Chapter 19

Aurora's POV

“Were you sent by Jason?” He demanded, the cold edge of the blade still pressed against my throat, and I could feel each beat of my pulse thumping against its sharpness. 

I swallowed hard, as my hands rose instinctively, and my palms facing Louis in surrender. "Answer me!” He yelled. "Were you sent by Jason?"

My lips parted, but no sound came out at first. How could he think I was aligned with that monster?

"Louis.” I managed, my voice hoarse. "I would never... How could you think—"

"Enough!" He barked, pressing the blade just enough for a sting of pain to bloom against my neck. "Don’t play smart with me. If this is one of Jason’s ploys—"

"I would never deceive you!" I cried out, my voice breaking. "You’ve always been there for me, Louis. Always."

His grip on the sword wavered, and I pressed on.

"When my father decided to make me the Vampire Queen, and the entire court rose up in rebellion... You stood by my side. When my stepbrothers plotted against me, and whispered poison into the ears of the nobles, to cast doubts on me. Saying that I could never lead, because I was a girl—you held the line for me. You, Louis. You and no one else."

His brow furrowed, and I could see the conflict within him.

Do you remember…” I continued, the words spilling out of me. "When the elders demanded that my brothers inherit the throne, not because they were capable but because they were men... You argued. You made them see reason. And when everyone else lost faith, when they saw me as nothing more than a pawn, you... you believed in me."

His sword lowered slightly, and his lips parted. "But... Aurora is dead."

"Am I?" I whispered. 

His eyes widened, and he took a step back. I allowed the blade to drop, my hands falling to my sides. "How is it possible?." He murmured. "Your aura… it feels exactly like Aurora’s."

"Because I am her.” I insisted. "My soul... it was reborn. I died as Aurora, but I live as Melissa."

He stared at me, and I could see him wrestling with his own disbelief. "There’s no time to waste.” He said at last. "If you truly are Aurora, then your father needs to see you. His illness... it’s worsened since the news of your death. And his health began to decline slowly, but now... he doesn’t have much time."

A sharp pain shot through my chest. My father... the Vampire King. His grief over my death had nearly killed him. The thought of him wasting away while I breathed, while I schemed for revenge... it was a cruelty I could no longer bear.

"How will we get out of the pack?" I asked, impatiently. "The Red Moon Festival is underway. Security is tight, and with Jason outside, it’s even tighter."

His lips twitched into a half-smile. "I didn’t use the main border to get here. I came earlier in the day when security was laxer. I traveled through the neighboring pack, then slipped through the forest that connects the two territories. It was risky, but it worked. I’ve been waiting since then, watching for anyone who might seem... out of place."

"But the festival is in full swing now," I argued. "Won’t security be tighter along that route?"

"The RedMoon Pack rarely faces rogue threats," he explained. "Their guards focus on the main roads and the festival grounds. The forest path should still be clear."

I hesitated, my mind racing. "Who will ride the carriage?"

"I will." He said without pause. "I couldn’t trust anyone else with such a dangerous mission. If something went wrong... if you are truly Aurora, I had to be the one to make sure you were safe."

The sincerity in his voice nearly undid me. I nodded. “Then let’s go," I said. "There’s no time to waste."

Louis helped me into the carriage, his hands firm and steady. The moment he climbed onto the horse seat, the carriage lurched forward.

The forest swallowed us whole, and as we neared the neighboring Pack, relief began to bloom in my chest. When we finally crossed the border, I exhaled fully for the first time. Louis urged the horses faster, the wind pulling at my hair and drying the cold sweat on my skin.

By dawn, the spires of the Vampire Kingdom pierced the sky. The carriage rode through the palace gates, and my heart ached at the sight of the ancient stone walls.

Tears blurred my vision as I stumbled out of the carriage. I barely heard Louis’s voice behind me as I rushed to the front door. But his grip found my arm, pulling me back.

“To avoid unnecessary questions from your brothers, let's go directly to your father's room through the back door.” He whispered.

We slipped through the servants’ entrance. The few guards and maids who noticed us merely bowed to Louis, and went about their various duties.

When we reached my father's chambers, the door creaked open to reveal a dimly lit room. My father lay on the massive bed, his body sunken into the mattress. 

His once imposing figure had withered, and his skin was pale and waxy.

"Father!" I rushed to his side, the tears flowing freely now. 

He didn’t move. His head rested against the pillows, silver strands of hair damp against his ashen skin. He looked so small, so... human.

My tears spilled over. "Father... it’s me."

A soft groan escaped his lips. His eyelids fluttered. Slowly, as if the act itself required more strength than he possessed, his eyes opened.

His gaze found me. "Who... who’s there?" His voice was brittle.

"It’s me." I choked out. "It’s Aurora."

His brow furrowed. "Aurora?"

"Yes," I sobbed, my hands reaching to cradle his frail fingers. "I’m here. I’ve come back."

His hand twitched beneath mine. "No... no, that’s not possible."

"Father, please." I pressed his hand to my cheek. "It’s me. I’m real. I’m here."

His eyes filled with a storm of emotions—hope, fear, disbelief. "Aurora is dead," he rasped. "My daughter... she’s gone."

“I was killed." I admitted. "Jason betrayed me. He killed me... but I was given a second chance. I was reborn as Melissa."

His lips parted. "Melissa..."

I nodded, squeezing his hand. "Yes. I hid, I survived... and now I’ve found my way back to you."

"Aurora?" His voice trembled, his thin fingers tightened around mine. "Is... is this real?"

"Remember the time you found me hiding in the garden, crying because Eric had broken my favorite doll?" I asked. "You told me that strength wasn't about not feeling pain, but about enduring it. That’s when I promised to always be strong."

Recognition flared in his eyes. No one else knew about that day.

"Aurora.” He breathed, his arms pulling me into a weak embrace.

Tears soaked his robe as I clung to him. "I’m here, Father. I’m back."

He drew back. "Are you back to reclaim your rightful position as the Vampire Queen?"