The vampire's eyes opened.
Milky whiteness swirled like fog.
At the center, a tiny red pinprick appeared and grew, spreading outward until twin crimson orbs blazed with otherworldly fire.
Ancient eyes. Patient eyes.
The gaze of something that had waited centuries for this moment.
A dry, cracking sound echoed through the cavern.
His lips pulled back into a smile. Pale. Thin. Stretched over yellowed teeth.
As he smiled, his body changed.
The mummified husk filled out. Grey skin gained color—pale, but alive. Bones became covered with thin flesh. He was still broken, still pathetic, but no longer a corpse.
He was alive.
His gaze swept the cavern. Over Dante's summons. Over the terrified princess. Then those burning eyes settled on Dante.
Pure joy flooded those crimson depths.
"Finally," he breathed, voice rough and dry like dead leaves scraping stone. "Finally. We found you."
The happiness in his eyes was unsettling.
