The crimson light in the Blood Court hall seemed to pulse, as if in rhythm with the beating of countless hearts hidden in the shadows. Figures moved like whispers, cloaked and silent, their presence stretching beyond sight. The air was heavy with an unspoken authority, and Elena felt it pressing down upon her chest.
Adrian led her deeper into the hall, past rows of silent watchers. Gerard followed closely, his expression unreadable. Seraphine's eyes never left Elena, her steps deliberate and slow.
The cloaked figure who had addressed them earlier stepped aside, allowing Adrian and Elena to enter a chamber lined with ancient stone, its walls carved with runes that seemed to shift in the crimson glow.
"This is where it begins," Adrian said softly. His voice carried both resolve and caution. "The Blood Oath."
Elena looked around, sensing the weight of history in the chamber. The air was thick, almost tasting metallic. She shivered, touching her shoulder where the wound still burned.
Seraphine stepped closer to Gerard, her voice low. "You should not have brought her here. This changes everything."
Gerard's eyes flickered toward her. "It was unavoidable. She is part of this now. The oath must be taken."
Seraphine's lips curved into a faint, cold smile. "Then let's see if she is worthy."
The chamber was silent save for the distant hum of voices beyond the stone walls. A throne of blackened steel sat at the far end of the room. Behind it stood a figure whose presence seemed older than time itself — the High Regent of the Blood Court.
He turned his glowing red eyes toward Adrian. "You bring an outsider into the oath chamber. Do you not fear the consequences?"
Adrian met his gaze evenly. "She chose this. She stood in my place tonight. That is more than enough reason."
The High Regent's eyes shifted to Elena. "Child of mortal birth, marked by blood. You have been chosen, whether you understand it or not. Do you accept what comes?"
Elena swallowed hard, her mind racing. "What comes?"
"The oath," the Regent replied. "The binding of blood. The acceptance of your place in this war. Once spoken, it can never be undone."
Adrian's hand brushed against Elena's shoulder. "You are not alone in this. I'll stand by you."
She looked into his golden eyes, searching for reassurance. "What if I'm not ready?"
"You are," he said simply.
The High Regent's voice cut through the silence. "Then speak it."
Elena's breath caught. She felt the weight of every gaze upon her, every breath in the room a test. Her mind flashed back to the night before — to the bridge, the clash of steel, the moment she stepped forward and bled for another.
"I accept," she said finally, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart.
A wave of energy filled the chamber, cold and electric. The runes on the walls glowed brighter, their light pulsing in rhythm with Elena's heartbeat. Blood rose like ink within the air, swirling around her feet.
Gerard stepped forward, producing a ceremonial blade carved with runes older than the city. "Then let the oath be sealed."
Seraphine's expression darkened. "This will bind her to us. And to all the dangers ahead."
Adrian stepped beside Elena, his posture protective. "Whatever comes, we face it together."
Elena's eyes swept the chamber. She could feel the gravity of her choice settling deep within her. Her world had shifted irreversibly.
The blade touched her palm, cold as ice. A single drop of blood welled from her wound. Gerard took it and pressed it to the runes. They flared in red light, burning with ancient power.
The High Regent's voice resonated in the chamber. "The oath is bound. So it is written. So it shall be."
Elena gasped, the energy coursing through her like fire and ice intertwined. Her vision blurred, and the world seemed to tilt. When it steadied, she felt different — sharper, heavier, aware.
Adrian looked at her, his eyes reflecting something unreadable. "You're one of us now."
Seraphine's lips curled in a knowing smile. "The game has only begun."
Outside the chamber, in the halls of the Blood Court, shadows moved. Whispers passed from figure to figure. Somewhere in the dark, the word spread — the mortal had taken the oath.
And the war would never be the same.
The Blood Court was a place where silence was louder than any cry.Elena stepped through the towering gates once more, her mind still reeling from the oath she had sworn. The crimson glow of the chamber lingered in her vision like a mark branded onto her soul.
Adrian followed closely, his boots silent against the marble floor. Gerard moved behind them, his expression unreadable, while Seraphine lingered at the back, her eyes narrowing like a predator sensing prey.
"This way," Adrian murmured, leading Elena deeper into the heart of the Blood Court.
