The night Aurelia Nyx arrived at Noctaryn domionion ,the sky refused to show stars.
The fortress stood craved into the mountain side,black stones rising like a crown of blades. To humans,it did not exist.
To the creatures inside it was law .
Vampires ruled the night halls werewolves guarded the forest borders.
They did not mix
They endured
Until she walked in.
The great iron gate opened with a slow echoing groan.
Aurelia stepped across the threshold,boots striking stone that felt colder then it should have been .
Every conversation stopped
Vampire along the balcony inhale sharply
Werewolves near the pillar stiffened
Aurelia felt it - not welcome assesment.
A tall figure descended the central
Stair case .
Damien Vyron
Leader of the vampire students
History presence was not loud . It was controlled.
Precise. The kind of power that didn't need to prove itself
History crimson eyes studied her once
Then again.
"State your lineage",he said evenly
The question felt older than the buliding itself.
"I'm human , Aurelia replied.
werewolf near the wall let out a low scoff.
Ryker Thorne stepped forward, silver eyes sharp but not hostile — calculating.
"No human crosses this gate without consequence," he said.
Aurelia's pulse quickened.
And the torches flickered.
The sound echoed through the hall — not a heartbeat.
Two.
For the briefest second, every predator in the room went still.
Damien's gaze sharpened.
"Interesting," he murmured.
Aurelia's hands trembled at her sides. She didn't understand what had just happened.
But they did.
High Chancellor Malric's voice cut through the silence from the upper balcony.
"She remains."
The command was final.
Which meant she was not a mistake.
She was expected.
That made things worse.
The moonlight touched her skin and something inside her answered.
Her chest tightened.
Her reflection shifted.
For one heartbeat—
Her right eye flashed silver.
Her left flashed crimson.
The mirror cracked down the center.
A howl rose from the forest below.
And beneath Noctaryn Dominion, in a sealed chamber lined with ancient stone—
The Empty Throne ignited.
faint red glow traced the carved crown upon it.
High Priest Maltheus stepped back in horror.
"The Blood Eclipse approaches."
Lady Vaeloria's voice trembled despite herself.
"The heir…"
On the highest balcony, Damien stood alone.
Wind moved through his dark coat.
He had felt it clearly.
Not just vampire.
Not just wolf.
Both.
The prophecy echoed in his mind:
When fang and claw are born as one,
The crownless heir shall rise in flame.
His eyes flickered — not red.
Gold.
Just for a moment.
"She is the beginning," he said quietly.
Behind him, unseen in the darkness beyond the forest line—
Zareth the Eternal opened his eyes.
And smiled.