Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 324: Nightmares Unveiled

Chapter 324: Nightmares Unveiled

Dark energy slithered from the ground like veins, winding hungrily around the castle walls. With each pulse, the tendrils swelled, throbbing like a sinister heartbeat.

Jagged cracks split the earth beneath them, the likely source of the tremors shaking the land. From these gaps, more of the ominous energy seeped out, creeping toward its next host—the surrounding area of the castle.

The Castle of Asvaldur was nearly consumed. The lower walls were already ensnared, swallowed by the writhing veins of darkness. Only the upper spires remained untouched, their towering peaks still defiant against the encroaching force. But it was only a matter of time. Soon, even they would be claimed.

Inside and outside the castle, tiny figures moved—too small for Puck to make out clearly, but he assumed they were vampires. Something was off. They weren’t going about their usual routines; instead, they drifted aimlessly, like sleepwalkers lost in a dream.

Puck leaned forward, gripping the nearest tree to steady himself. From this vantage point, he had a clear view of the path leading straight to the castle from the mountain. That was the road they had planned to take once they reached the base.

But now, that road was utterly impassable. A massive crack split the earth, dark energy seeping from its depths like writhing creatures emerging from underground, hungry and searching for something to consume.

Puck didn’t fear the dark energy or the gaping crack in the earth—but the gap was far too wide for anyone to leap across. For vampires, it might be effortless, but for werewolves, attempting that jump would be a death wish, a gamble against the abyss.

Yet, even for vampires, there was a greater threat—the dark energy itself. Near the edge of the newly formed chasm, several vampires stood within clear view, their movements sluggish and unnatural.

Puck had been right. Something was terribly wrong. The vampires wandered aimlessly, colliding into one another without reaction. No arguments, no retaliatory glares—nothing.

For a species as proud and refined as vampires, such behavior was unthinkable. A mere accidental bump would usually spark a sneer, if not a fight.

But the strangest sight of all was what came next. Some of them, after stumbling into one another, simply kept walking—straight toward the abyss. And then, without hesitation, they stepped forward and vanished into the darkness below.

Puck hurried back to the group and relayed everything he had seen. The elders listened intently, using his report to reassess their strategy.

Meanwhile, Riona approached him with a single question. "Did you see any sign of Florian?"

Puck shook his head. "Not by sight. But by scent..." He hesitated for a moment, then continued, "I could sense his presence. He was there—just too far for me to pinpoint exactly where."

Thorin joined them, and the moment he reunited with Riona, he took her hand without hesitation. His gaze swept over her, searching for any signs of injury. Gently, he cupped her cheek with his free hand.

"Are you okay? Did you fall or get hurt?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

Riona shook her head. "I’m fine," she assured him. "Just... worried about Florian. I haven’t been able to sleep properly. Even when I do, it’s so shallow that the tiniest sound jolts me awake. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t enter the dream world at all." Her voice carried a hint of frustration, her exhaustion evident.

Thorin pulled her into a tight embrace, his warmth grounding her, even as the weight of worry for her brother still pressed against her chest.

Before she could say anything more, a voice cut through the air.

"Everyone, may I have your attention?"

It was Ulysses. His tone was firm yet composed, commanding the group’s focus. Heads turned toward him as the murmurs died down.

"Thank you," he said, his gaze sweeping over them.

Ulysses relayed Puck’s findings to the group, his voice steady as he explained the necessary change of plans.

"The path we originally planned to take is no longer an option. Instead, we’ll take a detour through the city and approach the castle from there."

With that, everyone began packing up and preparing to descend the mountain. Turning back was far easier than pressing deeper into the treacherous terrain. The further they went into the heart of the mountains, the more unforgiving the ground became—unstable, jagged, and riddled with unseen dangers.

The route through the city, however, was far more manageable. It was the path the citizens of Asvaldur used daily, meaning the kingdom had maintained it well. Compared to the perilous mountain descent, it was a more comfortable choice.

***

As they made their way down the mountain, strange afflictions began to spread among the vampires. At first, only a few complained of headaches—dull at first, then splitting and relentless. The group was forced to stop multiple times, allowing them moments of rest, but it did little to help. Some doubled over, vomiting from the pain.

Then, something even more alarming happened. The veins beneath their skin darkened, thickening in color until they turned an eerie black. When they did manage to sleep, their rest was short-lived—abruptly shattered by gasping breaths and panicked jolts awake.

Riona knew exactly what that meant.

"Did you have a nightmare?" she asked each afflicted vampire.

The answer was always the same: yes.

The nightmares varied from person to person. For one, it was the loss of their parents. For another, the fear of losing everything they had worked for. Each horror was deeply personal, yet all were equally consuming.

Then, Riona noticed it. A faint, nearly imperceptible black mist lingered in the air. It was so thin, so subtle, that it was easy to overlook. But once she focused on it, it became undeniable.

"I think it’s the fog," she murmured. "It’s causing this."

A voice cut through her thoughts. "Isn’t this familiar?" the Fallen One asked.

Riona’s breath hitched as the realization struck her. "This is Florian’s power, isn’t it?"

***

Cities were usually lively—crowded streets, the hum of conversation, and the constant movement of people going about their daily lives. Especially near a palace or castle, the energy was undeniable.

But Asvaldur’s capital was nothing like that.

Yes, there were people. But not in the way Riona had expected. They drifted through the streets in a daze, their eyes hollow, their movements sluggish. Just as Puck had described from the mountaintop—they weren’t living their lives. They were simply... existing.

The citizens bumped into the group, yet no one muttered an apology or even acknowledged them. It was as if they were trapped in a waking dream, moving without thought, without purpose.

Curious, Lisbeth poked a passing vampire with the tip of her scabbard. The man stumbled and collapsed onto the ground. But instead of reacting—no anger, no confusion—he simply picked himself up, leaving the dirt on his coat, and resumed his aimless wandering as if nothing had happened.

Then, without warning—

"UARRGHHH!"

A piercing scream shattered the eerie silence.