by Becca Blake
“Vara is dead now because of you.”
“And Adrius is dead because of you,” Neryssa said, her voice soft and wistful as she looked at the vampire lord’s body.
“Did you love him?” Nero demanded. It was only fair to ask, since she’d just asked the same of him about Vara.
“No,” she said, her tone turning cold. “I hated him just as much as you did.”
“Liar,” he said.
Neryssa let out a soft laugh. “And still, after all this, you tell me what I think and what I believe as though you know better.”
“I saw how you were with him. It’s obvious you’re lying.”
“I’m not.” Neryssa rolled Adrius over and pulled the dagger free from his neck. “Truthfully, I did want more time with him than this. I wanted us to learn as much as we could from him before killing him. There’s so much we still have to learn about what we are.”
“You thought we could learn from him and just kill him when it suited us?” Nero asked.
She shrugged. “Adrius was strong. He’s been a powerful vampire lord for a long time, but he was too arrogant. His time passed long ago. Now that he’s gone, it’s time for a new ruler for this city.”
“A new ruler?”
“Yes. To take Adrius’ place.” Neryssa slid the blood-stained dagger across the floor toward Nero. It clattered against the ground and stopped a few inches from his feet.
Nero picked it up and turned it over in his hands. “Who, you?”
“No.” She knelt on the ground next to him. “You were the one who killed him— or at least, the one who brought about his death. It should be you.”
He scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“We could rule together.”
Nero looked at her. Her tone seemed kind enough, but there was something more in her eyes. Something darker, more malevolent. There had been more to her relationship with Adrius than her using him for information. That much had been clear from how she’d slaughtered innocent humans with a smile on her face. There was something wicked inside her begging to be set free, something that lurked just behind her warm and loving smile.
He knew it now just as clearly as he’d known it then: his sister was lost.
What would she do if he declined his offer? Would she insist on taking the throne herself?
She’d become so desperate to attain a powerful position in Terra Nocturne. What would she do once she had it? And what would she be willing to do to keep it?
The thought sent shivers through Nero’s body.
He wanted so badly to leave this place and never return. But if he did, would he be responsible for not stopping her? Could he live with that decision?
If he stayed, at least he could keep her darkest impulses in check. Perhaps he could make this city something better. Perhaps Terra Nocturne could still become a home for vampires. Not to indulge their most vile instincts, but to aspire for something better? Something more… human?
Nero pulled himself to his feet and straightened up. “Very well.”
A look of confusion flitted across her face. It disappeared so quickly Nero almost thought he’d imagined it. Had she been expecting him to decline her suggestion? Had she been counting on it?
Unease settled in Nero’s gut as he realized the truth: she had no intention of ruling alongside him. At best, she would try to control him and assert her dominance as the city’s ruler from the shadows. More likely, she would use his victory to take power for herself and cast him aside at the first opportunity, just as she’d intended to do with Adrius.
He wouldn’t let that happen.
“I will take the throne, as you suggest. You can be my adviser, if you’d like, but all decisions will be mine. Terra Nocturne is my city now, and I will rule it how I see fit.”
Her brow furrowed, and for a moment, Nero thought she might demand more.
“Okay. I accept.”
He nodded. “Good. Then all that’s left now is going out to announce the change in leadership.”
“Do you think the other vampires will accept you as king?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.
Nero shrugged. “They have no love for Adrius. They’ll be glad to be free of his curse, and they’ll thank me for it. They can leave, if they’d like. But I think there will be plenty who are willing to stay and create a better world for our kind.”
Our kind.
He’d tried to deny it for so long. But if he was to be a vampire king, he would have to embrace what he was.
“Before anything else, we’ll free the mortal slaves in the dungeon. We won’t build this city on cruelty.”
“If you free the mortals, what do you intend for us to eat?” she asked, arching a brow.
Nero frowned. He hadn’t considered it, but she was right— a city full of vampires would need a constant supply of blood. The mortals weren’t likely to provide that willingly.
Still, it was wrong to lock them in dungeons and treat them so poorly. He couldn’t condone that.
“We’ll give them homes,” he said finally. “Let them live their lives here. Their blood can be the cost. As mortals on the surface would pay taxes with money, the mortals underground will pay with blood.”
Neryssa didn’t seem thrilled with that compromise, but she offered no further protest.
“We will be better than our sire.”
Nero stepped over Vara’s body and leaned down to take the crown from Adrius’ head. Blood dripped down the side that had been resting on the ground, and Nero wiped it off on the dead vampire’s shirt. He placed the crown on his head and started for the door.
He had a kingdom to address.
Epilogue
How many years had it been since he’d taken control of Terra Nocturne?
