CHAPTER ONE: THE HOLLOW BECKONS
The wind howled like a beast untamed, sweeping through the crooked trees that lined the path into Bloodshade Hollow. wrapping around twisted roots and forgotten stones. Even the moon dared not shine too brightly here. Its silver face was hidden behind dark clouds, casting only faint shines upon the forest's shade.
Liliana Vale stepped lightly, her boots grinding softly on the wet leaves. Her breath blurred before her, fragile and fleeting in the night air. The lantern she carried blinks with every gust of wind, barely enough to light her way. But she pressed forward, holding tight the worn map in her hand an old parchment passed down through generations in her family. Most said the Hollow didn't exist. That it was a myth, a place spoken of only to frighten children into staying close to home. But Liliana knew better.
Her brother lay in their cottage, burn up and fading. The village herbal shop had long since given up, and Liliana had no choice but to believe the stories stories of a rare crimson herb said to grow only in the Hollow, under the shadow of the ancient vampire's keep. It was madness to enter this place. But if there was the slightest chance she could save him, she would risk everything.
The deeper she dive in the more the forest changed. The trees grew taller, there was sound the birds chirping, the tree grew bigger and their branches twisting like skeletal fingers. Strange murmurs echoed around her low, grunting whispers that seemed to move with the wind. The Hollow was alive.
After what felt like hours of navigating thick bush and crossing silent, moonlit streams, she finally saw it: a clearing bathed in soft red light. In its center stood a single plant, blood-red leaves shaking in the complete silences. It was the herb.
Liliana stepped forward cautiously, heart shaking. As her fingers reached for the stem, a low roar echoed behind her, she adjusted her lantern to see what it may be.
Eyes glowing, red eyes, stared at her from the shadows. A shape appeared tall and overcoat moving with supernatural charm. The figure stepped into the moonlight, and her breath caught in her throat.
He was beautiful in a terrifying, otherworldly way pale as marble, with raven-black hair that flowed to his shoulders and eyes that glowed like red gem. A dark leather coat gripped to his large physique, engraved with ancient symbols. But it was his presence, cold and commanding, that stole the air from her lungs.Who dares trespass in the Hollow? he asked, voice deep as the tomb and smooth as silk.
Liliana steadied her voice. I I'm here for the Crimson Bloom. My brother is dying. I didn't mean any harm.Every soul who enters this place means harm, the man replied. Even if they lie to themselves about their intentions.
I don't care what you think, she shattered, lifting her head. "I'll die in this forest before I let him suffer another day. There was a pause. Something unreadable blinks in the man's eyes. He stepped closer, and she saw his fangs. You have courage," he murmured. And recklessness. That makes you interesting.
Liliana didn't flinch. "Who are you?"
A small smile curved his lips, sharp and cruel. I am Klaus. Lord of Bloodshade Hollow. Ruler of the last pure vampire bloodline. And you, little thing, have stepped into my dominion uninvited.
Liliana's pulse raced. The name was legend Dracula himself. Her legs screamed to flee, but her pride fixed her in place.
I didn't come here for fairy tales. I came for the plant. You think I let mortals take what they please? Klaus tilted his head. "That flower grows from blood-soaked earth. Every petal fed by the souls I've claimed.
Then I'll offer mine, she said, her voice trembling. Let me take it. When my brother is safe, I'll return. You can have my life.
Klaus studied her, expression unreadable. The silence stretched long, broken only by the gentle rustling of the leaves. Finally, he moved forward and plucked the flower himself. He held it out to her, his fingers cold as ice when they brushed hers.
You are brave, he said softly. But your life is not a currency I care for.
Liliana blinked. Then… why give it to me?
Because I haven't been curious about a mortal in a very, very long time.
Before she could speak, the world shifted. A rush of wind coiled around them, and everything faded into darkness.
