Esmeralda went back to the area where she performs her experiment undetected by anyone. She lowered herself on the grassy ground and produced the ceramic bowl in her left palm, then the knife on the other.

She holds the knife firmly and cut her left arm without hesitation, the blood emerged from her skin instantly. Flinching with the sting of the pain, she put down the knife in the grass and let her blood trickled in the ceramic bowl.

A few minutes later, the ceramic bowl was already half-filled with her blood, she had enough for a test. She stops the process and heals the cut on her arm.

She took a deep breath while staring at her blood inside the ceramic bowl.

Now is the time to know if she was gifted with blood that can create a gap in the barrier just like Kate and Ivy.

She rose to her feet holding the bowl in her hand, she waved her hand and the small area of the invisible flaming barrier appeared. She hurled the bowl into the fiery barrier, as expected the bowl was burning rapidly the moment it came in contact with the deadly wall and eventually turned into ashes.

Now the waiting game begins.

Esmeralda never dared to blink her eyes dying to know the result.

One minute went by.

Nothing happens.

Two minutes.

Three minutes.

Five minutes.

Seven minutes...

Ten minutes was over, still, nothing happens.

Esmeralda breathed deeply.

A total of fifteen minutes passed by. Yet the flaming barrier didn't crack even a tiny bit.

But she and the girls have the same type of blood! Why her blood can't produce the same effect on the barrier?

Why?

She was deeply puzzled.

She stood rooted on the spot unable to comprehend everything. Then she remembered that in the past, the elders asked her many times if she is willing to stay inside the castle, once she will make a decision and the barrier is already put in place, she can no longer change her mind.

"I didn't work? Eh?" A male voice spoke from behind.

Surprised, Esmeralda turned around and saw her friend the tree in his human form looking at the blazing barrier.

"W-when did you get here?" she asked.

"I've been here since you experiment using Ivy's blood. I went to the stream and back here again. I love seeing the amazing result of Ivy's blood creating a hole on the mighty barrier. It was a spectacular sight to see. So amazing that I am speechless! Sorry for my intrusion, since you forgot to invite me, I invited myself," the tree explained.

Esmeralda sighed and looked at the barrier. "Well...since you're here...what do you think is the reason why my blood didn't work while I'm sure 100% that I have the same blood component with the girls?" she asked.

The tree scratches its head, he also finds the said issue mind-boggling. He shook his head in confusion. "Me too, I have no idea why. Let me think it through for a while, maybe I will come up with a plausible explanation," he said and sat on the grassy ground staring at the barrier in total concentration.

Esmeralda sat beside her friend on the ground and stared at the barrier as well, hoping to find the answer to her question.

After a few minutes of staring at the barrier, the tree blinked his eyes. "I think your blood is different from that of the sisters," he finally said.

"Huh? Why did you arrive at that conclusion?" asked Esmeralda.

"Because if you and the girls have the same blood type then the barrier will react just the same, but it didn't," the tree expressed his opinion.

"B-but..." Esmeralda's voice trailed off. Could it be that the method of the elders in detecting blood similarity is wrong?

The tree examined Esmeralda's face as confusion marred her face.

He cleared his throat. "Maybe, the elders made sure that even if you used your blood it won't affect the barriers since you already have chosen your fate to live here and become the guardian of the inhabitants of this castle. If that is the case, those elders made sure, you will never be able to get out here alive," he said.

Esmeralda took a deep breath. "I was young and naive way back then..." she said with regrets.

The tree wrapped his arms around his chest. "I know. You are a different person now compared to yesterday. I'm just wondering what will happen if you will attempt to get out of the barrier? Will, the barrier do something to prevent you from escaping? Will it kill and burn you while you are attempting to leave? Or you will be able to live freely outside?"

Esmeralda was startled by the tree's questions. During the time of their escape, will the barrier do something to prevent her from leaving? She wasn't thinking about that possibility because she was excited about the golden chance of fleeing from the castle. She felt a chill running down on her spine.

The tree rose to his feet. "This area will start to submerge in darkness one hour from now. The night will start unfolding, we should go back to the house," he said.

"Okay, you go back first, I will return to the stream for Ivy," Esmeralda said.

