Pain was the first thing Azael felt. Not the searing kind that ripped through flesh, but the deep, hollow ache of change. His bones buzzed as if vibrating at a new frequency. His heartbeat echoed in his ears, steady yet unnerving, like a war drum.
He opened his eyes slowly.
The ceiling above him was stone, etched with runes that shimmered faintly in crimson hues. A fire crackled nearby, casting flickering shadows against the ancient walls. He lay on a bed of black silk, in a chamber that smelled of ash and herbs. The room was dim, lit only by violet lanterns and the glow of an arcane sigil burned into the floor beneath his bed.
Selene sat beside him, flipping through an old, worn tome. Her silver hair fell like a curtain around her face, and her fingers traced the text with reverence.
"You're awake," she said without looking up.
"How long was I out?"
"Two days."
He tried to sit up. The effort made his head spin, but he managed.
"Where are we?"
"An old sanctuary hidden beneath New Liora. Built by the original Bloodbound generations ago. Protected by blood magic and shadow veils. No one who doesn't carry your bloodline can step through the gate."
Azael rubbed his temples. "You said I'm... an heir?"
Selene nodded. "The last one. The blood of the First King runs in your veins. The Crimson Sovereign—Alzareth Virex."
The name hit Azael like a punch to the gut. "That name… I've heard it in my dreams."
"They weren't dreams."
Azael's thoughts spun like a storm. He'd grown up an orphan, bouncing through foster homes, chased by nightmares and inexplicable phenomena. He'd always known he wasn't normal. But this? A forgotten heir to some ancient bloodline?
Selene stood and placed the tome on a nearby table. "Your awakening was messy. If we hadn't interfered, you would've either self-destructed or been harvested."
"Harvested?"
She crossed her arms. "There are others out there who want your blood. It's the key to unlocking the Gate of Shadows. You were hidden from the Blood Court for seventeen years. Now that you've awakened, the scent of your power is everywhere."
"Blood Court?"
"A cabal of vampires, witches, revenants, and high-blood demons. All of them vying for control of the forgotten magic. Most of them think the heir died during the Purge. When you activated the sigil in the alley, it sent a ripple through the arcane networks. Now they know."
Azael stood on unsteady feet. "What do they want with me?"
"Some want to use you. Others want to kill you. A few... want to worship you."
He frowned. "That's insane."
Selene smirked. "Welcome to the supernatural underground."
They walked together into a circular chamber carved with blood-runes. In the center, a well-like structure pulsed with red light.
"This is the Heartforge," Selene explained. "It reacts to your presence. It's alive."
Azael peered into it. Images flickered across the surface—cities burning, skies torn by crimson lightning, a throne of bone in a hall of mirrors.
"Visions of what could be," Selene said softly. "The blood remembers its future."
He turned away. "I didn't ask for this."
"No one ever does. But now it's yours. Power, legacy, and enemies you haven't even met yet."
Azael clenched his fists. "Then train me. Help me control it. Or I'll die trying."
Selene's eyes gleamed. "Good. I was hoping you'd say that."
Stay tuned...