Blood and Belief - Chapter 0: Prologue

Haatim stumbled toward the exit, half-carrying Emma, but the vampires cut him off.\n\nToo many. Everywhere. Coordinated. Professional.\n\nA vampire grabbed his shoulder, claws digging deep. Another came from the left. A third from behind.\n\nHe was going to die here. Failed Emma. Failed Frieda. Failed—\n\nFlash of gold light.\n\nThe vampire behind him exploded into ash.\n\nAnother flash. The one to his left disintegrated.\n\nThe third released him, backing away in fear. \"It's her! The golden-eyed woman!\"\n\nHaatim spun.\n\nAcross the chaos, cutting through vampires like they were paper, eyes blazing like twin suns—\n\nHer.\n\nBlack woman. Curly hair to her shoulders, escaping from a ponytail that had come loose in the fighting. Scar on her right cheek. Early twenties. Wearing an evening dress that was now torn and blood-spattered.\n\nGolden eyes that burned with impossible power.\n\n\"Abigail?\" he whispered.\n\nBut she wasn't looking at him. Was focused entirely on the fight, moving with inhuman speed and grace. Telekinesis sent vampires flying. Demons exploded when her gaze fell upon them. She was a force of nature, unstoppable, terrifying.\n\nBeautiful.\n\nShe tore through the enemy line, heading straight for Emma.\n\n***\n\nElianna had been fighting for her life when the second golden-eyed warrior revealed herself.\n\nFor a moment, she thought it was a vision. Her Faithful powers showing her the future.\n\nBut no. This was real.\n\nThe woman moved like death itself. Every gesture sent enemies flying. Every look disintegrated demons. Power radiated from her in waves that Elianna could feel in her bones.\n\n*One of us. She's one of the Faithful.*\n\nMore than that. She was what the Faithful were supposed to be. What Elianna aspired to become.\n\nA warrior of light in a world of darkness.\n\nElianna didn't question it. Didn't hesitate. Her visions had shown her this moment—fighting alongside another golden-eyed warrior against impossible odds.\n\nShe fell into sync with the stranger's rhythm. When the woman sent vampires left, Elianna struck from the right. When demons charged the woman, Elianna cut them off. They'd never trained together, never spoken, but they fought like they'd been partners for years.\n\nThe Faithful recognized their own.\n\n***\n\nShe committed fully now. No more hiding. No more shadows.\n\nHer eyes blazed at full power—bright enough to illuminate the entire club. Telekinesis lifted her off the ground, sending her flying across the room faster than human. She landed in the VIP section, power rippling outward in waves.\n\nVampires scattered like leaves before a storm.\n\nShe didn't pursue them. Had only one goal.\n\nEmma.\n\nThe girl was conscious now, fighting through the glamour, trying to stand. Brave kid. Stupid, but brave.\n\nShe reached Emma just as three vampires moved to recapture her. Didn't give them the chance. Telekinetic force slammed them into walls. One. Two. Three. They didn't get up.\n\nShe knelt beside Emma. \"Can you walk?\"\n\n\"Who...?\" Emma's eyes widened. \"You're her. The woman from the stories. The one Haatim—\"\n\n\"Can you walk?\" she repeated, more urgently.\n\n\"I think so.\"\n\n\"Then do it. Get to the exit. Don't look back.\"\n\nShe stood, turning to face the vampire horde. At least forty of them now, having abandoned other fights to focus on her. They'd been preparing for this. Had blessed silver chains ready, traps set, plans made.\n\nNone of it mattered.\n\nShe was done running. Done hiding. Done being afraid of what she'd become.\n\nA vampire lunged. She caught him with her mind, crushed him against the ceiling. Another charged from the side. Telekinetic wave sent him through a wall.\n\nThey kept coming.\n\nShe kept destroying them.\n\nLost herself in the fight. In the power. In the freedom of finally, finally not holding back.\n\nThis was what she was now. This was what Surgat had made her.\n\nA weapon.\n\nBut a weapon she controlled. A weapon she chose to use to protect people.\n\nThat had to mean something.\n\nMovement in her peripheral vision. Haatim, fighting his way toward her, Emma safe behind him. His face—shock, recognition, desperate hope.\n\n*No. Don't look at him. Mission first.*\n\nBut she couldn't help it. Their eyes met across the battlefield.\n\nThree meters of chaos between them.\n\nSix months of silence.\n\nA lifetime of questions.\n\n\"Abigail.\" His voice barely audible over the fighting. \"It's you. It's really you.\"\n\nShe wanted to say yes. Wanted to run to him. Wanted to explain everything, apologize for everything, beg forgiveness for everything.\n\nInstead, she said: \"Get Emma out of here. NOW.\"\n\n\"I'm not leaving you—\"\n\n\"You don't have a choice!\" She sent another wave of power out, clearing a path to the exit. \"GO!\"\n\nHe hesitated. She could see it in his eyes—the war between duty and desire. Between saving Emma and staying with her.\n\nEmma made the choice for him, grabbing his arm, pulling him toward the exit. \"Come on! She's giving us a chance!\"\n\nHaatim looked back one more time.\n\nShe met his gaze. Let him see her fully—the power, the fear, the love that had never died despite six months of running.\n\nThen turned away.\n\nBack to the fight.\n\nBack to the vampires and demons and impossible odds.\n\nBack to being what she'd become.\n\nBehind her, she heard Haatim's footsteps retreating. Heard Emma's voice urging him to move. Heard the exit doors crash open.\n\nThey were safe.\n\nThat was what mattered.\n\nNow she just had to survive long enough to follow them out.\n\nA vampire grabbed her from behind. She spun, eyes blazing, and he exploded into ash.\n\nBarone himself emerged from the chaos, face twisted with rage. \"You. The weapon we've been hunting. You walked right into our trap.\"\n\n\"Funny,\" she said, power crackling around her. \"I was about to say the same thing.\"\n\nThey charged each other.\n\nThe real battle had begun.