MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

The sun had barely begun to peek over the horizon when Blake, Reggie, and Randall emerged from the cabin, each carrying a small bag of essentials. The air was crisp and cool, a light mist hanging over the surrounding woods. Blake paused at the threshold, his heart heavy with the weight of leaving his family behind.

He quietly made his way to Celena's room, where his daughter lay peacefully asleep, blissfully unaware of the turmoil around her. Blake leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I'll be back soon, princess," he whispered. "Be good."

Next, he returned to Rose's bedside.

Taking her hand in his, he whispered "Everything's going to be alright. We're going to find answers, I promise." He kissed her softly, trying to memorize every detail of her face. "I love you."

With final goodbyes to Nana, Dr. Martina, and Gunther, the three men climbed into a sleek black car parked outside. As they pulled away from the cabin, Blake watched it recede in the rearview mirror, his chest tight with emotion.

The journey was long and tense. They spent hours discussing their plan, going over every detail they knew about Rose's condition and the vampire city they were about to enter. As the landscape changed around them, from dense forest to rolling hills.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Reggie announced, "We're here."

Then, quite suddenly, they found themselves on an open pathway, devoid of any signs of land or civilization. The barren expanse stretched as far as the eye could see, creating an eerie sense of isolation. The group fell into an uneasy silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they drove through this featureless void.

Without warning, their car jolted as if it had struck an invisible barrier. In that instant, the air around them shimmered with what looked like liquid foam or iridescent bubbles breaking against an unseen surface. As they passed through this ethereal curtain, a cityscape materialized before their eyes, as if conjured from thin air.

Blake, the only one in the car who seemed shocked by this sudden transformation, whipped his head around, looking back at the shimmering barrier they had just passed through, then forward again at the sprawling city that now lay before them.

"That... that wasn't there before," Blake stammered, his voice a mix of awe and confusion. He blinked rapidly, as if expecting the city to disappear as quickly as it had appeared. "Did anyone else see that? The city just... appeared out of nowhere.

Also, where did the sun go?!"

The others in the car exchanged knowing glances, seemingly unsurprised by the magical reveal of the vampire city. Their calm reactions only served to heighten Blake's bewilderment as they drove deeper into the heart of this hidden metropolis.

Blake's eyes widened as he took in the sight before him. The vampire city was unlike anything he had ever imagined. Gothic architecture loomed against the skyline, intricate spires and towers reaching towards the clouds. The streets were bustling with activity, but something was... different.

Every single person around him was a vampire. Some looked completely human, while others had more pronounced vampiric features - elongated canines, slightly pointed ears, or eyes that seemed to glow with an inner light. Blake felt a mix of awe and unease as he realized that for the first time in his life, he was surrounded by his own kind.

"Everything makes sense now," he murmured, taking in the sights and sounds of this hidden world.

As they drove deeper into the city, Blake's attention was drawn to a central area dominated by five distinct castles. Each one bore a unique emblem, marking it as the seat of power for one of the great vampire families.

As they approached the castle area, Reggie turned to Blake with a serious expression. "Remember, Blake, stay calm. One of the quickest ways to get into trouble here is by showing weakness."

Randall nodded in agreement. "Act natural, chest out, and be brave. Don't let anyone intimidate you. We may be visitors, but we're not inferior."

Blake swallowed hard and nodded, steeling himself for what was to come. They made their way directly to the Shelley castle - the one with the blood-red rose emblem. Guards eyed them suspiciously but allowed them entry after a brief exchange with Reggie.

As they entered the Shelley castle, Blake's senses were immediately overwhelmed. The air inside was cool and still, heavy with the scent of old books and something metallic that he didn't want to identify. Their footsteps echoed on the polished marble floor, each sound seeming to reverberate through the cavernous entrance hall.

Priceless artworks lined the walls - paintings that seemed to move in the corner of his eye, sculptures so lifelike he half expected them to step off their pedestals. Ornate chandeliers cast a soft, flickering light that danced across surfaces of gold and silver.

Blake felt small and out of place, acutely aware that he was an outsider in this world of ancient bloodlines and arcane traditions. He resisted the urge to reach for Reggie or Randall, to seek some reassurance in this alien environment.

Their wonder was short-lived. A sudden hush fell over the hall, and Blake felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He turned to see a statuesque woman striding towards them, her every movement exuding grace and power.

Lady Gladys, Blake realized with a jolt. His mother-in-law.

She was dressed in a flowing gown of deep red, the color of fresh blood. Her hair was piled atop her head in an intricate style that spoke of both elegance and authority. But it was her eyes that captured Blake's attention - piercing green orbs that seemed to look right through him, dissecting his very soul.

"Why are you here again?" she demanded, her voice cold and imperious. The words seemed to slice through the air, sharp as any blade. Her gaze swept over Reggie and Randall dismissively before settling on Blake with laser-like intensity.

There was no love lost between the knights and Gladys, Rose's mother. Still blaming them for her daughter's disappearance, it was evident their beef was going to last a lifetime - which, sadly, vampires could afford.

However, her attention was now fixed more on Blake. Who is this? She thought.

He appeared very foreign to her, but that wasn't what bothered her the most. It was the scent emanating off of him. His aura as well had her in tangled webs. Gladys seemed to be sensing the aura of a vampire lord from Blake, a strong, strong lord.

As she scrutinized him, her mind raced. How could this be? This stranger possessed an aura that rivaled, perhaps even surpassed, some of the oldest and most powerful vampire lords she knew. It was unsettling, to say the least. Was he a threat? An ally?

And why was he with the knights? The questions swirled in her mind, her curiosity and wariness battling for dominance.

Blake noticed her eyes were fixed on him, like she was scrutinizing him. He had never been around other vampires apart from the knights and Doctor Martina.

Blake noticed her eyes were fixed on him, like she was scrutinizing him. He had never been around other vampires apart from the knights and Doctor Martina. The other ones he had met in Damien and Elena weren't the nicest bunch, so it set him off to be cautious.

This was his mother-in-law right here, but judging from how she was looking at him, it was clear she had no clue who he was. Should he introduce himself?

Blake opened his mouth to speak but thought better of it. The aura emanating from Gladys was threatening, not in a way that scared him, but in a way that made him acutely aware of his position as an outsider. He reminded himself that they were here for Rose, not to cause trouble.

'This is the woman who raised Rose, he thought. Who shaped her into the amazing person she is. And yet, she won't even hear us out?'

The frustration was maddening, but he bit his tongue, remembering Reggie's warnings about showing weakness.

Reggie stepped forward, his voice carefully modulated. "Lady Gladys, we've come seeking information about-"

"I care not for your petty concerns," Gladys cut him off, her tone dismissive. "You've been told before not to darken our doorstep with your presence. And now you bring this... stranger into our midst?" Her eyes narrowed as she studied Blake once more.

Blake wanted to speak up, to defend their presence and explain the urgency of their mission. But the words died in his throat as Gladys's gaze bore into him. There was something in those eyes - a flicker of recognition, perhaps? Or was it merely contempt?

Before any of them could respond, Gladys turned on her heel, the fabric of her gown swirling around her like a cloud of blood. "Leave," she commanded, not bothering to look back. "And do not return unless summoned."

As her figure retreated down the long hall, Blake felt a mix of emotions churning within him. Anger at her dismissal, fear of what her rejection might mean for Rose, and an odd sense of loss. This woman was his wife's mother, his daughter's grandmother. And yet, she was as remote and untouchable as the stars.

Well, that sucked. First impression straight down the drain. Now what?

Reggie placed a hand on Blake's shoulder, his touch grounding in the wake of the encounter. "Come," he said softly. "We'll find another way."