A Vampire’s Vow
The sun dipped below the western hills as the group departed High Vernhart. Clarisse remained behind to assist her kingdom's reorganization, but her eyes lingered on Riven until he vanished beyond the palace gates.
The journey back to the Nightshade region was silent — until Selene Nightblood, the ever-cold vampire noble, finally broke it.
"Riven," she said, her red eyes gleaming under the moonlight, "there's something I must do. Alone. But I want you there when it happens."
Riven didn't reply immediately. He simply nodded.
Kaela grunted. "Tch. What now, blood princess? Another family drama?"
Selene's expression didn't waver. "If by drama you mean avenging the massacre of my coven and reclaiming the Nightblood seat, then yes. Very dramatic."
---
They arrived at Crimson Hollow, a forgotten estate buried deep within the dark woods — a place the moonlight itself seemed to avoid. The shattered gates bore the Nightblood crest, half-buried in ash.
"This was my home," Selene whispered. "Until the Blood Council branded my family traitors and burned everything down."
Ylira looked around with sympathy. "It still carries traces of ancient wards… and sorrow."
Selene turned to Riven. "Help me take it back. But do not interfere. I need to show them I am no longer the fledgling they exiled."
Riven nodded. "We'll watch your back. But the front is yours."
---
That night, the Blood Council gathered at the ruins — lured by a forged summons bearing the ancient sigil of House Nightblood.
Seven vampires appeared in regal robes, each one radiating old power. Their leader, Lord Vaekros, sneered when Selene stepped into the moonlight.
"Selene Nightblood. The shame of the bloodline. Come to kneel and beg forgiveness?"
She bared her fangs. "No. I've come to claim what's mine."
Vaekros chuckled darkly. "You have no claim. You were spared only because of your mother's blood pact. You're a mongrel—"
Before he could finish, a wave of blood magic exploded from Selene's palm. Runes flared in the ground beneath her, reshaping the earth into a seal of ancient power.
"You took everything from me," Selene hissed. "Now I take back my name."
The duel was fierce.
Selene clashed with Vaekros in a flurry of red lightning, blood constructs, and aerial strikes. Her movements were swift, graceful — but laced with unrelenting fury.
From the nearby ridge, Riven, Lyra, and Aeris watched the spectacle unfold.
"She's holding back," Aeris said softly.
"No," Riven replied, eyes focused. "She's shedding the past. Every strike is a piece of herself breaking free."
---
At the battle's climax, Vaekros summoned a massive blood golem to crush Selene — but she tore through it with a final incantation whispered in the forbidden tongue of her ancestors.
"From blood we rise, and to blood you return."
With that, her crimson scythe cleaved through the elder's chest. Vaekros crumbled into mist.
The other council members bowed. Not out of fear — but reverence.
"Selene Nightblood," one of them murmured, "Queen of Crimson Hollow."
---
Later, in the rebuilt throne chamber, Selene sat on a seat once denied her. She turned to Riven as he entered alone.
"Why did you let me face them alone?"
"You needed to know you could."
Selene stood and walked to him. "And I did. Because you believed in me… more than I believed in myself."
She reached out, fingers brushing the edge of his mask.
"I still don't know what you're hiding under there. But if the world fears me, I want it to fear the man I stand beside even more."
"Do you trust me now?" Riven asked.
"I didn't come all this way for vengeance," she said, voice softer now. "I came to become worthy of standing at your side."
She leaned closer, crimson eyes glowing.
"And now, I vow this: my blood is yours. My power is yours. My heart, even if it's cold… beats only for you."
Riven didn't speak. He didn't need to.
His silence was its own answer.
Outside, the broken gates of Crimson Hollow repaired themselves, piece by piece.
And inside, a vampire queen took her place — not behind Riven, but beside him.
Their tale had only begun.