The Silent Castle

The scream echoed through Ravenfall.

Aurora froze.

Every instinct inside her told her to run.

But there was nowhere to go.

The massive gates had slammed shut behind them, sealing them inside the vampire kingdom.

Lucien stood perfectly still.

His crimson eyes scanned the dark castle.

“Stay close to me.”

Kael stepped beside Aurora.

“Or me.”

Lucien glanced at him.

“This isn’t the time.”

Kael’s jaw tightened.

“For once, I agree.”

Aurora looked between them.

“Can you two save the arguing for after we figure out who’s screaming?”

Neither answered.

They moved forward.

The castle courtyard was enormous, surrounded by black stone towers and statues of ancient vampire kings. Yet there wasn’t a single guard in sight.

No servants.

No nobles.

No movement.

Only silence.

Aurora shivered.

“Where is everyone?”

Lucien’s expression was grim.

“Ravenfall should never be this quiet.”

They reached the entrance.

The massive doors opened by themselves.

Aurora immediately grabbed Lucien’s arm.

“Was that supposed to happen?”

“No.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

“Definitely not.”

Inside, the grand hall was dimly lit.

Dozens of candles burned along the walls.

At the far end stood the vampire throne.

Empty.

Lucien stopped.

His face changed.

“What?”

Aurora followed his gaze.

Blood covered the throne.

Fresh blood.

Kael moved closer.

“Is that—”

“Vampire blood,” Lucien said.

Aurora’s stomach twisted.

“Whose?”

Lucien didn’t answer.

Instead, he walked toward the throne.

He touched the blood with two fingers.

His expression darkened.

“My council.”

Kael looked around.

“How many?”

“Twenty-three.”

Aurora stared at him.

“Twenty-three vampires?”

Lucien nodded.

“Every member of my ruling council.”

Aurora’s heart sank.

“Then whoever did this…”

“Was powerful enough to enter my castle, kill my council, and leave without being detected.”

A voice came from the shadows.

“Not quite.”

Everyone turned.

A young vampire stepped into the candlelight.

He was dressed in dark armor, his face pale and his eyes nearly black.

Lucien’s expression hardened.

“Damien.”

The vampire bowed.

“My king.”

“Where were you?”

Damien looked toward the blood-covered throne.

“Trying to survive.”

Kael stepped forward.

“Explain.”

Damien’s eyes moved to him.

“The attack happened less than an hour ago.”

Aurora frowned.

“Who attacked?”

Damien hesitated.

“Vampires.”

Lucien’s eyes narrowed.

“Whose vampires?”

Damien looked directly at Aurora.

“Yours.”

Aurora’s heart stopped.

“What?”

Damien pointed toward her.

“The moment your bond awakened, every vampire in Ravenfall felt it.”

He swallowed.

“Some believe you’re the key to restoring the old vampire empire.”

“And others?”

“They believe you’re a threat.”

Lucien’s expression became dangerously calm.

“Who started the attack?”

Damien lowered his voice.

“Your brother.”

Silence.

Aurora looked at Lucien.

“You have a brother?”

Lucien’s jaw tightened.

“I did.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

“Did?”

Lucien stared at the empty throne.

“His name was Adrian.”

Aurora sensed something in Lucien’s voice.

Pain.

Real pain.

“What happened to him?”

“He died six hundred years ago.”

Damien shook his head.

“No.”

Everyone turned toward him.

Damien’s voice trembled.

“He’s alive.”

Lucien’s face went completely still.

“That’s impossible.”

“He returned tonight.”

A cold silence filled the hall.

Aurora felt the Moonstone beneath her clothes begin to heat.

Damien noticed.

His eyes widened.

“That’s why he came.”

Aurora whispered,

“Why?”

Damien looked terrified.

“Because Adrian isn’t the one controlling the vampires.”

He looked toward the dark staircase.

“Something else is.”

A low growl echoed from above.

Kael’s body tensed.

Lucien drew his sword.

Aurora lifted the Blade of Selene.

The candles suddenly went out.

One by one.

Darkness swallowed the hall.

Then a man’s voice drifted down the staircase.

“Brother…”

Lucien froze.

The voice continued.

“I’ve been waiting six hundred years to come home.”

Two crimson eyes appeared in the darkness.

Aurora felt the bond between herself, Lucien, and Kael flare violently.

And then the stranger stepped into the moonlight.

He looked almost exactly like Lucien.

Except his eyes were darker.

His smile was colder.

And behind him stood an army of vampires.

Adrian smiled.

“Welcome home, brother.”