The Contract

Power rushed through Lila's body like lightning. As she and Kael fell toward the ground, something strange happened. Time seemed to slow down.

Lila's fingers tingled. Red light glowed around her hands. Without thinking, she pushed against the air. Their fall suddenly stopped, and they floated like wings to the ground.

Kael stared at her with wide eyes. "How did you—"

Lila didn't let him finish. Anger burned inside her. This vampire had tricked her. Her eyes flashed red as she pointed at him.

"You work for Darius!"

Red light shot from her fingers, hitting Kael in the chest. He flew backward, slamming into a tree. Tattoos on his skin glowed purple, then faded.

Kael shook his head, looking confused. "Lila? What happened?" His voice sounded different now – more normal.

"You tried to kidnap me," Lila said, keeping her distance. "Your eyes turned purple like Darius's."

Kael touched his neck where the strange black lines had been. "He took control of me through the mark." He looked ashamed. "I'm sorry. I couldn't stop it."

Before Lila could decide whether to believe him, shadows moved around them. Vampires came from the trees, their eyes glowing red in the darkness.

"The Blood King's guards," Kael whispered.

A tall vampire stepped forward. "The King demands your presence."

They were taken back to the castle through a secret entrance. Guards surrounded them, watching Kael with suspicious eyes. They walked through unfamiliar halls until they reached a pair of golden doors.

"Only the girl," said the guard, stopping Kael from entering.

Lila took a big breath and walked through the doors alone. Inside was a beautiful room with tall windows. Moonlight streamed in, lighting a big table covered with papers. The Blood King stood beside it, looking better than when she'd last seen him. His wound was covered, but he stood tall and strong.

"You drank the vial," he said instantly.

Lila nodded. "I had to. Kael betrayed me."

"Kael has Darius's mark on him. But the blood in that vial should have burned it away." The Blood King walked closer. "How do you feel?"

"Different. Stronger." Lila looked at her hands. "I made red light come out when I was angry."

The Blood King smiled slightly. "Your power is awakening. Selene's blood is unlocking what was always inside you."

"I saw her in a dream. She said she's me from another time."

"She's right." The Blood King touched Lila's face gently. "Your soul has lived many times, little witch. Each time trying to fix what went wrong."

"And what went wrong?"

The Blood King's eyes darkened. "Everything."

He went to the table and picked up a thick paper sheet. "The castle is no longer safe. Darius has spies everywhere. We need to speed up our plans."

"What plans?"

"Our marriage."

Lila stepped back. "What? No way!"

"It's not what you think." The Blood King held out the paper. "This contract is magical. By signing it, your power becomes linked to mine. I can protect you better, and you can draw on my strength."

"But marriage? I'm only seventeen!"

"It's not a real marriage." The Blood King looked awkward for a moment. "It's just... the oldest form of magical bond has always been called a marriage contract. No one actually expects us to... you know."

Despite everything, Lila felt her face get hot. "So we won't have to..."

"No." The Blood King looked away quickly. "Never."

Lila studied the paper. The words were in a strange language that somehow she could read. Most of it seemed innocent, but something felt off.

"What's this part about blood sharing?"

The Blood King paused. "To complete the bond, we must exchange blood. Just a drop. It's symbolic."

Lila remembered her dream, how Selene had cut her palm to seal the darkness. "And this will help defeat Darius?"

"It will keep you safe from him. That's what matters most."

Lila thought hard. She didn't trust the Blood King fully, but she trusted Darius even less. And she needed time to figure out what was really happening. Maybe this contract would buy her that time, and she could find a way to leave later.

"Fine. I'll sign it."

The Blood King looked surprised, as if he'd expected more debate. He gave her a strange pen with a sharp tip.

"You need to sign with blood."

Lila pricked her finger and watched a drop of blood form. It glowed softly red. She signed her name at the bottom of the paper.

The Blood King did the same. When both their blood signs were on the paper, the contract glowed bright red, then faded. A thin red thread of light appeared, linking Lila's chest to the Blood King's.

"What's that?" she asked.

"The bond. It will fade from sight soon, but it will always be there."

Lila felt strange, like part of her had connected to something old and powerful. She could sense the Blood King's feelings – his worry, his determination, and something deeper that felt like sadness.

"Now what happens?"

"Now we prepare for the blood moon ceremony." The Blood King rolled up the contract. "In three days, the moon will turn red. That's when the seal is weakest."

"And Darius will attack then?"

"Yes. He'll try to break the seal completely." The Blood King touched the red thread connecting them. "But with our powers combined, we can stop him."

A loud crash from outside made them both jump. The door burst open, and Mira rushed in.

"My King! Darius's forces have breached the east wall!"

The Blood King grabbed Lila's hand. "We need to move you somewhere safer."

They ran from the room, following Mira through the castle. Sounds of fighting echoed from every direction. As they turned a corner, they came face to face with three vampires with bright purple eyes.

"Keep going!" the Blood King yelled, pushing Lila and Mira ahead. "I'll hold them off!"

Mira pulled Lila down a tight hallway. "This way!"

They reached a small room with a single bed and no windows. "Stay here," Mira said. "I'll lock the door."

As Mira turned to leave, Lila noticed something strange. A small purple mark on the back of Mira's neck, usually hidden by her red hair.

"You have Darius's mark too," Lila whispered.

Mira froze. Slowly, she turned around. Her friendly smile was gone.

"You're getting smarter, little witch." Her voice had changed, becoming colder. "Too smart for your own good."

The door slammed shut. But Mira was still inside with Lila, not outside.

"The Blood King thinks he's so clever with his contract," Mira said, her eyes turning purple. "But he didn't tell you the whole truth, did he?"

"What truth?" Lila backed away.

"That contract doesn't just connect your powers." Mira laughed softly. "It connects your life to his. If he dies, you die."

Lila's heart beat. "You're lying."

"Am I?" Mira's form began to change, her body getting taller, her red hair darkening to black. "Ask yourself why he was so eager to form that bond."

As Mira's face changed, Lila gasped. The person standing before her wasn't Mira at all.

It was a woman who looked exactly like Lila, but with eyes as black as night.

"Who are you?" Lila whispered.

The woman smiled with Lila's own face. "I'm you, of course. The part of you that embraced the darkness."