The Girl Who Defied Death 1

Some monsters kill with claws. Others kill with silence."

The Crimson Moon hung above the ruined village like an open wound in the sky.

Rain hissed against burning rooftops.

Smoke curled through the streets, carrying the metallic scent of blood and ash.

Katherine stood motionless in the center of the devastation, her silver sword drawn, her emerald eyes fixed on the distant cliffs.

The earth had stopped trembling.

But the silence was worse.

Every knight around her looked pale.

Captain Rowan stepped closer to Katherine.

Tell me you don't believe it," he said quietly.

Katherine didn't answer immediately.

She had spent her entire life dismissing the stories of the Blood King as superstition. A legend created to frighten children and keep travelers away from the Crimson Forest.

But legends did not leave villages full of bloodless corpses.

Legends did not turn the moon crimson.

And legends did not make hardened soldiers tremble.

Her grip tightened on her sword.

"I believe something is here," she said

Whether it's the Blood King or not… we'll find out."

A cold wind swept through the village.

The fires dimmed.

Every horse began screaming in terror.

Then came the footsteps.Slow,Measured,Impossible to ignore.

Katherine turned toward the entrance of the village.

A tall figure emerged from the darkness.

Black coat.

Pale skin that seemed almost luminous beneath the crimson moon.

His black hair fell across his forehead, and his eyes—his eyes glowed a deep, unnatural red.

The soldiers staggered backward immediately.

Gods…"It's him."The Blood King."

The stranger stopped several feet away.

He looked around the ruined village with an expression that was almost bored.

Then his gaze settled on Katherine.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Katherine felt something she had never experienced before.

Not fear.Pressure

As if the air itself had become heavier in his presence.

The man tilted his head slightly.

Interesting," he said.

His voice was deep and calm, carrying effortlessly through the rain.

Most humans kneel when they see me."

Katherine raised her sword instead.

Most humans haven't spent their lives training to kill monsters."

A faint smile touched his lips.

Monster," he repeated thoughtfully.That's a new one."

Rowan stepped beside Katherine, sword drawn.

Captain, we should retreat."

Katherine didn't move.

Are you responsible for this village?" she demanded.

The stranger's crimson eyes flicked toward the bodies scattered across the street.

The answer came too quickly

Katherine narrowed her eyes.

.You expect me to believe that?"

He took a step forward.

Several knights flinched.

You may believe whatever helps you sleep, Captain…" he said, letting the title linger on his tongue.But if I had done this, there would be no village left to investigate."

Katherine hated that part of her recognized the confidence in his voice

It didn't sound like a lie.

One of the younger knights suddenly shouted and lunged forward.

Die, vampire!"

Everything happened at once.

The knight's sword swung toward the stranger's neck.

The stranger moved.Not fast,Impossible,One moment he stood ten feet away.The next, he was directly in front of the knight.

His hand closed around the blade barehanded.

Steel snapped like glass.

The knight froze in horror.

The stranger's crimson eyes darkened.

"I dislike being interrupted."

He shoved the knight backward with one hand.

The armored soldier flew across the street and crashed through a wooden cart.

Silence

Every knight stared in disbelief.

Katherine's heartbeat quickened.Not from fear,From realization.No human could do that.

The stranger looked back at her.

You're wondering if the stories are true."

Katherine lifted her chin.

I'm wondering how to kill you."

For the first time, genuine amusement appeared in his eyes.

There it is," he murmured.The courage everyone else is missing."

A low growl echoed from the forest.

Katherine spun toward the trees.

The stranger's expression changed instantly.

The amusement vanished.

Now he looked… alert.

Get behind me," he said.

Katherine almost laughed.

I'd rather die."

The growl came again, louder this time.

Something massive moved between the trees.

Branches snapped.

The horses panicked violently.

Then it emerged.

The creature stood nearly eight feet tall, its body twisted between wolf and man. Black fur covered its skin, and its claws were stained with fresh blood.

Its eyes glowed the same crimson as the moon.

Several knights screamed.

"What in the gods' names is that?"

The stranger's voice turned cold.

A Bloodborn.And now you understand why this village died."

The creature roared and charged.

Katherine met it head-on.

She dodged the first swipe, rolled beneath the second, and slashed her silver blade across its arm.

The creature howled

The stranger's eyes widened slightly.

Silver

Katherine drove her sword forward again, but the Bloodborn caught the blade between its claws.

Its jaws snapped inches from her face

The stench of blood hit her like a wall.

Then the creature suddenly jerked backward.

The stranger stood behind it, one hand wrapped around its throat.

His crimson eyes blazed.

You dare hunt in my kingdom?"

With a single motion, he twisted.

A sickening crack echoed through the village.

The creature's neck snapped.

It collapsed at his feet.

Silence returned.

Katherine stared at him.

He had killed the monster effortlessly.

Rain dripped from his dark coat as he looked down at the corpse with disgust.

Pathetic."

Katherine lowered her sword slightly.

You knew what it was."

He met her gaze again.

Because I created them."

Every knight froze.

Rowan swore under his breath.

Katherine's eyes hardened.

Then those deaths are still your responsibility."

For the first time, something dangerous flickered across his face.

Careful, Captain."

Katherine stepped closer instead.

No."You don't get to arrive after five hundred years, kill a monster, and expect everyone to forget the bodies in the street."If you made these creatures, then tell me why they're attacking human villages."

The rain intensified.

The stranger studied her for several long seconds.

What is your name?

Katherine Ashford."

Katherine Ashford," he repeated softly, as if testing the sound.You ask questions that could get you killed."

And you avoid answering them.

A slow smile appeared on his lips.

Good.I was beginning to think this kingdom had run out of interesting people.

Katherine's patience snapped.

She lunged

Her silver sword flashed toward his throat.

This time, he didn't stop the blade with his hand.