It was not long before that Isidorus was back with blood for Adrianna. When he brought it and served it to her, she couldn't resist herself. She picked it up immediately and sipped it. Dmitri couldn't watch her doing it, so he left the room. Adrianna was extremely guilt-ridden but things were not in her control…

Once she had drunk a glass full of blood, she felt better and energized. Her appetite for normal food increased and the servants were ordered to bring in food.

​​

It took two days for her to recover completely and leave the bed. Whenever she would drink the blood brought by Isidorus, Dmitri would leave.

"We must go and see the Elder as soon as possible," said Adrianna on the third day.

"Yes, we must," replied Isidorus. "You may come to the noble court today, see the pending jobs, and then also talk to the Crown." Isidorus coughed a little and then added, "Life is like lamb steaks. It is not necessary for you to see the process of making the steaks."

Adrianna sighed. "I will not be satisfied until I know why the child is demanding blood…"

"Okay…"

Adrianna had a strong urge to have one more glass of blood that day.

It was the next day that she went to the noble court. After everything pending was taken care of, and everyone left, Adrianna talked to the Crown.

"I see you are pretty guilty about what you want," remarked the Crown. "Like Isidorus said, you don't have to feel guilty. Let life take you where you are supposed to go. Remember everything is destined. This child is too important for all of us to be born. So don't jeopardize his safety even if it means killing others!" The Crown walked down the path of her cell, which was now a landscape of rising sun with a river meandering in distance.

Adrianna pressed her lips. "I just want to know about my urges…"

"Is it important?"

"Yes, else I would stop having blood and that way my baby would suffer." Her conscience was pricking her.

The Crown shook his head. "The Elder lives in the tallest peak of the Mountains of Tibris. He won't allow anyone including wizards to enter his domain. You need to sacrifice something that is dear to you in order to gain access to those lands. So what is it that is dear to you, Adrianna? What will you sacrifice? Dmitri, Cora, Pierre or any of your friends or-" the Crown paused and stopped. He clasped his hands on the back as his white cloak pooled behind him. "Or your Grandfather?"

Adrianna's eyes became wide with shock. She gasped. The grounds that she was standing upon became shaky and rumbled. It was in fact her mind that was so shocked that it manifested into the rumble.

The Crown stared at her through his deep black eyes. "Take care Adrianna. The route to the Mountains of Tibris is through the snow clad mountains where your Grandfather now lives alone."

He left her to walk along the river while she stared at his back as her breaths became shaky. She came out of her cell. Isidorus was waiting for her.

"We will go to my Grandfather's place tomorrow in the morning."

---

It had been a month and Niiya couldn't come to terms with the fact that he had to go against Adrianna to help Ziu and in turn help his own people.

"What? Are you mad?" shouted Dr. Tanaka across from the dining table. "Ziu has given you a fantastic option. With that kind of freedom, can you imagine how much cleaner would the land be? I had been doing my best to get half a mile of land for years. And now that you have an opportunity you want to walk away from it?"

Dr. Tanaka had been very angry with Niiya for thinking of losing this chance.

"Father, Adrianna is the Queen of the Wizard Kingdom. I simply can't go and breach her trust. Before being the queen she was my friend."

"Yes, a friend who went and married Dmitri despite you showing interest in her. Don't you remember those miserable days? Haven't you already got your lesson?" Dr. Tanaka was so wild that he rose from his chair and threw a glass on the ground. "And you are even planning to quit your position? Do you know what that means?"

Dr. Tanaka looked outside the window at the willow trees that were gently swaying in the cool breeze. Then he sighed and said, "This means that they will kill all of us once you leave your position because we know too many secrets. They will hunt each one of our family and kill us."

He turned to look at him, pointed a finger and spat, "Listen young man. This is an opportunity you cannot let go. You cannot jeopardize your family's safety and you cannot let your feelings for that girl interfere in your decisions for Humans!"

Niiya bit the inside of his cheeks. Ziu had shared his secret with him and warned that there was no going back. His father had been forcing him.

He got up without eating food and went to his room. Picking a photo from the mantle, he stared at it for a long time. It was of Adrianna and him standing in front of their department in the college. He stroked her face over the glass and then held the picture close to his heart.

"I am sorry Adrianna… There is nothing I can do…"

---

Dmitri had been pacing the room ever since Adrianna had announced that she had to visit the Mountains of Tibris. He was seething with anger. "No Adri, you are not going anywhere in that state. If you are so keen on visiting the Elder, you can go once the baby is born."

"Don't tell me that Dmitri," Adrianna scoffed. "When I see your face every time I drink blood, it kills me. You are not able to come to terms with the fact that I like having it."

Dmitri stopped and glared at Adrianna. He brought a finger to his chin as he placed another hand on his hip. He nodded and said, "Yes, you are right. I do hate it when you brink blood, but as far as I see none of us here have an option other than, other than-" his throat choked and he couldn't speak further.

"Other than what, Dmitri?"