She stumbles out of the bedroom and into a long corridor, completely devoid of any light. No windows or lit candles lining the walls. Making her way through the labyrinthine passages, the aches in her body never having subsided and the hunger slowly returning. She just needs to get out but each hallway or staircase only seems to reveal more of the house. Never an exit.

Until she comes to a large set of double doors. Ornate carvings cover the wood top to bottom. She reaches for the silver handle. It burns her skin on contact, resulting in no more than a wince as she tugs the heavy door open.

Cassandra is greeted by the fading light of day. The sun, no longer visible in the sky, leaves only thin stripes of pink and violet on the horizon. Just off the path leading to the house, she finds the carriage driver leading his horse to the stables. She storms over, grabs him by the throat, and lifts him into the air. Cassandra stares into the eyes of this weak human as she holds his life in her hands.

"Take me home," she demands. The man's eyes glaze over with a slightly pink glow. Cassandra releases him, and as soon as his feet hit the ground, he climbs back to his seat at the front of the carriage. The driver stares straight forward and waits for her to climb inside. The entire ride, she can hear his heart pumping, blood pulsing and reverberating in her skull. It's painful, her hunger steadily returns, but she contains herself. She has to get home.

When they arrive, Cassandra gets out of the carriage and looks back to the driver. He holds his head and slowly looks over at her, no longer with the pink-tinged, cloudy gaze he had when they left. He now looks terrified and before Cassandra can do anything else, he speeds away as fast as he can. Cassandra turns back to the small, run down cottage she once called home. Clutching the edge of her skirt, a million thoughts race through her mind What will they think of her? Will they be happy? Will they try to send her back? Can she even call this her home anymore? Nevertheless, she knocks.

The door opens and her mother is standing there. Her mom immediately puts a hand over her mouth, tears start streaming down her cheeks. "Cassie?" she asks, sounding unsure.

Cassandra throws herself into her mom's arms and sobs with relief, her eyes screwed shut as if when she opens them, she may find herself waking up in that horrid bed again.

"Oh, my baby, what happened to you? I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so-" her mother's frantic apologies are cut short as she feels a sharp pain in her shoulder.

As happy as Cassandra had been to see her mother again, the fledgling's hunger consumes her. She cries as she drinks, feeling her mother slowly go limp in her arms as the blood slides down her throat. Cassandra sinks to the ground, still holding onto her mother. She pulls her fangs away.

"Mama?" she whispers. The woman doesn't answer. Cassandra hears her heart beat for the last time. She hugs her mother close and just screams. As loud as her body will allow.

"Charity? Is that... you?" Cassandra's father comes around the corner. Frozen in terror at the sight of his wife, pale as a ghost, lifeless on the floor, and his daughter hunched over her with blood spilling from her eyes and mouth. Before she can think, Cassandra has him pinned to the wall so violently a framed family photo crashes and shatters on the floor. Cassandra doesn't- no- can't care and drains him dry, too.

Now full, and more clear headed, she fully realizes what she's done. More bloody tears and screaming follow. The girl collapses to the floor again. "They can't die, they can't." Her fists pound at her skull. "Think! Think! Think!" Each chant emphasized with a punch.

Cassandra looks at her mother's lifeless body and is struck with an idea. Crawling over and kneeling next to her, Cassandra grabs a piece of the broken picture frame, slices open her wrist, and lets the blood drip into her mothers parted lips. She doesn't know how much it takes, but eventually moves over to her father's body, slits her other wrist and does the same with him. They remain lifeless on the floor, but she remembers passing out when she was turned.

Cassandra stands on shaking legs and makes her way to the door. They'll need something to eat when they wake up and, though she doesn't know how long it will take, she doesn't want them hungry for long. Not like she was. Cassandra returns home a while later, just before sunrise, with a few rabbits she'd caught. She places one rabbit by each of her parents before pulling all the curtains in the house closed and going to sleep on the couch.

When they told the inner circle, Gwyn and Emerie screamed the loudest. Followed by Elain and Feyre. The entire inner circle devoted their time to helping Nesta with her pregnancy, especially when the belly started to grow. When Nesta and Cassian came to their first appointment, Madja discovered that Nesta’s belly was bigger than usual. “Is that normal?”

