towards the moment that familiar red glow was back and guiding me. I had no idea how I knew I was doing the right thing, but something in me was just convinced that my actions were correct.
So I started running, desperate to see it again, I could almost taste it and it tasted like…well, it tasted like…
Blood.
Did I crave it because of what I once was? Because I was born a vampire and at my core had the heart of one? I had told Nero I was the Queen of Blood before letting myself fall, but that hadn’t been me talking. So what did that mean and who was this part of me that seemed desperate to get to the surface? Which part of me had been the one to throw that surge of power at Lucius and the brothers that day?
I had no answers, but I knew one thing, the red orb had them, I was sure of it. Now all I needed to do was claim it!
So I ran through the archway and down the glowing red tunnel until I seemed to burst through the other end, only stopping myself by skidding in the loose black sand that seemed to cover the floor. It was another Temple, but one minus anything other than a carved altar in the centre. It was one that even I could see showed the Divine Fates and the Gods that were said to be the first creations of all realms.
But despite how beautiful the altar was, with stunning white figures carved from what looked like giant pearls, it was the glowing red orb at its centre that had all my focus. So, as I stepped forward, doing so in a way that wanted to get to it and also in a way that was too afraid to. Fearing that like last time it might disappear. But then the closer I got I could see the stone was slightly shaped and looked like a heart, one alive and pulsating thanks to the power radiating off it.
“Oh, by the Gods, it can’t be…it can’t be real!” I turned the second I heard Nero’s voice behind me, seeing now that she had followed me down here. She was soaking wet but like me, nothing else mattered but the stone. However, it wasn’t as though she was a threat either, so as she approached I didn’t suddenly make a grab for it like I had in my vision.
“What is it?” I asked needing to know.
“It’s the Crimson Eye.” The second she said it I tested its name in a whisper rolling off my tongue.
“Crimson Eye.”
“Yes, but I always thought it was a myth,” she added, her voice in total awe.
“Why?”
“Because it was always said to be too dangerous to exist.” I frowned at that but then again it made sense when she added,
“It is said that it tells of the Fates plans, or at least…” She paused to look at me like she was now seeing someone different.
“What?”
“…it only does to those who are called to it.” I looked back at it and knew that it had called to me, what other reason could there be for me being here now and finding it? How would I have known?
“You think it might want to show me something?” I asked being unsure, despite being near desperate to touch it.
“You’re uncertain?”
“I haven’t really had the best track record for making decisions based on my instincts…coming to Hell is just one example.” I said making her sigh,
“Ah.”
“But then again, we are here now right,” I said quickly.
“Yeah and I mean it would almost be rude not to,” Nero added making me smirk at her and say,
“I knew I liked you.” She grinned back and then said,
“Back at you, human.” I laughed once and then released it on a breath before getting myself ready.
“Well, here goes nothing…tell Lucius I love him,” I said before she could say anything in response to that. Then I reached out and grabbed it and the moment I did, that was when I knew what it truly meant. What I had just grabbed hold of…
I was holding a piece of fate…I was holding its heart.
A rush of visions all hit me at once and I found myself gripping on harder to try and cling on to the power of it. Gods, but it was so strong it stole more than my breath, for it felt as though it would have stolen my soul had I let