Seven Days to Vanish：Escaping My Vampire Prince

Clarence, the Vampire Prince, fell for me the moment he laid eyes on me. And I fell for him just as hard, just as hopelessly. I accepted his Embrace. The whole dark world knew he loved me more than life itself. He branded the rune of our blood bond directly over his heart. That lasted five centuries. Then I got the video from his new blood doll—a human stripper named Seraphina. She was sprawled naked in his lap, fresh bite marks dotting her throat. Using her own blood, she’d painted a crude sigil right beside the sacred rune meant only for me. And my mate had let her. “Clarence says my young blood is the only thing that makes him feel alive anymore,” she purred. “He says you’re a dead fish in bed, darling Molly. Time for the new generation to take over.” I didn't bother to reply. My fingers were steady as I contacted an ancient witch. “I need a glamour,” I said, my voice even and low. “A perfect human shell. One that will hide everything—my scent, my trail. All of it.” Chapter 1 The taunts from his new pet started two months ago. Videos of them tangled together, of Clarence’s obsession with her young body… the cruel truth was shoved in my face. I never let on that I knew. I just quietly prepared, setting a deadline for my departure: seven days. In an abandoned church outside New York City, the only light came from the moon filtering through stained-glass windows, casting shattered rainbows on the floor. I pushed a leather satchel heavy with gold toward the hooded witch. “I need you to remove the Thorne family crest from my skin. And I need you to make me human. Flawlessly,” my voice echoed in the cavernous, empty church. The witch opened the satchel, the gleam of the coins lighting up her ancient face. She sifted through the gold with withered fingers, raising an eyebrow. “It seems the noble Prince’s consort wants to run away… Perhaps you’ll need me to cover your tracks, as well?” “Yes,” I nodded, my fingers digging into the edge of the pew. “My scent, my trail, everything. I want to be certain no vampire can ever find me.” “The price is half of all you possess,” she said, her cloudy eyes glinting. Without hesitating, I pushed a second, equally heavy satchel across the floor. The witch swept the gold into her robes and leaned forward, her voice a dry rasp. “It will be ready in a week. But I must warn you, my lady. Once you become ‘human,’ everything from your past must vanish completely. The Thorne clan has eyes everywhere. A single lingering trace of your vampire scent, and they will find you.” I stood, the sharp click of my heels on the stone floor echoing through the silence. “I understand.” I had never been more certain of anything in my life. Twenty minutes later, I was lying on a cold ceremonial altar. Amidst the witch’s chanting, the sizzle of the branding iron was deafening as the bat-shaped crest of the Thorne clan on my collarbone slowly vanished. The pain was excruciating, like silver being dragged across my skin. But I clenched my jaw and didn’t make a sound. In a daze, I felt five centuries of memories, of my love for Clarence, being stripped away with the brand. When I returned to the castle late that night, the servants were gossiping in low voices. “His Highness fell for that human woman at first sight. He gave her the Embrace himself, made her a Princess of the Coven.” “I know. And he swore before all the elders that his love for her would be eternal, undying.” “So romantic. I wish someone loved me like that.” I stood in the shadows, listening. Eternal and undying? I gave up the sun for him. I gave up my dream of being a painter. He didn’t keep his promise. The irony was suffocating. A faint shift in the air signaled his arrival. Clarence appeared at the door. He smelled of sweet human blood. And on his neck, barely hidden by his collar, was an angry red bite mark. “Molly, you’re still awake?” He moved toward me, about to wrap me in his usual embrace. My stomach turned. I put a hand up, stopping him. Clarence looked confused, then his eyes fell to my collarbone, to the white bandage covering the spot where his family crest used to be. “Molly,” his voice turned low, dangerous, “what happened to your crest?” Chapter 2 “Just a scratch. Nothing to worry about,” I said, my voice perfectly calm. Clarence’s hand froze mid-air, suspicion in his eyes. But I was no longer the naive human painter