“It means you’re having twins.” The moment the word twins flowed through Cassian’s ears, he fainted right on the spot. Nesta glared at him after he woke up. “Ugh, I had the weirdest dream. You were pregnant and Madja just told us we were having twins.”

“Yeah, not a dream.” He fainted a second time.

Now, Nesta and Cassian were worrying about how they were gonna care for 2 babies at once. Nesta was eager to buy something for the babies but they knew it was bad luck. Unfortunately, Gwyn gave them a gift for them, accidentally realizing that it was for the twins. But luckily, this bad luck turned out to be another good luck. Another trip to Madja, and the twins turned out to be triplets. Cassian of course fainted for the 3rd time. This time, Nesta were prepared and asked Madja for some smelling salt. “Ugh, babe i had the weirdest dream again.”

“And again, it’s not a dream.” Cassian’s faint count changed to 4.

During the 9th month of the pregnancy, Madja was able to determine the genders for their babies. She asked them if either of them wanted to know, but Nesta shook her head. “We wanna be surprised.” Madja smiled and nodded in agreement.

Then, it happened. It was now the day of the triplets birth. Cassian had to work double to keep from fainting this time. He promised his mate he’d held on for her. And he will. The first baby that popped out had black hair and brown skin like her father, and her facial expressions resembled her mother. “Cass, look.” Cass dared a glance at his first child. She was small and bare naked. She also had bat wings like her father. Nesta smiled and cried. “She look just like you.” Before Cassian could share the moment, Nesta screamed again, reminding him of the other 2 triplets on the way.

The second one had white skin and blonde hair. Her eyes were blue and her wings were a bit short, but otherwise, she will fly like her big sister. Cassian laughed, his middle child glowing in the house they were giving birth in. “That one looks just like you.” he said, holding back tears. Nesta smiled and screamed again. Their last baby was coming. “Oh Cassian. I can’t!”

“You’re a Valkyrie remember? Where’s that Valkyrie spirit? You didn’t slice that ribbon for no reason now did you?” Cassian said, feeling the grip on his hand tighten. Nesta only managed to shake her head. “Come on my strong barbarian. Let’s get our triplet out of that womb.” Nesta shut her eyes, gripped her hands onto her mate’s, screamed, and-

“WAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!”

Nesta opened her eyes. There she was. Her final child. Her skin was mixed with brown and white, her eyes like her mother’s and her wings like her father. Her hair was black like her father just like the first girl. “Oh my god.” Cassian said, letting a single tear fall from his eyes. The other 2 girls were placed in both of his arms while the 3rd was placed in Nesta’s. Madja bowed and said, “I believe this is where I take my leave.” she said, leaving the two alone to their daughters.

Cassian stared at the 2 girls in his arms. The one that Nesta said that looked like him, opened her eyes and stared at him like a doe in headlights. The other one that looked like Nesta had silver eyes. She looked at Cassian and tilted her head a bit like she’d seen him for the first time. Which clearly she has.

Cassian smiled and kissed their foreheads. “I love you so much.” he manage to get out before he was crying a river. Cassian heard his mate clear her throat as he turned and realized that it was triplets. Cassian sat next to his mate and leaned over to kiss his youngest daughter. “And I love you too.” he said, the youngest squeaking in response.

Nesta looked at the older sisters. “What should we name them?”

“I always liked the name Cassandra.”

“That’s just your name but without a masculine gender.” The oldest squeaked in response. Cassian chuckled. “I think she likes it.” he smirked as Nesta rolled her eyes. “Alright. Cassandra Archeron it is.” The oldest baby, Cassandra, looked at her mother with interest. She must’ve recognized her voice. The middle triplet reached her arms out for her mother, Cassian gently placing her in her arms. “This one shall be named Silvia Archeron.”

“Because of the eyes?” Nesta only stuck her tongue out. “She’ll think me later.” she smirked as Silvia grabbed her mother’s finger. Nesta finally turned to her youngest daughter. “And what about the baby of the family?” she asked as Cassian looked over at the already sleeping child.

“Nora.” They both said together. Baby Nora yawned and smiled in her sleep. Cassian choked up his own tears, watching all 3 daughters began to drift off into their first dreamlands.

