Free Vampire Girl 2: Midnight Star by Karpov Kinrade

amongst the crystal. "I have been awoken by the blood of the Midnight Star, the blood that flows through her. She is High Fae. She is our true ruler."
    The crowd turns back to me, eyes curious, even… hopeful, and I know what they're waiting for.
    Yami.
    I nudge the dragon on my shoulder. "Come on, Yami," I whisper. "These people love you. Care for you. Show yourself for one moment. That is all they need. That is all I need." My eyes sting with tears as I imagine what Lucian will do if I fail tonight. My body recalls the ache in my ribs from his blade. "Please, Yami. Please, for me."
    His eyes go glossy, and he looks as near to weeping as me. He scans the crowd, their silent faces, the way they collectively lean forward to be closer to him. And then he jumps down in front of me. He walks forward on the pedestal, and I know in my heart he will do this. He will do this for me. "Thank you, Yami—"
    "What does it matter?" booms a voice, rough and harsh.
    Yami flinches, skittering back, hiding behind my dress.
    A new man, larger than any Fae I have ever seen, stands in the entrance, his body covered in red and gold armor. A white powder of sorts, maybe ash, paints his hands and forearms. His beard is burgundy and reaches down to his waist. Dark red tattoos swirl over his arms and neck and bald head. A Druid.
    "What does it matter if she is High Fae?" His voice is low, rumbling, powerful even when quiet. "They failed us before. And they will fail us again."
    Varis steps toward the man. "Oren, please…"
    Oren glances at Varis, studying him, and sneers. "Who is it that led us at the time of the Unraveling? Who is it that lost battle after battle?"
    "The High Fae," someone yells.
    Oren walks forward, addressing the crowd, bones knitted into his beard and jewelry rattling with each step. "The High Fae." He stops, and glares at me, his dark red eyes burning with rage. "The Midnight Star."
    Madrid rushes down the pedestal, standing between me and the Druid. She lifts up her hand. "Oren, please…"
    For a moment, the Druid's eyes turn soft, but then he looks away. "I will not follow the High Fae again. I will lead my own war against the demons. Who will join me?"
    Agreement moves through the crowd. "I!" "And I." "I will join you."
    A new voice, soft and cold like freezing water enters the hall. "And I." A woman saunters into the ballroom, her long turquoise gown rippling behind her. Her skin is dark, covered in silver tattoos. Her head is bald. A light blue and green serpent, its body scaled, its teeth long and sharp, twists around her right arm, slithering up and down in her grasp. When she speaks, a chill flows through the room. "We have been awoken. What other need is there for the Midnight Star?"
    Whispers move through the crowd.
    Varis frowns. "Metsi, this is not our way—"
    Metsi's serpent snaps at the Air Druid. Metsi chuckles, petting her snake on the head. "Now, now, little one, where are our manners? This foolish man doesn't deserve such hate."
    She walks past Varis, standing beside Oren at the base of the pedestal. "We will keep the Midnight Star safe. But she will be no leader."
    Varis dashes to their side, his face full of anger, the wind roaring around the hall. "Yami is the one who binds us. He is life. He is death."
    "He is weak," says Metsi. "The Yami we knew died in the Unraveling. What is he now?" She glances up at me, her eyebrows curious.
    She wants me to summon Yami for all to see. I tremble, my hands covered in sweat. My mouth is dry. Yami sits under my dress, shaking against my leg. "I… I…"
    Oren laughs. "She can't even control him." He points at me with a giant ashen finger. "Take heed girl, if you do not tame the spirit, it will tame you."
    He turns back to the crowd, and pulls a ruby necklace from behind his beard. He whispers to the gem, and it begins to glow. The floating lights flicker and glow brighter. Oren holds out his hand and snaps his fingers. They spark, and from the sparks erupts a bird of red