The abandoned temple was eerily silent except for the faint sound of wind whistling through its cracked stone walls. Dust floated in the dim light as Melly paced, deep in thought. Arkins, Zyren, Ezra, and Selene watched her closely, waiting for her to speak.
"We can't stay hidden forever," Arkins finally broke the silence. "The elders will send hunters after us."
Melly stopped pacing. "I know. That's exactly what I want."
Selene frowned. "You want them to come after us?"
Melly smirked. "Think about it. They already believe I'm dangerous. If we keep running, they'll see it as a weakness. But if we make them fear what I might do next, they'll hesitate. And in that hesitation, we strike."
Ezra let out a low whistle. "You're really playing mind games with the elders now?"
Melly shrugged. "They started it."
Zyren laughed. "She's got a point."
Arkins stepped forward, watching her intently. "Melly, you're putting yourself at the center of everything. They'll come for you first."
She met his gaze, her voice steady. "Let them."
For a moment, there was silence. Then Selene sighed. "Fine. What's the plan?"
Melly took a deep breath. "We make them believe that I've accepted my fate—that I want to join them."
Arkins' eyes widened. "You mean…?"
Melly nodded. "I'll go back. Alone."
"No way." Arkins' voice was sharp. "That's too dangerous."
She turned to him, placing a hand on his chest. "Trust me."
Ezra crossed his arms. "Okay, say you do this. What's stopping them from just capturing you the moment you walk in?"
Melly's lips curled into a sly smile. "Because I want them to capture me."
Zyren raised a brow. "You've got a death wish."
"No," Melly corrected. "I have a trap."
She glanced around at the group, her confidence unwavering.
"They think they control the game," she continued. "It's time we show them—we are the game."
Arkins exhaled, rubbing his temple. "You're impossible."
Melly grinned. "And you love it."
Selene rolled her eyes. "Alright, Queen of Chaos. What's step one?"
Melly turned toward the temple entrance.
"Step one?" she echoed. "We let them find me."
Because the real battle was about to begin.
Walking Into the Lion's Den...
Melly stood at the edge of the darkened forest, the towering walls of the vampire city looming before her. The plan was in motion. Arkins and the rest remained hidden, watching her from afar, ready to act if things went sideways. But for now, she was on her own.
Dressed in a long black cloak, her face unreadable, Melly strode toward the city gates with purpose. The guards stationed at the entrance stiffened the moment they saw her.
"It's her," one of them whispered.
The other guard hesitated before stepping forward. "Melly of the Mortal World. What brings you back here?"
Melly smirked slightly. "Let me in, or tell your elders they've lost their only chance."
The guards exchanged uneasy glances before one of them turned and disappeared behind the gates. Within moments, the doors groaned open, revealing the shadowy corridors beyond.
Melly stepped inside, her heart steady. She had to sell this act.
As she walked deeper into the city, eyes followed her from the streets, from windows above. Whispers filled the air. They had all seen what she was capable of. They had all heard the rumors.
"She came back?"
"She's either fearless or foolish."
"She's dangerous."
Melly ignored them. She had one goal—get to the High Council.
At the grand hall, Morganna, Kulture, and the elders awaited her. Morganna leaned against the stone pillar, arms crossed, watching Melly with narrowed eyes. Kulture stood beside her, smirking as if she had already won.
An elder finally spoke. "You return willingly?"
Melly met his gaze. "I return because I see the truth now."
Silence fell over the room. Even Morganna seemed surprised.
"You see the truth?" Kulture scoffed. "And what truth is that?"
Melly let out a slow breath, tilting her head. "That fighting you is pointless. I could spend my life resisting you, but in the end, power speaks louder than defiance."
The elders exchanged glances.
"I thought about it," Melly continued. "Why waste energy fighting a war when I can be on the winning side? You wanted me to bow? Fine. I bow… if it means survival."
Morganna smirked, but Kulture's eyes narrowed. "She's lying."
Melly turned to her, smiling just enough to unnerve her. "Believe what you want. But if I were lying, would I really come back here alone?"
The elder closest to her stepped forward, studying her. "And if we accept your offer? What do you bring us?"
Melly took a step closer. "You want power, don't you? You want someone who can change the course of fate. You want a sorcerer who can command more than just words. I offer myself—not as your enemy, but as your ally."
Morganna smirked. "You offer yourself? What makes you think we'll just trust you?"
Melly held her gaze. "You won't. And that's what makes this fun."
The elders murmured among themselves. Morganna's smirk faltered slightly, as if she didn't like the way things were turning. Kulture, on the other hand, clenched her fists.