She awoke in a chamber lit by candlelight. Stone walls lined with velvet drapes rose around her, and a great arched window overlooked a blood-colored lake that shimmered beneath the moon. She sat up quickly, heart thundering. Easy, a voice said. Klaus stood at the window, arms crossed. "You passed out. Most do after meeting me. Liliana scowled. You kidnapped me.
You trespassed, he countered. And now you're mine. She stared at him, fury burning. You said I could go. I said I wasn't interested in your life, Klaus corrected. I never said you were free. You're insane.
Perhaps, he said, stepping closer. But you interest me. And in my world, that means something.
She wanted to scream, to fight—but her limbs felt heavy. And the herb, the Crimson Bloom, still rested on the bedside table. That meant her brother could live. That meant she had time. You can lock me in your tower, she said, forcing calm into her voice. But I'm not afraid of you.
Klaus move closer to her, so close she could smell the faint coppery trace of blood on his breath. You should be. She met his gaze. Then kill me. He smirked, turning away. No. Death is too final. I think I'll keep you. Liliana suppressed her reaction, rage and fear dancing inside her like fire. She wouldn't be his prisoner. She would find a way out. But first she had to survive this place. And him. From outside, the wolves began to howl. Somewhere deep in the halls of Crimson Keep, the blood bell tolled, summoning creatures of the night. Liliana gripped tightly her palm.She had entered the Hollow. And now, the game had begun.
BLOOD AND STONE
The nights in Bloodshade Hollow were unlike anything Liliana had ever known. The darkness wasn't just absence of light it was a living thing. It sneaked in along the castle walls, whispered through cracks in the stone, and breathed through the long-forgotten halls of Crimson Keep.
Liliana awoke the next evening, if it could even be called that. Time had no place here. The curtains drawn across the massive windows glowed a dull red, hinting that the blood moon still hung heavy in the sky. A tray of food sat untouched near the door cutlery neatly placed, the portions small but classy. Fruit, cheese, bread, and a glass of red that she feared wasn't wine.
She ignored it and walked instead to the tall mirror near the warming fire spot. Her reflection looked faded and used. Dark curls framed her face, and her eyes once bright green were now dulled by sleepless nights and fear. But deeper than fear… was anger. And curiosity.
The chamber door made a noise before opening, before she could turn. A covered figure stood at the entrance. It wasn't Klaus.
The man was lean and tall, with smooth dark hair and golden brown eyes that sparkles in darkness. His clothes were finely made, he was fit. But something about him felt dangerous like a snake ready to make a strike.
"You're the mortal," he said, I expected something more… impressive.
Liliana raised an eyebrow. And you are?
Dorian Vex, he said with a mocking bow. Second to Klaus. Commander of his Crimson Guard. And, apparently, your babysitter. She folded her arms. "He sent you to threaten me? No, Dorian said, stepping inside. "He sent me to escort you. He wants you in the Hall of Shadows."
Why? He smiled, all teeth. It's either he wants to talk with you. or feed. Who knows with him? Despite herself, Liliana followed. She refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing her afraid.
The corridors of Crimson Keep were breathtaking and terrifying. Grand textiles art lined on the walls, representing forgotten wars between vampires and hunters. There were statues of ancient monarchs fangs revealed, weapons bloodied and paintings that seemed to watch her as she passed. The entire place stinks of power and history, of rituals and silence.
Dorian said nothing more, but she felt his eyes on her the entire walk.
Finally, they arrived.
The Hall of Shadows was huge and circular, its walls lined with stained glass windows that bleeds crimson light across the stone floor. At its center stood Klaus, wraps in black, one hand resting on the gripped of a sword inserted in the ground.
"You came," he said without looking up.
"As if I had a choice," Liliana speaks softly.
He turned slowly, eyes locking into hers. "You always have a choice. Even here."
"Then let me go."
A pause. Klaus stepped forward, boots echoing across the hall. "What would you do if I did?"
"I'd run."
