Arkins moved swiftly through the ancient corridors of the vampire city, his footsteps echoing against the stone walls. The moonlight filtered through the arched windows, casting silver streaks across the empty halls.
Melly was fast asleep when he left, but he knew this confrontation couldn't wait. Morganna had always been unpredictable, and if she had come all this way just to see him, he needed to understand why.
She was waiting for him.
The ruins at the outskirts of the city loomed in the distance, a forgotten place where vampires once trained in secret. Arkins felt her presence before he saw her.
Morganna stood in the center of the ruins, her back turned to him, her dark cloak billowing slightly in the cold wind. She didn't turn as he approached.
"I knew you'd come," she murmured.
Arkins exhaled. "You're making a mistake."
Morganna finally turned, her crimson eyes locking onto his. "A mistake?" she echoed, amusement flickering in her gaze. "Funny. I thought you were the one making mistakes."
He clenched his jaw. "Morganna, why are you here?"
She took a step closer, tilting her head. "You already know why."
Arkins shook his head. "That was a long time ago. You can't just come back into my life and expect things to be the same."
Morganna's smirk faded. "I never expected things to be the same, Arkins," she said quietly. "But I thought you'd at least remember what we were."
Arkins sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I remember. But that doesn't change anything."
Morganna's expression darkened. "No, it doesn't. Because you chose her."
Arkins frowned. "This isn't about Melly."
Morganna's laugh was bitter. "It's always about her. The human girl who stole you away. Do you even realize what you've done?"
Arkins stiffened. "What are you talking about?"
Morganna's eyes gleamed. "There are those who don't want her in our world, Arkins. And by binding yourself to her, you've made her a target."
His blood ran cold. "Who?"
Morganna stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "The High Council."
Arkins inhaled sharply. The High Council ruled over the vampire world with absolute authority. If they saw Melly as a threat…
Morganna watched his reaction carefully. "They know what she is, Arkins. And they won't let it stand."
Arkins' fists clenched. "She's not a threat to them."
Morganna sighed, almost sadly. "It doesn't matter. They won't take the risk."
Arkins stared at her, his mind racing. If the High Council was involved, Melly was in more danger than he realized.
"I don't want to see you get hurt," Morganna murmured.
Arkins scoffed. "Then stop this."
Morganna looked away. "I can't."
A tense silence stretched between them.
Finally, Arkins spoke. "Tell me what you know."
Morganna hesitated, then met his gaze. "I'll help you," she said softly. "But when the time comes… you'll have to choose."
Arkins swallowed hard. "Choose?"
Morganna nodded. "Between Melly and our world."
His heart pounded. "That's not a choice."
Morganna's expression was unreadable. "We'll see."
And with that, she disappeared into the night, leaving Arkins alone with the weight of her words.
Arkins sat at the edge of the bed, his eyes lost in the flickering candlelight. His thoughts churned with Morganna's warning, his mind battling against the truth he didn't want to accept. The High Council was involved. And they wouldn't stop until they got what they wanted.
Melly stirred beside him, her eyes fluttering open. She turned, immediately sensing his tension. "You're awake," she murmured sleepily.
Arkins barely reacted.
She frowned, pushing herself up on one elbow. "What's wrong?"
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Nothing. Go back to sleep."
Melly narrowed her eyes. "Liar."
Arkins forced a smirk. "I'm fine, really."
Melly didn't believe him for a second. "You're thinking about something. I can feel it." She reached out, her fingers brushing his arm. "Talk to me."
He hesitated, his gaze softening as he looked at her. She was always like this—persistent, caring, refusing to let him carry the weight alone. But he couldn't tell her. Not yet.
Instead, he leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Go to sleep, Melly. I promise, it's nothing."
She studied him for a moment before sighing. "Fine. But when you're ready to talk, I'm here."
Arkins watched as she laid back down, her body curling into the sheets. He waited until her breathing evened out before sighing to himself.
If only she knew how much danger she was in…
---
Elsewhere…
The High Council's chamber was eerily silent. A cold, vast room made of obsidian stone, lit only by the flickering blue flames that hovered in the air. A group of ancient vampires sat on towering thrones, their eyes glowing in the darkness.
Morganna stood before them, her posture stiff. She had delivered her warning to Arkins. Now, it was out of her hands.