"We'll test her," one elder finally declared. "If she truly wishes to stand among us, she must prove her loyalty."
Melly's expression didn't change. "Fine."
The elder nodded. "Then let the first trial begin."
Melly's fingers twitched slightly. She had walked straight into the lion's den.
But she wasn't trapped.
Because this was exactly where she wanted to be.
A heavy silence filled the grand hall as the elders prepared the trial. Melly stood in the center, her expression unreadable, while Morganna and Kulture watched with thinly veiled anticipation.
"If you truly seek to stand with us," one of the elders spoke, "then prove your strength. You will take part in the Trial of Dominion. If you survive, you will be one of us."
Melly nodded once. "Then let's begin."
The hall's floor cracked beneath her as a circle of glowing runes appeared. The trial had been set. The moment she stepped into the center of the markings, a gust of wind howled through the room, and shadows twisted around her.
From the darkness emerged three monstrous creatures—twisted, fanged beings with claws sharp enough to tear through steel. Their glowing eyes locked onto Melly.
A test of power. A battle for survival.
Morganna smirked. "She won't last long."
Kulture folded her arms. "Let's see if that mouth of hers can save her now."
But Melly wasn't intimidated. She stepped forward, raising her hands as a faint golden light shimmered at her fingertips.
The first beast lunged.
Melly didn't flinch.
She raised one hand, muttering an incantation under her breath. The moment the creature got close, its body stiffened, frozen mid-air. The spectators gasped.
Then, with a flick of her fingers, Melly sent the beast crashing into the stone walls, shattering them upon impact.
The second and third creatures attacked simultaneously. One swiped at her, the other charged from behind.
Melly's eyes burned with fiery intensity as she dodged with inhuman speed. With a swift spin, she conjured chains of glowing energy, wrapping them around the second beast. The chains tightened, draining its strength before it collapsed, lifeless.
The final beast roared, attempting to strike her from behind.
Melly didn't even turn around.
She snapped her fingers.
A surge of power erupted from beneath her, sending a pulse of energy through the ground. The force shattered the final creature into dust.
Silence fell.
Melly stood tall in the aftermath, her cloak billowing around her. She turned to the elders, her voice calm but powerful.
"Is that enough proof?"
The elders exchanged uncertain glances. Morganna's smirk had disappeared completely, and Kulture was gripping her own arms as if trying to suppress her frustration.
"She… won," one elder muttered.
"She's stronger than we expected," another whispered.
One of the eldest members of the council stepped forward, looking at Melly with a newfound respect. "You have proven yourself. But power alone does not grant you a place among us. You must swear loyalty."
Melly tilted her head, smirking slightly. "Loyalty? Funny. You want loyalty from me, but I see none among yourselves. You betrayed your own kind for power. You turned on each other. And yet, you expect me to kneel?"
The room tensed.
Then, Melly raised her arms.
The entire hall trembled.
The torches lining the walls flared wildly, casting flickering shadows that danced ominously around the chamber. The very air grew thick with energy as a surge of power pulsed from Melly's body.
"I came here to end this battle," she declared. "Not to beg for acceptance."
Suddenly, the elders gasped as their own shadows began twisting around them, locking them in place. They struggled, but Melly's magic held them firm.
"You underestimated me," she continued. "And that was your greatest mistake."
With a final, commanding gesture, a powerful shockwave erupted from her, shaking the entire city. The runes beneath her feet shattered, breaking the trial's enchantment.
The elders fell to their knees, weakened. The power they had once wielded now seemed insignificant in comparison to hers.
Morganna and Kulture could only watch, wide-eyed, as Melly turned to them.
"This battle is over," she said, her voice unwavering. "If you ever think of challenging me again, remember this moment."
Morganna clenched her fists, but she knew she had lost.
Kulture, for the first time, had nothing to say.
Arkins, who had been watching from the shadows with his siblings, stepped forward, a proud smirk on his face.
"Well," he said, crossing his arms. "I knew you had fire, but this? This was something else."
Melly turned to him, the fierceness in her gaze softening slightly. "It's done."
The elders, realizing their defeat, bowed their heads. "We… acknowledge your strength," one finally admitted.
Melly took a deep breath. The battle was over. She had not only proven herself—she had conquered them.
As she turned to leave, Arkins walked beside her, his voice low.
"So, does this mean you're officially the most terrifying woman in the vampire world?"
Melly chuckled. "Was there ever any doubt?"
And with that, the war had ended.