Chapter 6: The Vampire Queen’s Wrath

The peace of the sanctuary was shattered in an instant.

The night was quiet, serene even, as Aria stood by the edge of the lake, her reflection rippling in the moonlit water. She had spent hours replaying Lucian’s words, questioning everything she thought she knew. But that fragile moment of introspection was ripped away by the sudden, blood-curdling scream echoing from the village.

Aria spun on her heel, her hand instinctively reaching for her blade. Smoke rose in the distance, black tendrils curling into the air. The peaceful village she had just begun to accept as real was now alive with chaos—shouts, snarls, and the unmistakable sound of battle.

Lucian appeared beside her, his expression dark and unyielding. “Evangeline,” he said, the name a low growl of fury.

Before Aria could ask, he was already moving, a blur of speed heading toward the village.

“Damn it,” she muttered, breaking into a run to follow.

---

The sanctuary was unrecognizable. Homes burned, their flames licking hungrily at the sky. Bodies littered the streets—human and vampire alike. The scent of blood was thick in the air, and the once-harmonious village was now a battlefield.

In the heart of the chaos stood Evangeline.

Her presence was impossible to ignore. She was breathtaking and terrifying, her crimson gown flowing like liquid fire as she moved through the carnage. Her eyes glowed with malevolent delight, her lips curved into a cruel smile as she watched the destruction unfold.

“Lucian,” she called, her voice like silk laced with venom. “You’ve been hiding from me for far too long.”

Lucian appeared before her, his silver eyes blazing with fury. “This ends now, Evangeline. Leave them out of this.”

She laughed, a sound that sent shivers down Aria’s spine. “Oh, my dear Blood King, you know that’s not how this works. They’re simply collateral damage. It’s you I want.”

Lucian didn’t hesitate. He lunged at her, their clash sending a shockwave through the air. The sheer power radiating from them was unlike anything Aria had ever seen.

But Evangeline wasn’t alone. Her forces, a horde of feral vampires, surged forward, descending upon the villagers like a wave of death.

Aria didn’t think—she acted.

Her blade flashed in the moonlight as she threw herself into the fray. Her movements were precise, honed by years of training. She took down one vampire after another, her anger fueling her strength. For the first time, she wasn’t just fighting for survival—she was fighting for these people, for this fragile sanctuary that had shown her a different side of the world.

---

As the battle raged on, Aria found herself side by side with Lucian. Their movements were synchronized, an unspoken understanding between them as they fought to protect the village.

“Behind you!” she shouted, driving her blade through a vampire lunging at Lucian.

He spared her a glance, a flicker of something like respect crossing his face. “Not bad, hunter.”

“Don’t get used to it,” she shot back, taking down another foe.

But the tide of enemies seemed endless. For every vampire they killed, two more took its place.

---

Evangeline watched from the center of the chaos, her gaze locked on Lucian. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a blast of energy hurtling toward him. Lucian barely managed to deflect it, the force of the impact sending him skidding backward.

“Enough of these games,” Evangeline hissed, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade. “You know why I’m here, Lucian. Give me the Crimson Heart, and I might spare what’s left of your precious sanctuary.”

Lucian’s jaw tightened. “You’ll never have it.”

Evangeline smirked, her eyes narrowing. “Then watch them all burn.”

---

Aria’s breath caught at the mention of the Crimson Heart. The name stirred something deep within her, a flicker of recognition she couldn’t place. And then she felt it—a faint warmth on her skin.

She glanced down to see her birthmark glowing softly, the same way it had under the Blood Moon. Panic and confusion gripped her as she stumbled backward, her heart racing.

Lucian noticed immediately, his gaze snapping to her. “Aria,” he called, his voice urgent.

Evangeline’s eyes followed his, landing on Aria. Her smile widened, a sinister delight spreading across her face. “Well, well,” she purred. “This just got interesting.”

---

Lucian moved in an instant, positioning himself between Aria and Evangeline. “Don’t touch her,” he snarled, his voice laced with a threat.

Evangeline laughed. “Oh, I don’t need to. It seems the prophecy has already begun to unfold.” She stepped back, her gaze lingering on Aria. “Enjoy your little victory, Blood King. It won’t last.”

With a wave of her hand, she summoned her forces to retreat. The remaining vampires disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind a village in ruins.

---

As the dust settled, Aria stood in the middle of the destruction, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The glowing on her skin had faded, but the questions it left behind burned brighter than ever.

“What was that?” she demanded, turning to Lucian. “What does she mean, the prophecy?”

Lucian’s expression was grim. “It’s complicated.”

“Try me.”

He hesitated, then sighed. “The Crimson Heart is a source of immense power, tied to an ancient prophecy. It’s said to unite or destroy our two races. And it’s connected to you, Aria. Your birthmark… it’s the key.”

Aria staggered back, her mind reeling. “That’s impossible.”

“Nothing about this is impossible anymore,” Lucian said, his voice quiet but firm.

As the moonlight bathed the ruined village, Aria realized her life had changed irrevocably. The truth was out there, lurking in the shadows—and she wasn’t sure she wanted to find it.