(Flashback — Jason)
The Vampire Kingdom.
Jason stood tall. He was the prince, the son of Max Vexely the Third. His father's voice echoed through the throne room.
"Stand stiff," Max said, eyes sharp.
Jason straightened up, holding his posture. "Back straight. Good manners," Max added.
"Yes, sir," Jason replied.
Guests arrived, one by one. The kingdom was massive, its towering black-and-gold castle larger than any mansion—grander than most human kingdoms.
Jason stood beside the great throne, red velvet trimmed with black and gold. Then, a strange woman entered. Her child kept staring at Jason. He didn't like it. Something felt off.
More people came. The throne room grew louder, the energy thick with celebration. Over fifty thousand vampires filled the space.
Max raised a hand.
"Attention, attention!" he announced. "Welcome to the twelfth birthday of King Jason Jackson the Second!"
Applause thundered through the hall.
"There is food," Max continued. "A long table awaits, with cake, snacks, and of course—extra blood drink for my fellow vampires."
A few people chuckled.
"But don't rush," Max said, voice stern again. "Don't take food like you think there won't be more. There's enough for everyone—even enough for a ninth round."
Laughter and cheers rose, echoing across the dark halls. The feast had begun.
Max stepped down from the throne, a silver goblet of blood drink in hand. He moved closer to Jason, the crowd too loud to hear them.
He leaned in and whispered, "You know what to do, right?"
Jason didn't even blink. "Talk to the guests. Unmask their secrets. Use those secrets against them."
Max chuckled low. "Yeah. Exactly."
But Jason didn't smile. Not even a fake one. He hadn't smiled once since the party started. His eyes stayed locked ahead, sharp and unreadable.
"Where's Mom?" he asked quietly.
Max's expression shifted. Just for a second, something passed through his eyes—grief, maybe. His jaw tightened, and he gritted his teeth like he was about to say something honest.
Before he could speak, one of the guards stepped forward. "Sir, we need to make more drinks. The guests are asking for stronger blends."
Max turned away fast. "Oh. Can't talk, sorry Jay," he said quickly, brushing it off.
Jason rolled his eyes.
Jason stepped off the throne, his black shoes tapping softly against the marble floor as he walked toward the dance floor. Music echoed through the hall, and vampires twirled under chandeliers of bone and gold.
He glanced around. Too many vampires. Too many fake smiles.
A girl with long blond hair turned toward him, her crimson dress shimmering in the low light. "Hey, Jason. Long time no see."
Jason didn't break stride. "Yes. You too. Hoped it would be longer," he said flatly, then walked right past her.
The girl blinked, taken aback, then gave him a sharp side-eye. "What the fuck…" she muttered under her breath.
Jason didn't care. He kept walking, eyes scanning the room like a hunter looking for his next target.
A girl his age approached, waving at him shyly. Jason recognized her right away—the same one who'd been staring at him earlier, making him uncomfortable.
"Hi," she said, smiling. "I'm Elie."
Jason barely looked at her. "I didn't ask."
Elie flinched, her smile twitching. She almost snapped, but kept it in. Her eyes narrowed just a little.
"So… how was your day?" she tried again.
"My day went shitty," Jason replied bluntly.
Elie opened her mouth. "Oh… my day was—"
"I still didn't ask," Jason interrupted, his tone flat.
Elie clenched her teeth and muttered under her breath, "Brat."
Jason heard it.
"If you don't like how I act, leave," he said coolly.
Elie quickly backtracked. "No, no—I didn't mean it like that."
Jason closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them slowly, staring at her like she was hiding something. His gaze was sharp, suspicious.
Before the tension could grow, his maid appeared from behind the crowd. Helena. She was the only one in the castle Jason actually trusted—more like a friend than a servant.
"Young Master Jason, are you alright?" she asked gently.
Jason nodded. "Yes. I just need to go."
Helena nodded back, then turned to Elie with a polite smile. "Hello there."
Jason knew how it looked. Cold, rude, even mean—but it wasn't just with girls. He acted like this with everyone, guys included. It was just in his nature.
Maybe he got it from his mother.
She had the same sharpness in her. Same attitude. He remembered one time, when he was younger, a maid had almost burned his hand by accident while pouring tea. Just an accident—but his mother didn't see it that way.
She fired the maid on the spot.
It didn't matter how small the mistake was—Jason was her child, and she wouldn't accept anyone hurting him. Ever. Not even a scratch.
Other vampire mothers acted differently. Softer. Colder. Distant.
Not her.
She could be sweet when she wanted to be… but she could also be a total bitch. And that part? That fire? She passed it straight down to Jason.
Jason hated the way he used to be.
He hated the lies.
He hated how his father would never tell the truth about his mother.
And most of all, he hated not knowing where she was.
Every time he asked, Max would change the subject. Act busy. Walk away.
Jason wasn't stupid. He knew something was being hidden from him.
He would burn a city for his mother.
Literally. He already did that once.
It cost his father more than two million just to repair the damage.
Jason didn't care.
He'd do it again.
For his mother, Jason would burn the whole world.
And he was about to burn this whole kingdom if his father didn't tell him where she was.
He had issues with burning things.
His father always said, "It's not healthy."
But Jason thought it was.
(It really wasn't.)
He was in denial now.
Fully.
Jason was walking toward his dad and said, "Tell me now where she is."
Max said, "Who…?"
Jason shouted, "MY MOTHER, YOU ASSHOLE! TELL ME WHERE SHE FUCKING IS!"
Max sighed and said, "You might want to sit down." He reached out and touched Jason's shoulder.
Jason slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me."
Max said, "You know, life goes on."
Jason narrowed his eyes. "Is she dead?"
Max quickly replied, "Woah, no. No, no, of course not."
He looked serious now. "Just like that other king who disappeared five years ago… remember? Mr. Everen? Well, your mother was kidnapped six weeks ago. And the lead staff of detectives think she's with them…"