Darkova was unlike any other place in Valoria… its sky was full of twisting black clouds covered the entire horizon, hiding both sun and stars. And beneath that dark ceiling… stretched endless forests with tall, thin trees. But the sight that dominated everything… was Terracula's palace.
A completely black palace, built from polished dark stone. Its design was purely gothic: sharp towers like fangs, tall arched windows, each one covered by heavy crimson curtains that blocked any light from entering. At the entrance hung stone statues of vampires.
The outer garden had no flowers and no life…. only dry black plants, as if remnants of a curse rooted in the soil. But inside the palace… was a different world. Black candles lined the walls, and a strange scent filled the air… something between thick perfume and a smell like iron.
In the deepest chamber of the palace… Terracula sat on a throne made entirely of human skulls, stacked together and held by dark chains. She isn't a "Queen," yet that throne alone made anyone understand she held power far beyond titles.
She sat at ease, one leg over the other, swirling a glass cup between her fingers. It was filled with a dark red liquid… not wine. Her short red hair gleamed under the dim light, her crimson eyes glowing like embers, and every time she smiled, one corner of her mouth rose, revealing long, sharp fangs.
She wore a tight crimson gothic dress with long sleeves. Terracula lifted the glass slowly and took a drink, closing her eyes for a brief moment as she surrendered to the taste.
She murmured with a languid whisper:
"Ah… fresh blood."
A trail of red slid down the corner of her mouth. She wiped it with her finger… then gently licked it. At that moment, footsteps echoed across the hall, and someone emerged before the throne. A tall 20 years old man stood there, with messy black hair, wolf ears covered in black fur, and a thick tail swaying lazily behind him.
His eyes were crimson, just like Terracula's. Under the dim light, a pair of sharp fangs gleamed at the sides of his mouth. He wore a dark red coat reaching mid-thigh, embroidered with silver lines along the sleeves and edges, with shiny metal buttons lined on both sides. On his right shoulder was a golden embroidered insignia shaped like a wolf's head.
Beneath the coat, he wore a fitted black vest showing his athletic chest shape, with an ivory shirt visible at the collar and sleeves. Several metal necklaces hung from his neck, carrying strange symbols… some shaped like claws, others like wings. Around his waist, a wide leather belt held a circular metal emblem.
The werewolf bowed respectfully, then lifted his head slightly, flashing a sideways smile that revealed his fangs as he said in a playful but polite tone:
"Bloody morning… Lady Terracula. Do you have new orders for me today? Or will you leave me to entertain myself around the palace as usual?"
Terracula tilted the glass in her hand slowly, then looked at him with a soft smile. For the first time… she spoke his name:
"Akira… you're the last person who should be left to do as he pleases."
Akira lowered his chin again, his tail was giving a small twitch.
Terracula continued:
"Come closer, my dear… I have a small task for you this morning."
Akira stepped forward and leaned a little toward her. Terracula bent from her throne and moved closer to his ear. She whispered something brief, and Akira's eyes widened instantly, his pupils glowing a deeper red with feral excitement. His tail perked up, and a wide, mischievous grin spread across his face.
He stepped back, turned with a refined flourish like a stage dancer, lifted the edge of his coat in a dramatic gesture… then slipped out lightly.
Akira left through the palace's black gates and headed toward the heart of the city with graceful steps. The capital resembled a dark Victorian-gothic labyrinth:
Narrow stone-paved streets, tall lamps burning with blue flames, crowded markets selling black goods. Buildings tall and pressed together, their balconies decorated with sharp arches.
In the middle of the crowd, Akira appeared. But suddenly… he vanished from sight. Then reappeared behind a passerby, his hand darting forward with astonishing speed. In less than a second, he dragged the man into a nearby alley.
No one heard more than a muffled scream… followed by the sound of a bite. Akira returned to the street, his tail is swaying in delight.
He whispered:
"Oh… that's one."
He moved lightly over a cart, then leapt to the roof of a shop, then dropped down behind a woman carrying a basket of fruit. She didn't notice him until his claws touched her shoulder.
She screamed:
"Nooo—"
But his voice cut her off:
"Shhh… no need to scream, beautiful lady."
He placed his hand over her mouth quickly. The woman trembled all over while Akira's smile widened, enjoying her reaction.
He tilted his head, studying the side of her face with amusement:
"If you scream more… people will think I'm hurting you. And I hate being misunderstood like that."
He gently took the basket from her trembling hands:
"Let me help you… a shaking hand carries nothing well."
He tossed the basket aside, then wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her like a feather-light doll into the same dark alley where he had taken the man moments earlier. The man was still there, bound, a cloth stuffed in his mouth, trembling violently.
Akira lifted the woman almost effortlessly and set her beside him. Then he said with cheerful voice:
"There we go… isn't this a lovely start to a fun morning?"
The woman looked between Akira and the bound man, her eyes are filling with terror. Akira, however, smiled with devilish delight and said:
"Don't worry… I won't kill anyone yet. It's far too early for that."
Some people began to notice what was happening, and they scattered in every direction. Screams, confusion, guards trying to approach only to retreat again in pure fear. Everyone knew him. Terracula's loyal follower. Her black wolf with the crimson eyes. The one who doesn't pity, doesn't hesitate, and never stops once the hunt begins.