he’d turned five centuries ago. I had learned to hold a perfect smile through Coven political games, to survive with grace amidst blood and betrayal. “I have a gift for you,” I said, changing the subject. From a hidden compartment, I retrieved an ornate obsidian box and slowly slid it toward him. It was heavy. Inside was a crystal orb that held a memory of our first meeting: under a Christmas tree on a snowy night. It was supposed to be his anniversary gift. But I had already smashed it to pieces. Clarence took the box, a look of surprise on his face. “What’s the occasion?” He didn’t open it, instead placing it on the table and reaching out to touch my face. I took a step back, my smile never wavering. “You truly don’t remember, do you, Clarence? Today is the five-hundredth anniversary of our bonding.” His expression froze, as if he’d been struck. I saw the panic and guilt flash in his eyes. “Gods, Molly, I…” he reached for me. “Coven business has been so demanding lately, I completely…” “It’s fine,” I said, deftly sidestepping his touch, refusing to smell another woman on his skin. “I understand.” “No, it’s not,” he insisted, grabbing my hand, his grip tight. “We have to celebrate. Let’s go to the place where I first turned you. You love the blood moon there, don’t you? We can dance under it, just like we used to.” Used to? The last time we danced was a century ago. Back when he would still kiss my ear and tell me I was his forever. Now, he couldn’t even remember our anniversary. But I nodded. “Alright. That sounds lovely.” To get away clean, I still had to play the part of the devoted, oblivious mate. At 4 a.m., Clarence was speeding through the night in his vintage Bentley, the classical piece that had been playing on the street when we first met filling the car. “I really am sorry I forgot,” he said, glancing at me. “You know how much I love you.” I didn’t answer. My hand was in the glove compartment, my fingers closing around a silk stocking. I didn’t need to guess who it belonged to. Seraphina’s scent clung to it. I put it back, pretending I’d felt nothing. I had no interest in his meaningless excuses. When we reached the cliffside overlook, a massive blood moon hung in the sky. We stood in silence for a long time while Clarence tried to recreate the warmth of the past. He hugged me from behind, pointing at the moon and whispering romantic nonsense. Then his phone buzzed, a specific vibration pattern. “Sorry, my love. Coven emergency. I have to take this.” He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and vanished, reappearing at the far end of the cliff. I quietly slipped back to the car, where Clarence kept his burner phone. I found the chat log. The contact was saved as “Kitten Seraphina.” Kitten Seraphina: I miss you, daddy… Can we try that new position and the new toys you mentioned tonight? Clarence: Of course. Seems I didn’t quite fill you up last time. Kitten Seraphina: You didn’t like it? I have other surprises planned. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied. Clarence: I look forward to your performance. More messages flooded the screen, filled with filth and details for their next tryst. They had a date for tonight. The Waldorf Astoria. He’d already booked the room. When Clarence returned, he was once again the devoted mate. “For a second, I couldn't feel your presence. It terrified me,” he said, reappearing beside me and taking my hand. “I thought you’d left me.” My stomach churned. A powerful wave of nausea washed over me. “Molly, are you alright?” Clarence asked, his face a mask of concern. “You look pale.” I couldn’t take it anymore. The lewd videos, the stocking reeking of another woman, his hypocritical concern. It all made me physically sick. I shoved the car door open and stumbled out, heaving violently into the bushes by the road. The blood in my stomach came up, as if I was trying to purge the last five hundred years of my life. “Molly!” Clarence cried, rushing after me. “What’s wrong?” I knelt on the ground, still retching, tears mixing with the bile streaming from my mouth. Chapter 3 “Darling, you must have drunk some tainted blood.” Clarence gently helped me back into the car, handing me a flask of fresh, crimson liquid. “Let me take you to the blood bank. You can have anything you want.” I shook my head, trying to look weak and harmless. “No, it’s alright. I think my energy has just been low