Bloodlight: Refrain Novels & Stories

This is me. I look down at my hands. A black, swollen web of veins crawls up my arms and neck. My eyes and my throat burn as I bleed from them. I stand up and the inferno grows. The shadows scream and shriek. The spirits that follow me soon echo the Darkness. Alora. Alora. Alora. Iphigenia. Iphigenia. Iphigenia. "Alora!" Hendrick makes the fatal mistake of catching my attention, "Stop!"

The world felt like it was unraveling at the seams. The rift behind Draven twisted and writhed, birthing a monstrous shadow that stretched across the sky, claws of darkness clawing toward reality. Draven’s triumphant grin melted into panic as the beast, summoned by his recklessness, snarled—a sound that resonated through my bones. He had lost control. Elias staggered to his feet beside me, blood dripping from a gash along his temple. "We need to shut that rift, Seraphina—now."

The words continue to flow from the robed figures, their power growing with each word spoken. “Unbind the chains that darkness wove, Release the soul, let life be whole.” they roar as I glance at them all the moon and wonder if that is it? Did it work? The candles flicker and die out as I exhale sharply, my heart racing with anticipation and fear. Finally, it is over. But then, a new voice cuts through the air like a blade. “CALYX her blood isn’t pure. Where is her wolf?” I hear either Tobin or Ataz roar. I frown, unsure how they can even tell? Confused, I look down at the pool of blood on the ground and see that it has transformed from a deep red to a sickly black. It bubbles and hisses at

Reality cracked. Five. We fell. Through the air. Through light. Through time itself. I hit a platform, bones snapping. My reflection landed beside me, perfectly intact. “You never win,” she whispered. “You just start over.” I spat blood, forcing myself up. “Then let’s make this the last start.” Elias’s voice rang out from below: “Now, Seraphina! Do it now!” He and Nyra had linked their powers, runes blazing across the floor, forming a circle of burning silver. The air pulsed—synchronizing with the pendulum’s rhythm. They were channeling everything they had.

Even if he’s trying to block each, I know it’s just about time before he gets hit somewhere. “I love your feisty attitude, Ophelia, but I don’t think I like this game anymore,” he said angrily and started his own attacks. But with the fire shield protecting my body, none of his attacks could went through it. I’ve done the forbidden formation and achieved the highest level of my power. “I’m not playing with you, and I don’t have plans to. You know what I’m trying to do?” I lifted a finger and ten blazing swords appeared in the air. “Make this place your graveyard.”

“This… love shit? Pathetic.” “Pathetic?” I spit, blood on my lips, standing slow, shadows surging, fed by Raymond’s light. “He’s… he’s stronger than you’ll ever be.” The bond flares, Raymond’s blood on my hands glowing, light mixing with my shadows, burning hot, waking my Seraphin half all the way. My eyes sting, power rushing through, like fire and ice smashing together. I lunge, shadows and light hitting Calix’s blade, cracking it loud, glow fading as he screams, stumbling back, relic chunk dropping.

I plead, come back… But the darkness of my vampire nature is too strong, rearing its head for the first time in a century. It refuses to let go, sinking its claws deeper, pushing me to the edge. Liliana’s heart begins to slow, her participation fading. She’s slipping further, the life in her dimming. Panic claws at my chest, desperation surging as I gather the last remnants of my will. With a final, gut-wrenching scream from the depths of my soul, I tear myself away from her.

Eden snarls, slamming his fists into the bridge. The teeth tighten. Blood drips into the void. The figure's voice returns, colder. ***YOUR DEFIANCE IS A NOTE WE WILL SAVOR.*** Eden's scars rupture. The melody becomes a scream, tearing through the bridge. The teeth shatter, dropping me into Eden's arms. He collapses, the black fluid now pooling around him like a second shadow. The figure steps forward, runes blazing. ***YOU HAVE SPOILED THE MEAL. NOW YOU WILL REPLACE IT.***

Every shadow in his eyes. And then she turned back to the heart. The cavern trembled. The veins of silver light flickered. The heart cracked wider. The moon above turned fully crimson. The Bloodmoon had reached its peak. The forest screamed in pain. The bond unraveled. Lyla raised her left hand. The crescent-shaped scar blazed white. Her claws ignited with silver fire. The forest whispered. "The guardian bleeds. The heart endures." She didn’t hesitate. She plunged her claws into her chest.

On it: a shallow basin, empty now, stained dark with centuries of spilled blood. Seraphine appeared beside the basin, fading, translucent. “Speak the vow,” she said. “Blood of the bridge. Tear of the betrayed. Kiss of life. Seal it here, where it began.” Elara drew the fang again, held it high. “I, Elara Thorne-Blackthorn, bridge of the split packs, bleed willingly,” she said, voice ringing off the walls. She sliced deeper, blood flowing freely now, letting it drip into the basin. Silver droplets hissed on contact, steam rising like spirits released.