The hall was vast, its ceilings lost in shadow. Figures draped in crimson robes watched them pass, their faces hidden, their silence an unspoken warning. The air was thick with the scent of iron and old blood — an ancient perfume of power and sacrifice.
Gerard stepped beside Elena. "The oath you swore is not just words. It binds you to a truth you do not yet understand."
Elena looked at him, confusion and fear mingling in her expression. "What truth?"
Gerard's eyes were grave. "That there is a war within the Blood Court. One that you are now part of."
Seraphine stepped forward, her voice smooth and cutting. "Do not pretend ignorance, Gerard. She knows enough already. The question is whether she will survive what comes next."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Enough. She needs clarity, not discord."
Gerard turned his gaze to Adrian, then to Elena. "Clarity will come in time. But know this — your presence here disrupts a fragile balance. There are those who will use you. And those who will wish you dead."
Elena swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their words settle upon her shoulders.
Seraphine's voice echoed through the hall. "If she is to stand among us, she must prove her worth."
Adrian glanced at her sharply. "You are not her judge."
Seraphine's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Perhaps. But I am a witness to what she will face."
The chamber ahead shifted, revealing a spiraling staircase leading down into darkness. The air was heavier here, pulsing with an unseen heartbeat.
"This is the Trial of the Eclipse," Gerard said softly. "Blood calls to blood here. Only those who endure will stand."
Elena felt fear and resolve intertwine within her. "What will I face?"
"A test of your spirit," Seraphine said. "Of your will. And of your blood."
Before Elena could reply, Adrian stepped beside her, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "Whatever comes, I will be there."
She looked at him, a spark of determination in her eyes. "Then I will not fail."
The air grew colder as they descended. Shadows clung to the walls like living things, whispering Elena's name. The staircase opened into a labyrinth — a vast underground arena lined with carved runes that glowed faintly red.
Figures moved in the darkness, their forms shifting between beast and man. Elena could sense their eyes on her, their intent sharp and hungry.
"This is where the oath tests you," Gerard said. "It is not just strength that matters, but the will to stand."
Adrian's voice was low. "Trust yourself."
The first trial came swiftly. A shadow stepped from the darkness — a warrior cloaked in black, its eyes glowing crimson. Without hesitation, it lunged.
Adrian moved to intercept, but Elena stepped forward. Her palm flared with light as the oath's mark burned. She moved instinctively, blocking and striking. Steel clashed. Her senses sharpened, each movement flowing as if guided by something ancient within her.
Adrian watched, surprised. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"
Elena didn't answer. Her focus was absolute. The warrior's attack faltered. With a final strike, she drove it back into the darkness. Silence followed, broken only by her heavy breathing.
As they moved deeper into the labyrinth, Seraphine's voice echoed in Elena's mind. "You do not belong here. They use you, child. Do you not see?"
Gerard's voice followed. "Better to stand with us than be prey."
Elena's steps faltered. Doubt gnawed at her. But Adrian's hand remained on her shoulder, grounding her.
They reached a chamber where Seraphine confronted Gerard directly. "You would let her take the oath without knowing the truth?" she demanded.
Gerard's expression was unreadable. "The truth will reveal itself in time. She must prove herself first."
Seraphine stepped closer, her tone low and dangerous. "And if she fails? Will you protect her then?"
Gerard said nothing. His silence was louder than any answer.
Finally, they reached the heart of the labyrinth — a vast circular chamber beneath the city, its walls carved with the history of the Blood Court. At its center lay a pool of blood that pulsed like a living heart.
"This is the Eclipse," Gerard said. "The moment where truth and fate collide."
Adrian turned to Elena. "You decide your path here."
She stepped forward, the air thick with anticipation. The oath mark on her palm glowed fiercely. She felt every heartbeat, every breath in the chamber, as if the blood itself spoke to her.
A sudden voice broke the silence — Seraphine. "This is your choice, Elena. To stand with us… or be cast out into darkness."
Elena's eyes met Adrian's. "I choose to stand."
The chamber roared with sound. Blood rose around her, wrapping her in a living tide. The oath burned in her veins.
The Blood Eclipse had begun.