Usually, children of the moon were too-beautiful-to-be-real.
Luna was the perfect example of that. His sister was the same as she’d been before, but not. The lines of her face were smoother, her skin shone brighter, and her eyes were more captivating. She’d always been beautiful, but as a vampire, she drew attention just by existing. No one could ignore her, even if they wanted to. When she and Sebastian were together, which was always, thanks to the Tether, they naturally drew everyone’s attention.
They were the most powerful vampires in the land. Blessed by Isvana herself.
These creatures were not like that.
Like the First, these strange beings had ashen skin. Their eyes were black, empty pits lacking all sparks of life. Their cheeks were sunken, their features too prominent. Their hair hung in clumps from their skulls, and black blood oozed from the skull of the one closest to Marius.
The vampires-that-weren’t-vampires smiled. Fangs were nestled in their gums, but somehow, they looked sharper than Vivienne’s. More deadly.
It was an awful sight.
As one, they turned to Marius.
As one, their empty gazes dropped to the cut on his cheek, where blood was still dripping down his face.
And as one, they released a swarm of shadows and snarled. The terrible sound echoed through the forest, shattering whatever strange stillness had come over them.
Behind the First and her aberrations, Sebastian yelled out commands to the vampires.
Luna extended her palm, darkness streaming from her hands.
Vivienne growled.
And the First?
Her lips contorted into a smile that would forever haunt Marius as she laughed maniacally.
“Welcome to the new age, halfling.” She hurled the words as she prowled towards him. “Enjoy this glimpse of my new court before you die.”
Court? These monstrosities weren’t people. Not anymore. They were more dead than alive, reincarnated bodies that weren’t truly present. Dead men and women walking, nothing more.
If Marius hadn’t already been certain the First had lost her mind after centuries of rotting in that tomb, that statement would’ve confirmed it for him.
Keeping his gaze trained on the deadly vampire, Marius stepped back. The carvings on the hilt of the Forsaken Blade cut into his palm. He felt the sting of broken skin, but he didn’t dare look down.
The First flicked her hand. “Feast, my lovelies. Show them why you’re my Chosen Ones.”
At her signal, all five undead turned and raced into the forest.They were quicker than normal creatures of the night, and the king’s army wasn’t fast enough.
A soldier screamed as one of the atrocities leaped through the air and sunk its fangs into her neck. Crimson blood spurted as the creature reached up, wrenching the vampire’s head from her shoulders and throwing it into the forest.
Before Marius could process that he’d just witnessed a gruesome murder, the creature was already tearing into another vampire. And another.
Screams and shouts of alarm rose from all around.
There were only five undead vampires.
Five.
They should not have been a problem. This fight should have been over before it began.
That wasn’t the case.
A creature that had once been a man was fighting Sebastian and Luna together. Luna had been training with Sebastian for years, but they were barely holding their opponent back.
What was happening?