Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Cardinals

I rarely feel as hopeless as I do right now.

When my mom died, I promised her I would live my life—no matter what it took. I promised I would finish my studies, get a better job, and be happy. When she died, half of me died with her. But that wasn’t a reason for me to lose hope. Slowly, my spirit came back, carried by the promises I had made. But it was only temporary.

I wish he had just left me on that cold ground—breathless.

But here I am, in a situation I don’t even understand. Oh, I’m about to become immortal. That may sound thrilling to some, but not to me. Silently, I’ve been wishing to finally meet my end. I wish I were with Mom right now. But I’m stuck here—not even as a human anymore.

Brix brought me to a vacant room. It had no furniture, nothing. It was small, with a single door and a tiny window above where light slipped through. If my guess is right… this is a prison.

Too weak to do anything else, I sat in the corner, hugging my knees.

“Do you really need to do this?” I heard Oscar ask, concern in his voice.

“This is inhumane!” Nathalia exclaimed. “Get her out of here now, Brixton.”

“We are not humans, for Pete’s sake, Nathalia. Stop exaggerating,” Brix shot back. “And can you not? This is none of your business. She is my slave, and I can do whatever I want with her without asking for your permission.”

I wiped the dried tears from my eyes. I kept my head down, unable to look at the beings who brought me here. I was afraid, yes, but I couldn’t deny the intense hatred boiling inside me—especially toward one man.

“This is her punishment, too,” Brix said. “She’s my slave, and I want her to know what happens to those who don’t obey me. I don’t care if she’s transitioning, confused, or just a pathetic human. My words aren’t meant to be wasted.”

The burning sensation I had under the sun was gone. Now, I was cold—shivering. I didn’t know whether it was from the chill, the fear, or the rage. Maybe all of them. My emotions were in chaos.

“Damn it, Brix. She has a bruise on her right arm!” Nathalia started to panic. “Oh, my poor feelings! Her skin... I can’t watch this anymore. Mr. Billy, ask the maids to prepare my tub! I need to relax!” And then I heard her stilettos clicking as she walked away.

I leaned back against the wall, still hugging my knees, my gaze fixed on the marble floor. I knew Brixton and Oscar were looking at me, but I couldn’t bring myself to lift my face.

“Astra...” Oscar’s voice was gentle, full of concern. I even heard him sigh deeply. “Just do it, Ms. Martin. After that, it won’t hurt anymore. I promise. And no one can hurt you ever again. You’ll become one of the strongest in this world.”

I shook my head.

No. I never wanted to be the strongest or to become someone superior. No matter how they explain it, I will never accept what they did to me. They cursed me. They dragged me into their miserable, endless life. That is unforgivable.

“Hey. It’s not a curse—”

“Stop talking, Oscar. Bring the girl in,” Brix cut him off. “Leave us, Oscar. I’ll handle this. She’s my slave, after all. You already have your own Celeste. You dumbass don’t even know how lucky you are to have a slave like her. Unlike this hard-headed one.”

More footsteps entered the room and moved closer to me.

“You know why, Brix? Because I didn’t treat her like this. I won her over in a harmless way—by charm, you could say.” Oscar scoffed. “If anyone here is unlucky, it’s not you. Stop playing the victim!”

“Yeah? You talk too much. Fuck off!”

“Whatever, Brix. You’re grumpier than Mr. Billy. Suit yourself!” Then I heard his footsteps fading away.

When Oscar left, the air in the room grew heavier.

“You are nothing to me, Astra. You think I’m evil? Hate to break it to you, but I’ve already gone beyond evil.” I heard his footsteps walking away, then stopping again. “This is the last time I’ll allow you to disobey me. There won’t be another chance.”

I looked up at him. His eyes were devoid of emotion. It was as if he wasn’t even looking at me, as though he were deep in thought, staring into nothingness. Like I didn’t even exist. I wished I could read his mind—just like they read mine. I wished I could understand why he was like this, so cruel and full of hatred.

A wicked smirk appeared on his lips. “Unfortunately, you will never reach my mind. You’re wondering why I’m being so cruel? No. I’m not. You’re just a human—emotional, predictable, and easy to read. Enjoy the food.”

He shut the door behind him, his footsteps slowly fading.

I clenched my fists. I wanted to scream, to release my frustration—but a woman in the room caught my attention. She was just staring at the light coming through the small window. She looked... out of her mind.

I swallowed hard when I saw a blade in her hand. Her eyes fell on me, and tears slipped down her cheeks. It was as if she was begging me to free her.

My mouth parted in horror when I saw her lift the blade and press it against her arm.

Stop…

I felt like I couldn’t breathe when she sliced her arm.

