The Queen's Hidden Enemy

One year after the war...

The world had changed.

Blackwood was no longer a kingdom hidden from humanity.

Everdawn had opened its gates.

Werewolves, Guardians, witches, and humans had begun learning how to live together.

For the first time in centuries...

There was peace.

But peace never lasted forever.

Aria stood alone in the royal library.

Hundreds of ancient books surrounded her.

She had spent the entire morning reading reports from the different supernatural kingdoms.

Everything appeared peaceful.

Too peaceful.

She closed the final report.

Something didn't feel right.

The Crystal of Choice suddenly began glowing.

Aria looked down.

"What is it?"

The crystal pulsed once.

Then twice.

A thin crack appeared across its surface.

Aria's eyes widened.

"No..."

The crystal had never cracked before.

She reached for it.

The moment her fingers touched the surface...

A voice whispered inside her mind.

"Queen..."

Aria froze.

"Who are you?"

No answer.

Then the voice returned.

"He has awakened."

Aria's heart began racing.

"Who?"

The library doors suddenly opened.

Kael entered.

"Aria?"

She quickly closed her hand around the crystal.

Kael noticed her expression.

"What happened?"

Aria looked at him.

"The Crystal spoke to me."

His expression became serious.

"What did it say?"

"He has awakened."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

Before he could say anything...

A violent explosion shook the castle.

The windows shattered.

Aria and Kael turned toward the courtyard.

People were screaming.

Warriors rushed through the corridors.

Kael immediately drew his sword.

"Stay here."

Aria shook her head.

"I'm coming."

"Aria—"

"I'm Queen."

Kael sighed.

"I knew you'd say that."

They ran outside together.

Smoke covered the courtyard.

Several guards lay unconscious.

The royal banners had been torn down.

At the center of the courtyard stood a strange black object.

A stone.

It was covered in ancient writing.

Aria approached it carefully.

Kael grabbed her arm.

"Don't touch it."

"I recognize the symbol."

The stone carried the same black mark that had once appeared on Elara.

The Royal Shadow.

But Elara had been freed.

Aria stared at the symbol.

"This shouldn't exist."

A voice came from behind them.

"You're right."

They turned.

The First Guardian stood at the entrance.

His face was unusually pale.

"That symbol shouldn't exist anymore."

Aria looked at him.

"Then why is it here?"

The Guardian slowly approached the stone.

He touched one of the ancient markings.

His hand immediately began trembling.

"Because this isn't from the Hollow."

Kael frowned.

"Then where is it from?"

The Guardian looked toward the sky.

"The world before the First Age."

Aria's blood ran cold.

"Was there a world before the First Age?"

The Guardian nodded.

"And something survived it."

A deep rumble echoed beneath the castle.

The ground began shaking.

Cracks spread across the courtyard.

The black stone opened.

Inside was a small silver box.

Aria stared at it.

"What is that?"

The Guardian whispered:

"The first crown."

Kael looked at him.

"The first crown?"

The Guardian nodded.

"Older than the Queens."

"Older than the Guardians."

"Older than the Hollow."

Aria stepped closer.

"Who wore it?"

The Guardian looked directly at her.

"No one."

"Because its owner was never human."

Silence filled the courtyard.

Aria slowly reached toward the box.

Kael caught her hand.

"Wait."

But the box opened by itself.

Inside...

It was a black crown.

Different from the Crown of the New Age.

This one was smaller.

Older.

And covered in dried silver markings.

The moment Aria saw it...

The Crystal of Choice shattered completely.

Aria gasped.

A voice echoed across the courtyard.

"Finally."

The sky turned black.

Everyone looked upward.

A gigantic figure appeared among the clouds.

It had no face.

Only a pair of golden eyes.

The First Guardian stepped backward.

For the first time since Aria had known him...

He looked terrified.

"What is it?" Kael demanded.

The Guardian whispered:

"The First Enemy."

Aria looked at the black crown.

"Who?"

The Guardian stared at the sky.

"The one who existed..."

"...before the Queens."

The golden eyes opened wider.

And a voice shook the entire kingdom.

"I have come for my crown."

The voice shook the entire kingdom.

Windows shattered throughout the castle.

People screamed and ran into the streets.

Warriors rushed toward the courtyard, weapons drawn.

But Aria barely noticed them.

She was staring at the black crown.

It was humming.

Not loudly.

Almost like a heartbeat.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

The same rhythm she had felt beneath the Original Throne.

Kael stepped in front of her.

"Nobody touches that crown."

The First Guardian shook his head.

"Too late."

Kael turned.

"What do you mean?"

The Guardian pointed toward Aria.

"The crown has already recognized her."

A thin black line appeared across Aria's palm.

She gasped.

The mark spread toward her wrist.

Kael grabbed her hand.