"Would you return to your brother?" he asked. "Or would you run from yourself?"
Liliana's face frown. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"You're not just anyone, Liliana Vale," Klaus said, circling her slowly. "Your blood isn't human. Not entirely."
She took a step back. "That's ridiculous."
"I tested it," he continued. "When you slept. It sings with power old power. Ancestral. Hunter's blood. Seer's blood."
"No. That's not possible."
"It is. And it explains why you could enter this place and survive," Klaus said, voice calm. "Why the Crimson Bloom responded to your touch."
"I don't want any part of that."
"You don't have a choice in what you are," he said, barely avoiding her. "Only in how you use it."
The words struck something in her, a deep scenerio she didn't understand. She thought of the strange dreams, the whispers in the woods, the visions that had come in flashes since her childhood. Things she'd pushed away.
"I want to go home," she said quietly.
"Then drink," he said, pointing to the cup Dorian now held. "It will restore your strength. And dull your fear."
She hesitated. "Is it blood?"
"It's not yours," Klaus replied, amused.
With shaking hands, she took the cup and drank. It was thick, sweet, and spiced with something she couldn't name. When she finished, comfort spread through her veins strange but comforting.
"You are caught between two worlds," Klaus said, watching her closely. "You came here for life, and found a door into death. What you do now matters more than you understand."
"Why me?" she spoke softly. "Why do you care?"
He stepped closer again, his voice low and honest. "Because I see something in you. A restorer of the humanity I thought I lost. And because prophecy is a blade, and you, Liliana, are its edge."
She stared at him, heart racing. He wasn't just a monster. He was something more. Something ancient and broken.
"You keep talking about prophecy. But I never asked for this." Prophecies never ask, Klaus replied. They choose.
He turned away then, walking toward the far wall, where a wall painting of an old battle stretched across the stone.
"Tomorrow, I will take you to the Sanctuary," he said. "Where the bloodstone rests. You must see what you are. And decide what you will become."
She didn't respond.
As Dorian led her away, she glanced back once. Klaus stood alone below the red light, his shadow long and silent.
Something about that image haunted her long after the door closed behind them.
That night, Liliana dreamt.
She stood in a field of fire, bodies piled around her. The sky was torn open, and a woman who looked just like her stood at the center eyes glowing, hands outstretched. Behind her, Klaus knelt, blood dripping from his mouth. And beside them… a boy with her brother's face, but fangs in his mouth.
She woke with a scream, soaked in sweat. The Hollow was changing her. And something deep within her… was waking up.
THE PROPHECY'S FLAMES
The Sanctuary was unlike any place Liliana had seen, even within the unsettling weirdness of Bloodshade Hollow.
It lay below Crimson Keep, accessible only through a spiral stair hidden behind a centuries-old bookcase. Klaus led the way, torch in hand, the only sound the distant rumble of something ancient breathing below the earth. Dorian didn't follow this time. Selene, the blood priestess, joined them in silence, her face unreadable below a dark hood.
The stair descended for what felt like miles, the air growing colder with every step. Finally, they came out into a large cave lit by veins of glowing red crystal inserted in the walls. At the center stood the Bloodstone a jagged altar vibrating with energy, suspended above a pool of black water.
Liliana's breath caught. The moment she stepped into the chamber, the Bloodstone burst out. A voice echoed in her mind not in words, but feeling. Power. Heat. Memory. Klaus stepped aside, allowing her to approach. "Place your hand on it," he said. "What happens if I do?"
Selene spoke for the first time. "You see what was. What could be. And who you truly are." Liliana swallowed hard and reached out. Her fingertips brushed the stone. A flash,then everything vanished.
She stood in a world of fire. It wasn't a dream. It wasn't vision. It was truth.
All around her, vampires burned. Screaming. Dying. A city crumbled under a sky split by lightning. Above it all, she stood soaked in blood, her hands glowing with golden light.Then another vision.
