The Vampire Nightmare

Chapter 12

The first dragon roared.

The sound shook the palace so violently that cracks spread across the stained-glass windows.

The council chamber erupted into chaos.

"They've breached the northern sky!"

"Seal the palace!"

"Protect the Crown!"

The council members rose from their thrones, shouting orders over one another.

Outside, the dragons circled the city like vultures.

Their crimson eyes glowed against the blood-red moon.

I couldn't look away.

"They're beautiful," I whispered.

"And terrifying."

Cassian stepped beside me.

"They're not here by chance."

"They've come for you."

A deafening explosion rocked the palace.

One of the dragons released a stream of black fire onto the outer wall.

The ancient stone shattered.

Smoke poured into the city.

Screams echoed through the streets below.

I rushed to the window.

People were running in every direction.

Parents pulled their children to safety.

Royal guards formed defensive lines while archers fired glowing silver arrows into the sky.

"This is my fault," I whispered.

Cassian looked at me.

"No."

If I hadn't come here..

"They would have attacked eventually."

His voice was calm but firm.

"Darius has been preparing for this for centuries."

Another explosion interrupted him.

The palace floor trembled beneath our feet.

A guard burst through the chamber doors, breathing heavily.

"My King!"

Cassian turned immediately.

"Report."

"The eastern gate has fallen."

"The Night Drakes are inside the city."

A wave of fear swept through the council.

One of the elders slammed his fist onto the table.

"This is exactly why bringing the girl here was a mistake!"

Another elder shook her head.

"No."

"The prophecy demanded her return."

"The prophecy has doomed us!"

Their argument echoed through the chamber.

I clenched my fists.

They weren't talking about a queen.

They were talking about me.

Cassian silenced the room with one command.

"Enough."

His voice carried the authority of a king.

"No one leaves this chamber divided."

He turned to me.

"Aria."

"You have a choice."

I frowned.

"What choice?"

"You can remain here under heavy guard..."

"...or come with me."

"Where?"

"To defend my people."

I stared at him.

"I'm not a warrior."

"No."

"But you're their symbol."

His words settled heavily on my shoulders.

Outside, another building collapsed.

More screams rose into the night.

I remembered my grandmother.

Lily.

The students back in Raven Hollow.

If this war spread into the human world...

No one I loved would be safe.

I took a deep breath.

"I'll come."

Cassian gave a small nod.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

Kael stepped forward and unsheathed the enormous sword strapped to his back.

The silver runes along its blade ignited with brilliant light.

"The Queen will not stand alone."

Varek watched us from the shadows, his expression unreadable.

"Interesting."

Cassian glanced at him.

"What is?"

Varek folded his hands behind his back.

"The dragons aren't attacking the palace anymore."

I looked toward the shattered window.

He was right.

The dragons had stopped breathing fire.

Instead...

Every one of them was staring at the highest tower of the palace.

At first, I saw nothing.

Then a figure stepped onto the tower's edge.

A young woman dressed in flowing black robes.

Her long silver hair danced in the wind.

She slowly raised her head.

Even from that distance, I could see her glowing crimson eyes.

She smiled.

Then she looked directly at me.

My heart stopped.

She looked exactly like me.

The same face.

The same hair.

The same eyes.

Only her smile was colder.

Much colder.

I took an unsteady step backward.

"Who is she?"

The smile vanished from Cassian's face.

His voice dropped to a whisper.

"That is impossible."

The mysterious woman spread her arms.

The dragons bowed to her as one.

Then, in a voice that echoed across all of Noctis, she spoke a single sentence.

"The false queen has returned."

Every eye in the city turned toward the palace.

And toward me.