It was hard to remember sometimes. They blended together, one after another, an endless supply of days and decades. When he looked in the mirror, he still saw the unlined face of the boy who had hoped for better.
The boy who once believed there could still be goodness among monsters.
But that boy was dead. Only Lord Nero Cineris, king of the hidden vampire city Terra Nocturne, remained.
He adjusted the silver crown atop his head as he looked out the window at his city, finally complete and utterly spectacular. His clan had only gotten larger since Adrius had been removed, and the city had nearly grown into its size.
A knock sounded at the door to his bedchamber. When he didn’t reply, the door creaked open.
“Lord Nero?”
“Yes?” He stood unmoving, still staring out the window.
“Lady Neryssa is waiting for you in the throne room.”
He’d known this day was coming. He’d delayed it far too long.
“Thank you, Eryn.”
The young elven woman dipped low into a curtsy and turned to leave.
“I’d suggest you go to your room and lock the door. Remain there until I say it’s safe to come out.”
“And if you don’t?” she asked.
Adrius would’ve killed her for daring to ask such a question. When he thought of all he’d done, all the lines he’d crossed, he tried to remind himself that they were still different. Sweet Vara, who’d given her life… she would hate him for what he’d become. She would despise him for not freeing the mortals. But there were still lines he would never cross. He would never allow himself to turn into his sadistic master, who’d taken pleasure in cruelty.
“My lord?” Eryn pressed, snapping Nero out of his thoughts.
“If I don’t return,” he said slowly, “I would suggest you find a way to take your own life. A quick death will be far sweeter than whatever my sister would do with you.”
“Thank you, my lord.” Eryn swallowed hard and looked away from him. Her voice softened as she added, “good luck.”
She made an awkward bow before hurrying off down the hallway.
Nero stared out the window a while longer. He could bring dozens of guards with him and ensure an
easy victory. But if he was to truly prove that he deserved his city, he had to defeat her fairly.
She would come alone, too. Her pride wouldn’t have it any other way.
Nero buckled his sword to the belt around his waist and started down the hallway. There was no reason to put it off any longer.
Neryssa sat sideways on Nero’s dark throne, one leg draped over the arm of the chair. Over the years, she’d built up a wardrobe of stunning ballgowns and intricate skirts. Today, however, she wore a black riding jacket with a high collar and blood red buttons from her neck to her waist. Her leather pants were tucked into high, thick-heeled boots, and a whip that had seen far too much use, one identical to the one that belonged to their long-dead sire, was draped around her shoulders like an over-sized scarf.
It was no accident that she’d chosen this weapon today. She knew Nero’s body still bore the scars from its predecessor’s use many years ago.
She hardly looked at him as he entered, his heavy footsteps echoing through the otherwise empty hall.
“Hello, little brother.”
“Neryssa.” He bit out her name with a cold politeness.
“You know why I’ve brought you here, do you not?”
“I’d love to hear why you think you can summon me to my own throne room.”
Her laugh was shrill and cold, cutting through the air between them. “This isn’t your city any longer. You can remain here under my rule, if you bend your knee. Otherwise…” She waved a hand in the air. “You’ll have to find somewhere else to live, I’m afraid.”
“You expect me to roll over and give you the city I’ve worked so hard to build?” His lips curled up in a snarl that bared his fangs.
“For a people you’re hardly a part of. When is the last time you’ve had a drink from someone’s neck?”
“Drinking from the vein is no longer necessary. We have a system here that works.”
“And yet, those you treat so delicately would rise against you in an instant if they could.” She shook her head. “That’s no way to rule.”
“I don’t hesitate to punish any signs of rebellion. The leyline mines rehabilitate anyone who dreams of rising up, and we’re no strangers to performing executions when necessary. My city is perfectly under control.” He inched toward her with slow, careful steps, his hand hovering above the weapon at his waist.
“You’re a fool,” she spat. She stood up from the throne and straightened out the long sides of her jacket. “If you had proper control of this city, there would be no attempts at rebellion. You allow your livestock far too much freedom.”
“Don’t use that word,” Nero said.
“It’s what they are.”
“They are people. People can’t be kept like animals. They need joy and hope to thrive.”
“And our people need to indulge our nature to thrive. We’re not human, Nero. It’s long past time to stop pretending we are.”
“The day I forsake the last of my humanity is the day I am truly lost.”
“You are already lost to me,” she said, tilting her chin up to look at him with disdain.
Nero let out a derisive laugh. “That’s a compliment. You are not the sister I remember.”
“I am as I’ve always been, but better.”
He stopped in front of the throne. “Do not make me do this.”
Neryssa grabbed the whip at her shoulders and twisted into motion at the same time Nero drew his blade. The whip cracked as it sliced through the air and bit his cheek.
