The underground kingdom woke.
Not slowly.
Not gently.
It woke like something that had been waiting for centuries and had finally heard the name it had been waiting for.
The moment Aliena whispered, "Our firstborn," the entire city trembled.
Ancient towers rose from beneath the ground.
Black stone cracked apart, revealing silver veins of light underneath.
The dead streets began to glow.
Windows that had been dark for centuries suddenly flickered with pale flames, one after another, until the abandoned kingdom was illuminated from one end to the other.
Sebastian immediately stepped in front of Aliena.
His black wings spread wide.
"Stay behind me."
Aliena barely heard him.
She was staring at the child.
The little boy stood beneath the white throne.
White hair fell messily around his face. His skin was almost unnaturally pale, and his red eyes glowed softly in the darkness.
The black mark on his cheek had changed.
It was no longer a simple symbol.
