Not all things lost can be found. There are some things that no matter how hard you try, elude you, and if you push too far, you break. When it was clear that I would never dance as I once did, there were no words to describe the overwhelming depression that took me. My determination had nearly broken me.

While recovering from my injury, there was hope. I hoped once I was permitted to dance again, I could get my body back to where it once was. When my injury healed, that hope evaporated like water on hot asphalt. I realized there would be no going back. That realization left me lost in the dark without so much as a candle.

Most who cared about me encouraged my delusions—perhaps they didn't want to be the bearer of bad news. "Just keep trying," they would say to me. "It won't happen in a day."

It was my father who spoke reason; he was the one who pulled me from my pit of despair. He saw my depression for what it was. He knew what I knew, that there would be no going back. So, he offered me an escape.

In reality, I think he was tired of watching me suffer. One day he came to me with a big manila envelope stuffed full of train tickets, tickets to various destinations across Europe. Ballet was developed in Europe, and selfishly, I still couldn't release that part of my life.

"Cece," he'd said in his somber voice. "It is time for you to find happiness. You will get none here."

He was right; I would never find true happiness beating a dead horse. So, I begrudgingly agreed to his offer. Not long after, as I traveled through Europe, I began wondering if I would ever find what I sought. Happiness was always out of reach, like chasing a mirage in a hot desert. I was left asking: was it possible? All the dreams I had would no longer come true. The only way to fix that was to pick new dreams.

That's what Vienna was supposed to be, a place to make a fresh start. Now, all I could think was, look how great it turned out for me. I say that with the largest amount of sarcasm I can muster. I was hardly two weeks into my new life before some guy posing as my date tried to eat me alive. Was I to be grateful towards my captors for rescuing me? They took me from one alarming situation simply to throw me into another. After five days of being stuck in a tiny room playing prisoner, I was beginning to believe there might be no place left for me in the world.

On a separate note, I finally learned the name of the man who so forcefully took me to see Caius. For the first couple of days I called him Jailor, which earned me a hard look every time. His name was Felix, and he was my only visitor after arriving.

I saw him three times a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He delivered my food, took me upstairs to use the restroom, and said hardly anything at all. If it weren't for my ventures upstairs, I wouldn't have known the time of day. Those short trips were the only instances where I was exposed to windows, and I couldn't help but look upon them longingly.

On the bright side, Felix stopped treating me poorly after the first night. I think he realized my innocence after first believing me in league with Thrax. Still, I didn't know why I remained a prisoner.

My persistence in questioning Felix regarding the reason for my imprisonment annoyed him. He showed this by clenching his jaw and avoiding my gaze. In fact, he frequently avoided my gaze during our brief visits. When I did catch his eye, there was always the same hunger lurking beneath his stare. Even still, I think I was slowly growing on him.

When I woke up on day six, things began to change. Felix was absent in delivering my breakfast. I had no way of keeping time, but I could tell because my stomach wouldn't stop growling. If someone didn't come for me soon, I was worried I'd pee myself.

My anxiety increased as time passed. Perhaps they'd given up on me. For the millionth time, I tried the door. Felix never forgot to lock it, but I pulled on the knob anyway, letting out a long string of profanities when it expectedly didn't open.

Not long after, I heard the familiar jingle that marked his approach. Going without social interaction for a week made me look forward to seeing him. I was supposed to loathe him for keeping me here.

When the door opened, I squealed with fright and stumbled backwards onto my bed. It was not Felix who stood in my doorway, but Caius. His tall frame filled the entry, and he stood gazing down as if my behavior was ridiculous. "Expecting someone else?"

"Where's Felix?" I demanded.

Caius dramatically looked over his shoulder before turning back towards me. Then he shrugged. "He's not here—obviously."

My gaze narrowed; his sarcasm was not amusing.

"All right. Fine. I released him of his duties." He let himself into my room and went directly to the shadowy corner where he took a seat to watch me.

I refused to say a word and simply glared at him, though I quailed inwardly under his sharp gaze. Perhaps he'd simply come to gawk at me.

