Chapter 5: The Mark
303 Words
The kiss should have felt like the beginning of something beautiful.
Instead, it became the beginning of a nightmare.
The next morning, Nina woke up with a strange symbol burned into the skin just below her collarbone — a crescent moon wrapped around a crimson rose. It hadn't been there the night before.
She touched it, and a sharp pain shot through her body.
"What is this?" she whispered.
Before she could think, there was frantic knocking at her front door.
When she opened it, Devin stood there, his face drained of what little color vampires possessed.
"You have the Blood Moon Mark."
Nina frowned. "The what?"
His silver eyes widened as he looked at the symbol.
"No..."
"What?"
"It shouldn't be possible."
"Devin tell me."
He swallowed hard.
"The mark only appears on the person fate has bound to a vampire."
"You mean..."
"My soulmate."
Silence filled the room.
"But there's something worse," Devin said quietly.
"The vampire hunting us can feel the mark."
That evening, Devin led Nina deep into the forest beyond Blackwood.
Hidden beneath the roots of ancient trees stood the ruins of a forgotten cathedral.
Candles flickered without flames.
Dozens of vampires watched as Devin entered with Nina at his side.
Some stared with curiosity.
Others with hatred.
An elegant woman stepped forward.
Her white hair shimmered beneath the moonlight, and her eyes glowed like liquid gold.
"Prince Devin."
Nina blinked.
Prince?
The woman bowed.
"The Crimson Court has awaited your return."
Nina turned toward him.
"You never mentioned you were royalty."
Devin sighed.
"I was hoping it wouldn't matter."
"It matters now."
He nodded.
"My father ruled our kind with mercy."
"And?"
"He was murdered."
A murmur spread through the court.
"The vampire we're hunting," Devin continued," Wasn't just a monster."
"He was my father's closest friend."
- Writer
