VALERIA

The magical artifact had taken the form of this ship but in miniature, sailing above the map the Vampire King had placed on the captain's cabin table.

"Where is it taking us now?" he asked, sounding exasperated.

"I don’t know. I just want to get to the Lunar Gate. I don’t know the exact path," I replied just as irritably.

The night had passed, and the first rays of sunlight were peeking over the horizon, yet the dense mist surrounding us made visibility difficult.

"I want to see my friends—"

"Land ahead!" someone shouted from the deck before he could answer me.

He hurried out, shoving me aside rudely, and I followed him, climbing the ladder to the deck.

My feet touched the wooden planks as I emerged. Many of his soldiers were already there, all staring in the same direction. I fixed my gaze on the point they were looking at, the direction we were heading.

Soon, the silhouette of what looked like a small island began to take shape. No one spoke; the atmosphere was oppressive. I