At last he did speak. "How are you finding your stay?"

Was he trying to be funny? What a pompous bastard! "I'm finding my stay quite well, actually." I mustered up some fake sarcasm of my own. "I'm enjoying it so much, as a matter of fact, I was going to ask if I might stay indefinitely." Two could play this game.

"I thought you might ask. We can certainly arrange something."

"Wonderful. You are too gracious, Caius. I cannot thank you enough."

"Think nothing of it. It is the least I can do."

Ugh! I wanted to scream, I was so infuriated. He appeared to enjoy my temper. How fantastic that I could offer him amusement.

"Cece, is it?"

"Celine," I muttered. Felix must have told him my nickname.

"Ah. I see. How fitting. Cece for people you like, and Celine for those you don't."

"No." I felt an angry blush creep onto my cheeks. "Cece for friends and family. Celine for strangers and people I don't trust."

"Oh, terrific. Cece, then, since I am no stranger. You told me moments ago that you wish to stay in Anghor Manor indefinitely. We are hardly strangers if we are living together."

"I do not wish to stay in this manor forever!" I finally cut the bullshit. "I want to leave. Immediately! Why are you keeping me here against my will?"

"Ah-ha. We get to the crux of the matter." He rested his elbows on the chair's armrests and steepled his fingers, gazing back at me with calm collection. I was neither calm nor collected. "You see, Cece, you cannot leave, otherwise, I would have released you days ago. We vampires do not take kindly to sharing our secrets with the outside world. You have seen too much."

"Vampires?"

"Of course, my dear Cece. Vampires. Why so shocked? Surely you've had enough time to work it out for yourself."

I most certainly had not, and I told him so.

"Be that as it may, I am afraid you are stuck here forever." His silver eyes gleamed wickedly. I felt my soul wither. I was never getting out of here. It was hopeless to fight him. Fighting Caius was exactly what Caius wanted. He enjoyed toying with me. "Yes. Difficult realization is it not?" He paused, feigning consideration. He must have thought himself the world's greatest actor. "Although, I suppose there is a way," he lured. "But you seem so cross! Perhaps this discussion is best left for another time."

A tiny glimmer of hope sprang up within me. It was nothing more than a candle flickering in a dark room. "There's a way?" I regretted my question almost instantly. He was still baiting me, and the moment I realized it, I burned hot with frustration.

"Why of course, my dear Cece. I should have said sooner. Let me explain. Seeing as you are an outsider, you pose a threat to us. Loose cannon and all that." His face was calm as he spoke, void of emotion. "We cannot risk anyone running around aware of our existence. However, if you choose to become one of us," he paused, "let's just say your circumstances will be quite different."

"Become a vampire?" This was another joke. He was still playing with my head. "I thought—wasn't that what your people rescued me from? Becoming a night-walker?"

He threw his head back and laughed. It wasn't the feel-good kind of laugh that's contagious. It was the kind of laugh that says, you're doomed. "My dear Cece, your ignorance amuses me. Night-walkers and vampires are so very different. Perhaps the only similarity is that we both require blood to stay alive. No matter, you will learn in time."

"I don't want to learn. I don't want to become a vampire." My anger had all but dissipated. All that was left was the desperation of being trapped.

"No? Why ever not? Do you think we are monsters? I assure you that we are nothing like those night-walkers your friend Thrax intended you to become."

"No. I just—I don't want to. I want to go home."

"This is your home now."

"No, it's not! I don't want to become a vampire. I've got to get out of here. Is there no other way?"

"Well of course there is! Of course, my dear Cece." His grin was malicious. If a beautiful man could be fatal, my heart might have frozen in my chest.

It took great courage to speak. "I'll do anything. What is it. I'll do it."

"You can die."

"What?" The warmth drained from my body.

"You heard me. There are only two ways to leave Anghor Manor. You have two choices. You may choose to become one of us, or you may choose death. It's your decision."

"But, what if I don't want either of those choices?"

"Then, my dear Cece, I am afraid you are stuck with me forever." 

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