Chapter 16: The Awakening Begins
The ruins felt alive. As Aarav stood within the shattered remnants of what was once his kingdom, a strange energy pulsed beneath his skin. Every stone, every whisper of wind, seemed to call to him—beckoning him to remember.
Veyron watched him closely, his expression one of quiet amusement. "You feel it, don't you? The power beneath your feet. The echoes of your former self."
Aarav exhaled slowly. "I don't just feel it." He looked down at his hands. "It's waking up inside me."
Veyron nodded approvingly. "Good. But feeling is not enough. You must control it. Command it. If you are to reclaim what was stolen from you, you must harness your full strength."
Aarav clenched his fists, frustration building. "And how do I do that? I don't even know what I'm supposed to be."
Veyron smirked. "You were once the most feared vampire to walk this earth. But now, you are… incomplete. You must remember who you were. Only then will your power return."
Aarav's eyes darkened. "And how do I remember?"
Veyron gestured toward the heart of the ruins, where a massive stone altar stood. The surface was cracked, but Aarav could see symbols etched into it—ancient, glowing faintly with an eerie silver light.
"Your blood," Veyron said simply. "It is the key."
Aarav frowned. "What do you mean?"
Veyron pulled a dagger from his cloak and tossed it to him. Aarav caught it instinctively. The blade was old—its hilt carved with runes that seemed to hum in his grip.
"Place your blood upon the altar," Veyron instructed. "It will show you what has been hidden."
Aarav hesitated. He wasn't sure why, but something about this felt… right. Like he had done it before.
Taking a breath, he drew the blade across his palm. The wound barely hurt, but as his dark crimson blood dripped onto the altar, the ground trembled.
The symbols blazed to life.
A sudden force ripped through Aarav's mind, dragging him under.
—A throne room, filled with kneeling figures. His voice commanding, absolute.
—A battlefield, his enemies falling before him, their screams like music.
—A woman's voice, urgent, desperate. They will betray you, my love.
—A dagger plunging into his chest.
—Darkness. Silence. Death.
Aarav gasped as the vision ended, staggering back. His breath came in sharp, ragged gulps.
Veyron watched him, unimpressed. "Well?"
Aarav's hands trembled. His mind reeled. He had seen it. Not just glimpses—he had felt it. The power. The betrayal. The end.
He looked up at Veyron, and for the first time, something in him had shifted.
"I remember."
Veyron's smile widened. "Then let's begin."
To be continued…