Klaus on his knees before her bleeding, broken, whispering her name like a prayer. Behind him, Dorian stood with a blade, ready to strike. But she screamed, and time itself bent backward. Then… silence.
Liliana fell to her knees, heart pounding. The vision receded, but its heat remained.
She turned to Klaus. "I saw… everything."
"You are the flame," Selene said. "The one who chooses the fate of the immortal bloodline." Liliana shook her head. "I didn't ask for this."
"Neither did I," Klaus said, stepping forward. "But fate doesn't care. It only moves forward." There was a sudden scream above them followed by an explosion of stone and flame. Dorian, The traitor had made his move.By the time they reached the upper levels of the keep, Crimson Guard lay slain across the floors, their blood smeared across banners and stairwells.
Lucien had returned, along with rogue vampires hungry for chaos. They burst through windows and doorways, surrounding the Sanctuary's outer halls. But Liliana didn't panic. She moved closer to Klaus, torch in hand, heart shaking not with fear but clarity.
"You shouldn't be here," Klaus growled as he cut apart through two attackers with one sweeping motion of his blade. "Stay below. "This is my prophecy too," she said. "You said I had a choice. This is it."
He stared at her eyes powerfully, protective but nodded once. Together, they fought side by side.lucien appeared near the blood fountain, blood-soaked and smiling. "Dracula," he hissed. "The throne should've been mine."
"You were weak," Klaus said. "Your heart clouded your vision."
"And yours is now?" Lucien mocked, eyes taping to Liliana. "You're letting a mortal lead you to ruin."
"No," Klaus replied. "I'm letting her lead me to rebirth."
Lucien rushed.
Klaus blocked him, steel clashing with fury. The two vampires moved like thunder and lightning brutal and fast, fighting across the hall in a fast of strikes.
But Dorian appeared behind Liliana.
"I warned you," he whispered, seizing her throat.
"Let her go!" Klaus roared, but Lucien struck him from behind, driving a dagger into his side.
Liliana choked, vision fading but the Bloodstone's fire returned in her veins.
She closed her eyes.
The stone had shown her this.
With a scream, she grabbed Dorian's arm, and his flesh burned. He screamed, falling back as golden fire poured from her hands.
"I'm done being hunted," she said.
Dorian staggered but before he could flee, Klaus rose, blood trailing down his mouth.
"You betrayed me," he said, walking slowly toward him. "Not for power. But for envy. For emptiness."
"I was loyal," Dorian snarled. "Until you forgot what it meant to be a ruler."
"You're right," Klaus said. "Because I became something more."
Then he drove his sword through Dorian's heart.
The rogue collapsed.
Lucien screamed in rage and charged Klaus, but Liliana stood between them now, palms glowing.
"I don't want to kill you," she said.
Lucien hesitated.
She showed him the vision just a flicker and he saw himself at the end of the world, alone, fangs rotting, crying blood.
He dropped to his knees.
"I don't want that," he whispered.
"Then leave," Liliana said. "And never return."
After the battle, Crimson Keep stood bloodied but still.
Selene oversaw the burning of old texts, the blood laws destroyed with fire and ash.
Lucien vanished into exile, broken but alive. Liliana stood at the edge of the lake with Klaus, her reflection calm in the crimson waters.
"You've saved us," he said.
"I'm not sure I saved anything," she replied. "Maybe I just… helped it change."
Klaus took her hand. "That's more than any of us ever did."
He held out a vial. Inside was glowing silver-red liquid. "Drink this," he said. "If you wish to stay. If you wish to become what I am."
She stared at it.
"I was afraid of you once," she whispered. "And now… I'm afraid of losing you." Klaus didn't move. "Then choose. And let that choice be yours."
Liliana held the vial.
She thought of her brother was now safe. Of the villagers who would live without fear.
Of the keep, no longer a tomb. Then she drank. That night, the stars above Bloodshade Hollow burned brighter.