Chapter 3 The Blood Test

The castle’s grand hall still echoed with whispers as Aria was guided to a smaller chamber deep within the fortress. The walls were made of black stone, slick and cold under her fingertips, and the air smelled faintly of iron and roses—a scent both alluring and sinister. Lucian walked beside her, silent as a shadow, his crimson eyes flicking to every corner of the room, alert and protective.

“Why are we stopping here?” Aria asked, her voice trembling. Her pulse was still racing from the court encounter, and the tension in the air made her stomach knot.

“This is where you will learn who you truly are,” Lucian said, his voice calm but carrying an unyielding authority. “Your blood… it has power beyond your comprehension. The vampires of my court will test it. And you must survive.”

“Test my blood?” she echoed, fear tightening her throat. “I don’t even know what you mean.”

Lucian’s lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. “All will be revealed soon enough. But remember this—your blood is not ordinary. It carries a curse, yes… but also strength. And some of those here will want to claim it for themselves.”

Aria swallowed hard. The thought that her own blood could make others want her—or fear her—sent shivers down her spine. She had never been special before. Never noticed. Never important. And yet here she was, in a castle of vampires, her life suddenly hanging on a force she didn’t even understand.

The chamber door opened, and a tall, lean vampire stepped inside. His hair was silver, and his eyes glinted with a predatory hunger. He moved toward her with the grace of a panther, and a smile stretched across his pale face—one that didn’t reach the sharpness of his eyes.

“You must be the human,” he said, his voice smooth, like silk brushing over steel. “I’ve heard much about you. The cursed one.”

Aria felt the blood in her veins quicken, her heart hammering. Lucian stepped closer, his hand brushing lightly against her back. The contact was a lifeline in a world that suddenly felt so alien.

“You will do nothing without my say,” Lucian warned, and the silver-haired vampire bowed his head slightly, acknowledging Lucian’s authority. “But the test will be enlightening. For all of us.”

The vampire gestured to a circular platform in the center of the room. It was carved from black stone, etched with glowing crimson runes that pulsed faintly, as if alive. The air seemed to hum, and Aria felt a strange warmth creeping into her fingertips as she approached it.

“You will stand there,” the silver-haired vampire instructed. “And allow the court to witness the strength of your blood.”

Aria’s mind reeled. “Witness?” she asked. “I—I don’t even know what that means!”

Lucian’s voice was gentle, yet firm. “Trust yourself. Trust your blood. Nothing will harm you… not if you remain calm.”

Aria closed her eyes for a moment, trying to summon calm, but the fear thrummed through her like electricity. She stepped onto the platform, her knees weak, the glowing runes under her feet casting strange shadows that danced across the walls.

The first vampire approached. Tall, black-haired, with eyes like molten gold, he circled her slowly, sniffing the air around her as if tasting her essence. Aria shivered involuntarily. He paused in front of her, letting his gaze roam over her body, then leaned closer, his fangs gleaming in the dim light.

“Interesting,” he murmured, almost to himself. “There is… fire in her. And darkness. Yes, darkness and light entwined in her blood.”

“What does that mean?” Aria whispered, her voice barely audible.

Lucian’s hand gripped her elbow lightly, steadying her. “It means your blood is powerful. And dangerous. Some will envy it. Some will fear it. And some… will want it for themselves.”

The black-haired vampire nodded to another, a shorter figure with sharp features and icy blue eyes. She stepped forward, circling Aria in the opposite direction, her movements fluid and predatory. The tension in the air was palpable, and Aria could feel her own heartbeat echoing against the walls.

Suddenly, a prickling warmth spread from her veins, up to her chest and out through her fingertips. The runes under her feet flared bright red, and the air around her seemed to thrum with energy. The vampires around her froze, their expressions shifting from curiosity to awe—and fear.

“What… what’s happening?” Aria gasped, stumbling slightly.

Lucian’s crimson eyes glowed brighter. “Your blood is awakening,” he said. “Focus. Control it.”

The black-haired vampire’s eyes widened. “This… this is beyond anything I’ve seen. Her blood is alive… it reacts to danger. It protects her.”

A low hiss echoed from the chamber’s corners as the other court vampires began to circle her more cautiously, their eyes flicking between her and Lucian. The shorter vampire with icy eyes stepped closer, trying to challenge her, but the moment her hand brushed Aria’s arm, a surge of energy shot outward from Aria. The intruding vampire stumbled backward, her hair standing on end as if touched by lightning.

The chamber fell silent, the only sound the soft crackle of power surrounding Aria. She looked at her own hands, trembling, and realized the truth: her blood was not ordinary. It was alive. It was dangerous. And she had no idea how to control it.

Lucian stepped forward, placing both hands gently on her shoulders. “Breathe, Aria. Feel it, but do not fight it. This is who you are. And who you are… will decide the fate of everyone here.”

Her chest heaved, and as she focused, the warmth in her veins began to steady, pulsing in rhythm with her heartbeat. The vampires in the room lowered their gaze slightly, acknowledging that this human… this cursed mate of Lucian’s… was not to be underestimated.

Then the door to the chamber slammed open with a deafening crash. A figure cloaked in shadow slipped inside, moving faster than any vampire Aria had seen. Everyone froze, and even Lucian’s eyes narrowed.

“You dare awaken her?” a cold, commanding voice hissed.

The intruder stepped forward, revealing herself—the rival princess from the court, the one who had glared at Aria in disdain earlier. Her lips curled into a cruel smile, and her fangs glinted as she approached. “You think you can wield power you don’t understand?”

Aria’s stomach turned. Danger radiated from this woman, more intense than anything she had felt in the castle so far. And yet, despite the fear, she felt a spark deep inside her—a surge of power she hadn’t felt before.

Lucian moved protectively in front of her. “Step back,” he commanded, his voice sharp as steel. “Do not test her… or me.”

The princess laughed, a sound that sent chills down Aria’s spine. “Oh, I will test her. And I will see if she can survive what is coming. If not… she will be nothing but a stain on this court.”

Aria’s hands balled into fists, her blood thrumming like a living thing beneath her skin. The power she had just glimpsed surged stronger, responding to the threat. Her eyes met the rival princess’s, and she realized, with a mixture of awe and terror, that she was no longer just a frightened human. She was something… more. Something dangerous.

The rival princess took a step closer, her intent clear. Aria’s chest heaved, the room crackling with tension.

And in that moment, a decision formed in her mind—one that would change everything. She would not be weak. She would not be a pawn. She would fight, even if she didn’t fully understand how.

Lucian’s hand brushed hers, grounding her, and she felt the strength of his presence. “Good,” he murmured. “Embrace it. Now… show them what you are.”

The rival princess’s smile faltered for the first time, a flicker of fear crossing her icy eyes.

Aria took a deep breath, feeling the power of her blood course through her veins, alive and dangerous. She was no longer just a girl caught in the vampire court. She was a force to be reckoned with…

And the test of her blood—the trial that would determine her fate—had only just begun.