," I whispered.

Without looking back again, I opened the door.

The corridor outside was empty.

I moved silently toward the servants' passage that connected the royal chambers to the eastern gate.

Very few people even knew the hidden hallway existed.

Halfway there, footsteps echoed behind me.

"Lady Selena?"

I turned around.

Edwin stood there holding an oil lantern.

His ancient eyes immediately fell upon the satchel in my hand.

"You're leaving."

It wasn't a question.

I nodded quietly.

"Will you stop me?"

The elderly vampire remained silent for several seconds.

Finally, he shook his head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I've watched this castle for over three hundred years."

"I've learned that sometimes the greatest act of loyalty... is allowing someone to walk away."

Tears threatened to fill my eyes.

"Thank you."

He reached into his robe and handed me a folded map.

"This road avoids every royal checkpoint."

"By sunrise you'll be beyond the kingdom's borders."

"No one will find you easily."

I accepted the map with trembling hands.

"You've always been kind to me."

"You reminded this old castle what laughter sounded like," Edwin replied sadly.

"Don't lose that light, Lady Selena."

"Even if others failed to protect it."

Unable to find the right words, I embraced him briefly.

"Goodbye, Edwin."

"May fate be kinder to you than destiny was."

I continued toward the eastern gate.

Outside, a cold breeze welcomed me.

For the first time in five years, I stepped beyond the castle walls alone.

No royal guards.

No luxurious carriage.

No Vampire Prince waiting beside me.

Only silence.

It should have felt terrifying.

Instead...

It felt like breathing after nearly drowning.

By the time the first rays of sunlight appeared on the horizon, I had crossed the kingdom's border.

Far behind me, Blackthorn Castle disappeared beneath layers of morning mist.

"Don't come looking for me," I whispered toward the distant silhouette.

"Because you won't find me."

Back at the castle...

Alistair woke with an unfamiliar feeling in his chest.

An uncomfortable emptiness.

He instinctively reached toward the other side of the bed.

Cold.

"Selena?"

No answer.

Smiling slightly, he assumed she had gone to her studio early.

"Always working," he murmured affectionately.

He dressed quickly before walking downstairs.

"Has Lady Selena eaten breakfast?" he asked a passing servant.

"No, Your Highness."

"Perhaps she's painting."

Alistair headed toward the Moonlight Studio.

The room was empty.

Every easel stood untouched.

Every brush remained exactly where Selena had left it.

A strange uneasiness settled over him.

He searched the library.

The gardens.

The music hall.

The greenhouse.

Nothing.

"Find Lady Selena," he ordered calmly.

"She couldn't have gone far."

Within minutes, dozens of guards spread throughout the castle.

An hour later, the captain returned.

"Your Highness..."

"We cannot locate Lady Selena anywhere."

Alistair frowned.

"Search again."

"Every room."

"Every corridor."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The search continued for another two hours.

Still nothing.

Finally, one maid nervously approached carrying a small velvet box.

"We found this in your chambers."

Alistair opened it.

Inside rested Selena's wedding ring.

His expression froze.

"Impossible..."

Beside the ring lay the royal seal and every key belonging to the castle.

No letter.

No explanation.

Nothing.

"Seal every gate!" he roared.

"No one leaves the kingdom!"

The castle erupted into chaos.

Messengers raced toward neighboring territories.

Royal guards mounted horses.

Vampire scouts transformed into bats, searching every forest and mountain.

Alistair stood perfectly still in the middle of the bedroom.

His eyes never left the wedding ring.

"Why...?"

For the first time in centuries...

The Vampire Prince felt something dangerously close to fear.

Meanwhile, several miles away, I sat inside a small roadside carriage heading toward the human kingdom.

The driver glanced at me through the window.

"Traveling alone, miss?"

"Yes."

"Running from someone?"

I looked out at the endless road stretching ahead.

"No," I answered softly.

"I'm finally running toward myself."

The carriage rolled forward as the rising sun illuminated the distant mountains.

For the first time in years...

My future belonged to no one else.

Behind me, an immortal king had begun searching for the wife he believed could never leave him.

Ahead of me...

An entirely new life was waiting.