THE ROBINSON BLOODLINE

THE VAULT OF SHADOWS

The ground kept shaking.

Daniel Robinson struggled to stay on his feet as deep cracks raced across the estate courtyard. Marble split apart beneath him. Ancient statues collapsed. Trees snapped and crashed against the walls.

Then the screaming started.

Not human screams.

Something older.

Something buried.

Daniel stared at the black opening beneath the estate.

Slowly, carefully, hands emerged from the darkness.

Gray hands.

Thin hands.

Hands with claws.

One.

Then another.

Then dozens.

Daniel felt his body become cold.

"No..." Elias whispered.

Marcus stood perfectly still.

Victoria's face had gone pale.

Even the hunters looked terrified.

The first creature climbed out slowly.

Its body looked human once.

Long ago.

Now it was something else.

Its skin hung loosely across sharp bones. Dark veins twisted beneath its flesh. Its eyes looked empty.

Dead.

But alive.

Then another climbed out.

And another.

And another.

Daniel looked toward Marcus.

"What exactly did you bury under this house?"

Marcus did not answer.

The First Blood creature smiled.

"You buried family."

Daniel turned sharply.

"What?"

The creature stepped toward the opening.

"They were abandoned."

Another creature climbed out.

Then ten more.

The estate grounds filled with movement.

Hundreds of black eyes opened inside the darkness below.

Daniel's chest tightened.

For the first time in centuries, he felt something close to panic.

Because these things were not vampires.

And they were not human.

One creature suddenly looked up.

Its eyes locked onto Zara.

Then all of them stopped moving.

Silence fell.

Rain continued pouring around them.

Nobody breathed.

Then every creature dropped to its knees.

Daniel frowned.

"What are they doing?"

The First Blood creature looked pleased.

"They remember."

Zara stared in confusion.

"Remember what?"

The creature looked directly at her.

"The Queen."

The words hit the courtyard like thunder.

Victoria closed her eyes.

Marcus clenched his fists.

Daniel slowly looked toward Zara.

"No."

Elias backed away.

"No..."

Zara shook her head immediately.

"No."

Her voice trembled.

"No."

The creatures slowly raised their heads.

Then they all smiled.

Daniel's skin crawled.

Because every smile looked identical.

Exactly identical.

The same expression.

The same angle.

Like puppets controlled by one mind.

The female hunter suddenly raised her sacred blade.

"We kill her now."

Everything stopped.

Daniel turned slowly.

"What did you say?"

The female hunter stared directly at Zara.

"If the prophecy is true, she becomes the Blood Queen."

Daniel walked toward her slowly.

Dangerously slowly.

"And?"

The hunter looked afraid.

Still she continued.

"And if she awakens fully, millions die."

Silence.

Daniel looked toward Zara.

She looked terrified.

Lost.

Confused.

Not dangerous.

Just scared.

He turned back.

"No."

Marcus looked toward him.

Daniel's jaw tightened.

"No one touches her."

The female hunter gripped her weapon harder.

"You don't understand."

Daniel smiled coldly.

"No."

Golden eyes flashed brightly.

"You don't understand."

Then he moved.

The impact sent the hunter flying across the estate wall.

Stone exploded.

Several hunters rushed forward instantly.

Daniel attacked first.

Chaos erupted.

Marcus disappeared into motion.

Victoria moved like a shadow.

Elias grabbed Zara and pulled her back.

"Come on."

Zara resisted.

"What is happening?"

Elias dragged her toward the mansion.

"We don't have time."

Outside, Daniel tore through the hunters violently.

Sacred blades slashed toward him.

Chains wrapped around him.

Pain burned across his skin.

But rage burned harder.

One hunter swung a blade toward his neck.

Daniel caught it.

Snapped it.

Then threw the man into another hunter.

Bodies crashed across the courtyard.

Marcus stood beside the First Blood creature.

Neither moved.

Neither blinked.

Ancient eyes watched ancient eyes.

"You should have stayed buried," Marcus said quietly.

The creature smiled.

"You buried us alive."

Marcus's face darkened.

"We saved humanity."

The creature laughed.

"No."

Its black eyes shifted.

"You saved yourselves."

Lightning exploded across the sky.

Suddenly Zara screamed inside the mansion.

Everyone froze.

Daniel looked toward the house immediately.

"Elias!"

No response.

Then another scream.

Daniel vanished instantly.

Inside the mansion darkness swallowed everything.

Emergency lights flickered weakly.

Daniel rushed through the hallways.

"Elias!"

Silence.

He followed the sound upstairs.

The doors stood open.

Broken furniture covered the floor.

Blood stained the walls.

Daniel's eyes widened.

"Elias?"

Then he saw him.

Elias lay against the wall.

Unconscious.

Blood dripped down his forehead.

Daniel rushed toward him.

"Elias!"

Elias slowly opened his eyes.

Pain crossed his face.

Daniel looked around.

"Where's Zara?"

Elias stared at him.

Fear entered his expression.

Then he whispered:

"They took her."

Daniel froze.

No.

No.

"No."

His voice barely came out.

"No."

Then Daniel smelled something.

Blood.

Fresh blood.

He slowly looked down.

Symbols covered the floor beneath Elias.

Ancient symbols.

Daniel's eyes widened.

"No..."

Elias grabbed his arm weakly.

"Daniel..."

Daniel looked at him.

Elias swallowed.

"It wasn't the hunters."

Silence.

Daniel stared.

"What?"

Elias looked toward the broken window.

Eyes filled with fear.

"The creatures..."

Outside, a terrible scream echoed across Lagos.

Not close.

Far away.

Then another.

Then another.

Marcus looked toward the city skyline.

Fires had begun appearing across distant buildings.

Black smoke rose into the storm.

The First Blood creature smiled.

Slowly.

Patiently.

"It begins."

Marcus looked toward him.

"What begins?"

The creature stared toward the city.

"The awakening."

Marcus's expression changed.

For the first time in hundreds of years...

He looked afraid.

Because somewhere in Lagos...

Zara Robinson had disappeared.