---------------

5 years later

Cassian was worn out from picking up dirty clothes and 3 hyper 5 year old triplets. It was 10:08pm and the girls were suppose to be in bed by 7pm. Their auntie Mor had brought them to a candy store earlier today. They purchase half of the store, eating all of the candy in the 10 bags they had. How did 3 5 year olds finish 10 bags of candy in under 3 hours, he will never know. He was even more surprised when they were able to keep it down. He expected them to throw up in about the next 3 minutes but, the girls didn’t feel a thing.

Now, the house was dirty, there were clothes on the floor, and the kitchen was a mess. Luckily, the girls were asleep for the night so at he didn’t have to- “Ow! Nora, you’re suppose to aim for the wall.”

“Sorry Cassie.” Cassian heard his youngest daughter apologize to her sister. Cassian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Watch the girls, she says. It’s only for a night, she says.” Cassian mumbled, remembering his mate going out for the night to catch up with Gwyn and Emerie.

Cassian, stretching out his arms, and walked upstairs to his daughters’ room. “Girls!” he called out, hearing some shuffling from upstairs and a few whispers. He was able to catch on to ‘Quick, Daddy’s coming.’ Cassian rolled his eyes and opened the door and barely caught a glimpse of Silvia covering her foot with her bed covers.

Cassian looked around the room. The room was filled with dolls and Pegasus plush toys. Some princess clothes that the girls would wear around the house. Cassian shivered at the idea of playing tea party with the girls. Not that he didn’t love them. He just wished he didn’t have to wear a dress every 3 hours.

Cassian noticed one of the girls’ beds that was placed in front of the door, the left side facing the room, the right to the door. He noticed a pair of bare feet sticking out from under the bed. Cassandra. Cassian didn’t have to look to know it was the eldest of the bunch. Cassian couldn’t help but smirk, slowly bending down until he was able to trace his finger down her feet. “Oh Cassandra.” he said, his daughter’s muffled giggles can be heard throughout the room. Cassian’s smirk only grew. “Daddy’s gonna getcha.” it was the only thing he said before he picked up the small bed and pulled his squealing daughter out from under it. Placing the bed gently back down, he trapped Cassandra into his lap and began to tickle her tummy, spidering his fingers through her My Little Pony pajamas. Cassandra laughed, pleading for her father to stop. “Daddy! That tickles!”

“Oh you think that’s funny. I’ll give you something to laugh about.” Cassian sucked in his breath and blew a raspberry on her tummy, sending Cassandra into stiches. “DADDY NOHOHOHOHOHOHO!” Cassian was about to let her go when he felt like 2 ton bricks came flying straight towards him like the burglars in Home Alone 2. Cassian landed on the floor with an ‘oof’ sound. He knew who they were before he even looked. His other 2 daughters, Silvia and Nora. “Leave our big sister alone, you tickle monster!” Nora said as Silvia stuck her tongue out at him. Cassian chuckled. They have their mother’s attitude. Oh how he loved it. In a deep voice, Cassian replied, “You think you can defeat a tickle monster?” he asked as Cassandra joined her sister. They all smirked and said, “Yeah! Disney princesses can do anything!”

“Well think again, little princesses!” Cassian smiled evilly as she sat up, causing the girls to all fall into his lap. He wiggled his fingers as they girls flinched. “The tickle monster’s coming.”

“AHHHH!” The girls screamed and howled with laughter as Cassian scribbles his fingers to tickle Cassandra and Silvia’s tummy. Because he only had two hands, Cassian bent down his head and gently nibbled Nora’s tummy, making it sound like he was eating her up. “Nom nom nom, mmmm this princess taste like peaches.”

“DADDY EHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!!!!” Nora cried, trying to use her tiny arms to push his head away from her tummy. Silvia and Cassandra weren’t doing much better. To Cassian, whenever he held the girls in his hands, they were the size of 2 foot plush dolls. To his triplets, his entire hand was gigantic. So gigantic that their flaring arms meant nothing to him. “DADDY STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP PLEAHAHAHAHAHASE!!!”

“IT TIHIHIHIHICKLES!” A 3 girls were at their breaking point. Deciding that he’ll have another opportunity to tickle them another day, Cassian lets them up. The triplets breath heavily as Cassian picked them all up at once. “So, are my girls going to bed. For real this time?” he asked but he didn’t get a response. The girls were already fast asleep in his arms. Cassian chuckled, kissed their foreheads, and placed them all in each of their princess beds.

