1 Chapter 1: Allegra

From the balcony of the Sterling estate, Allegra Sterling surveyed the scene below with a sense of cold detachment. Her pale grey eyes narrowed as she watched the servants scurrying about the courtyard, tending to the manicured gardens with meticulous precision. She felt a surge of contempt rising within her as she observed their every move, her lips curling into a disdainful sneer.

In the hazy predawn light, Allegra's strawberry blonde hair gleamed like strands of molten gold, framing her delicate features with an air of aristocratic arrogance. High cheekbones cast sharp shadows across her face, accentuating the icy gaze that pierced through the darkness. Her slim frame exuded a haughty elegance, every movement calculated to assert her dominance over those beneath her.

As she looked down upon the servants below, Allegra felt a familiar thrill coursing through her veins, the rush of power that came from knowing she held their fate in her hands. In her world, they were nothing more than mere pawns to be manipulated and discarded at her whim, their existence inconsequential in the grand tapestry of her privileged life.

With a wicked glint in her eye, Allegra allowed herself a cruel smile as she contemplated which unfortunate soul would be the target of her next torment. For in the eyes of the spoiled heiress, the world was hers to command, and woe betide anyone who dared to defy her will. Allegra Sterling stood upon the balcony of the Sterling estate, her eyes glinting with a predatory gleam as she surveyed the courtyard below. Clad in a dark blue night dress that shimmered like midnight silk, she exuded an aura of dark allure, her strawberry blonde hair cascading in loose waves down her slender back.

As the first rays of dawn began to illuminate the sky, Allegra felt a surge of exhilaration coursing through her veins, the thrill of the hunt beckoning her like a siren's call. With a wicked smile playing upon her lips, she watched intently as the servants bustled about below, their every movement a testament to their subservience to her will.

"Emma!" Allegra's voice cut through the early morning air like a whip, her tone sharp and commanding. A young servant girl scurried to her side, her eyes downcast in deference to her mistress.

"What is it, Miss Allegra?" Emma asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Allegra's lips curled into a disdainful sneer as she regarded the girl before her. "You call yourself a servant? Look at you, with your threadbare clothes and your dirt-stained hands. You're nothing but a lowly worm, unworthy of even breathing the same air as me."

Emma's eyes flashed with a hint of defiance, her spine straightening ever so slightly as she squared her shoulders. "I may be a servant, Miss Allegra, but I am still a human being. And no amount of wealth or privilege can change that."

Allegra's shock quickly gave way to anger, her sharp features contorting into a mask of rage. "How dare you speak to me like that! Do you have any idea who I am?"

Emma hesitated, her mind racing as she tried to recall the task Allegra had assigned her. But before she could respond, Allegra's patience wore thin.

"Forgetful as ever, aren't you, Emma?" Allegra spat, her voice dripping with scorn. "You're nothing but a worthless imbecile, incapable of even the simplest tasks. Is it any wonder you're stuck in this wretched position for the rest of your miserable life?"

Emma's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as Allegra's words cut through her like a knife. But as she opened her mouth to speak, a fire ignited within her, fueled by years of silent suffering and indignation.

"I may be a servant, Miss Allegra, but at least I have the decency to treat others with respect," Emma said, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. "Unlike some people I know."

Allegra's eyes widened in shock at Emma's audacity, her delicate features contorted with fury. Without a word, she raised her hand,

"Go Ahead. Hit me." Emma spoke she glared daggers at the entitled heiress. "Hit me Allegra! Hit me if it makes you feel powerful. But know that yours cruelty only reveals the weakness that lies within you."

With a strangled cry of rage Allegra delivered a stinging slap across Emma's cheek, the sound echoing through the quiet courtyard.

The force of the blow sent Emma reeling backward, her hand flying to her cheek as tears welled in her eyes. But this time, there was a flicker of defiance in her gaze, a spark of determination that refused to be extinguished.

As Allegra turned on her heel and stalked back into the shadows of the estate, leaving Emma trembling in her wake, the first light of dawn washed over the Sterling estate, casting long shadows across the courtyard. For Allegra Sterling , the dawn of a new day would bring with it the promise of darkness and despair.

