Vampire Capital – The Crimson Court
The ball was in full swing.
Crimson chandeliers hung like bleeding hearts above a sea of elegant nobles. Goblets clinked. Laughter echoed. Dancers twirled in flawless synchrony.
And Cassandra Carello, now known under the alias Lady Valeira of the Outer Clans, stood beside the vampire prince himself, laughing like she belonged.
She wore a blood-red gown that shimmered like liquid fire. Her aura was muted by charms, but her power still simmered beneath her skin.
"I've never seen you at court before, Lady Valeira," the prince purred, offering her another glass.
Cassandra tilted her head with a coy smile. "I've always preferred… less crowded places. But your court is hard to resist."
She leaned closer, her fingers brushing his wrist.
He shivered.
She already had him.
---
Witch Sanctum – Moonwell Temple
Lucille stood before the High Priestess, disguised as a newly-discovered orphan with latent power. Her hair was tied in innocent curls, her face blank and wide-eyed.
"She has a very strange aura," murmured the Priestess.
"She was found near the old border," the guard replied. "No family. But look what she did to the wolves when they attacked."
Lucille blinked. "They were mean."
The Priestess looked again at the trail of burned paw prints outside the temple gates.
"…We will train her," she said at last.
Lucille smiled, her teeth too sharp.
---
Lycan Territory – Stormfang Keep
Cassius and Marius rode through the gates under the banner of a foreign diplomat's heirs. Their stallions kicked up dust. The Lycans eyed them suspiciously, but no one moved.
Cassius dismounted first, calm and poised.
Marius stepped beside him and whispered, "Too many guards."
"We'll break them if needed," Cassius murmured.
A Lycan warrior approached, sniffing the air.
"You smell like frost and thunder."
"We come from the mountains," Cassius lied smoothly.
The warrior growled, but their forged documents glowed with ancient verification sigils. The Alpha waved them through.
"Welcome to Stormfang."
---
Elven Capitol – Sylvaelis
Merika walked through the ancient crystal halls in a green gown. Her hair braided with silver leaves, her accent perfect. The Elves believed her to be Lady Thalira, ambassador's niece.
She bowed before the Elven Queen with practiced grace.
"Your people are beautiful," she said. "And so full of life. I wish to learn from you."
The queen, old and wise, raised an eyebrow. "And what do you offer us in return?"
Merika's fingers twitched behind her back. The flicker of a small lightning spell pulsed through the marble.
"Only what I've learned from the storms."
The queen smiled faintly. "We shall see."
---
Vampire Outskirts – House of Knowledge
Sandro, disguised as a quiet scholar named Lord Orion, had already infiltrated the records vault. He flipped through ancient tomes, scanning for forbidden knowledge.
He found it.
The original map of the Carello Estate—before its "destruction."
A vampire archivist peered over his shoulder. "That symbol… no one uses it anymore."
Sandro smiled faintly. "Not yet."
---
Carello Estate – Corrine's Tower
Corrine stood by her window, sensing the dispersal of her children across the world. Her heart swelled with twisted pride.
"They're in," she whispered.
Lucifer stood behind her, arms folded, a rare softness in his eyes.
"You've bred more than soldiers, Corrine. You've bred legends."
She turned. "And we'll watch as the world burns from the inside out."
He stepped forward, cupping her chin.
"When the time comes," he said, "I will lead the armies. But they… they will rule."
At the Hall of truth
Within hours, the Elders of the Elites gathered at the Hall of Truth, a circular fortress floating above the cliffs of Elyndor. For centuries, they ruled from the shadows—powerful beings of every bloodline: vampire, lycan, elf, and witch.
At the head of the chamber stood Elder Maltheon, a vampire noble whose fangs had not dulled for over a thousand years. Beside him, Lady Ysara, an elven matriarch with eyes that could pierce stone. Around them, the remaining seats filled one by one.
A scout knelt before them now, armor scorched, breath uneven.
"We've confirmed it," he said. "Seven of them. Children born of Corrine Carello… and the devil himself."
Gasps echoed.
Lady Ysara's voice sharpened like a blade. "You're certain?"
"Yes, my lady. One of our pawns—a bonded owl—managed to breach the cursed air surrounding the old Carello estate. The energy… it's unlike anything we've ever catalogued. Pure, ancient black magic. But alive. Breathing."
Maltheon leaned forward. "Their names?"
The scout laid down a scroll. "In order of appearance: Aslan, Cassius, Cassandra, Sandro, Lynna, Marius, and Merika."
---
The Council is Born
The elders remained deep in discussion for hours.
"It is clear," Lady Ysara finally declared. "The balance of the world has shifted. The Elite races must unify, or we will fall one by one."
She raised her hand and traced a sigil in the air—a broken sun with thirteen points.
"I propose we form an official ruling body—one that supersedes individual clans, courts, and kingdoms. We shall be the Council. Guardians of the Realms. Makers of law. Enforcers of justice."
They all stood.
"For unity," Maltheon said.
"For order," another elder added.
"For the survival of all Elites."
The symbol was burned into the chamber walls.
The Council of Elites was born that night.
---
Far across the lands, hidden in the shadows of the once-glorious Carello estate, Lucille stood barefoot upon the blackened earth. Her raven hair billowed as if alive, her violet eyes watching the stars with the knowing of a god.
She was only eleven in appearance, but she knew more than many immortals.
The air stirred beside her.
A whisper.
"Aslan says the Council has formed," came the voice of Cassandra, emerging from the forest, silver daggers glinting at her hips.
Lucille only nodded.
"They will come for us," Cassandra said, folding her arms. "One by one. They fear what we can become."
Lucille smiled faintly.
"They should."
Her voice was soft, but it made the air thrum.
Cassius stepped from the shadows next. "Do you think Mother and Father will allow us to strike first?"
"No," Lucille replied, her eyes flashing. "But they don't have to know."
She vanished into a shimmer of mist before their eyes. Cassandra and Cassius looked at one another.
"She's already stronger than we were at seventeen," Cassius said grimly.
"She was born with concealment magic. From birth," Cassandra murmured. "Lucille is not just one of us. She's the key."
They all looked back toward the estate—the only place where darkness still bloomed like roses.
Soon, the world would know them.