The Vampire Nightmare

Chapter 6

No one moved.

The forest fell into a terrifying silence.

The enormous wolf stood at the front of the pack, its glowing golden eyes fixed on me. Its black fur rippled like living shadows, and every slow breath exposed rows of razor-sharp teeth.

Behind me, I heard one of Cassian's soldiers whisper a prayer.

Cassian tightened his grip on his sword.

"She doesn't belong to you."

The wolf's ears twitched.

"She belongs to no one."

Its deep voice echoed through the Veil Forest.

"The Blood Queen belongs only to destiny."

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

Everyone kept calling me that.

The Blood Queen.

But I wasn't a queen.

I was just Aria.

A college student whose biggest worry yesterday had been passing a history exam.

"This is a mistake," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady.

"You've mistaken me for someone else."

The wolf slowly lowered its head.

"No."

"The Blood recognizes its own."

The crimson symbol on my wrist suddenly burned.

I gasped.

A sharp pain shot through my arm.

The mark glowed beneath my skin, shining brighter with every heartbeat.

The wolves immediately stepped back.

Even the enormous leader lowered its eyes.

Cassian looked at my wrist.

His expression darkened.

"It awakened."

"What awakened?" I cried.

"My mark?"

Before he could answer, Darius laughed from somewhere behind the wolves.

"How beautiful."

The pack slowly parted.

Darius stepped into the clearing, his black coat untouched by the mist.

His midnight-black eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"Everything is happening exactly as the prophecy foretold."

Cassian pointed his sword at him.

"You'll never reach her."

"I don't need to."

Darius smiled.

"The Blood Queen is already awakening."

He looked directly at me.

"Tell me, Aria."

"Do you hear them yet?"

"Hear who?"

"The voices."

I froze.

How did he know?

Ever since the crimson moon appeared...

I had heard faint whispers at the edge of my mind.

Too soft to understand.

Too real to ignore.

I hadn't told anyone.

My silence answered his question.

His smile widened.

"I thought so."

Cassian's jaw tightened.

"Stop playing games."

"I'm not."

Darius spread his arms.

"The Crown has already chosen."

"The only question is whether she'll become our salvation..."

"...or our destruction."

The words barely left his mouth before the whispers inside my head grew louder.

Fragments of unfamiliar voices flooded my thoughts.

"Run..."

Protect the Crown...

Trust the King...

"The eclipse is near..."

I grabbed my head.

"Make them stop!"

Cassian rushed to my side.

"Aria!"

The moment his hand touched my shoulder...

The voices disappeared.

I looked up at him, breathing hard.

"They stopped."

His crimson eyes searched mine with concern.

"They're getting stronger."

"What are they?"

He hesitated.

"The memories of those who carried the Blood before you."

My stomach dropped.

"I don't want them."

"I know."

"But wanting won't change what's coming."

Suddenly, the wolf leader let out a deafening howl.

Every wolf in the forest answered.

The ground trembled.

One by one, the wolves lowered themselves onto their front legs.

They weren't preparing to attack.

They were bowing.

The soldiers exchanged confused glances.

Even Cassian looked surprised.

The leader lifted its head.

"The Guardian has arrived."

The wind died instantly.

An overwhelming pressure filled the forest.

The birds stopped singing.

The mist rolled away from the ancient trees.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the darkness.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

Something enormous was approaching.

The trees shook with every step.

Then a towering figure emerged from the shadows.

He was over eight feet tall, dressed in ancient black armor etched with silver runes.

A long crimson cloak flowed behind him.

His pale face was calm, but his glowing silver eyes held centuries of wisdom.

An enormous sword rested across his back.

Every wolf lowered its head even farther.

Every vampire soldier dropped to one knee.

Even Darius's smile faded.

The giant warrior looked straight at me.

Then he spoke in a deep, steady voice.

"At last..."

"...I have found the last Blood Queen."

My heart pounded.

I had never seen this man before.

Yet somehow...

I felt as though he had been searching for me all my life.