He danced around her with careful movements, just out of her range. He’d seen enough of what she could do with that whip to know that she could disarm him in an instant if he wasn’t careful. And though it was her favorite, it was unlikely the whip was the only weapon she’d brought with her.
Neryssa was a powerful opponent. If it were simply a test of raw skill between them, Nero knew that was a fight he would lose. But he knew her too well to allow that to happen.
He’d have to get her to drop her guard so he could get in close.
He leaped to the side to dodge her second strike, but her third struck true. The whip knocked the sword from his grip, sending it clattering across the floor. With another crack, the whip caught him on the thigh, then the arm, then the stomach, each furious strike too fast, too unpredictable.
He fell to the ground, gasping for breaths he no longer truly needed. She continued her assault until he crumpled to the ground, curled up to protect himself. He just had to hold out a little longer, and he could make his move.
She put her hands on her hips and leaned into a confident stance. “I’d hoped you’d be more of a challenge. But I suppose you’ve never been anything but a disappointment.”
Nero stared up at her, waiting for his chance. Let her think she’d won. Let her rub it in. She lived for savoring the kill.
Neryssa turned around and ran her fingers along the smooth surface of his throne. “You gave this up so easily.”
Once her back was fully turned to him, he closed the distance between them with a fierce lunge. He slammed her into the throne, and the whip fell away from her hand.
“Arrogant,” he whispered. “Just like your master before you.”
With her free hand, Neryssa reached for her boot. She plunged a dagger into the side of his thigh, and a furious yell tore through his throat.
With one hand, he grabbed her wrist until her fingers loosened around the dagger. With the other, he freed it from his flesh. He held her down, pressing the tip of the blade against the base of her throat.
“Yield,” Nero growled.
She struggled against him until it became clear she could not overcome his strength. When she stilled, she glared up at him with hateful eyes.
“Yield!” he repeated, more forcefully this time.
But she would not say the word. She would not yield.
She leaned forward into the blade until the cold steel pressed against her flesh and drew lines of red trickling down her pale flesh. “Do it, then. Kill me.”
He gripped the dagger tighter. It would be so easy to thrust the tip forward through her neck, to let her bleed out all over the throne he loathed. Perhaps she would even deserve it. The city— perhaps even the world— would be better without the bitter creature she’d become.
And yet…
Neryssa was still his sister. They’d shared a womb.
He lowered the blade and took a single step back. He couldn’t strike down his twin. No matter how much she deserved it.
Heavy footsteps came from behind Nero as guards poured into the throne room. He tossed the dagger aside.
Two of his men grabbed Neryssa roughly by the arms.
“My lord? Shall we take her down to the dungeons?” Devon asked.
He should kill her himself. At the very least, he should have her imprisoned in the dungeon below, where she could never harm anyone again.
But he couldn’t bear even the thought of letting her waste away beneath his feet while he ruled. Better to let her be free to start a new life elsewhere, far from Terra Nocturne.
Perhaps she was right. Perhaps he was still too soft. But that softness was all that remained of his humanity, and he would cling to it.
“Neryssa Cineris,” he said, his voice booming with all of the regal authority he could muster, “you are henceforth banished from Terra Nocturne. If you return to this city, you will be executed.”
Her laughter rang through the hall. “Coward. You’ll never be able to do it yourself.”
He looked at her once more, and a heaviness settled in his chest. “Maybe not,” he said softly.
Her lips spread into a wide grin. Even in her loss, she believed herself the victor.
“All the same, if you return here, I will not hesitate to give the order. You will be dead, whether by my hand or another’s.” He hardened his features, then turned to the guards. “Take her to the gate and send her away. If she attempts to return, kill her.”
Nero watched
as his loyal guards dragged the shell that was all that remained of his sister away.
He dreaded the day she decided to return. Whether it was the next day or centuries in the future, she would return to seek his throne and his crown.
When she did, he would be ready. When she did, he would have the strength to kill her.
He would have the strength to protect his city.
For he was the Blood King, the ruler of the vampire city Terra Nocturne.
And for the first time in his miserably long life, Nero Cineris was free.
The End
Read more from this world in Blood Bound, book one of Becca Blake’s Reign of Blood dark fantasy series.
www.beccablakebooks.com/reign-of-blood
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About the Author
www.beccablakebooks.com
Becca Blake writes dark and deadly fantasy stories. Despite being happily married herself, she doesn't believe in happy endings. If you ask her about her hobbies, she’ll tell you she likes to spend her time seeking vengeance against her enemies, but in reality she spends most of her free time curled up on the couch watching Netflix with her cat. She currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and their two kids.
