CHAPTER 3: THE CRIMSON PALACE
615 Words
The forest trembled.
A terrifying wave of crimson energy surged from Lucien's body, forcing every vampire hunter to their knees.
Their hands shook.
Their breathing became uneven.
The pressure alone was enough to make them cough blood.
"No..."
"It can't be..."
"His Majesty has become even stronger..."
Lucien's crimson eyes glowed like burning embers.
His gaze swept across the hunters with absolute indifference.
"You dared to attack my mate."
His deep voice echoed through the forest.
"There will be no mercy."
The hunters instinctively stepped backward.
Their captain clenched his silver sword.
"If she remains alive, the prophecy will be fulfilled!"
"Kill her!"
The hunters charged.
Within a heartbeat—
Lucien disappeared.
Whoosh!
A blur of black flashed through the battlefield.
One hunter was thrown into a massive tree.
Another was sent flying across the clearing.
The captain barely managed to raise his sword before Lucien caught the blade with two fingers.
Crack!
The enchanted silver sword shattered into countless pieces.
Lucien looked at the captain with icy contempt.
"You came here to die."
His hand wrapped around the hunter's throat.
Without another word, he hurled the man into the ground.
Boom!
The earth split apart.
The remaining hunters fled in terror.
"They're retreating!"
One of Lucien's royal guards shouted.
"Should we pursue them, Your Majesty?"
Lucien shook his head.
"They've already failed."
His attention returned to Seraphina.
She stood frozen, unable to process what she had just witnessed.
One man...
Had defeated an entire army.
Lucien walked toward her.
His cold expression softened.
"Are you hurt?"
Seraphina instinctively stepped back.
"You... you killed them."
"They came to kill you."
"You don't understand."
"No."
She swallowed nervously.
"I don't understand you."
For a brief moment, pain flickered across Lucien's face.
"You will."
Before she could ask another question, a massive black carriage descended from the sky, pulled by four enormous winged horses with crimson eyes.
The royal crest of the vampire kingdom gleamed on its doors.
The guards immediately knelt.
"The royal carriage is ready, Your Majesty."
Seraphina's eyes widened.
"Flying horses?"
Lucien offered his hand.
"Come with me."
She quickly shook her head.
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"You have no home to return to."
She froze.
"How do you know that?"
"I know everything about you."
"You were abandoned as an infant."
"You grew up in Saint Maria Orphanage."
"You gather herbs every morning."
"You secretly dream of seeing the world beyond your village."
Seraphina stared at him in disbelief.
"How..."
"I've been watching over you for years."
A chill ran down her spine.
"You've been... watching me?"
"From a distance."
"I couldn't approach you."
"Not until the Blood Bond awakened."
She looked at the glowing crimson mark on her wrist.
Questions flooded her mind.
Who was she?
Why had the Vampire King searched for her for three centuries?
And why did everyone keep calling her his queen?
Lucien gently took her trembling hand.
"This world is no longer safe for you."
"The moment the Blood Bond appeared..."
"...every supernatural kingdom learned that I had found my mate."
His expression became colder than ice.
"They will all come for you."
He helped her into the royal carriage.
As the doors closed, the winged horses let out a powerful cry.
With a mighty beat of their wings...
The carriage soared into the night sky.
Far below, the Blackwood Forest disappeared into darkness.
Ahead, beyond the clouds, an enormous castle slowly emerged beneath the crimson moon.
Its towering black spires pierced the heavens.
Thousands of lights illuminated its walls.
The legendary home of the immortal ruler.
The Crimson Palace.
Seraphina could only stare in speechless wonder.
She had just entered the kingdom of vampires.
- Writer
