Page 1 of Crown of Blood and Vengeance

Chapter

One

Enzo

I pulledon my arms and legs, but I was pinned to the wall like a butterfly in an insect collection. The cold stone of the church wall dug into my back, ancient plaster crumbling at my struggles. Cold gripped me from within, freezing every muscle, every nerve, until even my immortal blood turned to ice in my veins. The magic holding me felt like thousands of invisible needles piercing my skin, each one a point of searing cold that spread deeper and deeper.

Not even my vampire strength could break me free. The tang of incense still lingered in the air, a holy scent now corrupted by the metallic stench of battle blood—both from the fight and Valentin. He was strapped on the altar like a sacrificial lamb, his blood seeping out like tar, feeding Balthazar’s spell with every drop. I nearly choked on the sulfurous reek that always accompanied Balthazar’s magic. Shattered stained glass scattered across the floor in a kaleidoscope of colored shards, moonlight catching each piece like fallen stars.

All I could do was watch and listen, waiting for the slightest mistake so I could escape. The sounds of our earlier battle still echoed in my mind, though now the church was deathly quiet save for the creaking of old wooden pews and the whisper of the night air through broken windows.

But I wasn’t the only one in the Demon Balthazar’s insect collection. To my left, the mafia kings, Trystan, and Keir, hung suspended in transparent prisons. Trystan remained trapped in his wolf form, his silver fur matted with dried blood, eyes glazed with pain. Beyond them, pressed against the cavern wall, Dimitri Dragan and his mate writhed in their own transparent cells, their faces contorted in silent agony as Balthazar’s magic pulsed through the crystalline structure.

We are all his prisoners, trapped in this desecrated sanctuary.

And powerless to stop him.

Balthazar raised his arms and shouted, “Tenebris antiquis, potentia daemonum, animae damnatae, mergemus in carne mortali.”

Black smoke rose from the floor stained with Valentin’s blood. It split into two streams, each pulsing with the head of cobra as they shot toward Vlad and Petar. Their jaws snapped open in perfect synch, throats working convulsively as the smoke forced its way inside them.

Their bodies contorted, backs arching at impossible angles as the smoke disappeared into them. Bones cracked and reformed under their skin. Blackness flooded their eyes like spilled ink; they slowly burned away until only a deep, wet crimson remained. Dark energy radiated from them like a toxic heartbeat, each throb making the air heavier with corruption. The stone floor cracked beneath their feet and reeked as the very air grew thick and oily with malevolence. Whatever demonic power Balthazar had channeled into them, it wasn’t merestrength—he’d carved them into gateways for something that should have stayed buried in the darkest corners of hell.

Balthazar’s eyes caught the candlelight. “Everything aligns perfectly for my plan.”

Angelo glared, hatred flaring in his eyes. “Your plan? What plan?”

“The one to tear down Serenity’s father.” Balthazar’s smile split wider, showing too many teeth. “He corrupted Dracula’s deal. A betrayal I haven’t forgotten. Now his own daughter will be his punishment.”

My mind raced. Deal? What deal?

“I’d never do that.” Serenity squared her shoulders, trying to look brave, but her hands shook.

“Ah, but you will.” Balthazar’s eyes gleamed with ancient malice. “Vlad, my friend…you may proceed.”

All this time, we’d thought we were safe. The Aeternum Stone kept Dracula at bay while he’d been right under our noses. The glamour masking his true identity had been perfect. Who would suspect Costin Tarus, the dignified headmaster of Red Rose Academy, was actually Dracula himself, the First Vampire and our sworn enemy?

Vlad stalked over to Angelo, his eyes blazing blood red.

My chest tightened as I struggled against the spell, but it was as if I was stuck to fly paper. Every muscle strained until sweat dripped down my temples, my magic crackling uselessly against Balthazar’s bonds. Angelo and I were more than brothers—we’d fought and scraped to build our family, saved each other countless times.

He’d been the one who had turned me during the Italian plague, who held me as the fever burned through my human life and birthed me into darkness. Who taught me to hunt, to survive, to hold onto my humanity even as the bloodthirst raged. Four centuries of trust and love, shattered in a single moment.And now I could only watch, ensnared by magic that mocked my immortal power. Vlad threatened to inflict unspeakable torments on Angelo, who had given me eternal life, promising a symphony of pain we had once conducted ourselves.

When Vlad’s mouth opened, his fangs weren’t just extended—they dripped with something black that sizzled and smoked where it hit the floor, leaving pockmarks in the stone. His hand locked around Angelo’s throat and he sank his fangs into Angelo’s flesh. Angelo jerked violently, his hands clawing at Vlad’s chest, muscles straining with desperation. But Vlad stood immovable as stone, unperturbed by Angelo’s struggles.

I summoned on every ounce of my strength, desperate to help Angelo but remained a living statue, frozen in place.

“No!” Serenity’s desperate scream shattered the air in the church. “Stop!”

Balthazar flicked his hand, and the world crystallized. Even Vlad froze in place, his chin dripping with Angelo’s blood, his red eyes fixed in a sneer that revealed his sharp, bloodstained fangs.

“If you want to save your precious vampire, you must come with me, Serenity.” Balthazar’s voice was full of mock sympathy.

“Let him go.” Her voice cracked. “Don’t let Dracula hurt him. I beg you. I’ll do anything.”

“Tell you what I’m willing to do.” Balthazar circled her like a wolf stalking wounded prey. “I’ll unfreeze your lover boy and allow him time to get away from Dracula. But then you have to promise me you’ll come with me willingly. Otherwise—he’s dead.”

She couldn’t possibly believe Balthazar? Lies dripped from the demon’s mouth as naturally as blood from a wound.

---