---- VALERIA The vampire soldiers were being attacked, dark ws treacherously emerging from nowhere.


    No matter how good their vision was, it was almost impossible to predict them.


    Screams echoed, and the scent of blood thickened in the air.


    Damn it, Valeria, run! Run to the exit of this shit, or Ill throw your flea- ridden friends to the first specter I see! the Vampire King roared at me, and I did exactly thatI started running like a madwoman.


    My dress billowed, darkness swirled around me, they were chasing us red eyes everywhere, shrieks, and fear.


    Amid all the ckness, I saw a brilliant light, like the crack of a giant door slightly ajar, and on the other side, salvation should be waiting.


    Even my ankles were being grabbed, the heels of my boots sinking into something sticky, and my arms were held by sharp ws.


    Thad to fight several times; I didn''t think that just because I was a Selenia, I would bepletely safe.


    We''re here! Run, guys, run! I screamed to my friends following close behind.


    I stretched out my hand, barely a meter away from the blinding light.


    I was about to push with all my strength toward that damn exit, but the ground cracked beneath my feet, and I found myself swallowed by the ck, freezing waters of theke.


    ---- Something was dragging me into the depths.


    I kicked frantically, my eyes fixated on the light shining on the surfaceso close, yet so far.


    Ireached out my hand, bubbles escaping from my mouth, I was drowning and so were the others who had made it this far.


    Wasnt I the chosen one? All that talk about the Seleniaswas it just a lie? Iclutched the pendant on my chest.


    I refused to dieI couldnt, I couldnt.


    I had to protect my pup, I had to tell Aldric that we were going to have a baby, that we were his family.


    My eyes started to close, my lungs burned in agony, and my heart began to falter.


    ?Humility, empathy, kindness, perseverance, and apassionate soul.


    I did not give you the power to touch the heights just to reach me by stepping on the heads of your brothers.


    Like all of them, when you reach the end of the road, you will feel the true fear of being mortal? An ethereal and mysterious voice suddenly echoed in my mind, and I remembered that phrase was inscribed on thest Altar, though I had never truly understood what it meant.


    ?Now, Valeria Von Carstein, descendant of Juno, daughter of Gabrielle, my beloved Selenia daughter, I will pass judgment upon you and look into your heart? The voice added, as a strange sensation invaded my mind and body, like something sifting through my memoriesevery good deed, every wrongdoing, every action and decision of my entire life wasid bare.