Celeste followed the trail of decaying flowers deep into the forest. The corruption had spread farther than she expected. With a small basket in her hands, she continued tracing the withering petals until she reached the border between the Fairy Realm and the Vampire Realm.
Only the shimmering barrier stood between the two worlds.
No… this is wrong. Dangerous. She isn't supposed to be here.
She could see the other side clearly, and although she knew she shouldn't cross, curiosity tugged at her. What was causing the decay? Why was the corruption spreading from the vampire side?
Celeste slowly lifted her left hand.
It slipped through the barrier.
Her breath hitched.
Curiosity won in the end.
She stepped through.
The vampire realm was nothing like she had been told. The air felt damp, heavy. The sun never shone here, as she always heard. All her life she'd been told the vampire realm was dark, terrifying, and ugly. That nothing beautiful existed here. That even the vampires themselves were hideous.
Yet what she saw proved everything wrong.
She found herself in an overgrown forest where giant black flowers bloomed. Midnight roses with iridescent petals shimmered faintly in the dim light. Their world was beautiful as well, just in a darker, sharper way.
Celeste wandered quietly, admiring the strange beauty. Some of the plants here were decaying too. She crouched to examine a withered patch when she heard footsteps.
Her heart jolted.
She slipped behind a thick tree and peeked out.
A figure dressed completely in black walked past, carrying a catapult and flaming arrow. Celeste moved silently, following at a distance. The figure suddenly stopped, aiming at something ahead.
Celeste looked past him.
A man stood with his back to her, tall and unmoving beside several dead bodies. He wore dark armor and a black cloak, his aura sharp, powerful.
The masked attacker raised his weapon and drew the arrow tight.
Celeste gasped.
Her basket fell from her hands as she sprinted forward with everything she had.
The arrow was released.
Celeste lunged, pushing the man from his left side.
The arrow sliced across his arm instead of piercing his chest.
They fell together, Celeste landing on top of him.
She quickly looked toward the shooter.
He was already fleeing through the trees.
Malum hadn't expected any of this. He stared up at the woman on top of him.
A breathtaking fairy with pure golden hair, tiny petals woven into her strands. Her scent was soft and sweet, calming even to him.
A fairy?
What was a fairy doing here alone?
Celeste turned her head.
Their eyes met.
Malum's crimson gaze locked onto her bright green ones.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Celeste felt her breath catch.
She was completely lost for words.