The Vampire Nightmare

Chapter 16

The shattered roof rained stone and dust across the Hall of Memories.

Darius stood in the center of the chamber, completely unfazed.

Behind him, his Shadow Guard spread out in perfect formation, their black armor reflecting the glow of the floating memory crystals.

My pulse hammered.

Everything had changed in a matter of minutes.

Seraphine wasn't just an enemy.

She was bound to me by the Blood Crown.

If she died...

I died.

Darius smiled as if he could hear every frightened thought racing through my mind.

"Now you understand why I never killed her."

He slowly turned toward Seraphine.

"You've always been far more useful alive."

Her crimson eyes flashed with fury.

"I was never your servant."

"No," Darius replied with a chuckle.

"You were my greatest weapon."

Dark shadows curled around his boots like smoke.

The First King stepped forward.

His golden eyes burned with ancient authority.

"Darius."

"You have broken every sacred law of Noctis."

Darius bowed with exaggerated politeness.

"And yet... I'm still standing."

The First King's expression never changed.

"You seek the Blood Crown."

"I seek freedom."

"For yourself?" the King asked.

"No."

Darius lifted his gaze.

"For everyone."

Silence settled over the chamber.

Even the Shadow Guard seemed surprised by his answer.

"The Blood Crown has chained this world for centuries," Darius continued.

"It chooses kings."

"It chooses queens."

"It decides fate."

He pointed directly at me.

"And now it has chosen another innocent girl."

His words struck something deep inside me.

I hadn't asked for any of this.

I hadn't asked to become the Blood Queen.

To lose my normal life.

To be hunted.

To become part of an ancient prophecy.

Darius saw the doubt on my face.

He smiled.

"You see?"

"You already know I'm telling the truth."

Cassian stepped beside me.

"Don't let him manipulate you."

"I'm not manipulating her."

Darius spread his arms.

"I'm offering her a choice."

He looked into my eyes.

"Come with me."

"I'll destroy the Blood Crown."

"I'll free you from the prophecy."

Before I could answer, Seraphine laughed.

The sound echoed through the broken hall.

"You still don't understand, do you, Darius?"

His smile faded.

"What?"

"If the Crown is destroyed..."

She looked directly at me.

"So are we."

The realization hit me like a thunderbolt.

The Blood Crown wasn't just an ancient relic.

It was keeping us alive.

Darius's eyes narrowed.

"You knew."

"I've always known."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you never cared about the truth."

"You only cared about power."

For the first time since I'd met him...

Darius looked genuinely angry.

The shadows around him erupted violently.

"Enough!"

The chamber shook.

Several floating memory crystals shattered, releasing flashes of ancient battles before fading into nothing.

The First King raised his hand.

A golden barrier surrounded everyone on our side.

The wave of darkness crashed against it but couldn't break through.

The King looked at me.

"Aria."

"Your decision will shape the fate of both worlds."

"I..."

I looked at Cassian.

Then at Seraphine.

Finally at Darius.

Every one of them was waiting for my answer.

Before I could speak, the mark on my wrist began to burn.

Brighter than ever before.

A beam of silver light shot upward, piercing the ceiling and rising into the crimson sky.

Far above Noctis...

The Blood Crown answered.

Its power spread across the kingdom like a heartbeat.

Every vampire in the city stopped where they stood.

Every dragon lifted its head.

Every shadow retreated.

Then a single voice echoed across the entire kingdom.

"The Trial of the Blood Queen has begun."

The First King's face grew solemn.

Cassian tightened his grip on his sword.

Even Darius looked surprised.

I swallowed hard.

"What trial?"

The First King met my eyes.

"The one that will decide..."

"...whether you become the savior of Noctis..."

"...or its last queen."