MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

The first rays of sunlight were just peeking over the horizon when Reggie, Gunther, and Randall mounted their black steeds and departed from the secluded safehouse. Blake and Nana watched them go with worried expressions, as the brothers had been quite vague about their reasons for leaving so suddenly.

"We must visit an old friend," was all Reggie would tell them, his expression grave. "We will return before nightfall."

With that puzzling statement, the three vampire knights started the engine of their vehicle, thundering down the path and out of sight.

The hours slipped by as they drove with speed, emerald trees and craggy hillsides blurring past them. Reggie drove them unerringly to their destination – the imposing peak of Brimstone Ridge. As they approached, they could make out the ramshackle buildings and fenced fields surrounding a large fortified manor house at the mountain's base.

A grizzled figure emerged onto the cracked stone steps, squinting up at them as they reined in their lathered mounts. Despite his grimy appearance, an aura of power radiated from Damien.

"What a pleasant surprise," he called out in a smooth baritone, "Rose's knights are here! Though I didn't expect to see you three rugrats." His lips curved in a mocking smile. "How did you ever find my little hideaway?"

Reggie met Damien's goading look with firmness. "You of all people should know that knights always find their lord."

Damien chuckled deeply. "Well, that's certainly true. But what exactly has brought you three all this way?" He feigned innocence unconvincingly.

"As my brother said, we've come for Rose," Gunther stated bluntly, his expression stony. The air fairly crackled with his barely contained annoyance at Damien's games.

With an exaggerated sigh, Damien replied, "It's a bit complicated, my angry friends. But follow me, and all will be explained." He led them up a winding stair into the dimly lit manor.

Damien ushered them into a spare bedchamber, where Rose lay deathly pale and frighteningly still atop the rumpled sheets. The brothers instantly surrounded her bedside, their faces stricken as they drank in every detail of her withered appearance.

"What really happened to her?" Randall finally asked, his deep voice tight with dread.

Damien heaved a ponderous sigh, feigning melancholy. "It's no secret that Rose was with child. But there plications with the birth. The child did not survive." He shook his head sadly. "And due to the very nature of this pregnancy, Rose has remained comatose ever since.

The doctor fears half her body is now permanently paralyzed." Despite his regretful tone, his dark eyes glinted with something like satisfaction.

The three knights could only gape at him in stunned disbelief. As vampires, they were virtually immortal, healing from any wound or affliction within hours. For one of their kind to be diminished to this state was unthinkable.

"But...that's impossible," Reggie stammered, aghast. "Rose should be able to heal, no matter what happened."

"True, under normal circumstances," Damien acknowledged with a nod. "Yet this pregnancy was highly abnormal, limiting her healing abilities. She now recovers at a mere human's pace." He shrugged as if this fact should be obvious.

In the heavy silence that followed, it was clear each of them struggled to process this earth-shattering revelation about their beloved lord and leader. Finally, Damien cleared his throat.

"I'll give you three some privacy," he murmured, retreating from the room and pulling the door closed behind him.

As soon as they were alone, Gunther was the first to react, sinking to his knees at Rose's bedside. He clasped her limp hand between his calloused palms, bowing his proud head as he poured out the anguish and frustration he'd been bottling up. His gruff voice was thick with emotion as he begged Rose to wake, to recover, to not abandon them.

At last, he fell silent, pressing his forehead to her knuckles for a long moment before abruptly rising and stalking from the room without a word.

Randall approached Rose next with slow, heavy steps. He gazed down at her waxen features with a despairing frown. In a low rumble, he vowed to hunt down whoever was responsible for her suffering and make them pay tenfold. But his words soon faltered, choked off by the lump of grief swelling in his throat. With a last, lingering look of heartbreak, Randall turned and exited as well.

Only Reggie remained, sinking into the chair at Rose's bedside. He cradled her slim hand between both of his, struggling visibly to maintain his composure as he searched her haggard face.

"My lord...Rose," he whispered in anguish. "How could this happen? How could our lives become such an utter disaster?" He shook his head slowly, the first traitorous tears slipping from his eyes to trail down his cheeks. "It's not fair, after everything you've sacrificed for us, for our people. You don't deserve such torment."

Reggie fell silent for a long moment, choking back his sobs as he stroked her hand. At last, he continued in a tremulous voice.

"You tasked us with finding Blake in less than two years and we did it in six months, we succeeded at last. He's alive and well, Rose, just waiting to reunite with you. He's somewhere safe, waiting to finally be with you!" A fresh surge of grief closed off Reggie's throat completely. He bowed his head, shoulders shaking.

"But now...how can I bring him to you like this? What am I supposed to say? We should have returned earlier. We should have been there for you when you needed us the most!" He pressed his forehead to her knuckles, drawing a shuddering breath. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry we failed you.I've failed you."

After a brief moment of silence, Reggie stood to his feet to leave.

Just then, to his shock, Rose's hand twitched feebly in his grasp. Reggie instantly turned his head, staring at her in wonder as her cracked lips parted with obvious effort. With what felt like a last ditch effort, Rose pulled his wrist, drawing him closer to her mouth.

With the barest thread of a whisper, she rasped a few words into his ear.

Reggie's eyes flew wide, his mouth dropping open as her message sank in. He drew back, studying Rose's face intently, seeing now the faint spark of life still burning in her eyes, willing him to understand.

Slowly, he nodded once, squeezing her hand to affirm he'd heard, he comprehended. Then he rose and strode from the room without a backwards glance.

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***Author's note***

Thank you so much for the support! Really appreciate it! Just wanted to let you all know things are about to get heated up.

It's about to get really interesting.

Buckle up, folks!