—-

Allegra Sterling sat at the grand dining table of the Sterling estate, her elegant fingers delicately picking at her breakfast as her mother, Lady Evelyn Sterling, observed her with a watchful eye. Lady Evelyn's dark hair cascaded in waves around her porcelain face, her red eyes sharp and penetrating as they bore into Allegra's own.

Finally, Allegra glanced up, her grey eyes meeting her mother's gaze with a defiant glare. "What?" she snapped, her tone dripping with disdain.

Lady Evelyn sighed softly, her expression one of resigned disappointment. "Allegra, we need to talk about what happened to Emma this morning," she began, her voice carefully controlled.

Allegra paused mid-bite, her long lashes fluttering with a calculated innocence as she regarded her mother. "And what about it?" she asked coolly, her tone laced with indifference.

Her mother's features softened slightly, a hint of sadness creeping into her eyes. "Allegra, you know that injuring a servant to such an extent is unacceptable," she said gently. "We have a responsibility to treat our staff with care and respect."

Allegra's gaze flickered with irritation at her mother's admonishment, her sharp features contorting into a mask of disdain. "Please, Mother," she scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Don't pretend to care about the well-being of our servants. You've done far worse things than I ever have."

Lady Evelyn's eyes flashed with anger at the accusation, her delicate facade crumbling for a fleeting moment. But before she could respond, Allegra's demeanor shifted. A low growl rumbled deep in her throat as her fangs elongated and her pupils dilated, the transformation from heiress to predator swift and unsettling.

Lady Evelyn recoiled in shock at the sudden display of Allegra's true nature, her own features contorting with fear and revulsion. But she was not one to back down easily. With a defiant snarl of her own, she met Allegra's gaze head-on, her red eyes blazing with anger.

Allegra pounded her palms on the hard table, the sound reverberating through the room like thunder. Snarling back, Lady Evelyn recoiled, her resolve wavering in the face of her daughter's fury.

Without another word, Allegra stormed out of the dining area, her vampiric snarl echoing through the empty halls of the estate as she made her way to the solitude of her chambers. Left behind, Lady Evelyn stared at the charred table where Allegra had placed her palms, her anger smoldering beneath the surface.

—-

With a determined stride, she stormed off to Allegra's father's room, her mind already racing with plans to confront him about their daughter's increasingly volatile behavior.

Lady Evelyn Sterling stormed into her husband's quarters, her anger still smoldering from her confrontation with Allegra. As she entered, she found Lord Alexander Sterling seated in a high-backed chair, his tall and imposing figure illuminated by the flickering candlelight. Lord Alexander possessed an otherworldly beauty, with honey skin, strawberry blonde hair, and pale green eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness. Though he appeared to be in his late thirties, his true age belied his youthful appearance, for he was over two centuries old.

Clad in all black attire that accentuated his sharp features, Lord Alexander watched with a predatory gaze as a human servant approached him, offering her blood. With a languid grace, he accepted the offering, bringing her palm to his lips and drinking deeply from the crimson stream.

As Lady Evelyn entered the room, her husband dismissed the servant with a wave of his hand, his attention turning to his wife. "What is it this time, my love?" he inquired, his voice smooth and velvety as he pulled her onto his lap.

Lady Evelyn seethed with frustration as she settled onto her husband's lap, her anger palpable in the air. "It's Allegra," she spat, her voice laced with venom. "She's becoming impossible to control. It's all your fault for coddling her and indulging her every whim."

Lord Alexander's expression remained impassive as he listened to his wife's tirade, his pale green eyes betraying no hint of emotion. "Perhaps it's time I give her a befitting punishment," he murmured, his voice tinged with a dangerous edge.

A sinister smile played at the corners of Lady Evelyn's lips as she leaned in closer to her husband, her voice low and conspiratorial. "I've already taken care of it," she whispered, her eyes glinting with malice.

Lord Alexander's gaze hardened at her words, a silent understanding passing between them. "Mm." his voice barely more than a whisper.

With a nod of approval, Lord Alexander leaned back in his chair, his thoughts already turning to the events that were about to unfold. "Very well," he murmured, his voice filled with anticipation.

With that, Evelyn fell into a conspiratorial silence, her mind filled with dark thoughts and sinister plans.