Kayla was happy. She looked the epitome of youth, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks blushing, emanating freshness and vigor. What was it that made her spirits so buoyant? None other than Count Noctus — gallant, courteous, well-built, and with a wonderful, albeit somewhat dark sense of humor. The girl was completely enchanted by him. It's just a pity that Kayla's mother didn't share her daughter's feelings.

"He's not the right match for you," she would say disapprovingly, "You shouldn't keep seeing him."

"But why, mother? What's wrong with him?"

"Our family has always worshiped the Sun, and this Count of yours clearly has different inclinations."

"Pah, that's just prejudice and superstition! These beliefs are foolish, children's games! One day, I'll marry the Count anyway, with or without your blessing!"

And now that day had come. The pair were secretly wed in the Noctus family chapel — rather a strange place, it must be said. But Kayla seemed oblivious to anything other than the sight of her beloved — neither the black roses that adorned the altar nor the gloomy assembly of unsmiling figures in gray capes seemed to bother her. "Oh, minor details, trivialities!" she told herself. "The main thing is that I will be together with my man!"

Their wedding night was magnificent. Candles, music, cozy drapes... In the arms of her husband, Kayla felt calm and serene.

Waking up the next morning, she found herself all alone among the crumpled sheets. She called out to her beloved — but no one answered. The girl got up and looked around. In the light of day, the room didn't look as romantic as it had the night before: the sagging candles were covered with centuries of dust, and the tapestries on the bed and walls were moth-eaten and faded. But the most unpleasant surprise was the locked bedroom doors.

At first, Kayla waited for someone to come and find her. But as the hours passed, she began to get impatient, and started banging on the doors and screaming for help. But it was all in vain.

Only after an entire day had passed, the count finally came back, accompanied by several servants. The girl was given a tray of food and a change of clothes. Kayla stared intently at her husband. Where had that courteous man with his subtle humor and ardent love-filled speeches gone?

"You are called to bear a child who will belong to me and my priests of the Night," the count said in a cold, empty tone. "After the birth, you will be released from the responsibilities of mother and wife," he continued.

"But..." was all Kayla managed to say.

"Is everything clear, my dear wife? Now, you must eat. My future heir should not go hungry!"

the doors slammed and Kayla was left alone again.

She spent seven long months locked up like that. At first, she was tormented by despair, fear, and hatred for the count and for herself. But then the emotions subsided, giving way to cold calculation. For the next two months, day after day, Kayla secretly chipped away at the heavy window frame with a rusty nail she found in a drawer, and at night she dreamt of her future daughter — she felt that she was carrying a girl. She could also sense how the child responded when twilight fell, rolling around with joy in her womb.

"The night won't take you, Celeste," Kayla whispered. "You will see the sun and love it! And you, mother — can you forgive me?" she said, gazing out of the window.

Finally, one day, the window frame gave way, and the ray of sunlight that fell on the girl seemed to say to her: "Chase the sun to save your child! Hurry!" She climbed down a rope made of torn-up clothes, but fell at the end and twisted her ankle badly. And now, limping and stumbling, she ran along the overgrown path. She was on the verge of giving birth, and every step was a huge struggle for her. Meanwhile, the sun was already disappearing behind the horizon. She had to catch up with it! The child in her womb was tossing about, thrashing restlessly, sensing that Kayla was moving away from the castle.

Catching a stray sunbeam in her palm, the girl heard that voice again: "The sun is your salvation. Run towards the sunset, to the Green Cliff, so that you have time to bathe in its rays." Gritting her teeth, Kayla rushed forward, running with all of her might, but by the time she reached the cliff the last rays of the sun had almost completely vanished beyond the sea.

"It's all over!" flashed through her mind.

"You can turn back time, my daughter. You must simply believe," said a woman's voice behind her.

"Mom!" Tears welled up in the girl's eyes. "Mom, please forgive me!"

She raised her hands to the sky and began to pray.. For a moment nothing happened, and then, like a great burning ship resurfacing from the ocean's depths, the sun began to slowly return to the firmament. Kayla closed her eyes, allowing the warm light to wash over her, surrendering herself to the will of the sun. The daughter inside her froze for a moment and seemed to shrink in fear. But soon after, both the unborn child and her mother felt a profound joy flooding Kayla's entire body.

Four days later, far from Noctus's castle, Kayla became the mother of the lovely Celeste. The newborn's plump pink face was framed by curls of blond hair, and her blue eyes shone with love. The sun had come to her aid, and the new mother was absolutely radiant with joy.

But if anyone were to look at the baby at night, they would have seen her eyes shimmering scarlet, a menacing curve at her lips, and a pair of twisted horns peeking through her jet-black hair. But no, no, how could that be? It must be just a trick of the light.