lately.” “Then let me throw a party for you, help you relax,” he suggested, ever the thoughtful husband. “Would the Lady of House Thorne do me the honor?” An idea sparked, sharp and cruel. I smiled. “Of course. Could we have it at the Waldorf Astoria? I’ve always loved the decor there.” A flicker of panic crossed Clarence’s eyes, but he masked it quickly. “Of course, my love. I’ll have it arranged immediately.” I knew what he was thinking. The risk of us both being at the same hotel was too high. But he couldn’t refuse the small request of his “sick” mate, could he? Back home, Clarence was exceptionally attentive. He brought me the purest blood, insisted I stay in bed, and checked on me every hour. The perfect husband. But I saw the text he sent Seraphina on his phone: “Change of plans. Meet me in the private blood cellar beneath the hotel tomorrow. It’s more discreet. More… stimulating. Imagine what we can do amongst those expensive vintages…” Kitten Seraphina: “Sounds amazing! I’ll wear that red silk dress you like. With nothing underneath.” The sound of the shower turning off in the bathroom brought me back. I quickly put the phone down. Clarence emerged with a towel knotted at his waist, water droplets tracing paths down his muscular chest. Five hundred years ago, the sight would have made my heart race. Now, it just filled me with disgust. “Feeling any better?” he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed to feel my forehead. I nodded silently. Just then, Clarence noticed the obsidian gift box on my nightstand. He smiled softly. “I still haven’t seen the gift you prepared for me…” He reached for it, but I stopped him. “I want you to open it in a week. Think of it as a surprise, okay?” He looked at me, puzzled. “Why a week?” I gave him a mysterious smile. “Because by then, you’ll understand its true meaning.” Clarence shrugged, placing the box in his nightstand drawer. “Alright. If that’s what you want.” The next morning, Clarence was up early, preparing breakfast for me in the dining room. Fresh blood in a crystal goblet, garnished with my favorite black rose petals. A perfect breakfast from a perfect husband. Then, the doorbell rang. One of Clarence’s men stood outside, holding a refrigerated case. “Your Highness. The… delivery… you requested,” the man said furtively, avoiding my gaze. But I could smell it. A rare, vibrant vintage of blood, no doubt a “delicacy” for their little rendezvous. After the man left, Clarence returned to the table and continued his breakfast as if nothing had happened. I stirred the blood in my goblet. “Clarence, I want to ask you something.” “What is it?” I looked up at him. “How important do you think loyalty is between mates?” Clarence froze for a split second before raising his goblet. “Of course, it’s important. Loyalty is the foundation of everything.” “Is it?” I asked, playing the part of a naive wife. “So, you would never betray me?” Clarence immediately set down his glass and placed a hand over the blood bond rune on his chest. It was the symbol of our union, a sacred vow for vampire mates. “I swear on my immortal life,” he said, looking me straight in the eye, his tone solemn and sincere, “I will only be loyal to you, Molly. You are my mate, my queen, the only light in my eternal night.” His performance was flawless. If I didn’t know the truth, I might have actually been moved to tears. “And if you did betray me?” I asked, raising my goblet, my gaze turning cold. Clarence, oblivious, even managed a relaxed smile. “Then may my power turn to dust and my life be forfeit.” I took a sip of blood, savoring the metallic tang. “Good, my dear. I’ll remember that.” Chapter 4 “I want to go by myself.” On the way to the hotel, Clarence looked at me, confused. “Why? You always ride with me.” Because I couldn’t bear to sit in the passenger seat where his new pet had sat countless times. The thought of Seraphina there, whining for him to pull over so he could feed from her, made me want to vomit. But I just said, “I feel like being independent tonight.” Clarence thought nothing of it. When he took my arm and we entered the hotel, the other vampires stared with a mixture of envy and awe. In this world, being the consort to Prince Thorne was a dream for countless vampire women. They had no idea what the position truly cost. Several Coven elders came to greet us. Clarence kept his hand on the small of my back, poured