Everything was black.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in the inn anymore. Instead, I was surrounded by swirling clouds—black and pale yellow, shifting like smoke in the wind. The air felt heavy, almost unreal.
And then I saw her.
A woman stood before me; young, beautiful… almost divine. Her presence alone made my chest tighten. She stepped closer, her gaze fixed on me.
"Seraphina, is it?" she asked softly.
I swallowed. "Yes… and you are?"
A faint smile curved her lips. "I am the ruler of snake hybrids—Helena Veranda."
My breath hitched. "Wait… you mean the Helena Veranda? The one from the stories…?"
"Yes, dear," she said calmly. "Every word was true."
My mind raced. None of this made sense, yet somehow, it felt real.
"You must be wondering why you're here," she continued.
"Yeah," I muttered. "I really am."
Helena tilted her head slightly. "Tell me… have you noticed the cut on your arm? The color of your veins? The scales on your cheeks?"
My heart skipped. I looked down—really looked this time.
Purple… and light blue veins.
Scales.
My breath trembled. "What… what is this? You don't mean I'm—"
"A snake hybrid," she finished gently.
Silence fell between us.
"It can't be…" I whispered.
"It is," she said. "And not just any hybrid. You are special."
She raised her hand, and the clouds around us seemed to shift as she spoke.
"In our world, the color of one's veins defines their nature," she explained.
"Red—leaders, protectors. Blue—fast, skilled fighters. Black—shadows, spies, armies."
Her eyes locked onto mine.
"But yours… purple and light blue. Speed and combat… combined with something far rarer."
I held my breath.
"Purple exists only within rulers," she said. "It marks the chosen one—the one destined to carry our legacy."
My voice came out barely above a whisper. "You're saying… I'm going to be the ruler of snake hybrids?"
"Yes," Helena replied. "I have ruled for decades. But now… it is your time."
"But why me?" I asked, my chest tightening.
"Because you were chosen, Seraphina."
I shook my head. "What about my world? No one would ever believe—"
"Forget that world," she interrupted gently. "Soon, the monsters will break free. And when they do… you will lead."
She removed a ring from her finger, a silver band carved with a coiled snake—and held it out to me.
"Wear this. When the time comes, they will recognize you as their ruler."
Hesitantly, I took it.
The moment it touched my skin—
Everything vanished.
---------
I blinked.
The ceiling of the inn came into view. My body felt heavy as I slowly sat up. Beside me, Eirlys slept peacefully.
So… it was a dream?
Then my eyes fell to my hand.
The ring.
My stomach dropped.
"Soon the monsters will break…" Helena's voice echoed in my mind.
Before I could process it, something pulled me down.
I hit the bed with a soft thud.
"Eirlys?" I muttered.
"Stop zoning out," she murmured, wrapping her arms around me. "Go to sleep… or I'll get thirsty."
I froze for a second.
Right. Vampire.
Then again… I wasn't exactly human either anymore.
"…Fine," I sighed.
She held me closer, and without thinking, I gently stroked her hair. Slowly, the tension faded, and sleep crept back in.
But even as my eyes closed…
Something about her felt off.
Like she was hiding something.
Just like me.