Standing above the river of blood, Alexander felt as if he were stepping on a soft silicone carpet. The blood-red waters gently lifted him off the ground, quickly carrying him over the maple forest in front and depositing him right before the castle's grand entrance.
The castle was vast. Some of its weathered walls were illuminated by brightly lit oil lamps. On one side of the main hall, a massive fireplace blazed warmly, enveloping Alexander in comforting heat.
Given the Blood Queen's reputation, he had expected the place to be littered with skeletons and terrifying decorations. Surprisingly, apart from being slightly old-fashioned, the ambiance wasn't particularly eerie.
"Come here, my dear..." a delicate voice beckoned from the second floor.
A shiver ran down Alexander's spine. The Blood Queen was a shared trauma among all chosen ones. "Stay calm," he told himself, taking solace in the 70% affection rate.