My heart began to pound wildly. I was losing my senses. My eyes burned, and my blood boiled. The scent of her blood was disturbing my sanity. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

My hands trembled as I stood slowly. I was losing control. I couldn’t take my eyes off her bleeding arm.

“Do it...” I heard Oscar’s voice echo somewhere in my mind.

“Don’t do this to me,” I pleaded. “Just kill me, please...”

“Don’t lose hope, Astra. Just because you’re linked to him now doesn’t mean you’ll be linked forever. Someday... it will break. If there’s a way in, there’s always a way out. For now, do what needs to be done.”

My legs started moving before I realized it.

“Just think about it this way, Astra. Don’t think of being a vampire as a curse—think of it as a gift. As long as you have this gift, you have a chance to stand against him. You can use this gift to avenge what happened to you.”

My fists clenched tightly. Only one name echoed in my mind. He was the root of all this. If he could hear me now, I wanted him to know how I felt. I wanted him to know I am not weak. I wanted him to know he had gravely underestimated someone like me.

“Good luck, Astra...” Those were the last words I heard from Oscar.

I turned to the woman in front of me. She was staring blankly at me, unaware of what was happening. Her thick blood dripped onto the marble floor.

The scent was... intoxicating.

I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep. I woke up groggily when I heard a knock on the door. Nathalia peeked in before fully entering. Her face made it obvious she had bad news.

“I know I told you to take your time but…” she paused. She was wearing a different outfit again—still red. How many times does she change clothes a day?

“But Papa is on his way. We need to get ready before he arrives. He’s been expecting you, Astra.”

So... is this like meeting the parents?

“Okay. I’ll just take a shower,” I said.

“Okay. Oh, wow. Your skin looks even more beautiful now. I’ll just be outside.” She giggled before closing the door.

I got out of the tub and rinsed off. I grabbed a towel to dry myself. I felt much better now. Even without perfume, my body smelled divine. My skin had never been this smooth and glowing.

I was smiling when a realization hit me—I’m going to meet their father. The father of Brixton Cardinal. What is he like? A darker version of Brixton? Probably. That’s likely where he got his dark nature from. Still, I’m about to meet another character in this vampire drama.

Scared? Nah. Why would I be? He could kill me and I’d still be thankful.

I wrapped the towel around my body and stepped outside. Nathalia was sitting on the sofa, looking at her phone. She noticed me and stood quickly.

“Come on...” She made me sit in front of a fancy vanity. She gently touched my wet hair. “How do you like your hair? Since you have long silky black hair, I suggest we just dry it. But your choice.”

“Let’s just dry it,” I replied.

“Perfect.” She plugged in the blower and started drying my hair. Her touch was so gentle, like she was afraid to pull even a single strand.

“You can try those perfumes, Astra. Whatever suits your taste.”

While she dried my hair, I tested the perfumes. I preferred mild scents. The others were too strong.

After styling and drying my hair, she helped me into the blue dress. I gasped as she tightened the chest area. I complained, but she insisted it looked better and I’d get used to it.

I now stood in front of the mirror, observing myself. Well... I looked good. Despite Nathalia's compliments, all I could do was smile. I wasn’t into this kind of thing. It felt nice, sure, but I wasn’t fond of expensive stuff. Still, I wasn’t complaining.

“Brixton can choke,” Nathalia snickered.

I turned to her. “Can you give me a little idea about your dad? What’s he like?”

Nathalia crossed her arms, thinking. “You know Brixton, right?”

I swallowed hard and nodded.

“Hell yeah. He’s nothing compared to our father. He’s just like you—a pet. But not just him, all of us too. Strict and manipulative. Even though we’ve lived with him for a long time, we’re still intimidated by his presence. Well... he’s a beast. Tip, Astra? Just do what Brix tells you. He knows our father better than anyone.”

I smiled faintly. I think that answered my question about why Brix treats others the way he does—power. He knows he’s superior, and humans can’t fight him. Just like how powerless he must feel in front of his father.

Nathalia held my arm as we walked down the grand staircase. I couldn’t help but look up at the enormous chandelier. I now noticed the details around me more. Men in black suits stood at every corner, silently guarding the area.

“Damn. Gorgeous as hell. I just hope he can be kind sometimes,” Nathalia mumbled.

I was so distracted that I didn’t notice the man waiting at the bottom of the stairs. He wore a black tuxedo with fitted slacks. Now that I felt better, I could focus on him. His presence screamed authority and darkness. The way he stood there, hands in his pockets—he could easily capture anyone’s attention.

Nathalia was right. Just a little kindness, and he could be a dream guy. Still, not my type.

“I’ll go ahead,” Nathalia said as we reached Brixton. She even kissed my cheek before walking away like she was on a runway. Meanwhile, I could barely walk in heels without shaking.