"Aria!"

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not."

The black mark suddenly stopped.

A silver light pushed it back.

The Crown of the New Age on Aria's head began glowing.

The two crowns were reacting to each other.

The First Guardian's expression changed.

"The ancient crowns are choosing their owners."

Aria looked up.

"Then who owns the black one?"

The golden eyes in the sky narrowed.

"I do."

The clouds opened.

A figure descended.

At first, it looked like a shadow.

Then a body formed.

Tall.

Powerful.

Covered in ancient black armor.

Long silver hair fell over his shoulders.

His eyes burned gold.

When his feet touched the courtyard...

Every supernatural being felt the pressure of his presence.

Even Kael struggled to remain standing.

Aria's knees weakened.

The First Guardian dropped to one knee.

"Impossible."

The stranger looked at him.

"You remember me."

The Guardian's voice trembled.

"Azrael."

The stranger smiled.

"At last."

Aria stared.

"Who is Azrael?"

The Guardian slowly rose.

"Before the First Queen..."

"Before the Guardians..."

"Before the Hollow..."

"There was Azrael."

Azrael looked toward Aria.

"I was the first ruler of this world."

Aria frowned.

"But you said you never had a crown."

The Guardian shook his head.

"He did."

"The crown was destroyed."

Azrael laughed.

"No."

"It was hidden."

He looked toward the black crown. 

The figure watching from the highest tower remained completely still.

A black cloak covered his body.

Only his eyes were visible beneath the hood.

He watched Aria and the others disappear along the northern road.

Then he whispered:

"She survived."

A second figure appeared behind him.

"Should we stop her?"

The stranger shook his head.

"No."

"Let her go."

He turned toward the horizon.

"The Council of Seven will do what we need."

The second figure hesitated.

"And if they fail?"

The stranger smiled.

"Then I will deal with the Queen myself."

Far below...

Aria and Kael continued riding north.

The road stretched between enormous mountains.

For several hours, nobody spoke.

Finally, Ronan broke the silence.

"I don't trust this council."

Selene looked at him.

"You don't trust anyone."

"Exactly."

Kael laughed quietly.

Aria smiled.

But her smile disappeared when she noticed something ahead.

A group of riders stood across the road.

Seven people.

Each wore a different colored cloak.

The First Guardian immediately recognized them.

"The Council."

Aria slowed her horse.

The seven riders approached.

At their center was an elderly woman wearing a silver crown.

She looked directly at Aria.

"Queen Aria Bennett."

Aria dismounted.

"Who are you?"

The woman bowed.

"I am High Chancellor Eveline."

"I speak for the Council of Seven Kingdoms."

Aria looked at the six people behind her.

"What do you want?"

Eveline's expression became serious.

"We need your help."

"With what?"

The Chancellor looked toward the northern mountains.

"One of the Seven Kingdoms has disappeared."

Aria's heart tightened.

"Disappeared?"

"Completely."

"No survivors?"

Eveline shook her head.

"Not one."

Kael stepped forward.

"When?"

"Three nights ago."

The First Guardian frowned.

"Which kingdom?"

Eveline looked directly at Aria.

"Moonfall."

Aria froze.

Moonfall.

The same ancient kingdom Elyria's letter had warned them about.

The same place connected to the Second Gate.

She slowly turned toward Kael.

"This isn't a coincidence."

Kael nodded.

"I know."

Eveline handed Aria a small piece of black stone.

"This was found at the ruins."

Aria touched it.

Immediately, the silver mark on her palm began burning.

A vision flashed before her.

A ruined city.

Thousands of people running.

A black figure standing above them.

And a voice whispering:

"The Queen has awakened."

Aria pulled her hand away.

"What did you see?"

She looked at Eveline.

"The attack wasn't random."

"What was it?"

Aria looked toward the mountains.

"Someone was searching for something."

The First Guardian's face became pale.

"The Second Gate."

Aria nodded.

"And if I'm right..."

"The gate has already been opened."

The wind suddenly stopped.

A distant roar echoed across the mountains.

Everyone looked north.

Then the sky turned dark.

Seven black clouds appeared above the horizon.

One for each kingdom.

Eveline whispered:

"The Council..."

Aria raised her sword.

"We have to move."

Kael mounted his horse.

"Where?"

Aria stared toward Moonfall.

"To the Second Gate."

They rode north.

Behind them...

The mysterious figure on the tower watched until they disappeared.

Then he removed his hood.

His face was scarred.

His eyes were completely black.

He smiled.

"The Queen is going exactly where we wanted."

He looked toward the seven dark clouds.

"Now..."

"The real war can begin."

And far beneath the ruins of Moonfall Kingdom...

Something ancient opened its eyes.

A deep voice echoed through the darkness.

"Seraphina..."

"You have returned."