Azrael’s POV

*****

From the moment they faced the corrupted professors, he knew there was something horribly wrong afoot. The sigils they’d found on their necks—he recognised them all too well.

Imitations of the sigils the High One created to tap into the Vein. Very similar to the ones that usually appeared over Celeste’s arms.

That was just the first sign.

When they arrived at the Crimson Expanse, he got that weird feeling in his stomach again. Those sigils wouldn’t be so carved almost to perfection without help from the original creator and user.

Which means... The High One was actively aiding Amelia and the witch working with her. Which also meant—

—Those who have waited quietly in the cover of night for her arrival no longer had to stay hidden.

"So this is what the High One meant." One of the elongated shadows cackled, his voice resounding through the Expanse. "The reaper himself... bothering himself so much with mortal affairs."

"Pathetic to say the least." Another shadow chimed as the group backed toward each other.

The burning crimson portal still shimmered above the field. Waiting. No one was sure how long that would last. Or if they’d get another chance to save Atlas after this.

Azrael’s jaw worked. "Go!" He yelled out as his long black hair blew into the wind. All heads turned to him, but he had already spread his arms. "Carry on with the mission. The rest of us can handle them."

The team Odessa picked exchanged looks. Then—they swivelled to the portal, leaving the rest of them standing to face the looming threat.

’Friends of yours?’ Celeste reached out mentally, giving him a weary glance from the corner of her eyes.

’... Vampires.’

’Wait... what?’

No sooner had they had that exchange than the mist covering the shadows dispersed with a heavy burst of wind. Once the air was clear—they finally got to see them.

A group of thirteen people. Ordinary looking at first glance. Until you notice the predatory glint in their eyes. Or the fangs beneath their grins. And of course, the way they were all mostly dressed in black.

Caelum was the one to step forward first. "Who the fuck are you?"

Odessa and Celeste readied themselves, their magic pulsing around them. Only Azrael stood completely still as he scoured past every face ahead.

Amunira. Ishmael. Elena. Agamemnon... every last one of the High One’s children was here. The children of the night.

The fact that they hadn’t had such a gathering for almost two decades brought a flicker of amusement to his chest.

"You didn’t tell your new pets who we are?" Elena chuckled darkly, twirling a strand of her curly blonde hair. A cruel smirk played on her lips. "One would think you’d want to be fully open with the people you’ve chosen to betray us for."

Azrael’s eyes settled on Amunira.

Although her expression was deadpan, he could tell she didn’t really want to be here. Meaning his suspicions were correct. The High One was getting more active.

"What are you going on about?" The Luna Queen’s face was a mask of confusion. "You know what? Whatever... I don’t care to know who the fuck you are. You need to leave."

Ishmael faked a gasp. "Whatever shall we do? The little hybrid queen is threatening us."

Without looking, Azrael knew they’d pushed a button.

Odessa twisted both her wrists as violet light exploded from her eyes. Her magic roared through the field like a storm, finally peeling off the confidence from the faces of the vampires.

She swatted her hands forward, sending twin blasts of energy at them. But the children of the night didn’t wait—shifting into the shadows the second the attacks flared to life.

The blasts struck the earth at the entrance of the Expanse instead, creating an explosion of dust and red sand.

"They’re vampires." Azrael decided it was time to come clean fully. "Children of the night. Creatures reborn from death through the High One’s control of the Vein."

He spun on his feet to face the group. "They’re mostly here for me but I have a feeling they won’t hesitate to take Celeste."

His instincts came to life the very next second. In a blur, he caught someone mid-air. One of the vampires who’d attempted a sneak attack was now in his grip, his eyes bulging with surprise.

Azrael tilted his head, his gaze pinning fully on his brethren. "Tell me... how many of our own were you prepared to lose tonight?"

He didn’t wait for an answer. Shadows crept beneath his feet, shaping into tendrils that wrapped around the man instantly.

With his other hand, Azrael conjured a sword made of shadows, cleaving through his neck in the next second. Blood sprayed out of the stump while his head rolled away from them.

Time appeared to slow drastically as he released the body. It plopped with a heavy thud to the ground, the shadow tendrils consuming it utterly until there was nothing left.

There was no second to consider if he regretted killing one of his own. The others surrounded them from every corner, utilising the shadows to hide their next moves.

A ball of red flames shot at the group from behind them but Odessa reacted quickly, summoning a violet force shield that tanked the blast. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Traitorous snake!" One of them snarled, raining thousands of shadow projectiles on them. "You’ve thrown away centuries of history for them? For these fragile little things you’ll outlive?"

This time, Azrael was the one who reacted. He lifted his palms above his head, materialising a pitch-black dome around them.

Ripples spread through the surface as the dark projectiles fell with the force of bullets. He gnashed his teeth, angling his head to Celeste.

She and Caelum raised their hands as well, adding their magic to his darkness dome. Yet somehow that didn’t feel enough as more attacks slammed onto it.

"They may be mortal!" Azrael thundered, rooting his boots into the sand. "But they’re far braver. Far more ready to adapt... than any of you ever will."

The next strike crashed into the dome hard enough to bend his knees. Agony ripped through his arms, the force vibrating through bone and shadow alike. His sunglasses clattered to the ground, revealing those coal red eyes.

They burned like mirrors to hell as he gradually lifted his head skyward. He roared, the sound so deafening that the others were forced to back away.

His senses swept through every last inch of the field, revealing the position of every vampire. His lips curved as his fingers curled like claws.

"You’ve mistaken my restraint for weakness." The shadows around him screamed to life. "Allow me to correct that mistake."