Crimson Oath Novels & Stories

***** Cassandra walks down the corridor heading for her quarters, the dark stone walls of the palace walls unsettling as they always have, as she turns the corner she comes face to face with Ophelia, a fellow witch and also the bane of her existence. Ophelia smiles, her fiery red hair framing her face, her green eyes gleaming an unusual colour in the dim corridor. Her cloak conceals her entire form. Ophelia is a gifted witch who, unlike her, has everything delivered to her door with a single snap of her pretty fingers. On the other hand, Cassandra has to work day and night to finally reach where she is today and be able to earn a spot in Lord Carlton elite soldiers. But what is unexpected fo

Lucian’s face darkened. “They found us.” ⸻ A shadow descended through the broken roof. Then another. Then dozens. Figures dressed in crimson armor landed upon the cathedral floor without making a sound. Unlike the Lost Keepers… Their armor bore no phoenix. Only a single crimson eye. Burning. Watching. ⸻ Cassian whispered one name. “The Crimson Covenant.” ⸻ Aurelius slowly closed his eyes. “I hoped they had vanished.” ⸻ Their leader stepped forward. A tall woman with flowing white hair.

“No. Let him hear it.” Lyra’s voice grew louder, carrying across the gathered pack. “When the Sundering came, when fire split the world, who stood unbroken? Not the elves, who betrayed their own. Not the vampires, who fed on the ashes. It was the wolves who endured. Our blood carried the oath to watch, to wait, to guard against fire’s return.” Kaelen stiffened. Her eyes gleamed, hungry and sharp. “So when I see you, fire-born, I do not see an exile. I see the breaking of that oath. I see a curse wrapped in flesh.”

If I refused, the blood oath would kill me instantly. Slowly, painfully, I lifted my head. My voice came out rough. “I…” The burning beneath my skin intensified again. “I, former Alpha of Blackridge Pack…” The words nearly destroyed me. “…accept this oath.” The crowd looked horrified. “I have no reason to reject Alpha Caldor’s authority.” The pain eased slightly. But my chest still felt like it was being crushed alive. “And I swear to keep the agreement.” The oath sealed completely. A sharp burning mark appeared across my arm instantly.

Yet they were completely human. At first, researchers believed they had discovered an evolutionary mutation. Years of study proved otherwise. Their blood contained microscopic structures no known human possessed. The structures behaved almost like living organisms. They communicated. Adapted. Protected their host. Every attempt to isolate them failed. Outside the body they quickly became dormant. Inside the body they transformed human physiology. The researchers gave the phenomenon a name. 'Crimson Blood.' Interest spread rapidly. Governments invested enormous resources. Private corporations offered unlimited funding. Military organizations saw opportunity.

"Enzo’s loyalists were attempting to verify their credentials. If I hadn't ordered a summary liquidation, your father’s desk terminal would have flagged the discrepancy before the Halon script could deploy." "A beautiful, necessary correction," she murmured, a dark, breathless admiration dancing in her tone. "The crown is heavy, isn't it, Dante? It forces you to write the text in blood so the fools don't read between the lines." "I am executing federal parameters, Isabella," Dante rasped, his jaw setting into a rigid line of carved stone as he tried to anchor his dissolving conscience to the mission parameters. "Every execution I authorize is a data point required to keep you clean until the

he began, "we require a vessel shielded against the Veil’s madness. The Obsidian Carriage is still intact. Its duskstone wards will keep the whispers out." "Good," I said. "That will suffice." He continued, unrolling the scroll further. "Upon arrival, the Crimson Court demands offerings. Sacrifices from allied clans—blood-tithes presented during the Opening Rites. It is a show of dominance." I clenched my jaw. "I won’t offer slaves like the others." Xalor’s expression remained calm. "Refusing will be seen as weakness, my Lord. They already call you the Hated Lord. Any sign of defiance will embolden them."

The room rang with the wolves' answering growl, low and unified. Relief and fatigue poured into Darian as his shoulders dropped. One by one, I watched the ceremony repeated. A woman with haunted eyes whispered her renunciation with trembling lips. A pair of brothers, still bruised, spoke with fierce conviction, their jaws clenched in determination. Even the youngest—the boy, none other than Caleb—lifted his chin and spoke the words, though his voice cracked halfway through. With each oath, their blood was added to the bowl. The water grew dark; it was no longer water but crimson-streaked, glowing unnaturally in the firelight.

“They forgot that we, humans or vampires were born from the same blood. And blood… cannot be tamed.” Selene drew a silver blade and nicked her palm. Her blood fell to the floor, the red flare like an oath. “If this is the only way to survive… then I, Selene Vahl, swear under the New Blood Pact.” Kael followed, letting his blood mix into the red pool. One by one, hesitant or furious, each person bled into the circle, forming a living ring that beat in time with Valenfort’s heart beyond the walls. Lucien placed his sword at the center. “From this night, beneath blood and shadow, we form The Crimson Pact, the New Blood Pact. Once our blood is joined, no Guild, no god, no one can divide us.”