Bloodlight: Refrain Novels & Stories

“You’ll know them soon. But first, you must choose. If you accept what you are—what your blood truly holds—you will not be safe. You will not be normal. But you will be powerful. Enough to shatter kingdoms.” A wind rose, scattering leaves across the stones. Eiran stepped back into the shadows. “Wait!” she called. “How do I find you again?” He smiled. “When the moon bleeds. When the sky cracks. I’ll return.” And then he was gone. --- Aria returned to the fortress just before dawn, her cloak heavy with dew, her mind aflame with revelations. She didn’t sleep. She didn’t rest. Instead, she knelt in the center of her chambers, drew a blade across her palm, and let the blood drip onto the stone.

Darius then said, “We’ll be back soon.” Kael nodded. “All right.” Serafina and Darius began descending the stairs. The stone door slowly closed behind them. Darkness immediately engulfed them. But a few seconds later, a silvery light emerged from Serafina’s hand, enough to illuminate the path. Darius looked at her. “Moon Blood.” Serafina nodded. “It seems my body knows this path.”

“Even the moon bends.” --- The Eclipse Cracks Overhead, the blood eclipse shuddered. Silver fractures streaked across the crimson sky, as though the heavens themselves were breaking under the strain. Each crack sent a pulse through Serena’s body, filling her veins with molten shadow. She staggered, gasping as power surged in uncontrollable waves. The chanting of the Elders faltered. Selene’s pale face blanched. “No. This isn’t possible.” Lucian’s amber eyes burned brighter, his grin feral. “Do you see, little wolf? Even their gods kneel for you.”

A blizzard made of wailing voices, broken spirits, and cracked time. Seraphina raised her staff. “Back, damn you!” Cassian held tight to the relic, his small frame glowing faintly. He screamed, not in fear—but in fury. The spirits obeyed. And the storm… paused. Seraphina stared. “He’s more than we know.” ⸻ VI. The Blood Mirror Cracks That night, far away, in Valeria’s dark sanctuary, the mirror forged from her father’s bones splintered. The Hollow King growled, “They gather the shards.”

Shirer began to chant in the old religion, her voice rising and falling in a hypnotic cadence: "Sanguis, sanguis, vita mea Voco te, numina, ad me veni Protego te, Ava, ab tenebris Et ab omni malo, quod te circumdat" (Translation: "Blood, blood, my life I call upon you, divine power, come to me I protect you, Ava, from the darkness And from all evil that surrounds you As Shirer chanted, the air around us began to shimmer. A soft, pulsing light emanated from her hands, enveloping Ava's trembling form. The shape-shifter let out a deafening screech, its form dissipating into nothingness.

“I disabled two last night. Maybe I’ll find more tonight.” The room seemed to hold its breath. The air thickened, stretched thin like glass about to crack. His expression didn’t change, but something dangerous coiled in his stillness. Then, slowly, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. His voice was low, steady, the kind of quiet that demanded attention. “Every time you disable one, I’ll replace it. And every time you test me, Isabella…” His gaze pinned me in place, blue eyes sharp enough to cut through bone. “You’ll learn what happens to people who play games in my house.”

Malachi, struggling against his chains, shouted, "It's trying to sever our connection, to isolate us!" Liora, her form flickering against the force of the chains, cried, "Stay united! Remember our bond! It's stronger than any darkness!" As the chains tightened, drawing the guardians closer to the abyss, Elysia's glow became almost blinding. The melody she hummed reached a crescendo, culminating in a singular, powerful note that echoed throughout the Dreamweaver. And just as suddenly, everything went still.

I was desperate obviously. He looked me over almost in contemplation then shifted his eyes back ahead staring at the wall. So he had more restraint than the other one who bit me, Malachi. “Come on. There must be something you want from me.” I wasn’t so good at being seductive or whatever, but all I needed was my hands freed. If he thought he was going to touch me in that way, I’d fry him like a piece of chicken. “She’ll never have to know. No one will. My blood can do things you’ve never dreamed of. Ask Malachi.”

“The blood of the original cannot be allowed to rise again.” “Sleep, and forget...” Seraphine’s knees buckled. She collapsed onto the stone floor—eyes wide, glowing faintly for a heartbeat before fading.

“You think you’re the only one?” “You wound me, Delia,” Gray chuckles. She slaps his arm playfully, letting him know it's time to get serious. He straightens up, as all signs of amusement snap from his face in a split second and holds still while she goes to work on the chain in his hands. She places both of her hands a few inches above the metal and whispers some incantation until a low blue glow can be seen from underneath her palms. When the glow fades she moves her warm copper brown hands and sighs.