Chapter 20: Blinded by Rage
The door banged shut, the force of it so violent that, had it not been reinforced by magic, it would have shattered into pieces. Calista stood at the center of her private chamber, her chest heaving with fury, eyes wild with an anger so intense it could scorch the very air around her. She barely even noticed the sharp sting in her palms as she dug her nails into the sides of her arms.
Her heart thundered as her rage boiled over—rage at Lena, at the Night King, at everything that was slipping out of her control. The anger coursing through her veins wasn't just a product of her emotions. No, it was *enhanced*.
With a tremble, Calista reached for the vial resting on her vanity, a dark, crimson liquid swirling inside. She hadn't intended to take it, but when her emotions reached this level of intensity, the need for the venom was undeniable.
The omega vampire's blood—rare and potent—wasn't something to be taken lightly. The blood of an omega could fuel a vampire's strength, amplify their emotions, and even heighten their abilities. It wasn't meant to be consumed recklessly, but Calista didn't care.
She uncorked the vial, her fingers shaking as she brought it to her lips. The liquid burned down her throat, spreading heat through her entire body, suffusing every inch of her with a powerful, intoxicating rush. The venom flooded her senses, and suddenly, her hatred felt… sharper. More focused.
Her blood boiled, as if every vein in her body was on fire, pumping nothing but rage.
She didn't care about the consequences anymore. Lena had embarrassed her. The Night King had ignored her. Tonight should've been *her* night, but the moment Lena stepped onto that dance floor with him, everything changed.
The door to her chamber cracked open slightly, and her maid appeared, her eyes wide with concern.
"My Lady?" the maid asked hesitantly. "You... you called for me?"
Calista's eyes flicked to her, a flash of violent rage flaring up in her gaze. "Get out." The words came out like a growl, venomous and sharp.
The maid flinched and backed away, but Calista wasn't finished.
"You want to know what I'll do now?" she hissed, her voice low and trembling with rage. "I'll burn everything to the ground. And she—" She pointed toward the door with a deadly, trembling finger. "*She's* going to be the first to burn."
Her thoughts turned to Lena—the woman who had dared to steal the Night King's attention. She was weak. A mortal. She had no right. No place here.
But the fact that she was still here, that she was still breathing and walking among them all, twisted something deep inside Calista. She had to be stopped. And Calista would make sure of it.
With one final look at her trembling maid, she slammed the door shut, her mind already turning dark plans. She moved to her wardrobe, pulling out a silken black gown. Tonight, she would play the game to win. And Lena—Lena was about to become a pawn she could crush beneath her heel.
Her fingers twitched, and she walked toward the corner of the room, where the ancient scrolls of dark magic were hidden. She'd been practicing the forbidden spells for months, growing stronger, more confident with every incantation. Now, it was time to make sure Lena was eliminated once and for all.
Calista's lips curled as she traced a finger along one of the dark symbols, murmuring an incantation under her breath. Shadows coiled around her like living things, and the air thickened with the power she summoned. Her voice dropped into a whisper as she chanted a powerful curse, calling forth a creature of darkness—a specter, bound to her will.
The ground beneath her feet trembled as the air grew thick with malevolent energy. A form materialized in the center of the room, its black eyes glowing with an eerie light. Its body was a shifting shadow, a formless wraith of nightmare.
"Go," Calista commanded, her voice low and commanding. "Kill Lena. She is to be destroyed before the mask festival and before she can take everything from me."
The wraith nodded, its voice a chilling rasp that echoed in the room. "Your will is my command, my mistress."
With a flick of her hand, Calista dismissed the wraith, watching as it melted into the shadows and disappeared. She stood still for a moment, savoring the feeling of power coursing through her veins. Once Lena was gone, nothing could stand in her way.
As she prepared to leave her chamber, she turned back to her vanity, glancing at her reflection in the mirror.
*You will regret crossing me, Lena. I will make sure of it.*
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Meanwhile, outside the palace, beneath the inky sky, a dark figure watched from the shadows, their eyes glowing with an ominous light. A whisper of wind caught their cloak, but they remained still, waiting.
They had been tracking Calista's movements for weeks, watching her grow desperate. And now, the blood-soaked path she was walking would lead her to one place—destruction.
The figure smiled, their sharp teeth glinting in the moonlight.
It was time.