"Alright, I'll take my leave now," the tree said and disappeared from the place within seconds.

Esmeralda faced the barrier and waved her hand, making it disappear again. She departed from the forest and went back to the stream, entering the invisible dome. Ivy was already lying on the picnic blanket, she seemed to be sleeping.

She went to the girl's side and checked her, she heard gentle snoring. Poor child! Ivy's eyes still swollen. She must be crying hard when she left her.

She touched Ivy's arm and woke her up gently. "Ivy, wake up, we're going home," she said.

Ivy opened her eyes reluctantly. "I still want to sleep, Granny," she protested.

"I know. You can continue sleeping there in the house," she said.

Ivy sat straight and rubbed her eyes.

Esmeralda examined the girl's face. "You look terrible. Your eyes are swollen from crying. How will you answer Kates's question inquiring why you're crying?"

Ivy breathed deeply, she already comes to a decision. "I will tell her the truth."

"No! You can't tell her the truth. She won't agree if you offer your life as a sacrifice for her freedom," Esmeralda protested. "Besides... it will complicate things later on."

"B-but, Granny. My sister deserves to know the truth!" Ivy insisted.

"Ivy looked at me! You don't want your sister to blame herself because you died in exchange for her freedom, right? It's a bitter pill for her to swallow, she will never attain happiness in her lifetime. She will always wallow in pain and guilt. Come to think about the negative consequences!" Esmeralda persuaded her to change her decision.

Ivy bit her lip as the internal struggle was raging inside her head. As always, the old woman has a point. She noticed something. "Granny, you seemed to be so protective of my sister, why is that?" she queried.

Esmeralda smiled. "Kate is like a little sister to me. When I grow up in the palace, I have many brothers but I am the only girl," she answered.

Ivy smiled a little, feeling relieved. She knows that no matter what happens in the future Esmeralda will take care of her sister. "Granny, before we go home, can we discuss first how we are going to do it? I mean, the actual sacrifice itself?" she said.

"Okay," Esmeralda sat beside the girl. "The plan is like this...we will perform the sacrifice on the day before the 10th day. We can't wait for the poison to be activated in your system. It might tamper the purity of your blood and will no longer work on the barrier."

Ivy nodded her head. "I understand..."

Esmeralda continues. "I will tell Kate that I will bring you back to the vampires' place. In reality, it's not what it seems. She will forever think that you are back in the vampires' enclave. Then after that, I will bring you to the forest and put you in the invisible dome, the place where the tree would perform the task of draining your blood for the sacrifice..."

Ivy flinched, remembering the pain she felt when Granny cut her skin using the sharp knife.

Esmeralda noticed the pained expression on Ivy's face. "Don't worry child, I'll make sure you will be in a deep sleep before draining your blood. You will no longer feel any pain."

"I want a painless death, Granny. Can you grant me that?" Ivy asked in a miserable voice.

"Yes! Don't worry about it, child. I have my ways," replied Esmeralda.

"Thank you," Ivy murmured. "Please continue, Granny..."

Esmeralda cleared her throat. "During that time, I will put a cloth on Kate's eyes so that she will not see the blood being thrown into the barrier. I will only take off the cloth when the barrier began cracking up, then we will escape right away before the gap starts closing in again."

"Sounds a good plan," Ivy commented.

"Don't worry, I will bring Kate back to the village right away so that she can be reunited with your sister Ella and your Aunt Margie," Esmeralda assured her.

"Thank you, Granny," Ivy said with a smile. The thoughts of Kate being reunited with Ella and Aunt Margie is a good dream already. She was determined to go ahead with the sacrifice just to make her love ones happy.

"Anything else, Child?" asked Esmeralda.

Ivy shook her head. "No more..."

Why don't you take a bath in the water first even for a few minutes before we head back home? The water can help calm your nerves and make you feel fresh. This way Kate won't feel worried to see your miserable state," Esmeralda suggested.

Ivy smiled. "Alright, I'll go for a swim!" she said and rose to her feet walking to the stream in slow motion.

"Good, take your time. I'll give you half an hour to enjoy the water," Esmeralda said. She stood up and sauntered towards the garden and began picking up flowers, she wants to bring some flowers home, Kate would love it.