Chapter 26 Blood and Ruin 2
"Move!" I grabbed Voss and started dragging him toward the ritual chamber.
Kael and Aldric covered our retreat, blades flashing as they kept the First back.
We ran through corridors, the First following and getting closer with every step.
We reached the chamber in a rush, urgency pushing us forward. I threw Voss inside and scanned the room, my eyes catching on his notes—scrawled in ancient text, instructions for the reversal ritual.
"It requires your blood and his death," Aldric read quickly. "And it has to happen in the circle. Together."
"Then get him in the circle." I started preparing. Drawing symbols. Cutting my palms. Again.
Kael threw Voss into the center. The old vampire did not resist and just knelt there, accepting.
"Any last words?" Kael asked.
"I hope I am wrong about you," Voss said. "I truly do."
"You are."
Suddenly, the First crashed through the door, brutal force shaking us from our focus.
No more time. No preparation.
I stabbed Voss through the heart.
His magic exploded outward, raw and powerful, as the First lunged for it.
I lunged faster.
The magic hit me like lightning, burning and freezing, everything at once. I felt my stolen power returning, sensed Voss's life force dissolving, and the ritual completing.
And felt something else. Something Voss had hidden.
A vision. A prophecy. A future he had seen.
Kael and I on thrones. Covered in blood. The realm is burning around us. Power absolute. Corruption complete.
And we were smiling.
The vision ended. I gasped. Fell to my knees.
"Sera!" Kael caught me. "Did it work?"
"Yes. The power is back." I looked at him. "But Voss showed me something—a future where we become exactly what he feared."
"That is just one possible future. We can change it."
"Can we?" I stood. "Because right now, I feel nothing about killing him. No guilt. No remorse. Just satisfaction that the problem is solved."
"That is because you are vampire. Not because you are corrupted."
"Is there a difference?"
The First interrupted. "Touching. But I am still hungry."
The First lunged, giving me no pause.
I instinctively flung everything at it, including all the power and all the magic that had been returned.
This time, the chains sprang from reality itself rather than the floor.
Shadowborn magic was at full strength.
They wrapped around The First. Pulled it down. Bound it.
"Back in your cage," I said. "Forever this time."
I poured power into the floor. Forced it open. The First screamed. Fought. But it could not break free.
It sank down into the Sanguine Vault.
I sealed the floor behind it. Used my blood. My magic. My will.
And this time, I made the seals permanent. Blood-bound. Unbreakable unless I died.
The First's screams faded. Then stopped. Then nothing.
It was done.
I collapsed—exhausted, drained, alive.
Kael was there. Holding me. "You did it."
I turned to face the bodies, the devastation, and Voss's body in the circle and said, "We did it." "But at what cost?"
"At whatever cost was necessary."
That was the problem: We were willing to pay any cost now, do anything, become anything.
Was Voss right?
Were we headed toward corruption already?
I had no idea. But I was too exhausted to give a damn.
Aldric showed up in the doorway.
"Is it over?"
"For now," Kael said. "The First is sealed. Voss is dead. The immediate threat is gone."
"Good. Then we can discuss terms." Aldric looked at me. "You owe me. I helped. Gave you my power. Risked my life."
"What do you want?" I asked.
"The same thing I always want. You. Not today. Not tomorrow. But when you tire of him. When the bond feels like a chain instead of a choice." He smiled. "I will be waiting. In Valcrest. Whenever you are ready."
He left. His remaining guards follow.
Kael's arms tightened around me. "He is delusional if he thinks—"
"I know. I am not going anywhere." I touched his face. "But we need to talk—about what Voss showed me. About the future."
"Later. Right now we deal with the present." He helped me stand. "The palace is destroyed. People are dead. The realm is in chaos. We have work to do."
"Always more work."
"Always."
We made our way back to the throne room, where we found our twin thrones and the crown that grew heavier by the day.
The nobles were waiting for us in the throne room, terrified, furious, and demanding explanations.
Kael gave them one look. "Voss was a traitor. He released The First.
We stopped it. Barely. This is the price of internal enemies. Of people who think they know better than their rulers."
His voice carried. Cold. Absolute. "Let this be a lesson. Challenge us and die. Betray us and suffer.
Obey and prosper. Those are your only options."
They bowed. Terrified. Obedient.
We sat on our thrones. Covered in blood. Exhausted. Alive.
And I could not help but wonder.
Was this the beginning of Voss's prophecy?
Or was this us fighting against it?
I did not know. But I would not let his fear become our reality.
Even if I had to burn the world to prevent it.
This was going to be a very long night.