Chapter 13 First Conversation
ARIA'S POV
"Three hours!" I gasped, racing down the palace stairs behind Sebastian. "How do we stop something we don't even understand?"
"The library," Sebastian said, moving faster than I could follow. "Morgana kept records of everything—including forbidden spells. If there's a way to close the Void Gate, we'll find it there."
Behind us, chaos erupted. Vampires shouted orders. The human army scattered, suddenly more afraid of what was coming than of each other. Even Elder Cain looked terrified, which scared me more than anything.
We burst through massive doors into a library that seemed to stretch forever. Books lined walls that disappeared into darkness above.
"How are we supposed to find anything in here?" I demanded, panic rising in my throat. Through our bond, I felt Sebastian's fear matching mine. He was just as lost as I was.
"We start searching," he said, pulling books off shelves. "Look for anything about shadow realms, void magic, or—"
"Sebastian." Kieran's voice came from the doorway. He was breathing hard, his face pale. "We have a bigger problem."
"Bigger than monsters invading both worlds?" I asked.
"Yes." Kieran held up a scroll. "I found this in Morgana's chambers. It's a list. Names of every vampire noble who was working with her."
Sebastian snatched the scroll, his eyes scanning quickly. Then his face went white.
"What?" I moved closer. "What is it?"
"Half the court," he whispered. "She had half the court working with her. And now that she's dead..." He looked at Kieran. "They'll panic. They'll either try to seize power or flee. Either way, we lose the soldiers we need to fight what's coming through that gate."
A horn blared outside—three sharp notes that made Sebastian curse.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"It means they've already started." Sebastian grabbed my hand. "We need to go. Now."
We ran back toward the throne room, but halfway there, guards blocked our path. Not Sebastian's guards—nobles wearing crimson sashes. Morgana's people.
"Lord Sebastian," the lead guard said, his voice cold. "The council demands your presence. Immediately."
"Get out of my way," Sebastian growled, power crackling in the air around him.
"They have your niece," the guard said quietly. "Roslyn. They're calling it protective custody, but..." He didn't need to finish.
Through our bond, I felt Sebastian's rage explode. But beneath it, I felt something worse—fear. Real, bone-deep fear.
"It's a trap," I whispered. "They're going to use Roslyn to control you."
"I know." Sebastian's jaw tightened. "But I can't leave her with them."
The guard shifted uncomfortably. "My lord, there's more. Celeste Thornwell is with them. She's offered them a deal—proof that she can close the Void Gate, in exchange for..." He looked at me. "In exchange for the human girl."
My stomach dropped.
"No," Sebastian said immediately.
"Sebastian, wait—" I started.
"No!" His voice shook the walls. "I am not trading you to save—"
"Your niece? Your people?" I grabbed his face, forcing him to look at me. "Yes, you are. Because that's what good people do. They sacrifice themselves for others."
"You don't understand," Sebastian said desperately. "Celeste won't close the gate. This is another trick. She wants you dead, and once she has you, there's nothing stopping her from letting those monsters through anyway."
He was right. I knew he was right. But I also knew we were running out of time and options.
"Then we play along," I said, an idea forming. "We make her think she's won. Get close enough to stop her ourselves."
"That's insane," Kieran said. "She'll kill you the moment she has you alone."
"Not if Sebastian comes with me." I squeezed his hand. "Our bond is stronger than her magic. We proved that with the blood seal. We can do it again."
Sebastian stared at me, and through our connection, I felt him running through every possible plan, searching for another way. But there wasn't one. We both knew it.
"Two hours and forty minutes until midnight," the guard said quietly. "The council is waiting."
Sebastian closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with decision burning in their ice-blue depths. "Take us to them."
The throne room had transformed into a war room. Vampire nobles stood in groups, arguing. Maps covered tables. And in the center, surrounded by guards, stood Roslyn—looking terrified but trying to hide it.