A merchant shouted:
"He's here!! That damned werewolf!! Run!! He's a monster!!"
Akira stood in the middle of the market, smiling as he spun his sharp claws between his fingers, extending them and retracting them with practiced ease, as if it were a toy.
Then he said loudly enough for everyone to hear:
"Come on… don't bore me. Who's next?"
Akira walked toward a side alley. At that same moment… an old man stumbled in front of him, falling hard to the ground, the vegetable bags flying from his hands. The man looked up, his eyes widened when he saw the wolf-man standing directly above him.
"N-no… please… please don't—"
Akira gave him a gentle fake smile, then slowly bent down as if to help. But he didn't reach for the man's arm… he placed his palm directly over his chest, where his heart was beating. He pressed lightly… and closed his eyes for a moment, as if savoring a beautiful melody.
"Fast heartbeat… very nice. That means you fully understand who's standing before you."
The old man trembled so violently his teeth clattered. Akira lifted his hand from the man's chest, grabbed his shirt with one fist, and pulled him up with surprising ease, as if he's lifting a pillow.
"Come on… don't run. I got two already… and I need a third to complete my lady's ritual."
He pulled out a thick leather strap from his belt and tightened it around the man's wrists quickly, then wrapped another piece around his mouth to silence him. Once the old man was fully restrained, Akira hoisted him over his shoulder like a simple bag. Then he headed back to the alley where the first two captives were still trembling. He grabbed the woman with one hand, the first man with the other, the old one on his shoulder.
He said cheerfully:
"Come along… we're visiting my lady together."
Then he dashed forward with the lightness of a swift wolf, leaping over rooftops and dropping into narrow alleys with all three in tow, never slowing for even a second. The screams of the townsfolk echoed behind him, but no one dared chase him.
In less than a minute… he ran up the steps of the gothic palace, kicked the heavy gate open, dragged the captives inside, and entered Terracula's hall.
He turned toward the throne and said in a pleased tone:
"My lady… I brought gifts."
Terracula rose from her throne. Beside it stood two teenage boys. The first was relatively tall, with smooth, tidy black hair, wearing black medical glasses that emphasized the coldness of his blue eyes. He looked around seventeen, his features are calm and icy, dressed in a black formal suit.
The second was a twelve-years-old boy with messy brown hair and clear blue eyes. His features were youthful, yet carried a hint of wild mischief. He leaned against one of the pillars, watching with curious amusement.
Akira threw the three captives onto the floor in front of the throne. They hit the ground hard, breathing in broken gasps. Terracula leaned down… then stopped above the first man. She lifted his head by the hair, brought him close to her lips, and her crimson eyes glowed with a hungry shine.
She whispered softly, deadly:
"Don't worry… it won't take long."
Then she sank her fangs into his neck. The man choked on a muffled cry, his entire body shaking while Terracula's fingers dug into his shoulder to keep him still. His blood flowed quickly… and she drank slowly, savoring every drop. His body fell seconds later… lifeless.
She wasted no time. She turned to the woman… and lunged with terrifying speed, driving her nails into the woman's chest, then bending down to tear through her neck with a clear rip.
Terracula moved on to the old man, lifting his head with one hand despite his frailty. She spoke with a cold, indulgent tone:
"The blood of the elderly… has a unique flavor."
Then she bit into his throat with force, and his body collapsed immediately in her hands. When she finished, she took a deep breath, wiped her mouth with a fingertip, then turned to Akira with eyes glowing in pleasure.
Terracula walked toward him and stopped right in front of him… then raised her hand and placed it on his cheek. She smiled widely, revealing her fangs, and said in a soft, playful, dangerous voice:
"Akira… my smiling beast… you always bring me the best mornings."
Akira's tail lifted slightly on its own, reacting to her touch, his arrogant grin unchanged. Then she turned slowly… extended her right hand to the tall boy's cheek, and her left to the younger one's.
She lifted the tall boy's chin with a finger, brushing the frame of his glasses with her thumb, and said:
"And you, Steve… you look quite handsome today… with that cold demeanor."
Steve's expression didn't change, but his eyes lowered a bit… as if accepting the compliment unwillingly. She then turned to the shorter one and tugged his cheek lightly, as though teasing a child.
"And you… Nyoro… your curiosity makes you charming in a different way."
Nyoro grinned widely, youthful yet carrying a touch of mischief. Terracula closed the distance between them all, lifted her hands away, then stepped back slowly… like a queen of blood observing her loyal servants.
Terracula laughed softly, provocatively, as if she's relishing the fact that all of them stood beneath her. She lifted her hand to wipe a tiny dot of blood at the corner of her lips, then gazed at the three boys with glowing eyes.
"What a morning… I'm truly fortunate to have you three."
Akira raised an eyebrow proudly. Steve remained still without expression, but his fist tightened slightly. Nyoro gave a small, amused smile, as if enjoying every word.
Terracula continued as she returned to her throne made of skulls:
"My loyal children… all the blood of Darkova means nothing without you."