Vampires Realm Prophecy 01 - Child of Light

did.
    “Maybe a little nervous,” she whispered.
    He drew her hair away from her neck and placed a kiss to her throat. “There is nothing to fear. When the battle begins, everything will move so swiftly that it will be over in the blink of an eye.”
    She didn’t know whether to hope his words were true or fear that it would really happen that way. So much could happen in the blink of an eye, and not all of it good. Holding his hand a little tighter, she sighed when he nuzzled her neck.
    Her eyes scanned the horizon.
    It was almost time.
    She could feel it approaching and knew there was no way of turning back now that the ball had been set in motion. In a few short moments they would leave the relative safety of the inn and head down into the valley, not knowing whether both of them would make it through this and live to see another night. There were so many lives at risk, not just Valentine’s and hers, or Mia’s and Dmitri’s, or even the werewolf army. The lives of the whole world were hanging in the balance and it was down to her to save them all. If they failed, Hell would be unleashed onto the earth. Those who were lucky would have a swift death. The rest would be tormented by the under-demons, the true spawn of the Devil. Vampire, werewolf and human alike would be tortured to death or eaten alive. No one would survive.
    Valentine moved away from her and headed towards the door. He stopped just short of it and turned to face her, extending his free hand.
    “It is time to go.”
    She nodded and went to him, slipping her hand into his and letting him lead the way down through the inn to the world outside. She didn’t look at the people they passed. She kept her focus on the battle ahead of them and tried to quell her nerves.
    They crossed the track and started down into the valley through the field. She remembered her vision. It was the same field. In the darkness, she could see the blood-red poppies that were staining the pale wheat. Letting go of Valentine’s hand, she plucked one of the blooms and raised it up. She cocked her head to one side and ran a lone fingertip over one of the soft petals. They were delicate little things, like so much of the world. Her species were supposed to abhor things like this. People made them into monsters. She supposed that some of them were, but there were others like her who were willing to risk their lives in order to save others, including the human race. She knew that Valentine would have nothing to do with humans, but she didn’t believe that he was as bad as some of the vampires of her household who saw them as a pest to be eradicated.
    She sighed and let the blossom fall to the floor. She wasn’t going to let anything happen to the world. The prophecy she was at the centre of wasn’t going to end with her destroying everything. She was going to save it all, demons and humans alike, so everyone could go on living. She didn’t care what the prophecy said about her. She had chosen to save the world and that was what she was going to do.
    Idly swinging her axe, she kept her gaze fixed straight ahead. It was a few miles to their destination and there was no hurry. If they got there too quickly, the werewolf army would be too far behind them. Valentine was setting an almost leisurely pace, as though he was merely out for a stroll rather than heading into battle.
    She studied his profile. He looked calm as usual. His brows were relaxed and his eyes scanned the distance. He held his axe over one shoulder and the blade glinted beside his head. To the outside world, he looked totally at peace, but she knew that inside there would be doubts and fears creeping in.
    The same doubts and fears that she shared.
    Would they make it through this together?
    The star over her chest ached and itched and she pressed her hand to it while silently telling herself that everything was going to be okay. All of them would make it through the battle.
    Looking down at the amulet, she saw it was glowing brightly and silvery-purple threads of magic were weaving their way around her fingers. She watched them dancing and slipping through the gaps, twisting around each other as they met.
    “Is something wrong?”
    Valentine’s voice roused her and her head shot up. She shook it, trying to convince both him and herself that everything was all right when it wasn’t. She knew why the magic had come without her calling it. Her heart feared. It feared that at the end of this, she would be