The leader of the Council, an elder with silver hair and eyes as dark as the void, spoke. "He refuses to listen."
A woman on his right, her voice smooth as silk, leaned forward. "Then it's time we take another approach."
A smirk played on the lips of the man to her left. "Let's send someone he will listen to."
There was a pause. Then the elder nodded.
"Bring Kulture."
Morganna stiffened, but she said nothing.
The doors to the chamber opened, and a figure stepped inside.
Kulture.
She was breathtaking—tall, elegant, with striking blue eyes that held an unnatural glow. She moved with the grace of a queen, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders. But beneath her beauty lay something dangerous.
Kulture was not just another vampire. She was Arkins' best friend. The one person he had never turned his back on. The one person who knew all his weaknesses.
And now, she had been sent to destroy Melly.
Kulture smiled, her lips curving into something almost wicked.
"Let's see if Melly is as strong as they say."
Melly had enough.
First, it was Morganna—Arkins' ex who thought she could waltz back into his life and stake a claim like Melly didn't exist. And now? Now there was Kulture.
Kulture, with her perfect golden hair, her striking blue eyes, and that irritating smirk that made Melly's blood boil. She walked around like she owned the place, inserting herself into their business like she had any right. And the worst part?
Arkins didn't stop her.
It started small—Kulture casually touching his arm, laughing a little too sweetly at his jokes, standing too close. Then came the belittling.
"You're strong, Melly, but let's be honest," Kulture said one night, twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers. "You're human. Well—partly. But humans don't last long in our world."
Melly clenched her fists.
Arkins sat beside her, saying nothing.
Morganna had tried to claim what was once hers. But Kulture? Kulture acted like Melly wasn't even competition, as if she was an obstacle to be removed at any moment.
Fine.
Melly would remind her why vampires used to fear sorcerers.
---
The next morning, she woke up and chose violence.
Kulture was standing in the courtyard, leaning casually against a stone pillar as she spoke with Arkins. Her melodic laughter echoed through the air, but the moment she saw Melly approach, she smirked.
"Good morning, little sorceress. Did you sleep well?"
Melly smiled sweetly. "Not really. You see, I had this terrible dream about a vampire who didn't know her place. But don't worry." Her eyes glowed dangerously. "I plan to fix that."
Arkins tensed. "Melly—"
But she wasn't listening.
With a flick of her wrist, the ground beneath Kulture's feet cracked. A sudden force yanked her forward, dragging her across the dirt before slamming her onto her knees in front of Melly.
Kulture gasped, struggling against an invisible force, but it was no use.
Melly leaned down, her voice a whisper. "You forget, Kulture. Vampires may be strong. But sorcerers? We make the rules."
Kulture's eyes widened, a flicker of fear crossing her face. "You—"
Melly placed a single finger under her chin, tilting her head up. "You walk around here like I'm supposed to prove myself to you. Like I need to earn my place." Her voice darkened. "I don't."
The air around them crackled. The runes on Melly's arms glowed a deep, ominous gold, swirling with raw magic. She could feel her power pulsing, demanding to be unleashed.
She stepped closer, pressing her advantage. "You vampires like to think you're at the top of the food chain. That you're untouchable. But let me make something very clear—"
She snapped her fingers.
Kulture bowed.
Not by choice. Not by force. But because the very magic in the air commanded her to.
Kulture's breath hitched, her pride crumbling in an instant.
Melly tilted her head. "Now do you understand?"
The silence that followed was deafening. Even Arkins looked stunned.
Finally, Kulture grit her teeth. "This isn't over."
Melly smirked. "Oh, I know."
She released her hold, watching as Kulture staggered back to her feet, her blue eyes burning with a mixture of rage and… something else.
Respect.
Without another word, Kulture turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Melly exhaled, rolling her shoulders as if the entire encounter hadn't drained her.
She turned to Arkins.
He stared at her, a mixture of admiration and frustration in his gaze. "Did you really have to do that?"
Melly crossed her arms. "Would you have stopped her?"
Arkins hesitated.
Melly nodded, satisfied. "That's what I thought."
She turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Arkins standing there.
She had proved her point.
And from this moment on, no one—no one—would ever underestimate her again.