VALERIA

She started walking again toward the Vampire King. I knew it—he was deceiving them by drinking my mother’s blood, the one that had been meant for me. She was confused, guided only by the instinct of the bond she had left behind to strengthen me.

"I have your blood too, Gabrielle! How can you not recognize your own daughter?!" I shouted, furious.

All the guardians were now turning toward me—suddenly, I was the intruder. The Vampire King was disguising himself as one of them, as a Selenia, and Gabrielle's blood was far more powerful than my flawed power.

What do I do? Damn it, what do I do? I was going to die for sure. I could never withstand their attack, and while I perished, he would steal the heart.

That’s it—the heart!

I looked toward the unguarded fountain. The seconds were slipping away. I had to make a decision—now.

“Steal the heart, Valeria! Take it and free your mother, hurry!” The voice inside the pendant urged me to do something reckless.

I spread my wings and flew l