The Shadow Order
845 Words
Chapter 4: The Shadow Order
The piercing alarm echoed throughout the De Luca estate.
Red warning lights flashed across the marble hallways as armed guards rushed into position. The once peaceful mansion transformed into a fortress within seconds.
Outside, explosions rocked the front gates.
Boom!
The reinforced iron entrance collapsed in a cloud of smoke.
Dozens of black-clad attackers poured through the opening, their faces hidden behind silver masks marked with a crimson serpent.
"The Shadow Order," Dante growled as he loaded his pistol. "They've finally made their move."
Lucien's expression remained calm, but his silver eyes darkened.
"Seal every exit."
"Already done."
"Move the council members into the underground bunker."
"And the girl?"
Lucien looked toward Seraphina.
"She stays with me."
Seraphina stepped forward.
"I'm not hiding while people die because of me."
Lucien's gaze met hers.
"This isn't bravery."
"It's survival."
"I can fight."
"You don't even know what you are."
His words struck harder than any slap.
Before she could answer, bullets shattered the library windows.
Glass exploded across the floor.
"Down!" Dante shouted.
Lucien pulled Seraphina against him just as a rain of bullets ripped through the room.
She froze.
His heartbeat was steady.
Even under attack, he showed no fear.
"Stay behind me," he ordered.
"I'm not a child."
"No."
He glanced at her burning birthmark.
"You're something far more dangerous."
Another explosion shook the mansion.
Smoke filled the hallway.
The attackers had breached the first floor.
Lucien drew twin black pistols from beneath his jacket.
"They're inside."
The mansion erupted into chaos.
Guards exchanged gunfire with the invaders as marble pillars shattered under the impact of bullets.
One masked assassin sprinted toward Seraphina with a silver blade.
"Die, Crimson Queen!"
Before she could react—
Bang!
Lucien's bullet struck the assassin between the eyes.
The body collapsed only a few feet from her.
She stared at him.
"You... didn't even look."
"I never miss."
More enemies rushed in.
Lucien moved like a shadow.
Every shot found its target.
Every movement was precise.
Within seconds, five attackers lay motionless across the polished floor.
Seraphina had never witnessed anything like it.
He wasn't fighting.
He was hunting.
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed through the mansion.
The lights flickered.
The temperature dropped.
A massive black wolf burst through the smoke, knocking three guards aside.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto Seraphina.
"No..." Dante whispered.
"They brought an Alpha Beast."
The creature lunged.
Lucien shoved Seraphina aside and fired repeatedly.
The silver bullets barely slowed the monster.
Its claws slashed across Lucien's shoulder, tearing through his suit.
Blood splattered across the floor.
"Lucien!" Seraphina cried.
Ignoring the pain, he grabbed the beast by the throat and drove a silver dagger into its chest.
The wolf let out a horrifying scream before collapsing.
Silence followed.
Then...
Lucien staggered.
Blood soaked his sleeve.
"You've been injured," Seraphina said.
"It's nothing."
"You're bleeding."
"I've survived worse."
Before she could reply, another voice echoed through the hallway.
"How touching."
Everyone turned.
A woman stepped from the smoke wearing a crimson cloak.
Her silver hair flowed behind her, and her smile was filled with cruelty.
She looked directly at Seraphina.
"So... the lost queen still lives."
Lucien immediately stepped in front of her.
"Scarlett."
"It's been a long time, Lucien."
"You shouldn't have come."
"I wasn't invited."
Scarlett laughed softly.
"I came for her."
She pointed at Seraphina.
"The prophecy ends tonight."
Without warning, Scarlett raised her hand.
Dark energy exploded through the hallway.
The walls cracked.
Windows shattered.
Guards were thrown backward as if struck by an invisible force.
Seraphina struggled to remain standing.
"What... is she?"
Lucien answered without taking his eyes off Scarlett.
"A blood witch."
Scarlett smiled.
"And your future executioner."
She whispered an ancient spell.
Black chains burst from the floor, wrapping around Lucien's arms and legs.
He struggled, but the chains only tightened.
"Lucien!" Dante shouted as he rushed forward.
Scarlett flicked her wrist.
Dante crashed into a wall, unconscious.
One by one, the remaining guards fell.
Within moments, only Lucien and Seraphina remained standing.
Scarlett slowly approached.
"You have your mother's eyes."
Seraphina frowned.
"You knew my mother?"
"I killed her."
Everything stopped.
The world seemed to freeze.
Seraphina's breathing became uneven.
"What... did you say?"
Scarlett smiled without remorse.
"I watched her beg for your life."
Tears filled Seraphina's eyes.
"You liar!"
"I also watched your father burn."
A surge of unbearable rage erupted inside Seraphina.
The crescent mark on her shoulder blazed with golden light.
The floor trembled.
Books flew from their shelves.
Every window in the mansion shattered at once.
Scarlett's smile disappeared.
"No..."
Golden flames surrounded Seraphina.
Her eyes changed from deep blue to brilliant gold.
Her hair danced in a wind that did not exist.
An ancient voice echoed through the room.
"The Queen has awakened."
Scarlett stepped backward in fear.
"It can't be..."
Lucien stared at Seraphina in stunned silence.
The legends were true.
The Crimson Queen had returned.
And with her awakening...
The greatest war the supernatural world had ever known had finally begun.
- Writer
