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Within seconds, I find myself suspended in mid-air, defying gravity’s hold. As I rise, the weightlessness fills me with a newfound strength and clarity. I stand tall, no longer afraid. With my power spurring me on, I unleash a roar of triumph, my voice echoing into the night sky.
I look down to see Airalin’s dagger is still embedded in my chest, despite the vision. With a surge of determination, I forcefully extract it, hurling the weapon with all my might. To my astonishment, the blade embeds itself into a distant tree trunk, a testament to the untapped strength I now possess. I throw my head back, laughter bubbling forth.
I turn to the scene before me, which has barely changed since I disappeared into the vision. Airalin’s eyes widen as she lets go of Dreselda’s neck. She falls to the ground, gasping for breath. One of the witches stands near Jeremiah, who is flat on the ground, blood seeping from his head. Anger boils my blood.
Airalin stumbles toward me, staring up with fear and disbelief. Then, undeterred, she crawls toward my hair, aiming for the ends still on the ground. My fangs lengthen, a fierce resolve burning inside me as I stare at her, gripping my athame. “I don’t think so, Airalin.”
Quickly, I gather my hair in my hand, and in one swift movement, I cut it across my shoulders. The tresses fall to the ground in a pile. The weightlessness of my head brings an overwhelming sense of relief, as if shedding a burden.
Airalin screams, and once again I laugh. I hold up my arms in front of me and see the telltale shadows swirling around my skin. Except they are laced with a gold dusting I’ve only seen on Queen Selene. My gaze shifts downward, and my breath catches as I discover a mark embedded on my chest—a spider resembling Nava. This must have been the obscured image in the tomb on Queen Selene’s statue. The four lines were the spider legs.
A gasp escapes my lips as power, an unparalleled force, surges through my entire being, causing me to bend at the waist. Power, unlike anything I’ve ever known, spreads through my body. I feel it in every minuscule part of me, power, so much power.
I stare at Airalin, commanding my newfound magic. Moonlight streams down, wrapping around her, anchoring her to the ground. She cries out, opening her hand. A fire rope flies out, whipping against the moonlight. It does nothing. Tendrils of light wrap around her wrists, her neck.
She struggles, trying to push her way out. I watch with detached emotions. “Years ago, you used your fire ropes on a handful of vampires, killing all but one.”
I hold out my hand, a fire rope of my own slowly winding its way toward her. “Fair is only fair.”
The rope ensnares her, wrapping across her eye and around her body. Her screams and wails sting my ears, but I feel no remorse, no regret. Only triumph.
After a minute, I let the rope fade. I fly toward her with my short hair streaming behind me, fangs still out. “It is my turn now, Airalin.”
In one movement, I bend her head to the side, piercing her neck with my fangs. The copper tang of blood hits my tongue for the first time, and it tastes like the sweetest drink I’ve ever had. It only takes me a few minutes to drain her, leaving just enough for her to stay alive. “Thanks for the extra power, Mother,“ I say with a grin, wiping my mouth.
Turning to face the battle that remains, I lift my chin. Soaring into the sky, above the clashing and clanging, I command attention. “Enough!” I yell, my voice carrying the weight of my birthright. “Bow before your queen.”
A ripple of silence cascades through the crowd. One by one, weapons drop to the ground. All of the vampires kneel, heads bowed in humble submission.
“We are one people. I claim my birthright as the prophesied queen, uniting us all.”
A vampire steps out of the forest, wearing a tarnished crown. He has the same colored hair as Raúl, but his face is more gaunt, haunted. “No, no!” he yells, desperation staining his voice. “I am the rightful king.”
Without hesitating, I extend my hand, reaching out, grasping his shadows. The force pulls him down, his body writhing in agonized pain. When his whimpering begins, I release my grip. “Does anyone else dare to object?”
No one makes a sound. “I promise to rule with fairness,” I say. “But defy me, and know I will find you.”
I bare my fangs. “Clean up, all of you.”
I float to the ground, and as soon as my feet touch the dirt, Raúl is beside me. “Penny, are you okay? It felt as if my heart was being stabbed.”
“It was,” I say, gesturing to Airalin. “She stabbed me.”
I walk to Dreselda and put my hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay, Mother?”
She smiles at me and rubs her neck. “Yes, I will be just fine. I’m proud of you, Penny.”
All at once, I throw my arms around her and squeeze. “Thank you for standing up for me.”
She hugs me back, and Jeremiah joins us. “You two go to Carmen’s rooms. Henry will show you the way. She’ll have you fixed up in no time.”
Hand in hand, they walk into the castle toward Henry, who stands at the door. Raúl and I follow. Once inside, he tilts his head, looking at my hair. He gently pulls a strand forward. “Look, your hair.”
I obey, and he’s right. My hair is different. No longer simply brown, it is as black as night, with silver and purple streaks throughout. I grin. “It’s so pretty.”
I drag him to my rooms and pick up my mirror. My reflection. It’s the exact image of the woman asking me to find her. Only my eyes are gold, like the sun at noon. I use my magic and call her in the mirror.
She appears with a smile. You’ve found us. We are free.
