The Vampire Nightmare

Chapter 14

"Little... sister?"

The words echoed through my mind.

I stared at the woman standing in the ruined doorway.

"No."

I shook my head.

"You're lying."

She smiled—a slow, knowing smile that sent a chill down my spine.

"Am I?"

The black flames behind her curled around her feet like living snakes.

Kael stepped in front of me, raising his sword.

"You will not come any closer, Seraphine."

The woman laughed softly.

"So you remember my name."

Her crimson eyes settled on Kael.

"You've grown old, Guardian."

"And you've grown arrogant," Kael replied.

Seraphine tilted her head.

"Perhaps."

"But I'm still stronger."

She lifted one finger.

A wave of dark energy slammed into Kael.

He dug his boots into the marble floor, but the force hurled him across the chamber.

He crashed into a stone pillar, sending cracks racing through it.

"Kael!" I shouted.

He struggled to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.

"I'm... fine."

I looked back at Seraphine.

"What do you want from me?"

"You."

"Only me?"

She nodded.

"I've waited centuries for this moment."

"I don't even know you!"

"No."

"Because your memories were sealed."

She began walking toward me.

Each step echoed through the Hall of Memories.

"You were never meant to remember."

"I don't believe you."

"You will."

She stopped a few feet away.

"You and I share the same blood."

"We are the last daughters of Queen Aurelia."

My head throbbed.

Images flashed through my mind.

Two little girls laughing in a royal garden.

One wore white.

The other wore black.

They chased silver butterflies beneath a crimson moon.

The vision vanished as quickly as it came.

I staggered backward.

"What... was that?"

"A memory."

Seraphine's voice softened.

"The first of many."

I pressed my hands against my temples.

"No..."

"I can't remember any of this."

"You will."

"And when you do..."

"...you'll understand why I chose darkness."

Suddenly, the chamber doors burst open again.

"Cassian!"

He rushed inside with several royal guards.

The moment he saw Seraphine, he stopped.

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

I saw genuine fear in his eyes.

"Stay away from her."

Seraphine smiled without turning around.

"You always were predictable."

Cassian pointed his sword at her.

"You died six hundred years ago."

"So did Aurelia."

Seraphine finally faced him.

"And yet..."

"Here we are."

The room fell silent.

Cassian looked at me.

"Aria."

"Don't listen to her."

"She's trying to confuse you."

Seraphine laughed.

"Am I?"

She extended her hand toward me.

"I can restore every memory they stole from you."

Cassian stepped forward.

"If you touch her—"

"You'll do what?"

Seraphine interrupted.

"You couldn't save Aurelia."

"You couldn't stop Darius."

"And you certainly can't stop me."

Pain flashed across Cassian's face.

She had struck exactly where it hurt.

My chest tightened.

I didn't know who to believe anymore.

Cassian.

Seraphine.

Kael.

They all claimed to know my past.

But none of them had told me everything.

"Aria," Cassian said quietly.

"Come with me."

At the same time, Seraphine spoke.

"Take my hand."

Two choices.

Two paths.

One truth hidden behind countless lies.

Before I could move—

A deep, ancient voice echoed through the Hall of Memories.

"Enough."

The entire palace trembled.

Every crystal in the chamber began to glow.

A brilliant silver light erupted from the floor.

At the center of the room, an enormous stone coffin slowly rose from beneath the marble.

Golden runes blazed across its surface.

Kael's eyes widened.

"It can't be..."

Cassian lowered his sword.

"The First King."

The coffin lid cracked open by itself.

A powerful wave of ancient magic swept through the chamber.

Then...

A pale hand slowly reached out from inside.