Chapter 15
642 Words
No one moved.
The pale hand gripped the edge of the stone coffin.
The Hall of Memories trembled as ancient magic poured into the air, pressing against my chest until it became difficult to breathe.
The glowing crystals circling the chamber dimmed one by one.
Even Seraphine took a cautious step back.
"The seal..." she whispered.
"It shouldn't be breaking."
With a deep rumble, the coffin lid slid completely aside.
A man slowly sat up.
His long silver hair fell over his shoulders, and an ancient black crown rested upon his head. His armor looked untouched by time, etched with symbols that shimmered like moonlight.
Then he opened his eyes.
They were neither crimson nor silver.
They were pure gold.
The room fell silent.
Every vampire guard dropped to one knee.
Kael knelt immediately, lowering his head.
"My King."
Cassian followed.
Only Seraphine and I remained standing.
The ancient king climbed out of the coffin.
Though he had been asleep for centuries, every step carried quiet authority.
He looked at Kael.
"You have fulfilled your oath."
Then his gaze shifted to Cassian.
"You have protected my bloodline well."
Finally...
His golden eyes met mine.
A strange warmth spread through my chest.
For the first time since the nightmares began...
I didn't feel afraid.
He smiled.
"So..."
"The last heir lives."
I frowned.
"Heir?"
He nodded.
"You are not merely the Blood Queen."
"You are the final descendant of the First Royal Blood."
Seraphine's expression darkened.
"Don't tell her."
The king slowly turned toward her.
"You have no authority here."
She laughed bitterly.
"I have every right."
"You abandoned that right the day you embraced the Void."
The temperature in the chamber dropped.
Black mist gathered around Seraphine's feet.
"I embraced power."
"You embraced corruption," the king replied.
Their eyes locked.
The air between them crackled with ancient magic.
I stepped forward.
"Someone needs to explain what's happening."
The king looked back at me.
"And I will."
He raised his hand.
A sphere of golden light appeared between us.
Inside it, images began to form.
I saw the First Kingdom of Noctis in its glory.
Its towers gleamed beneath a silver moon.
Vampires and humans walked together in peace.
Then the vision changed.
A c***k of darkness appeared beneath the kingdom.
From it emerged a swirling abyss filled with living shadows.
"The Void," the king said.
"It has always hungered for this world."
The darkness spread.
Cities burned.
Kingdoms fell.
I watched soldiers fight creatures made of shadow.
Then I saw Queen Aurelia.
She stood before the Blood Crown, surrounded by crimson light.
Beside her were two young girls.
One wore white.
The other black.
I stared.
"They're..."
"You," the king said softly.
"And Seraphine."
My breath caught.
"But she said we were sisters."
"You are."
"Not by birth..."
"...but by soul."
I looked at him in confusion.
"What does that mean?"
"The Blood Crown split Aurelia's spirit into two heirs."
"One inherited the Light."
"The other inherited the Shadow."
I looked at Seraphine.
She stared back without speaking.
"You were never enemies."
"You were created to remain together."
The words echoed through the chamber.
"If one falls..."
"...the other falls."
Cassian's face paled.
"No..."
The king nodded grimly.
"The prophecy was incomplete."
I looked from one face to another.
"So if Seraphine dies..."
The king finished my sentence.
"You die with her."
Silence crashed over the Hall of Memories.
Before anyone could speak, a deafening explosion shook the palace.
The ceiling cracked.
Black fire burst through the roof.
A cold, familiar laugh echoed from above.
Darius.
"My apologies..."
"...but family reunions never last long."
The roof exploded apart.
Darius descended through the flames, surrounded by dozens of armored vampires cloaked in darkness.
He landed between Seraphine and me.
Smiling.
"You've finally learned the truth."
"And now..."
"...it's time to choose your sister."
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