The Cradle of the Moon wasn't a place—at least not at first glance. It was an ancient scar across the earth, a hollowed basin carved by forces too old to name. Twisted trees lined the rim like sentinels, their branches reaching for the blood-red sky. Mist clung to every surface, turning breath into frost.
Aria stood at the edge of the ridge, her red hair glowing like a flicker of fire in the shadows. Her wolf senses prickled with unease.
Below, in the heart of the Cradle, a circle of stone monoliths jutted from the ground like fangs. Symbols pulsed faintly on their surfaces—runes of the old world.
"They're already here," Raekon said, voice grim.
In the distance, dark figures moved like phantoms.
---
They descended slowly, each step feeling like it disturbed something sacred. Something buried.
"Do you feel it?" Aria asked quietly.
Kael, beside her, nodded. His silver eyes gleamed, but his body was tense.
"It's watching us."
"Or waiting."
---
As they reached the outer ring, Seraphine emerged from the mist, cloak flowing like ink.
"They're inside," she said. "The vampires breached the inner sanctum two hours ago. They're trying to awaken the Voidborn."
Raekon cursed. "That seal was never meant to be opened. Not even by gods."
Seraphine turned to Aria. "This is your trial now. If you go in, you might not come out."
Kael stepped forward. "She's not going alone."
Nyla and Lyra flanked him with silent resolve.
Aria looked at her friends—her family—and nodded. "Then let's stop them before it's too late."
---
The sanctum was a cavern beneath the Cradle, sealed for millennia by magic and blood. As they entered, the walls shimmered with an unnatural light. The air was thick, buzzing with latent power.
Vampires circled a massive altar in the center. Bound by silver chains, a creature writhed in the center—a humanoid form with wings of shadow and eyes like eclipses.
"The Voidborn," Raekon breathed.
Aria's heart seized. It wasn't fully awake—but it was close. Too close.
One of the vampire priests turned, eyes wide.
"Stop them!" he shrieked.
The chamber erupted in chaos.
---
Nyla flipped into battle like a whirlwind, her blades dancing through the mist. Lyra let arrows fly with deadly precision. Kael shifted mid-leap, his massive dark wolf form slamming into the vampire guards.
Aria surged forward, her power blazing. Light and flame erupted from her palms, searing runes into the ground as she pushed toward the altar.
"Break the circle!" Raekon shouted. "They're binding him with stolen Moonbound blood!"
Aria recognized it—her own blood, siphoned long ago by Mircella. Used now to unlock something ancient.
"Not anymore," she growled.
She flung her magic into the circle. The ground cracked. Runes exploded in a wave of heat.
The Voidborn screamed—a sound that ripped through the soul.
Aria staggered, clutching her head. Visions surged again:
A throne of bones.
Kael bleeding in her arms.
The world burning beneath a second moon.
"No," she whispered. "I won't let that happen."
---
Kael howled and tore through the last of the vampire guards. Blood slicked his fur, but his eyes found Aria.
She stood at the altar, her arms raised, calling down both moonlight and fire. Her red hair floated around her like a burning halo.
The Voidborn turned to her, chained but awakening.
"You are like me," it said in her mind. "Shadow and light. Release me, and I will spare you."
Aria's lip curled. "You would burn the world."
"So will you. When they betray you. When they fear you. When they break you."
She stepped forward. "Maybe. But I'll burn for the right reason."
And with a scream, she poured her power into the seal.
---
The chains cracked.
The altar exploded.
The Voidborn wailed.
Then—
A blinding flash of silver-blue light filled the sanctum.
And silence followed.
---
When Aria awoke, she was alone in a field of starlight.
A figure approached. A woman—elegant, radiant, red-haired like her.
"Lunaria?" Aria whispered.
The woman smiled. "You have done well, child. But this is not over."
Aria blinked. "Did I stop it?"
"For now. You sealed the Voidborn deeper. But its echo lives in you."
"Can I ever be free?"
Lunaria touched her chest. "You already are. You chose love over fear. Light over power."
Aria closed her eyes.
When she opened them, Kael's face was above her, worried.
"You're back," he whispered.
"I always come back to you."
They embraced, as the moonlight above softened from blood-red to silver.
But deep in the shadows…
Celene watched, cloak fluttering, eyes glowing violet.
And she smiled.
To be continued ...