me the finest vintage of blood, and whispered in my ear, “This vintage is priceless, but it pales in comparison to your beauty.” Once, those words would have made me blush. Now, they just made me want to laugh. In his heart, my worth was clearly less than that of a stripper blood thrall. Dinner went smoothly, at least on the surface. Clarence discussed Coven business, occasionally turning to me for my opinion. I played the part of the perfect Prince’s consort: elegant, intelligent, involved but never overstepping. At 8:20, Clarence glanced at his watch. “Darling, I need to meet a business partner downstairs. It should only take half an hour.” “Of course,” I smiled. “I’ll be here.” A few minutes later, I excused myself from the banquet hall, feigning a headache, and called him. He answered on the third ring. “Hey, my love. What’s wrong?” Clarence sounded a bit rushed. “I’m feeling a little dizzy,” I said, my voice weak. “When will you be back?” “Soon. Just give me… fifteen more minutes.” His voice suddenly became muffled, as if he was struggling to control something. And then I heard it. A woman’s breathless giggle, followed by an obscene sound of swallowing. “Clarence? Where are you?” I kept my tone worried. “In… in the office,” he answered, breathing heavily. “My partner just arrived.” “Mmm… Clarence…” a woman’s breathy moan came from the background. My hand tightened around my goblet, my knuckles white. It was unmistakably Seraphina’s voice. “Darling, you sound strange,” I said, intentionally dragging out the call. “Are you sure everything is alright?” “Of course… ah…” Clarence struggled to keep his voice steady, but I could tell exactly what he was doing. “This partner is just a bit… demanding.” “Oh yes, Clarence… right there…” Seraphina’s voice was a blur, clearly unaware the line was still open. “Hurry, kitten,” Clarence’s voice deepened. “I need to… taste you… now.” The damning, frantic sound of him swallowing echoed down the line. I quickly switched on my phone’s recorder, calmly documenting it all. “Clarence? Clarence?” I called out, feigning panic. “What? Oh, sorry, my love,” he said, now panting. “Bad signal. I’ll be right up.” “Okay. I love you,” I said in my sweetest voice. “I love you too.” The lie slipped from his tongue so naturally, so practiced. I saved the recording and returned to the table as if nothing had happened. Forty minutes later, Clarence returned to the dining room. His hair was slightly disheveled, his tie crooked, but his face was flushed with satisfaction. “Sorry to keep you waiting, my love,” he said, sitting beside me. “That partner was a tough negotiation.” I turned to him and offered a perfect smile. “It’s fine. Business is business.” He reached for my hand. “You’re the best mate in the world.” Just then, my phone buzzed. “The identity glamour and trail-covering spells are ready. Departure in five days.” I quickly locked the screen, but Clarence caught a glimpse of the message. “Departure?” he asked, looking at me with a frown. “Molly, are you going somewhere?” Chapter 5 I let out a small laugh, answering casually, “Oh, that’s my friend Maria. She wants to see the Northern Lights, but her human ID expired. She was just asking me about the renewal process. You know how she is with all that human paperwork.” My tone was light and natural, betraying nothing. Clarence immediately relaxed, a look of sheepishness on his face. “Sorry, my love. For a second, I thought you were going to leave me.” His words drew envious glances from the noblewomen at nearby tables. See how devoted Prince Thorne is to me. I hid a cold smirk behind my crystal goblet. To the outside world, we were still the perfect, enviable couple. At 10:30, the banquet was winding down. When we were the last two left in the restaurant, Clarence came to my side, reaching for an embrace. “Tonight was perfect.” As he drew near, a mixed scent hit me. Cigar smoke, the metallic tang of expensive blood, and that damnable, sickly-sweet scent of Seraphina. That cloying, nauseating smell was radiating from his collar, his cuffs. He hadn’t even bothered to mask it. Or perhaps he was so used to it, he didn't even notice. The churning in my stomach returned, ten times stronger than before. I shoved him away, clamping a hand over my mouth as I vanished, reappearing in the restroom. “Molly? Darling?” Clarence’s worried voice followed me. I fell to my knees on the cold