Volume 1: Bloody Wedding
Chapter 1: Embers of Ash
Prince Adrian Vladimir of Evernight Castle stood before the moonlit ruins, a charred silver chain entwined around his fingers, with a half-melted rose gold pendant hanging at the end. Three weeks ago, a holy-fire-filled attack had engulfed this suburban manor, taking away his newly transformed bride, Isabella.
"Your Highness, sorrow cannot bring her back." A deep voice sounded from behind. Mortis, an ancient bloodline sorcerer clad in a black robe, silently appeared. "The blood of a Daywalker is incomparably precious, and her passing is a great loss. "
Adrian's scarlet eyes were filled with pain as he said, "She's afraid of fire... Why did she insist on coming here that night..."
A strange light flashed in Mortis's eyes: "There is a forbidden spell in dark magic that may... reshape eternity."
Chapter 2: Shaping the Blood Cocoon
In the underground altar, the obsidian coffin was filled with thick, viscous blood. Motis chanted ancient incantations, and the swarm of bats transformed into a dark mist, merging with the pale corpse inside the coffin.
"The Bloodline Resurrection Spell violates the laws of nature," Mortis's voice echoed in the chamber, "using the blood of the Ancestor as a guide and memory as a blueprint to reshape the body. But be warned - she will have no soul, just an empty shell."
Adrian cut his wrist and the dark red blood dripped into the coffin: "From tonight onwards, your name shall be Celeste. Celeste Vladimir."
When the violet eyes, identical to Isabella's, opened, Adrian's heart suddenly contracted. Her pure gaze reflected his distorted reflection, and she softly called out, "My prince?"
Chapter 3: The Perfect Substitute
A grand dinner was held at the Evernight Castle to celebrate the "recovery and return" of the princess.
Celeste learned to mimic Isabella's demeanor, donning her favorite dark red velvet dress, and even perfectly replicating her little habits when playing the piano. Adrian sat beside her, but his gaze pierced through her, fixed on the phantom in the void.
"Isabella never laughs like this." He suddenly pinched her wrist, the force causing her pain. "Her smile is restrained, not the... unbridled curve like yours."
Celeste lowered her head in panic, tears of blood welling up in her eyes. "Please forgive my mistake..."
Late at night, she stood alone under the Gothic stained-glass window, stroking her face and murmuring, "Who am I, exactly?"
In the reflection on the glass, it seemed as if a bat's wing shadow flashed by.
Volume 2: Suspicions in the Dark Night
Chapter 4: The First Signs of Rift
Changes are beginning to occur quietly.
Celeste secretly planted a garden full of blood-red roses in the west wing of the castle - Isabella hated these flowers the most, considering them gaudy and vulgar, but she adored their dark red, blood-like hue.
She often whispers to the crows under the moonlight at midnight. These fragments, carried by the night breeze to Adrian's ears, are all fragmented dreams: burning sacred flames, swarms of bats, and the screams of a woman ..
Meanwhile, a series of gruesome murders occurred in the territory. Several villagers were found with dried blood all over their bodies, exquisite teeth marks on their necks, and a strange expression of intoxication on their faces.
Victor, the leader of the night patrol team, discovered a family emblem of the Evernight Castle at the scene.
Chapter 5: Old Love and New Enmity
Countess Lilith, Adrian's former lover, has always aspired to become the mistress of Evernight Castle. After Isabella's death, she thought her opportunity had arrived, but unexpectedly, another "Celeste" appeared.
"You've been deceived by this fake!" She burst into the study and slammed the murder report down on the table. "All these deaths occurred after her 'recovery'!"
Adrian flipped through the report, his face gloomy. That night, he had witnessed her sleepwalking to the terrace, her fingertips swirling with blood-colored mist, attracting swarms of bats to dance around her.
Chapter 6: Blood Curse
Celeste discovered strange dark red patterns emerging on her collarbone, becoming increasingly distinct with each passing day. In the castle's secret chamber, she stumbled upon an ancient tome that unveiled the truth behind the "rebirth of the bloodline": "Feeding on emotions, awakening when true feelings are stirred, and turning against its master..."
Just as she was shocked, Mortis appeared like a ghost.
"Has madam been having frequent nightmares recently?" the wizard asked with a meaningful smile. "Dreams are not illusory, but echoes of memories."
He left behind a black perfumed sachet: "If you wish to know the truth, meet me at midnight tonight at the old manor."