Brix cleared his throat, catching my attention. His eyes traveled from my chest up to my eyes.

“Just don’t do anything stupid. Don’t make this hard for both of us,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

I stared at him for a few seconds before laughing.

He frowned.

“I was a human, Brix. Did you forget? Humans are stupid. Don’t expect too much from me,” I said sarcastically. “But don’t worry. That’s just a heads-up. I’ll still try to be a decent human.”

“You’re no longer human, Astra.”

“Still... I once was. A pathetic, emotional human.”

He tilted his head, already irritated. His tolerance was so low. He loved belittling others but was quick to snap when it was done to him.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a heavy sigh. Being close to him, I smelled his breath—slightly alcoholic, but still pleasant. He licked his lips before raising his arm toward me.

I just looked at his extended arm.

“Can we just walk without that? We’re not in a pageant,” I complained.

He shut his eyes tightly, clearly holding back.

“This isn’t just for show, you stupid human. It’s formality,” he whispered. “Just hold my arm. Is that so hard?”

I rolled my eyes but took his arm. I nodded as I felt how firm his muscles were. Damn. This demon smells good, too. We slowly walked down the path Nath had taken earlier.

“Is there food?” I asked.

“Of course,” he replied.

“Can I take out?”

I needed to bring food for Tita Ophelia. I left without telling her anything. She’s probably furious now. I’ll just say I came from a fiesta.

“Why? Fuck it. Fine. After this, I’ll have everything packed and sent to you. Now don’t do anything stupid. Just eat and keep your mouth shut unless necessary.”

“How could I eat with my mouth shut?”

He didn’t answer. I smiled secretly. I felt like he was about to explode even before we reached the table.

“Wait... you’re the one who called into my mind, right?”

“Why do you ask so many questions?” he asked, clearly irritated. “My father is waiting. He hates waiting.”

“I was shocked when you suddenly called into my mind. I broke Tita Ophelia’s glass. My allowance was reduced by twenty pesos. Pay for it.”

I was already short on money, and now this.

“Twenty pesos? Fine.”

“Oops. Make that fifty. With interest. And for all the insults. I’m your slave, right? There should be a fee for every command. Nothing’s free these days—”

“Shut up. We’ll talk after this,” he cut me off. “Here we go. Be a good pet, Astra.”

As we entered a room, I was greeted by a large table full of food. Nathalia was already seated beside Oscar, who wore a white tuxedo. Do they really need formal attire just to eat?

“Keep going,” Brix mumbled near my ear.

As I walked, I looked toward the man at the center of the table. He silently ate while reading a newspaper. I wanted to curse—if that’s their father, it wasn’t fair. He looked like he was Brixton’s age. His face was more mature, with a mustache. His sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, and a golden watch gleamed on his wrist.

I was about to sit when Brix stopped me.

I looked at Nathalia, who smiled and nodded.

I returned my gaze to the man eating.

“Sir?” I called.

My mouth fell open when Brix pulled me closer.

“Papa…” Brix said respectfully. “Just like I promised, I found mine. Her name is Astralla Martin. She’s willing to serve not just me but also you. You can have her anytime you want.”

My eyes widened.

Brix let go of my arm. I thought the act was over, but his hand slid down to hold mine. I was shocked when he gently caressed my hand. I now felt the heat of his palm.

Their father looked up at me. It felt like my soul left my body. His stare was ice cold and piercing. Now I understood why everyone acted like tame dogs around him.

“Greet him and introduce yourself…” Brix whispered.

I cleared my throat.

“Hello, Sir. I am Astralla Martin. My friends call me Astra. I’m 19. It’s a pleasure to meet the vampire daddy.” I smiled wide. “You’re actually handsome. Nathalia made it sound like you were old, grumpy, and hated the world. That’s clearly not true.” I laughed.

Oscar coughed and choked on his food, quickly drinking a red liquid.

Brix tightened his grip on my hand. I looked at him—his face was red. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. But he told me to introduce myself. And only speak when necessary.

Nathalia faked a cough. “Sorry, Papa. We haven’t briefed her properly. Everything happened so fast. But don’t worry. I’ll make sure she learns everything after this. Next time you meet, she’ll be much more refined.”

She raised an eyebrow at me before rolling her eyes.

I scowled.

“Lord Severo.” We turned to Mr. Billy who just entered. He held wine and poured it into Severo’s glass, bowing the whole time—even as he left.

I looked at the food.

“So delicious…” I blurted out.

Oscar choked again and excused himself to call Celeste. He was clearly suppressing his laughter.

Brix remained standing, his face red. I felt his hand trembling.

“Brixton…” The air grew heavy when their father finally spoke.

Brix closed his eyes. “I’m sorry, Pa…”

I was utterly confused. Even more so when Mr. Severo suddenly laughed.