The scent of paint and turpentine hung heavy in the air, a comforting cloak around Jasmine as she meticulously layered blue, green, and white onto the portrait. She moved with practiced ease, her brush dancing across the canvas, until a familiar, cherished voice broke her concentration.

"Jasmine, sweetie..."

Jasmine spun around, a smile blossoming on her face as she saw Martha, laden with bags of groceries and art supplies. With a joyous squeal, she darted across the room, wrapping her arms around the older woman. "You came, thank you so much!"

It had been a week, a long, quiet week, since she'd last seen the only family she knew. Martha, a cook at the grand castle, had little time for visits. But today, her presence was a warm embrace.

"How couldn't I? Whilst my precious little child is here!" Martha chuckled, caressing Jasmine's cheek. Inside, a childish excitement bubbled as Martha revealed her big news: a job, for Jasmine, at the castle. Not just any job, but as a personal servant to the formidable Vampire Kings.

The news hit Jasmine like a cold wave. The Kings were dangerous, notoriously strict, and rarely fond of humans. Her excitement evaporated, replaced by a chilling dread. "I can't take this job, Martha! Please, just put me in some other work. I can't risk my life!"

Martha merely laughed, wiping tears of amusement from her eyes. "From whom you've heard this nonsense? The Kings are Vampires for sure but it doesn't make them cruel towards humans. They might be cold but they are not cruel."

After much debate, and Martha's unwavering reassurance, Jasmine reluctantly agreed. She couldn't deny Martha, her anchor in life. But as night fell, a knot of unease tightened in her stomach. This was going to be a long night, and the upcoming days, working for the mysterious Vampire Kings, felt like the beginning of an unpredictable, terrifying journey.