It’s been four days since I arrived at the Vampire Palace, four days since Chaos found me bleeding and broken in the Forest of Trolls. Four days since I began living a double life—pretending to be an ordinary rogue while hiding the truth of who I really am.
The palace is beautiful, in a haunting, otherworldly way. Its spires pierce the blood-red sky like jagged teeth, and the air smells of iron and roses, a constant reminder that I don’t belong here. But I can’t leave. Not yet. Not until I uncover the truth about the Vampire Kingdom and what happened during the war. Not until I recover the Mirror of No Lies and prove to everyone—to myself—that I’m more than just a rogue.
I stood on the balcony, my fingers gripping the cold stone railing as I stared out at the moonlit forest. The wind tugged at my hair, the red strands a stark reminder of the transformation I had undergone. I wasn’t the same omega who had been betrayed and broken. I am stronger now. Smarter. But the scars of my past still lingered, a constant ache in my chest.
“Focus,” I told myself, clenching my fists. “You’re here for a reason. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment.”
But it was hard to focus when the memories of my past kept creeping in, unbidden and unwelcome.
__
Flashback: Few Months Ago
The cell was dark, the air thick with the stench of blood and decay. I lay on the cold stone floor, my body broken, my spirit shattered. The pain was unbearable, but it was nothing compared to the betrayal that had brought me here.
“Aroa,” a voice whispered, soft and familiar.
I tried to open my eyes, but they were swollen shut. I tried to speak, but my voice box had been crushed. All I could do was listen as Alaric, the man I had loved, the man I had trusted, spoke the words that would destroy me.
“They found wolfsbane in your room,” he said, his voice trembling. “Those are enough to incriminate you.”
What is he talking about? Isn’t he here to save me?
“I am sorry Aroa, but they decided to kill your wolf demon.”
Kill my wolf demon…
“If I don’t obey, they will kill you instead.”
Why would you want to kill my wolf demon?
I wanted to scream. I’m innocent. I would never hurt her.
Didn’t you believe me?
Alaric?
But the words never came. Instead, I felt the cold blade of a knife pierce my chest, the pain searing through me as Alaric killed my wolf demon—the very essence of who I was.
“I promise you, Aroa,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’ll save you. Just bear it until I receive my title. I promise.”
But his promises meant nothing now. He had betrayed me, just like everyone else.
__
Present Day
I shuddered, pulling myself back to the present. The scars of my past were still fresh, a constant reminder of the pain I had endured. But I wasn’t that broken omega anymore. I had been reborn in the river of hellfire, my body transformed, my spirit hardened. I am stronger now. Smarter. And I would not let anyone—not Alaric, not Ruse or Veltra, not even Chaos—stand in my way.
“You’re brooding again,” a voice drawled from the shadows.
I turned to see Chaos leaning against the doorway, his black eyes glinting in the moonlight. He stepped onto the balcony, his movements graceful and predatory, like a wolf stalking its prey.
“I’m not brooding,” I said, though the lie tasted bitter on my tongue. “I’m thinking.”
“About what?” he asked, tilting his head. “You’ve been here for days, yet you barely speak to anyone. You don’t eat. You don’t sleep. What are you hiding, little wolf?”
My pulse quickened, but I met his gaze without flinching. “I’m not hiding anything. I’m just not used to… all this.” I gestured to the opulent hall, the gilded walls, the towering windows that overlooked the moonlit forest.
Chaos chuckled, a low, velvety sound that sent shivers down my spine. “You’re a terrible liar, you know that?”
I stiffened, my mind racing. “Does he know? Has he figured me out?” But his expression gave nothing away, and I forced myself to relax.
“I’m not lying,” I said, though the words felt heavy on my tongue. “I’m just… out of my element.”
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “And yet, you don’t seem like the type to be intimidated by a little luxury. So, what’s really going on?”
I hesitated, my thoughts swirling. I couldn’t tell him the truth—not about the mirror, not about Selena, not about the prophecy. But I also couldn’t afford to push him away. Not when he might hold the key to uncovering the truth about the Vampire Kingdom.
“I’m here because I have questions,” I said carefully. “About the war. About what happened to your kingdom.”
Chaos’s smirk faded, replaced by a flicker of something darker. “The war,” he repeated, his voice low. “That’s a dangerous topic, little wolf. Why do you care?”
I held his gaze, my heart pounding. “Because the past has a way of shaping the future. And if I’m going to survive in this world, I need to understand it.”
For a moment, he studied me, his pitch black eyes piercing. Then he smiled again, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you? Very well. I’ll indulge your curiosity—for now. But be careful, Aroa. Some truths are better left buried.”
As he turned to leave, I felt a surge of frustration. “He knows something,” I thought. “Something about the war. About the Vampire Kingdom. And I’ll find out what it is, no matter what it takes.”
But as I watched him disappear into the shadows, another thought crept into my mind. “What if he finds out the truth about me? What if he discovers I’m not just a rogue, but the daughter of Selena? Will he still help me? Or will he see me as a threat?”
The questions lingered, unanswered, as I turned back to the window. The moon hung high in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows across the forest. Somewhere out there, the Mirror of No Lies was waiting. And so was the truth.
Comments
Post a Comment