The Vampire Nightmare

Chapter 7

No one dared to speak.

The towering warrior stood motionless beneath the crimson moon, his silver eyes locked on mine.

The forest itself seemed to hold its breath.

I swallowed hard.

"Who... who are you?"

He slowly placed one fist over his heart and bowed his head.

"My name is Kael."

"I am the First Guardian of the Blood Crown."

The title sent another chill through me.

"The Blood Crown again," I whispered.

"What is it?"

Kael lifted his head.

"It is the oldest relic in existence."

"It grants unimaginable power."

"But it also carries the greatest burden."

Darius laughed from behind the wolves.

"And that's exactly why she belongs to me."

Before anyone could react, he lunged toward me.

He moved so fast I barely saw him.

Cassian intercepted him in a blur.

Their swords collided with a deafening clang.

A shockwave blasted through the forest.

Trees bent violently.

Leaves swirled through the air.

Cassian shoved Darius backward.

"Take Aria!" he shouted.

Kael nodded once.

Without warning, he scooped me into his arms.

"What are you doing?" I cried.

"Protecting you."

He leaped high into the trees.

The ground disappeared beneath us as branch after branch flashed past.

The wind whipped through my hair.

I looked back.

The Veil Forest had become a battlefield.

Cassian and his soldiers clashed with Darius's warriors while the giant wolves charged into the fight.

The sounds of swords, growls, and shouted commands echoed behind us.

"We can't leave them!" I protested.

"They know their duty," Kael replied calmly.

"My duty is you."

A deafening roar echoed above us.

Kael stopped abruptly.

He looked toward the sky.

His expression hardened.

"They're early."

"What is?"

A dark shadow swept across the blood-red moon.

Then another.

Massive winged creatures circled overhead.

Their scales shimmered like black steel.

Their crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.

I stared in horror.

"They're... dragons?"

"No."

Kael's voice was grim.

"Night Drakes."

"They hunt only one thing."

"What?"

"The Blood Queen."

The largest Night Drake folded its wings and dove straight toward us.

Its roar shook the forest.

Kael jumped from the treetop just as the creature smashed through the branches behind us.

Wood exploded in every direction.

He landed on the forest floor, shielding me with his body.

The Night Drake turned.

Its glowing eyes fixed on me.

Then it spoke in a low, ancient voice.

"Return..."

"...what was stolen."

The mark on my wrist burned so fiercely that I cried out.

A burst of silver light erupted from my body.

The Night Drake froze in midair.

Its enormous wings folded.

To my astonishment...

It lowered its head.

One by one, every Night Drake in the sky did the same.

Kael stared at me in disbelief.

"It recognizes you."

"I don't understand!"

Neither did I.

Why was every ancient creature calling me their queen?

Why did they all know me?

The silver light around my wrist slowly faded.

The Night Drake lifted its head one last time.

"The Crown is awakening."

"It is time."

Without another word, the creatures spread their wings and vanished into the crimson sky.

Silence returned.

I looked at Kael.

"What happens now?"

He turned toward the distant mountains.

Far beyond the trees, I saw the outline of a magnificent black castle rising into the clouds.

Its towers pierced the crimson sky like jagged spears.

Kael's voice was solemn.

"Now..."

"...we take you home."

I frowned.

"Home?"

He nodded.

"To Noctis."

"The kingdom where your destiny began."

At that exact moment, a piercing scream echoed across the forest.

It was Cassian.

I spun around.

A pillar of black fire erupted above the battlefield.

Then everything fell silent.