Alina In the golden and red hues of the twilight, the Constantium looked like a magnificent giant with its high towers and angel statues. The mountain now had an opening. Its doors which were in the shape of a cave were open for the ceremony.Athena, now in a gorgeous ankle length lavender lace dress encrusted with diamonds and paired up with sapphire drop earrings, came to stand on my right while Selene, in an ankle length maroon dress with full sleeves and diamond embroidery, stood on my left. The queen wore a floor-length red dress with golden embroidery along with her crown and gold earrings. Another girl who looked like a female version of Erick, only smaller, stood next to her with a green embroidered dress. That must be Susan, Erick’s second elder sister. In fact, everyone around me was glittering in some of the best designer dresses I had ever laid eyes on. I couldn’t even get started on Miaka. She wor

Miaka It was three hours after Erick and his new bride teleported out that I heard it— the distinctive noise of an unknown footstep in the hallway.My senses were growing more acute with each passing day. Soon enough, I would be able to blend into the shadows so perfectly that I won’t cause any sound. Soon, I would be as still as the darkness itself. I was beginning to grow faster than anyone had expected. Today, it was that underdeveloped ability that caused me to slow down several times as I followed the intruder.Almost everyone had gone to bed, except for a few who stayed behind at the bar or were simply strolling around the castle grounds. Their footsteps were continuous enough that I’d made out their pattern. Well, it was that or counting imaginary sheep jumping over my bed. But this one was new. It sounded like whoever it was had a purpose, but I couldn’t really tell. So I followed be

Erick “Where is he?” I barged into the throne room without knocking, Kendrick in tow. My father was in the midst of a conversation with his general, Vishal.“In the dungeons. We were just heading there for the questioning,” Father spoke in an even tone, but I knew he was seething inside. Emiel and his goons had taken out ten of our finest guards.“The soldiers?” Kendrick asked Vishal.“Disabled,” was Vishal’s curt reply. “They were of little use after the possession faded. We plan on sacrificing them to our Lord tonight.”Sacrificing to the Lord meant they would be slain in the Constantium. Their blood will be offered to Hades as an offering. That was a good idea. They were no better than rotting vegetables now that they had been possessed. Weaker vampires couldn’t handle possession by an Ancient, but a strong vampire like Emiel was a whole differ

Erick “Why didn’t you warn me before, damn it! Why didn’t you tell me?” The table in front of me cracked in the middle, its contents falling to the floor. Glass shattered to a million multi-coloured pieces.“That’s because you have this vexatious anger with anything that has to do with Emiel that blinds you to the truth. You just don’t listen to any other recourse!” This was the first time Ken had ever raised his voice at me, but I was too blinded by anger to care.“He took Alina, Kendrick!” I gritted out. “My bond to her is gone. It just shut down, and I have no other way of contacting her. She might be hurt, Ken! Why didn’t you warn me the second that piece of trash uttered a single word?”“Are you even listening to yourself, Erick? That piece of trash is your brother, and he risked his own life to try to warn me!” Ken snapped back. &

Erick “Arctic Blade?”Mother sounded just as surprised as Father. “I haven’t heard of any such blade, son. I’ve already asked the elder historian, but he doesn’t have any idea what it could be.”Both my parents had no clue about the existence of the Arctic Blade, and neither did Emiel. This led me to the only option I had left: the Dark Council that was out of my reach as of now. Which was appropriate since the Ancient itself was a mage of unparalleled power.“No,” Ken answered, “I don’t know of any such blade, but the Chrone might.”“Ken, Merida hates me,” I said, referring to Ken’s grandmother, the elder of his coven of mages. “She’s always been against you becoming a part of the Vampire Royal Guard.” Ken, however, was no longer a guard. He commanded the Royal Guard itself, but Merida Blackbur