We set off at dawn and only at dusk; we reached our first stop: Whistlebird. I peeked out to see the town from a distant.

"Wow…" I mumbled, excited to see what kind of town we'd be sleeping tonight.

"You seem excited." Sam's voice came from across me.

Slowly, I retracted my gaze from the window and leaned back. Sam was sitting across me. A smirk turned up on his lips as he tilted his head to the side.

"It's my first time going out of Grimsbanne. I'm excited to see what kind of town was the closest to Grimsbanne." I smiled out of excitement.

I didn't know Grimsbanne was that far from other towns. Hence, my curiosity gradually intensified.

"Tsk tsk." In response to my enthusiasm, Sam clicked his tongue while lightly shaking his head.

I raised my brows and blinked. "Would I get disappointed?"

"Haha." Sam chuckled. "Maybe, maybe not."

He shrugged nonchalantly. What kind of response was that? I could not help but furrow my brows.

"How do I put it…" Sam rubbed his chin, pondering for a simple explanation.

I pursed my lips, my hands on my lap, perking up while waiting patiently for his clarification. When his gaze landed on me again, I leaned forward in anticipation.

"What?" I urged.

"I've been asleep for hundreds of years, but back then, Whistlebird is…"

"Is?"

To my dismay, Sam's next words strayed from what I expected.

"Do I get a free kiss if I tell you?"

The smile on my face died down instantly. Blinking just to be sure, he asked me that question with a straight face. He did.

"Whistlebird is a complicated town, my lady." From outside the carriage, Fabian's voice reached my ear.

As soon as I heard Fabian's voice, I turned my head towards the open window. Fabian was riding a horse, pacing at the same pace of the carriage.

"Complicated?" I muttered, furrowing my brows.

"Fabian, can't you see I'm exploiting…" Before Sam could intervene, I glared at him.

Sam immediately pursed his lips into a thin line. Fortunately, Fabian accompanied our journey as my personal attendant. He'd be here to answer my questions, like always.

"Whistlebird is… how do I put it?" Even Fabian had to think twice about how to describe the town.

Was it that complicated?

"It is governed by money." After a quick contemplation, Fabian finally got the words he was looking for.

"Money?"

"Yes, my lady. Wealth matters the most in Whistlebird. There's no middle ground in that town. You'd be either rich or poor." Fabian explained.

I remained silent momentarily. Back in Grimsbanne, social statuses weren't new. I'm not an expert, but there's always those nobles, middle-class, and peasants.

"So in Whistlebird, there's only nobles and peasants?" I queried for clarification.

However, Fabian only smiled, not denying or agreeing with it.

"There's only one noble family in Whistlebird, love. The Remington's. The rest were just… rich people and poor ones." Sam chimed in, followed by a chuckle.

That second, I gazed at Sam with eyes full of surprise. "Just one noble family? Just one vampire clan?"

Again, Sam chuckled. He shook his head and cocked his head to the side — in the direction where Fabian was.

When I gazed back at Fabian, the corner of his lips curled into a subtle smile. His attention fixed ahead.

"There are many vampire clans in Whistlebird, my lady. But they did not consider all other clans as nobles after being stripped off their titles." Fabian explained.

Now I understand Whistlebird was indeed a complicated place.

All my life, I thought being born as a vampire automatically granted them to be aristocrats. My knowledge of the world was indeed very limited.

Vampires not being noble? That's new to me.

"Wait." As I pondered about my limited knowledge, a question rose from my head. "Does that mean they can respect humans in Whistlebird?"

"Respect is earned, my love." This time, Sam answered. "But in here, they can be treated right…"

Sam paused, resting his jaw on the back of his hand. I gulped down upon seeing the inexplicable glint that flickered across his eyes.

"Money is everything in that land. As long as you have money, be it vampires or humans, they get treated right. So right they maltreat and discriminate others mercilessly."

Upon dropping his remarks, the atmosphere inside the carriage sullen. Race didn't matter in Whistlebird, huh?

In retrospect, I thought if race difference didn't matter, the world would be a better place. But somehow, the restlessness in my heart intensified despite knowing race was not an issue in Whistlebird.

"Are you scared?" Sam asked.

Slowly, I raised my head and shook my head.

"No. You're with me."

Sam smiled upon hearing my response. I'm telling the truth, though. He then reached his hand to me.

Once he held my hand, he guided it to him as he leaned down. Sam kissed my knuckles. His eyes fixed on my eyes.

"That's right."

Like magic, his kiss washed away my worries. I smiled subtly, inhaling and exhaling heavily.

*

Soon, we reached Whistlebird. Unlike Grimsbanne, night time in here was akin to a day. The town was bustling, merchants selling goods and food. People thronged the heart of the town.

It was a lively town, but the air…

I never felt this ominous air in my entire life. Grimsbanne was a dangerous place, especially at night.

But in here, it reeked with a pungent scent of… death and sufferings. Was I over thinking? I wondered as I scanned the place where my eyes could see.

"Do you want to walk?" Suddenly, Sam inquired.

I bit my lower lip. "Can we?"

"Fabian, me and my lady will take a stroll. Maybe, find a place to eat while we're at it." Without answering, Sam ordered towards Fabian, who was outside the carriage.

The carriage stopped. Sam hitched outside.

"Come, love." Sam offered me his hand for me to clasp.

I took a deep breath and reached for him. With Sam's help, I went out of the carriage. However, as soon as my foot landed on this land, I leapt closer to Sam.

I felt like I'll get lost if I didn't stay close to him. Sam gazed down and grinned mischievously, but said nothing.

"Then, I shall find a place for you to stay tonight, my lord." Fabian already stood beside us.

"Find? For me?" Sam arched his brow. "How silly!"

He added as the side of his lips curled into a smirk.

"Tell the Remington's to find a place for them to stay for tonight."