The road behind them was broken. Ash blew with the wind. They had walked without sleep, without food, with the sick carried on carts and backs. Some died on the way, their bodies buried in shallow graves or left behind for the crows.
But now, they saw it.
The Dragon Gate.
Massive iron-bound doors set into the white stone wall that circled the capital. Towering. Still. A symbol of safety, of order. Behind it, people lived. Inside, there was bread. Healers. Clean water. Guards who could fight off whatever it was that burned the northern border.
Some villagers dropped to their knees.
One woman let out a sob, clutching her child. A man let go of the stretcher he had dragged through mud and snow and let his head fall against the stone.
"We made it," someone whispered.
But the gate didn't open.
At its foot stood a line of guards. Helmets down. Spears up. Shields in hand.
The captain stepped forward, firm and loud. "No entry permitted. Orders from the Ministry of Wellbeing."
A murmur went through the crowd. Then louder shouts. The people surged forward.
"We're citizens!"
"Our homes are gone!"
"Please—we ran all night!"
"You don't understand," a man said, hands raised. "They burned the whole valley. The demons. They weren't human. You have to let us in—please!"
The captain didn't flinch. "I understand perfectly. We've been informed. That's why you can't enter."
"What?" the man gasped. "We fled from them! We're not infected with anything!"
The captain didn't blink. "And yet, the Ministry forbids your entry. You may be carrying something worse than disease."
A silence followed.
Then a girl's voice pierced it all. Small. Clear.
"Let us meet the goddess!"
All eyes turned.
She couldn't have been more than eight. Her dress was torn. One sleeve was half-burned. There were bloodstains on her knees, her fingers, her collar. Her arms were folded in prayer, her eyes filled with tears.
"My mom needs help," she said, trembling. "She's all I got. Please. I want to see the goddess."
Her voice cracked on the last word.
One of the guards shifted, uncomfortable.
Then another voice joined hers.
"My son!" An old man dropped to his knees in front of the soldiers. "He's injured. He's bleeding. I dragged him across the pass. Please, just one healer. Just let me bring him in. Please... I beg you..."
The guard captain stayed where he was. "Look," he said, voice firm, "I'm aware of the situation. But it's an order from above. We cannot break it."
A woman screamed in frustration.
"You're going to let children die out here?"
"They're not sick!" another man yelled. "It's demons! They came from the forest with burning horns and smoke for mouths!"
"Why won't you believe us?!"
The crowd pressed closer.
Behind them, a second wave of villagers appeared. More survivors. Younger men. Wounded. Angrier.
They saw the blocked gate. They heard the screaming.
Someone shoved forward.
"Enough of this!"
Three young men tried to scale the wall. One made it halfway up before a guard struck him with the butt of a spear. He fell backward into the crowd.
The guards drew their weapons.
"Form line!" the captain barked.
The villagers shouted. Pushed. The line wavered.
Then someone threw a stone.
It cracked against a shield.
And chaos broke out.
The crowd surged. Some tried to run. Others tried to fight. Screams echoed. People were trampled. A guard swung wildly. A boy was knocked unconscious. Mothers grabbed their children and pulled them back, crying. Men shouted for calm. But there was no calm.
In the confusion, a messenger broke from the rear and sprinted toward the city.
Inside the Palace
The message reached the palace by dusk.
Villagers storming the Dragon Gate.
The council chamber murmured. Guards were dispatched. The situation was declared unstable. Immediate action was requested.
But not from the Queen. Nor the King.
In the inner court, the scroll passed to Lady Shithal.
She read it once and tossed it aside.
"Let the guards handle it," she said. "We don't need their kind in the capital."
"But they say the north was attacked," a minister replied cautiously. "That it's not plague—it's demons."
Shithal's eyes narrowed.
"All the more reason to keep them out. If they've brought demons with them, then opening that gate is suicide."
The minister said nothing more.
The order stood.
Temple of Moonpetals
Reevan found Ruby in the central chamber.
The incense had burned down. The candles flickered low. Ruby sat alone, legs folded beneath her, her hands resting on her knees. Her white robe was loose, stained faintly with old dirt. Her braid hung down her back.
She didn't turn when Reevan entered.
"They're at the gate," he said.
"I heard."
"The guards won't let them in."
She nodded once.
Reevan stepped closer. "They're begging to see the goddess. They mean you."
"I know."
"They say devils attacked their village. That the border fell."
"I believe them."
Reevan sat across from her. "Then what are you going to do?"
Ruby looked up at the ceiling. Her voice was quiet.
"I don't know. I feel like something is building. Like I'm supposed to move, but I can't see where."
"That's your instinct," Reevan said.
She looked at him. "Is it enough?"
"It has been before."
She shook her head. "This is different."
Reevan leaned back on his hands. He watched her for a moment, then said, "You know, if you're scared... there is someone you could ask."
She frowned. "Who?"
Reevan didn't answer. Just watched her.
Ruby's face went pale. "No. You can't mean him."
He nodded.
"The Vampire Lord?"
"Yes. The Dark Emperor. He's listening, always."
Ruby's breath caught in her throat. "He's... not trustworthy."
"No," Reevan agreed. "But you can try."
"He doesn't help for free."
"He might, if he thinks it serves him."
She stood up slowly. "You're really suggesting I ask him for help?"
"I'm saying it's an option."
She crossed her arms, rubbing her palms against her sleeves.
"I don't think I can do that. Not yet. Maybe... if it gets worse."
Reevan tilted his head. "Then what will you do now?"
She looked out the window. Smoke curled in the distance, thin and gray. She could still hear the people screaming beyond the walls.
"I'll go to the gate," she said.
"What for?"
"I don't know. But I can't sit here anymore."
Reevan nodded. "That's enough."
---