------------

Once the carriage was out of sight of her parents' small home, the man attacked. Latching onto her neck, he began drinking. Cassandra could feel her blood being drained from her body, numbness crept up her limbs, from her fingers and toes, up her arms and legs, her eyelids felt heavier and heavier. But just before she blacked out, he pulled away and sliced his own hand open with a small blade he'd stashed in his pocket. He put his hand over her mouth, positioning it just right so the cut dripped crimson blood onto her rosy lips.

"Drink, child. Can't have you dying on me yet."

And she did. She had no other choice. It was either listen to this man and drink or die. She drank as much as he allowed before he pulled his hand away with a hiss.

"Rest. And when you wake, we'll have much to discuss."

Cassandra listens, though again not by choice, she simply couldn't find the strength to keep her eyes open any longer.

Cassandra wakes up in a bed softer than any she's ever known, thought far too cold. She feels like she should be shivering, despite the weight of the high-quality blankets and sheets that cover her up to her chest. The side of her neck is sore from where blood had poured out of her. How long ago had that been? Hours? Days? Regardless, her whole body aches, most of all her neck and stomach. Slowly, she opens her eyes, only for the dim lighting of the room to burn her too sensitive retinas. Cassandra squints for a few moments, allowing her eyes to adjust. They were never this sensitive before, were they? The room is illuminated with candles on the walls and on the edge of the large bed sits him. Her attacker. Her maker.

From his clean and dapper appearance, one would never guess him willing or capable of sullying his own hands. The perfectly tailored crimson suit, his dark hair streaked with sparkling silver combed back, leaving not a hair out of place. Noticing she’s conscious, his gaze meets hers and he flashes an unsettling smile, displaying his sharp fangs. Last she remembered, they’d been pierced deep into her flesh. His voice cuts through the air like a butcher’s knife. 

"I see you're awake. How do you feel, fledgling?" Like nails on a chalkboard, the sound causes her to flinch, tearing her eyes away from the man. Is he even a man? Or is he something far more monstrous? A wretched thing, really.

“Hurts,” she responds simply, sitting up and clutching her stomach. Each second that passes, the pain intensifies and she feels her mind slipping away. She still cannot bring herself to meet his piercing gaze, and opts to instead focus on the blankets draped over her lower half.

He reaches out to cup her cheek, turning her head back toward him. “Yes, it will.” Faux pity weighs heavy on each word. She remembers the hand on her cheek. It’s the same one he’d sliced open, he’d forced her to drink the blood spilling from the wound before she passed out. It had been a deep cut, but now there’s not so much as a scar left. His skin perfectly knit itself back together, leaving no trace of what had transpired. However, the pain in her neck is enough for her to know the whole event wasn’t some horrible hallucination. “I can fix that,” he says. “The pain. I can make it all go away.” He tilts her head up so she’ll finally look at him properly.

"Hurts," she growls with an animalistic rage Cassandra didn't think herself capable of until now as her mind and sanity slip further from her grasp. The frustration carves itself into each wrinkle on his forehead, the crease between his brows.

"Yes, you already said tha-" the man starts, sounding annoyed, but he's cut off by Cassandra grabbing his arm and biting down, tearing through both cloth and flesh, and gorging herself on his blood.

"Ungrateful rat! Let go!" He uses his free arm to shove her head back, a futile attempt to get her to release. But she holds on, like a Cane Corso trained to hunt and protect, using all its strength and bite force against its target.

The man had made the fatal mistake many sires make of underestimating his fledgling's strength. Though young and often starving, a young vampire's strength is not to be tested. They are not yet accustomed to their new powers and are unable to control them, often using one hundred percent of their new strength with every movement.

He grows weaker as she steadily gulps all the blood she can get from his arm. Growing tired of his useless flailing and pounding on her head and back, Cassandra easily throws the man to the ground, positioning herself on top of him before biting into his neck. She can hear what’s left of his blood slowly pumping through his veins, causing her mouth to water and providing a harsh reminder of the pain in her stomach that has yet to subside. Her fangs pierce his throat and she drinks with the same ferocity and apathy he’d shown her, sinking deeper with each gulp. The blood is cold and bitter, not at all appetizing or enough to satisfy Cassandra's overwhelming hunger. She drains him of every drop, leaving him a haunting, sunken, skeletal thing on the floor.