marble floor, retching violently. There was nothing left in my stomach to bring up, only bitter bile. “What is it? Was the blood off?” Clarence knelt beside me, trying to help me up. “Did you have too much?” The scent of him, of her, washed over me again, and another wave of dry heaves wracked me. “Don’t… don’t touch me!” I choked out, pushing his hand away. “Is it my scent?” he asked, frowning. “I’m sorry, I was hunting with that partner earlier, we fed on a human…” That excuse was the final spark. The rage inside me exploded. I slowly pushed myself up, splashing cold water on my face, and met his eyes in the mirror. He stood there, a picture of innocent concern, as if he truly had no idea what he’d done. “A hunt?” I bit out, my voice shaking. “You know damn well what it was!” Clarence froze, stunned. He had never seen me lose control like this. “Molly, what are you talking about?” I realized I was losing my composure. I forced myself to calm down. “Nothing. I’m just tired.” The next morning, Clarence insisted on taking me to the Coven’s private clinic. The vampire physician examined me. “The symptoms point to a psychic disturbance, usually caused by intense emotional distress. Has Lady Thorne been under any particular stress lately?” Clarence frowned. “No, not at all. We had a lovely time just last night.” “Perhaps it’s cyclical, then,” the doctor said, beginning to write a prescription. “I’ll prescribe something to regulate her energy.” Just then, Clarence’s phone lit up. He glanced at the screen, his expression tensing. “Excuse me, an important call.” “Go ahead,” I said flatly. Clarence stepped into the hallway. I could hear his hushed voice. “What? Now? No, I’m with her at the doctor’s… Fine, I understand.” He returned, his face an apology. “My love, I am so sorry. An underling is delivering an important ancient text. I need to go downstairs to receive it. I’ll be back in five minutes.” “Go,” I said, feigning understanding. The doctor continued his diagnosis, but I wasn’t listening. I walked to the window, pretending to admire the view, but my eyes were fixed on the street below. A few minutes later, I saw him. He wasn’t waiting by the main entrance for any delivery. Instead, he strode quickly across the street, slipped into an alley, and dissolved into a swarm of bats, flying away. I watched him disappear, feeling not anger, but a cold, numb sense of release. I knew he wouldn't be back in five minutes. An hour later, my phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number. “So sorry, Lady Thorne, but it looks like he won’t be able to keep you company today. All I had to do was whine a little, and he decided to give me the Embrace. To make me his.” Chapter 6 It was followed by a photo. Seraphina, lounging on a lavish bed, her neck marred by a deep, fresh bite mark from Clarence, surrounded by love bites. Her skin was turning pale, the first sign of a successful turning. She gloated, rubbing their "ceremony" in my face. “Surprised? He said it’s the second time he’s ever craved someone’s blood this much. The last time was 500 years ago, with you. But he says I taste so much better.” Another message followed. “Oh, and he’s taking me to Paris tomorrow. For my first ‘honeymoon’ as a vampire. ;)” I turned off my phone and faced the doctor. “I think I need to leave now.” “But His Highness, the Prince—” “I’ll tell him myself.” I went to the ancient castle of the Progenitor, the first vampire. Once made, a blood bond is nearly impossible to break. Only the Progenitor had the power. The ancient Progenitor regarded me. “Are you certain of this, child? Once the bond is severed, there is no turning back.” I was well aware of the Thorne clan’s power, and I wanted a clean break. “I ask you to sever the bond. And I swear on my immortal life that I will never be an enemy to the Thorne Coven, nor will I ever reveal its secrets.” All I wanted was my freedom. Moved by my resolve, the Progenitor finally nodded. Two hours later, I walked out of the ancient castle, the parchment dissolving our bond in my hand. The sky over New York was gray and heavy, threatening a storm. My phone rang. It was Clarence. “My love, I’m so sorry. That business took longer than expected. Where are you now?” “Home,” I lied. “Good. I’ll be right there. But…” his voice grew hesitant, “I might have to go to Paris tomorrow for an urgent matter. It’s complicated. I might not be back