A car drove into Randall Gorge—a land of eternal darkness where the sun never rose.
It was a sleek Bentley, painted in a dull shade of gray that made it blend into the eerie landscape. Yet, despite its understated color, one could hardly deny that the car suited the gloom of Randall Gorge perfectly.
The driver was an unnervingly cold woman. One might call her a maid, not because of any particular servitude she displayed, but simply because she was dressed like one.
Her traditional British maid outfit was long, reaching down to her ankles, yet it didn't hinder her driving in the slightest. If anything, she handled the car with an almost unnatural grace, guiding it smoothly over the rugged terrain. The road was uneven, full of deep pits and muddy puddles, yet the Bentley glided forward as if it were floating on clouds.
"So, this is Nolan's home?"
In the backseat, a silver-haired girl with twin tails pressed eagerly against the window, her bright eyes brimming with curiosity. Every now and then, she would voice her thoughts in a sweet, melodious voice.
"It's so dark here... just like Nolan said. Randall Gorge really never gets any sunlight? But why?"
"That is because Randall Gorge belongs to the Children of Darkness, Miss Stock," the maid answered in a precise, measured tone.
Eve Stock smiled. "Nolan must love living here. I know how much he dislikes the sun."
Beside her, a middle-aged woman sat stiffly, her face lined with worry. "Eve, are you sure we have to visit this place?"
"I plan to spend the entire summer here," Eve said cheerfully, tugging at the woman's sleeve. "Don't worry, Mom. I know Nolan's family are vampires, but I don't think they'll hurt us."
"Are they... good vampires?"
The maid interjected without hesitation. "There is no such thing as a 'good' vampire, Mrs. Stock. However, if you are concerned about being attacked in Randall Gorge, rest assured—it would be a pointless worry. The Von Draugr family will not harm you. Miss Stock is His Highness Nolan's guest."
The moment she finished speaking, something large and black plummeted from the treetops.
With a sharp intake of breath, the maid slammed the brakes. The Bentley skidded across the muddy road, narrowly missing an old gravestone.
The impact was enough to stir the slumbering creatures in the woods. From the hollowed-out trees, bats burst into flight, filling the air with frantic flaps of their wings. In the distance, wolves began to howl.
The maid shot a sharp glare toward the forest. "Silence."
Immediately, the wolves fell mute.
She stepped out of the car with an eerie, deliberate grace, her black heeled boots making no sound against the damp earth.
"Lúthfa," the maid said coolly. "That is my car."
The woman who had fallen from the tree—Lúthfa, the guardian of Randall Gorge—blinked in mild surprise. "Miss Theresa? Oh, it's you. I was tending to the vegetation when I caught the scent of Muggles... so I tried to stop the car."
Her voice was calm, clear like a flowing stream, yet there was a slightly dazed quality to her expression, as if her thoughts were always floating somewhere else.
"I appreciate your diligence," Theresa replied. "Now, allow me to make some introductions."
By this time, the Stock mother and daughter had stepped out of the car, their eyes fixed curiously on Lúthfa.
Theresa turned to them with her usual formal air. "This is Lúthfa, the warden of Randall Gorge. She is responsible for maintaining the trees and gardens of this valley."
"She works alone?" Eve asked, clearly impressed. "Randall Gorge is huge. Can you really manage everything by yourself?"
A small, pleased smile tugged at Lúthfa's lips. "That is the specialty of forest elves."
Eve grinned. "I'm Eve Stock. You can just call me Eve. And this is my mother, Angela."
"Understood. Eve, Angela," Lúthfa acknowledged with a nod. Then she glanced at Theresa again and added, "If you see Shafa, tell her to check on the northern shadow wolves. They've been unruly lately—they need some discipline."
"I will pass along the message," Theresa replied.
Before anyone could say another word, Lúthfa leapt onto the nearest tree branch, bounding effortlessly from limb to limb like a fleeting shadow. Within seconds, she had vanished into the darkness.
Angela Stock finally released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. After a long pause, she murmured in admiration, "She's absolutely stunning..."
It took her a moment to find the right words, but when she did, she said with absolute conviction, "She looks just like Charlize Theron... but with an even more mysterious beauty. And that height, that elegance... She could be Miss World."
"Forest elves always possess beauty beyond imagination," Miss Theresa remarked. "And even among them, Lúthfa is considered one of the most stunning."
The three of them climbed back into the car. As the Bentley rolled forward again, Eve curiously observed the driver.
"Miss Theresa, your ears are pointed too... Are you an elf as well? But why is your skin so dark?"
Theresa seemed oddly pleased by the question, though Eve had no idea why.
"I am not an elf," Theresa replied with a hint of amusement. "But my head is an elf's head."
There was a brief silence in the car as Eve processed that statement.
"...You're what?"
Theresa finally clarified, her tone calm and matter-of-fact. "I am a zombie."
"Oh, dear Lord." Angela Stock's face drained of color. She looked seconds away from fainting.
Her mother's fear only piqued Eve's interest further. Ever since becoming a skilled witch, she had developed a strong stomach for the supernatural.
"Miss Theresa, how did you end up serving Nolan's family?"
Theresa pondered the question for a moment before replying. "That's a long story." She seemed to reflect on her memories, then added, "My recollection isn't the best, you see. Every few decades, my head is replaced, and memories tend to reside in the brain. As a result, my past is somewhat fragmented."
Eve's eyes widened. "You've been a maid for a long time, then?"
Theresa gave a small, knowing smile. "Oh, perhaps a few thousand years. I am older than any vampire you'll ever meet. Thankfully, the Von Draugr family has always cared for me and ensured I have... fresh body parts when needed."
She spoke with such nonchalance that Angela looked ready to collapse. But before she could, the car came to a smooth stop.
Theresa turned to them with a polite nod. "We've arrived. Miss Stock, Mrs. Stock—welcome to Sistine Manor."
As Eve and her mother stepped out of the car, they finally laid eyes on the Von Draugr estate.
Angela involuntarily shivered as she exhaled, her breath turning to mist in the cold night air. "I've seen Dracula movies before... and this looks exactly like the kind of castle he would live in."
Eve, however, was unfazed. She smirked. "Come on, Mom. If you think about it, Hogwarts isn't much different—except Hogwarts gets sunlight, and this place only has eternal night."
With that, she strode forward, but suddenly let out an annoyed grunt and kicked at something on the ground.
"Hey! Get off me!"
A rogue Soul-Snaring Vine had coiled around her ankle, its eerie tendrils trying to drag her into the earth. Without hesitation, Theresa swung her scythe, cleanly slicing through the troublesome plant.
"Perhaps Lúthfa should clear a proper path," she mused before turning back to the mother and daughter. "Come inside."
The grand gothic-style doors groaned open, revealing a vast, cavernous hallway. The flickering chandeliers cast eerie shadows along the dark stone walls, causing the entire corridor to waver between light and darkness.
Angela hesitated. "Is... anyone home?"
Theresa, ever composed, simply replied, "Someone is always home."
She took their luggage and neatly arranged it by the entrance. "However, His Highness Nolan might have forgotten your visit. Vampires," she added with an amused tilt of her head, "are not known for their punctuality."
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