Lyla

Lyla POV:

The grand hall of Vampriya's castle, usually a vision of dark elegance, was now the epicenter of pandemonium. The air, once heavy with the scent of ancient mystique, was now laced with tension and fear. As Noah led me towards the ceremony, my mind was a whirlpool of apprehension and dread.

"Noah, are you sure about this?" My voice was barely audible over the growing murmurs of the crowd.

His grip on my arm was unyielding, his eyes fixed ahead with an unsettling determination.

"Everything is under control, Lyla," he reassured me, though his voice lacked its usual confidence.

Suddenly, the ground shook violently. Explosions, one after another, reverberated through the castle's walls. The crowd erupted into screams and chaos. The vampires, creatures of power and composure, were now scrambling for safety, their immortal facades shattered. Noah's face contorted with rage and confusion.

"Vincent!" he shouted over the cacophony, "Take her away, now!"

Vincent, the enigmatic second p