Lina shot out of bed, her forehead moist, her hair clinging tightly to it. She woke up in a cold sweat, her initial thought chilling her blood. An immortal… Her eyes trembled, as she tried to think about the possibility of this happening.

When the modern world is rampant with vampires, anything can happen. Nearly two centuries ago, species that existed only in fairytales had come out of the shadows. They ravaged the modern world with horrific strength but mesmerizing beauty.

A war between humans and supernatural species occurred. It was the same cliche tale of good vs. evil. And as always, history was told by the victors. The Vampires reigned supreme, while the Werewolves went into hiding.

"Nearly two centuries ago, vampires and werewolves were legends from books," Lina muttered to herself, touching her neck again, a habit of hers when she was nervous. "Now, they run the monarch government in every country, returning aristocracy back to modern-day society."

Lina swallowed hard and stared into the darkness, grateful that the storm had passed. But her trembling heart didn't calm down.

"The possibility of immortals existing isn't impossible," Lina thought to herself.

Vampires infiltrated every aspect of life, from the coffee shop to the owners of multi-billion corporate businesses. Werewolves ruled the crime world, a species hidden in the shadows, to prevent another Species-War from breaking out. In that case, where were Immortals…? And how many of them are there?

"How are Immortals created?" Lina mumbled, trying to think back to her history lectures.

Perhaps a Pure-Blood Vampire…? Lina knew Pure-Blood Vampires were extremely rare, for they were the ancestors of the current vampires that roamed the streets. Every vampire was a descendant of them. The first one that came to mind was the Pure-Blood King in Wraith, a country across the seas from Ritan.

Ritan was the most prominent country in the Eastern country that was run by a government without the traditional royal families like Wraith, where King Elias ruled with his human wife.

"Imagine being such a dedicated student, you ask questions even in your sleep," Isabelle groaned from the other side of the room, squinting her eyes upon hearing the whisper.

Isabelle was an extremely light-sleeper and was happy to fall asleep once the rain died, but now, was awakened by Lina's mumbling.

"I wish I had half of your dedication Lina. Maybe then I wouldn't have to cry when I retake my classes during Summer," Isabelle yawned, turning over to see Lina had sat up.

There goes the problem with naps—you'll wake up in the middle of the night and not sleep until the afternoon. What a skewed sleep pattern. Lina loved to repeat it.

" If you had half of my dedication, you wouldn't cry from retaking classes, but from study exhaustion," Lina snorted, climbing out of bed to do more research.

Immortality should be impossible. There was no way the Second King of Ritan was alive… right? And what about Sebastian? She was confused, wondering if Sebastian was also an Immortal, but remembered some key information. Sebastian's family was sworn to protect the Crown.

"By the way," Isabelle tiredly said. "It's just as you've predicted, the pictures were taken down. Any place that posted was slapped with a terrifying lawsuit, so no media company dared to have it up."

Lina paused. "Taken down by who?"

Isabelle shrugged, just as Lina opened her computer. She didn't have to guess who took it down. And she had a good feeling it wasn't Kaden's doing.

Still, Lina remembered how reclusive the Second King of Ritan was. None dared to spread rumors about him, for gossip resulted in de-tonguing and sewn lips, literally.

It was precisely why historians struggled to recover information about the Second King's private life, except the infamous Four-Generation Massacre, where he killed every person in front of him to the throne.

People said the day Kade became King was the day his tyranny started. Despite being the most powerful man in the world, he never smiled. Never married. Never had offspring.

Historians didn't know why, but Lina did.

"By the way, Isabelle," Lina said, turning to her good friend. "Do you think a man can obtain immortality?"

Isabelle rolled around, intrigued by the question. "You mean the fairytale about The Golden Rose?"

"Golden Rose?" Lina repeated, thrown off by the fairy story idea. How could she have forgotten?

"Yes," Isabelle yawned. "Almost every little boy and girl have heard of the fairytale of the Golden Rose, a woman with blond hair and green eyes."

Suddenly, Lina was reminded of an unpleasant memory, her chest aching.

"It's a popular story for little girls that dreamed of becoming the chosen one instead of a princess," Isabelle tiredly explained. "The tale of the Golden Rose spoke of a mysterious woman with strange, but useful abilities."

"Yes, I know," Lina whispered. "Whoever embraced the Golden Rose will gain a sudden burst of strength, those that consume her blood will become the strongest in the world, and whoever deflowered her will be granted immortality. Some even said her grounded bones could fertilize the most barren of land."

Isabelle nodded, her eyes opening and closing at the mention of the fairy tale story. "Tuck me back into bed?"

Lina lightly laughed, walking to her friend and doing so. It was better to collapse in the dorm, instead of the streets. Thus, Lina touched her friend's hand and saw the future. Blinding paparazzi, frequent chants, and excited squeals flashed in her eyes. She guessed Isabelle was also returning home for Winter Break.

"In this world of anguish and despair… I am the wood burning a wildfire…"

The chilling ringtone sent Lina's spine stiffening. Her eyes snapped to her phone that buzzed and buzzed, a haunting caller name flashing on the screen.