When she saw Sebastian, relief flooded her face. "Uncle—"
"Silence." Elder Cain stepped forward, flanked by Prince Dante and three nobles I didn't recognize. "Lord Sebastian, you've brought chaos to our realm. The human stays with us until this crisis is resolved."
"She's not yours to hold," Sebastian said dangerously.
"Neither is your niece," Dante said quietly. "Yet here we are. Celeste has made her offer. What is your answer?"
Before Sebastian could respond, Celeste emerged from the shadows. She looked different—older somehow, her eyes burning with dark magic. Whatever spell she'd used to open the Void Gate had changed her.
"Aria." Her voice was sweet poison. "My dear stepdaughter. Come with me willingly, and I'll close the gate. Refuse, and everyone dies—including your precious vampire lord."
"Don't listen to her," Elena called from somewhere in the crowd. "She's lying!"
Celeste laughed. "Am I? Watch."
She raised her hands, and an image appeared in the air—a vision of the Void Gate. I could see it now, a massive tear in reality at the edge of the palace grounds. And through it, I saw... things. Shadows with too many teeth. Creatures made of nightmare. They pressed against the barrier, which was growing thinner by the second.
"Two hours and thirty minutes," Celeste sang. "Then they're free. Unless..."
She held out her hand to me.
I looked at Sebastian. Through our bond, I sent him everything I felt—my fear, my love, my determination. And I felt his response: We do this together.
I started walking toward Celeste.
"Aria, no!" Roslyn screamed.
But I kept going, Sebastian at my side. When we reached Celeste, she smiled triumphantly.
"Smart girl," she purred. "Now come. We have a ritual to perform."
She led us toward a private chamber, guards following. But at the door, she held up a hand.
"Just Aria," she said. "The vampire stays here."
"Not happening," Sebastian growled.
Celeste's smile widened. "Then the gate stays open." She gestured to the vision, where the barrier grew even thinner. "Your choice, Lord Sebastian. Your bond, or your world."
Through our connection, I felt Sebastian's anguish. We'd been outmaneuvered. Separated, we were vulnerable. But together, we couldn't save Roslyn or stop the gate.
"I'll be okay," I whispered, hoping I was right.
"Aria—"
"Trust me." I kissed him quickly, then stepped through the door before I could lose my courage.
The chamber beyond was dark, lit only by candles arranged in a circle. In the center sat something that made my blood freeze—an altar identical to the execution chamber's, with straps and a ceremonial blade.
"No ritual to close the gate then," I said quietly.
"Oh, there's a ritual," Celeste said, closing the door behind us. Locks clicked into place. "But it doesn't close the gate. It opens it wider. And your blood is the final key."
She moved closer, and I saw madness burning in her eyes. "You always thought you were so special. Your mother's precious daughter. But you know what? Her blood was special too. And when I killed her three years ago, I learned exactly what Sanguine blood could do."
The world tilted. "You... you murdered my mother?"
"Pushed her down the stairs," Celeste said casually. "Made it look like an accident. Then spent three years studying her blood, learning its secrets, waiting for you to come of age. And now, finally, I get to use everything I learned."
She lunged, faster than any human should move. A blade flashed in the candlelight.
I dodged, my healing gift flaring instinctively. But Celeste was ready. She spoke words in a language I didn't know, and suddenly I couldn't move. Dark magic wrapped around me like chains.
"The Void Gate doesn't just open randomly," Celeste whispered, dragging me toward the altar. "It requires a sacrifice. Ancient magic, freely given. And you, my dear stepdaughter, are going to give it everything."
She strapped me down. I struggled, but the magic held firm. Through the bond, I felt Sebastian pounding on the door, felt his terror and rage.
Celeste raised the blade above my heart. "Nothing personal, Aria. You were just born with the wrong bloodline."
The blade started to fall—
And the door exploded inward.
But it wasn't Sebastian who entered.
It was my mother.