CHAPTER 10
Morning came without peace.
The world moved like it didn't care who died or who broke overnight. Sunlight slipped through windows. Birds sang. Life continued. And that made everything feel worse.
Maya lay on the bed, pale, breathing slow. Too slow.
Ethan sat on the floor beside her, back against the wall, eyes red, hands shaking. He had not slept. He barely blinked. Every time Maya's chest rose, he relaxed just a little. Every time it fell, his heart jumped.
Luna also stood near the door, arms wrapped around herself.
She felt empty again. Not the quiet empty. The dangerous one.
Miss Harper moved around the room, placing small charms, lines of salt, old symbols drawn in chalk that shimmered faintly before settling into the floor.
"She's stable," Miss Harper said finally. "For now."
"For now?" Luna echoed.
Miss Harper looked at her. Really looked. "Maya's blood has been awake for generations without knowing it. What happened last night forced it open."
Ethan stood. "So what now."
"Now," Miss Harper said softly, "she becomes a target."
Luna's stomach dropped.
Across the city, black stone towers rose into the sky.
The vampire court was already awake.
Dorian stood alone in the center of the chamber.
No guards beside him. No allies. Just cold stone and colder eyes.
King Vaelor sat above, unmoving. Around him were elders, nobles, watchers. And near the shadows, silent and smiling, stood Lord Malvex.
A messenger knelt.
"I saw it with my own eyes," the messenger said. "The vampire lord "Dorian" attacked the wolf Alpha on behave of a female human werewolf. First strike was from him."
Dorian's head snapped up. "That's a lie."
The messenger did not look at him. "He lost control. The wolf only defended himself."
Murmurs spread.
Malvex stepped forward. "This is unfortunate," he said calmly. "But the Blood Bound Law exists for moments like this. A vampire attacking a wolf so close to human territory? After a human death?"
Dorian laughed once. Sharp. "You're twisting it."
Malvex tilted his head. If I was twisting this you won't have known about the full death of the innocent wolf who died."
What is the relationship between the girl and the culprit, malvex asked the messenger?
Blood bound and also mother to child my LORD. the messenger said still looking down as Dorian ran speedily to slap the messenger as a sign of setup as he boils in anger...
Everywhere kept shivered as king vaelor stood immediately and as for everybody kept kneeling down as a sign of fear including malvex.
Silence fell.
"Dorian Nightshade," the king said. "You were warned. Again and again. Your attachment clouds your judgment."
"I was protecting the truth," Dorian snapped.
"You were fueling chaos," Vaelor replied.
Dorian clenched his fists. "Malvex is lying."
Malvex placed a hand on his chest. "I gain nothing from lies as old as I am."
Let the poor breathe as you all know Dorian is one of our root in this mansion, but it won't be funny if this boy later pay for what is happening and then finds out You're threatening him to punishment, one of the old council said to malvex.
That was when Dorian understood.
This was never about the fight.
This was about removing him.
Vaelor stood forward.
"You will be punished," the king said. "Not for intent. But for consequence."
The words hit harder than any blade to Dorian and everyone in this scene.
"Strip him of rank," one elder said.
"Confine him," another added.
Vaelor's gaze never left Dorian. "You will be bound. No feeding rights. No council voice. And you will remain under watch."
Dorian swallowed.
Then bowed his head.
"I accept."
Malvex smiled.
In the wolf territory, Aiden stood near the edge of the pack grounds, fists clenched, staring into nothing.
Rowan approached him quietly. "The vampires are restless."
"They always are," Aiden muttered.
Rowan hesitated. "You and Dorian… that fight changed things."
Aiden exhaled slowly. "That's what they wanted."
Rowan studied him. "You still trust the vampire."
"I trust the enemy I can see," Aiden said.
Rowan nodded once. "So do traitors."
Back at Luna's house, Maya stirred.
Her fingers twitched.
Then her eyes opened.
"Maya," Ethan breathed, grabbing her hand.
She looked confused. Afraid.
Then her gaze locked on Luna.
"Marcus," Maya whispered.
The room went dead silent.
Luna felt her blood freeze. "What did you say."
"I don't know why I know it," Maya said weakly. "But… he's not gone. He's screaming. And chains don't work the way they think."
Miss Harper closed her eyes.
"The second key," she murmured.
Luna's heart raced. "Key to what."
Miss Harper looked at her. "To ending this. Or destroying it."
Night fell again.
Guards escorted Dorian through underground halls where prisoners are been punished, chains glowing faintly around his wrists. Not silver. Not iron. Magic older than both.
The vampire in charge of punishment ordered "let the punishment begin"
In front of every single vampire in the scene including the king and the elders, Dorian is seen wiped 399 stokes of blades on his body as the last one landed on him heavily.
The chains was removed by one of them while Dorian felt heavily to the ground groaning, (blood over his head to toe) all his powers abandoned him there and couldn't even ulter a word.
They locked him into a chamber carved deep into stone.
The door shut.
Silence pressed in.
Then footsteps.
Luna stood there.
The guards hesitated.
"She's allowed," Vaelor's voice echoed from the corridor.
The door opened again.
Dorian lifted his head slowly.
When he saw Luna, something inside him cracked.
"You shouldn't be here," he said quietly.
"They punished you for protecting me," she replied.
"They punished me for loving you," he corrected.
She stepped closer.
"I don't regret it," he added.
She reached for his hands, ignoring the chains.
The diary burned against her side.
"I saw it," she whispered.
Dorian nodded. "And now he thinks I'm broken."
She looked up at him. "Are you."
He smiled faintly. "Not even close."
She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his.
It's was as like a heavy rain was about to start while breeze from nowhere was led to Thier midst.
For a moment, the world stopped choosing sides.
Above them, unseen, Malvex watched from the shadows of the court, satisfied.
The pieces were moving.
The lovers were divided.
The war was breathing.
And the diary, left open back home, wrote one final line on its own.
THE KING HAS MOVED
THE PRISONER WAITS
THE CHOICE DRAWS NEAR.