Volume 3: Truth Eats the Heart
Chapter 7: The Conspiracy Unveiled
The ruins under the moonlight exuded an aura of death. Mortis revealed a shocking truth:
"The attack three weeks ago was orchestrated by Lilith. She was jealous of Isabella and colluded with hunters to set the fire."
"And Isabella, she's not really dead."
He waved his hand, conjuring a blood curtain, revealing an underground altar within it - Isabella was imprisoned in a sarcophagus by vampire runes!
"I saved her, but her blood core has been damaged and requires the emotional energy of a blood descendant substitute to recover."
"You are the vessel, Celeste. When you truly fall in love with the Prince, that will be the day of Isabella's rebirth."
Chapter 8: Bloody Choice
Adrian stepped out from the shadows, his face as pale as snow, and said, "Mortis, how dare you..."
The old wizard laughed loudly, "Why do you think the substitute is perfect, Your Highness? Because she is originally transformed from a fragment of Isabella's blood core! I just modified her memory..."
Celeste stumbled backwards, tears and blood sliding down her face, and asked, "So my feelings... are all fake?"
Adrienne's sharp claws were fully revealed, yet she was trembling. As she gazed at Celeste's face, which bore a striking resemblance to her beloved wife, she recalled her laughter while planting roses and the tenderness with which she cared for the injured nightingale ..
Which one is the real one?
Chapter 9: A Sudden Change Under the Moon
Suddenly, torches around them lit up brightly! Lilith led the vampire hunters to surround the ruins and shouted, "Kill this demonic creation!"
Silver arrows rained down, and amidst the melee, an arrow made of mystic silver pierced straight for Adrian's heart!
"No!" Celeste pushed him away, and the arrow pierced her chest.
Blood gushed out, and the pattern on her collarbone suddenly glowed!
"I've said before..." She spat out blood as she looked at Adrian, "I love you... not the phantom..."
Countless blood bats erupted from her body, dyeing the night sky a dark red ..
Volume 4: Eternal Love
Chapter 10: Blood Core Awakening
Amidst the swarm of blood bats, Celeste hovered in the air, her black hair dancing wildly. Memories flooded back - she was both a fragment of Isabella's blood core and the legendary "Child of the Blood Moon"! The resurrection spell did not create a substitute, but awakened her true power!
Mortis is the mastermind behind the scenes: he imprisoned Isabella, tampered with her memories, and attempted to seize the "Heart of the Blood Moon".
"Our encounter was never a coincidence." Celeste's fingertips condensed into a bloody glow, "You coveted power and killed my people. Tonight, it's time to pay the debt."
Chapter 11: The Final Decision
Motis cast a spell, and Isabella in the sarcophagus let out a painful groan!
"Hand over the Heart of the Blood Moon!" Mortis sneered, "or she will be completely dispelled!"
Adrian was torn between two people. On one side was his beloved first wife, and on the other was Celeste, who had captured his heart.
Celeste was unusually calm: "Save her, Adrian. She is your eternal bride."
She was prepared to sacrifice herself to save Isabella.
"No!" Adrian hugged her tightly. "I won't lose you again! I want to save both of us!"
Chapter 12: Eternal Blood Moon
Adrian's embrace triggered the Blood Moon Heart, enveloping the three of them in a red glow. Within the radiance, Isabella's Blood Core merged with Celeste's, forming a brand-new existence.
She opened her eyes, her features still exquisite like Isabella's, yet with a wildness reminiscent of Celeste, and a blood moon swirling in her eyes.
"Victor!" she called out clearly.
The night patrol team rushed in and captured Mortis and Lilith.
"Take him back to the dungeons of Evernight Castle!"
Finale: Eternal Bride
The Nightfort has regained its former majesty, and the roses in the western wing are blooming even more splendidly.
After Adrian fully recovered, they stood on the castle terrace overlooking the territory.
"Adrian," she tilted her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling with a sly glint, "Am I now the person you initially fell in love with? Do you still love me?"
The prince embraced her in his arms and kissed her sharp fangs:
"What I love is not a certain name, nor a certain memory."
"It's the elegance of Isabella, the passion of Celeste, and the soul that becomes more complete after experiencing life and death."
"It's you, only you. With the blood moon as a witness, this love is eternal."
She smiled in his embrace, with all the past merging into the eternal blood-colored moonlight.
(End)