until next week.” His romantic getaway with Seraphina. “Alright,” I said calmly. “You’re not angry?” Clarence sounded surprised. “I know the timing is terrible, but it's Coven business. You understand.” “I understand.” “Molly,” he said, a sudden insecurity in his voice, as if he needed reassurance. “I love you. You know that, right?” I looked down at the parchment in my hand and asked the question one last time. “Clarence,” I asked softly, “could you ever fall in love with someone else?” “What?” He laughed. “Darling, what are you worried about? How could I possibly love anyone else?” “But if… let’s just say, hypothetically, if something went wrong between us—” “Impossible,” he cut me off, his tone laced with a harsh, possessive edge. “Molly, listen to me. As long as your name is Molly Thorne, you can never leave me. You are my soulmate, the vampire I personally Embraced. There is nowhere on this earth you could hide from me.” My name isn’t Molly Thorne anymore, a calm voice said in my head. My new human name is Celeste. “What if I wanted to leave?” He laughed again, a sound full of arrogant confidence. “Then I’d give you a three-day head start. And then I’d come find you. I told you, as long as you are Lady Thorne, I will hunt you down and drag you back, no matter where you run. You can’t escape me, my love. You can never escape me.” I hung up the phone and stood on the streets of New York, looking at the distant skyscrapers. I didn’t know if he could find me in three days. I only knew that in three days, I would finally be free. Chapter 7 Three days left. I sat at my vanity, staring at my reflection. Long black hair, perfect makeup, the diamond necklace Clarence gave me… all of it so perfect, so false. My phone buzzed again. Another photo from Seraphina in Paris, this one of her in Clarence’s arms in front of the Eiffel Tower. “He said only the romance of Paris is worthy of me. This is more exciting to him than any of your anniversaries.” I ignored it and contacted my advisor at the vampire bank. “Lady Thorne. A pleasure to serve you.” “I need to transfer all my personal assets anonymously. It needs to be done today.” Two days left. I met Maria for a final goodbye. She was my only real friend. “Molly, you don’t seem… right,” she said, her eyes full of concern. “I’m leaving New York,” I stated simply. “On a trip?” “For good.” Maria paused, then nodded. “I understand. Do you need my help?” This is why I loved her. She never pried, only offered support. “No. But…” I handed her a small package. “This is for you.” She opened it to find some of my personal jewelry. “Molly, this is too much…” “No. It’s a gift for a true friend.” I hugged her. “Take care of yourself, Maria.” As I left the museum, another message from Seraphina arrived. “He bought me this castle at an auction tonight. Isn’t it gorgeous? You should enjoy your last few days as Lady Thorne while you still can.” I blocked her number. The final day. At 3 a.m., the castle was as silent as a tomb. I stood in my art studio, looking at the canvases that documented five hundred years of my life. Each one had once made my immortal existence feel meaningful. Now, they just looked like gilded cages. The people from a human charity arrived at four on the dot. I sold them every painting, every piece of jewelry, every gown, and had the money anonymously donated to the slums. After they left, I took one last box to an incinerator outside the city. One by one, I pulled out the items that held my past: the first sketch I ever drew of him, the love letters he wrote me, the souvenirs from our honeymoon… I threw them all into the fire. The flames danced in the darkness, devouring every trace of Molly Thorne. Molly Thorne died in that fire. As dawn broke, I appeared at the arranged meeting point with the witch. Just as I arrived, my phone rang. It was Clarence. “My love! I’m on my way back!” His voice was excited. “Paris business wrapped up sooner than expected. I’ll be home soon. I can’t wait for that surprise gift of yours.” A surprise. It would certainly be a surprise. “I’m waiting for you,” I said, my tone as sweet as it had always been. “I love you, Molly. Wait for me.” I hung up and handed the phone—Molly’s phone, and everything else that tied me to my old life—to the waiting witch. She placed a withered hand on my forehead and began to chant in an ancient tongue. “From now on, you are the human, Celeste.”