Celestial_entity_

As humans, animals, and even the Earth itself begin to mutate and gain consciousness, a hidden conspiracy unravels, revealing Aurelia’s true origins and the dark forces manipulating the New Age. Alongside Lucian, a vampire with a mysterious lineage, and a cast of allies and enemies, Aurelia must navigate a world where nothing is as it seems. But as the planet awakens, so do the true villains—those who hide behind masks of virtue, their intentions far more sinister than anyone could imagine.

P.S The cover is not mine :)

The Vampire's Obsession

The air grew thick with the scent of ozone and damp earth as the rift pulsed violently, its edges writhing like living tissue. Shadows pooled at its center, coalescing into a familiar silhouette—tall, regal, and radiating malice.

The Original stepped forward, her form now perfectly mirroring Aurelia's, though twisted by corruption. Where Aurelia's skin glowed with golden warmth, hers was marble-pale, veined with black. Where Aurelia's hair shimmered with sunlight, hers flowed like liquid shadow. Their eyes met—gold against endless void—and the battlefield seemed to hold its breath.

"You look well, little thief," the Original purred, tilting her head. "All that stolen power suits you."

Aurelia didn't flinch. The roots at her feet coiled tighter, drinking from the earth's energy. "I took nothing that wasn't already mine."

Behind them, Kael staggered upright, his hand pressed to his scar. The absence of the shard left him feeling hollow, but something else pulsed in its place—a whisper of Aurelia's light, lingering in his veins. Lucian moved to block Eryx's path, his sword humming with barely restrained power.

The Original's laughter was a blade against stone. "Still clinging to these mortals? How quaint." She flicked her wrist, and the shadows at her feet surged forward like hunting hounds.

Aurelia reacted instantly. Golden vines erupted from the soil, intercepting the darkness mid-lunge. The two forces collided with a sound like shattering glass, sending shockwaves through the ruined earth.

Kael gasped as the ground bucked beneath him. His vision swam with fragmented images—

—Aurelia standing alone against an army of shadows—

—Lucian's sword buried in the Original's chest—

—Himself, wreathed in golden fire, reaching for something just beyond grasp—

The vision shattered as Eryx lunged past Lucian, his fingers elongating into black talons aimed at Kael's throat. Lucian's blade intercepted with a shower of sparks, the brothers locked in a deadly dance.

"You always were sentimental," Eryx hissed, his breath reeking of decay. "Wasting your strength on weaklings."

Lucian bared his fangs. "And you always talked too much."

Their blades clashed again, the force sending cracks spiderwebbing through the earth beneath their feet.

Meanwhile, the Original advanced on Aurelia, her every step making the light dim. "Let's end this," she murmured. "No more games."

Aurelia felt the world narrow to this moment—to the pulse of the earth beneath her, to the warmth of Kael's lingering presence at her back, to the steady rhythm of Lucian's fighting stance to her left. The roots around her ankles tightened their grip, feeding her strength.

"You're right," Aurelia agreed softly. Then she moved.

Golden light exploded outward as she slammed her palm against the Original's chest. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through both their forms—Aurelia's glow flickering violently, the Original's shadows unraveling at the edges.

For one suspended heartbeat, they were motionless—a perfect mirror of light and dark.

Chapter 90: The Original's Return