Ivy opened her eyes slowly.

Her mind recalled what happened...she remembered that the tree catches them the second time around but it eventually released her to her death and she can't see the birds anywhere near her, she closed her eyes ready to face her untimely death, as her body was hurling down in dizzying speed.

After that, she loses consciousness...

Her gaze landed on her sister's face wet with tears. "Kate...?"

Kate looked at her sister worriedly. "Sis! Thank God you're finally awake! Are you hurt anywhere your body?" she asked.

Ivy shook her head. "I'm okay. I passed out. D-did the tree save me again?"

"No. It's not the tree that saved you. It's Granny Esmeralda, she must be around the floating land when you are falling so she was able to save you right on time before your body hit the ground," Kate fill in the details.

Ivy's face turns gloomy all of a sudden. Tears start falling from her eyes. She was angry with herself that she failed two times in bringing her sister back to the vampire's territory.

"Sister, why did you do it? Are you committing suicide? Why did you jump and grab me?" Kate asked 'coz she can no longer hold herself from asking. She needs to know the answer.

Ivy bit her lip. Damn! She did not expect that she will fail twice!

"You already know why...I want you to go back with me to the vampires' territory. I want us to stick together. I don't want us to be separated. Only Maxwell can take us out of this castle!" she insisted.

Kate released a slow painful sigh. "Here we are again, you know that it's impossible to escape this castle! Why you must keep insisting that Maxwell can bring us out of here? You are making me crazy with your stupid illusion!" she said, her nostrils flaring in frustrations.

"You almost got us killed in the process with your stupidity!" Kate added. "I'm tired of your scheming!"

Ivy never bothered stopping the tears from falling down her face. It looks like she has no other choice but to tell Kate about the poison in her body. "Kate, listen to me. I need to tell you something..."

Kate shrugged and pouted. "W-what? Are you trying to convince me again to return with you to those bloodsuckers place? Just shut up, please! I don't want to hear you mentioning those vampires ever again!" she declared in a defiant tone.

Ivy winced in pain. It looks like it's not the time yet to tell Kate about the poison, she might think that she was cooking another scheme to force her in coming back with her to Maxwell's place. She will tell Kate another day when she's no longer upset. She was afraid that if she will tell her now, her sister won't believe her.

She retreated in a silent mood. It's no use talking right now when their emotion was all over the place. Kate was furious at her for pulling those stupid stunts. If she keeps talking, their arguments will turn for the worst and it will tear them apart from each other.

Kate turned on her back not wanting to face her older sister, she was upset with the way she behaved earlier, so upsetting!

The door opened, Esmeralda stepped inside the house. She surveyed Ivy's face. "I see, you're awake now. How are you feeling, child?" she asked her gently and lowered herself into the floor facing Ivy.

"I'm fine, Granny. Thank you so much for saving me. I owe you my life. I am forever indebted to you," Ivy replied, feeling genuinely grateful for the old woman who saves her life.

"Don't mention it," Esmeralda responded with a smile, then she addressed Kate. "Child, can you go outside, please? I need to talk to your sister, alone," she said sporting a serious face.

"OK, Granny," Kate said and vacated the house.

Esmeralda fixed her gaze on Ivy's face. "Tell me, child, why did you do it? Why jump and bring your sister with you? Are you committing suicide?"

Her interrogation began.

Ivy blinked twice trying to fight back the tears from falling her face. "I'm so sorry, Granny. I'm so desperate to bring back my sister to the vampires..." her voice faltered.

A frown appeared on Esmeralda's face. "B-but why? I can't understand...why you have to do it? You don't like living with your sister here? You don't like me?"

Ivy was shaking her head. "No. It's not that. I like living here but...but..." she was hesitating to continue.

"Common, just say it..." Esmeralda persuaded her gently. "I would like to know what is it. Do you have a problem? Maybe I can help you," she offered.

Ivy swallowed the lump on her throat.

"Granny...Maxwell made me s-swallow a poison that will kill me after ten days if I can't bring my sister to his territory. Please Granny...help me c-convince Kate to return with me. If she won't go with me, I...I will die," she explained in a trembling voice.

"Whaaat? Oh, dear...are you telling me the truth?" Esmeralda asked in a startled voice.

Ivy nodded her head.

"D-did you already told Kate about it? About the poison that you are carrying in your body?" Esmeralda asked, her eyes gleaming.

"I was supposed to tell her today but she was so upset with me. So, instead today, I'll just tell her tomorrow or the next day when she already calms down," Ivy replied.

"Good! Don't tell Kate about it yet. Wait for a few days. Don't worry I will try to talk to her about your condition. I will help you." Esmeralda said, smiling a bit. As soon Kate will know about it, that child will surely go with her sister because blood is thicker than water. Kate won't allow her sister to die, so, she has no choice but to accompany her sister back to the vampires' place.

It's something that she can't allow to happen!

Kate must stay with her, no matter what!

Esmeralda patted Ivy's shoulder in sympathy and stood up. "Rest well dear and don't worry so much about your sister. She will come around," she said in a soothing tone.

"Thank you so much for your understanding, Granny," Ivy said, she's teary-eyed and feeling guilty, at the same time she was moved deeply by the old woman's kind heart.

"Don't mention it, dear. Rest well," Esmeralda said and walked towards her room. "If you need anything you can call me, I'm just inside my room," she said.

"Thank you, Granny," Ivy replied feeling much better after her conversation with the considerate old woman. She can only see kindness and sincerity in the way Esmeralda speaks and move. It's somewhat comforting to her soul.

Lunchtime comes.

The black messenger bird arrived and landed on the floating land, it brought another food for Ivy wrapped in a bundle.

Kate brought the food to her sister inside the house, she didn't linger inside 'coz she's not in the mood to eat the food no matter if it smells so damn delicious, and even if Ivy urged her to eat with her, she refused.

Kate continues giving her sister a cold shoulder.

The afternoon comes and goes.

Soon the darkness will cover the surroundings.

Ivy remained resting on the mattress for the rest of the afternoon, too depressed to go outside and talk to her sister.

Nighttime comes. The food was delivered on time. Kate makes sure that the bird is already far away before picking up the food. She feared that the bird will snatch her away and bring her to the vampires' domain.

As usual, she brought the food to her sister and after putting the dishes on the table, she exited the house. She and her sister were no longer speaking to each other. It made her feel sad but she is not in the mood to talk to her. Everything is still fresh in her mind!

Kate only entered the house when she feels sleepy already. She lay her body down quietly on the mattress beside her sister. Still, not in the mood to talk to her.

The sisters back were facing each other.

A few hours later, Kate falls asleep first, followed by Ivy one hour later.

Esmeralda was already asleep in her room.

At exactly midnight...

The door slowly opened and a man wearing a long cloak entered the house...he didn't close the door. He stared at the two women sleeping soundly on the floor. He waved his hand, a purple light emerged from his palm, wielding his power over them, making sure that the women won't wake up suddenly or else they will scream after seeing a stranger inside the house.

He picked up one of the women and carry her effortlessly in his arms, he then exited the door quietly without bothering to close the door behind him.