5
1019 Words
The sun never touched the fortress.
I realized that as the heavy doors of my chamber creaked open and two guards entered, their black armor gleaming. Their eyes glowed faintly, like embers in the dark.
“The King commands your presence,” one said flatly.
My stomach dropped. I remembered Kael’s words from last night—Tomorrow, the court will test you. Survive, and you live. Fail, and you die.
I forced myself to stand, though my knees trembled. I would not let them see my fear. Clutching my ruined notebook to my chest, I followed the guards through endless corridors until the air grew colder, heavier.
At last, we entered the throne hall.
It was filled.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of vampires lined the space, their beauty sharp and terrible. Their skin was pale as frost, their eyes glowing in shades of crimson, gold, and violet. Jewels glittered on their fingers, silks and velvets draped their frames. They looked like royalty from a nightmare.
At the far end sat Kael Draven on his jagged throne, his presence eclipsing them all. His crimson gaze locked onto me the moment I entered.
A ripple of whispers passed through the court.
“She’s so fragile…”
“That’s the one who stirred him?”
“She smells like fire.”
Heat crawled up my neck, but I lifted my chin. If they wanted me to break, they’d have to try harder.
A figure stepped forward—Selene, in another gown of liquid black, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief. She curtsied to Kael before addressing the crowd.
“The King has brought a mortal into our court,” she said, her voice carrying like a song. “A mortal whose blood has… awakened him. But tell me, my King, how do we know she is worthy of standing here? How do we know she will not bring ruin upon us all?”
Her words dripped with poison. The court hissed in agreement.
Kael’s jaw tightened. “You dare question my claim?”
Selene smiled sweetly. “I dare only to protect what you rule. Let her prove herself.”
The hall erupted in agreement. Fists pounded against stone, voices rising in hunger for spectacle.
Kael’s gaze burned into Selene, but after a long, tense silence, he said, “So be it. A trial.”
Selene’s smile widened. “Trial by blood.”
The guards pushed me forward, and my heart slammed against my ribs. “What—what does that mean?”
Selene’s gaze flicked to me, smug. “It means you fight. And if you bleed, we will know what you truly are.”
Panic surged through me. Fight? Against what?
The court parted, and from the shadows emerged a vampire with shoulders broad as stone, his fangs bared in a savage grin. His eyes glowed red, hungry.
“No,” I whispered. My hands trembled around my notebook. “This isn’t fair. I can’t—”
“Silence,” a guard hissed, shoving me into the circle that had formed.
The brute vampire lunged.
I screamed and stumbled back, narrowly avoiding his clawed hand. The court roared with laughter, their voices echoing off the stone.
“Pathetic!”
“She won’t last a minute!”
“Kill her!”
I scrambled, my shoes slipping on the slick floor. The vampire advanced again, his speed terrifying. Instinct took over. I snatched the nearest thing I could find—a broken spear lying at the edge of the circle.
The crowd gasped as I swung it wildly. The vampire snarled, dodging easily, but the sharp edge grazed his arm.
Black blood spattered the floor.
The court hushed.
The brute’s face twisted in fury, and he lunged again. His weight slammed into me, knocking me to the ground. My notebook skidded across the floor, pages tearing.
His fangs descended toward my throat.
And then—
Kael moved.
One second he was on his throne, the next he was there, his hand wrapped around the brute’s neck. With a single twist, bone snapped. The body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Gasps filled the hall. No one dared speak.
Kael’s gaze swept over the court, cold and merciless. “None touch her. She is mine. Anyone who defies this will share his fate.”
The silence was absolute.
Slowly, Kael turned his gaze down to me. His crimson eyes burned, but beneath the fire there was something else—something unreadable.
He extended a hand.
For a moment, I hesitated. Every instinct screamed not to take it. But with the entire court’s eyes on me, I forced my shaking hand into his.
His grip was firm, pulling me to my feet effortlessly.
The whispers started again, sharp and hissing.
“She drew blood.”
“She isn’t mortal…”
“She’ll destroy us all.”
Kael’s gaze silenced them once more. He turned, his voice echoing like thunder.
“The trial is over. She lives.”
The court bowed reluctantly, but I felt their eyes like daggers.
As Kael guided me out of the circle, his voice was low, meant only for me. “You see now. They will tear you apart if I do not claim you.”
My voice shook. “Then maybe you should let them.”
His steps halted. For a heartbeat, his expression cracked—something dark, something furious. His grip tightened around my wrist, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind me I wasn’t free.
“You do not get to choose, little one,” he whispered, his voice dangerous. “The moment your blood called to me, your fate was sealed.”
My chest constricted.
And then, before I could reply, a new voice rang out from the shadows.
“You are wrong, King.”
The entire hall stilled.
A tall figure emerged—another vampire, his eyes glowing a strange silver, his smile sharp. Unlike the others, he didn’t bow.
“She is not yours,” he said, his gaze sliding to me. “She is mine.”
The hall erupted into chaos.
- Writer
