Phillip guided the carriage to a stop in front of a small inn. Ravencrest Castle was still hours away, and they needed a place to rest for the night. The surrounding area was dense with forest trees, offering a secluded but eerie ambiance. Using apparition to transport two people could risk triggering Lucas's disease, a risk they couldn't afford to take tonight.
"Let's go," Lucas instructed Charlotte, leading the way towards the inn. However, the girl hesitated, sensing something unsettling about the place.
"Fine, suit yourself," Lucas shrugged, unfazed, and proceeded to enter the inn. Charlotte followed closely behind, as he had anticipated.
Inside, they were greeted by an aged woman at the front desk. Judging by her appearance, Lucas estimated her to be in her mid-fifties, with colored teeth and fried hair, a reflection of a life that hadn't been kind.
"We need a room for the night," Lucas stated plainly.
"That will cost you fifteen silver coins," the innkeeper replied, her eyes gleaming with greed as Lucas handed her a single gold coin without hesitation.
"We'll also need some food and a clean set of clothes," Lucas added.
The innkeeper turned to Charlotte, inquiring, "Anything specific you'd like, dearie?"
Lucas interjected on her behalf, "She'll eat anything. So far, if it's edible, it's fine. And blood for me."
After securing the arrangements, they were assigned the 26th room. Lucas turned the key, opening the door to reveal a rather cliché sight - only one bed in the room. Charlotte's eyes widened at the realization.
Lucas entered first, beginning to uncuff his wrists as he noticed that Charlotte hadn't moved from the door. His patience wearing thin, he was about to speak when the innkeeper arrived with a tray of food and a cup of warm thick blood.
"Sit and eat," the innkeeper commanded, setting the tray down on a single plastic chair and table in the room. Charlotte complied, taking a seat and picking up the small knife from the tray to start cutting the potato into manageable pieces. As she worked, she heard a snort and looked up to see Lucas downing a glass of the red liquid without hesitation.
She had barely picked up the potato when a sharp noise echoed through the room, startling her. She watched in horror as the knife shattered, sending broken shards scattering across the floor. Her eyes darted to Lucas, whose hands had transformed into claws right before her eyes.
"Wait, what?" she gasped, confusion and fear gripping her.
"Run, slave!" Lucas's voice came out huskily, his breaths labored. Drops of blood splattered onto the floor as he struggled, one hand stained with his own blood while the other sought support from the small table.
Charlotte hesitated for a moment, her mind reeling with disbelief at the unfolding scene. But Lucas's urgent command spurred her into action. She scrambled forward, her heart pounding in her chest as she made a dash for the door, not daring to look back.
As her trembling hand reached for the doorknob, Lucas's growl filled the air. His claws dug deeper into his chest, and his voice, now deeper and more terrifying, sent chills down her spine.
"Are you still here? I said run, dammit!" Lucas's command was filled with urgency and desperation.
Charlotte's fingers fumbled with the doorknob, her body shaking with fear and adrenaline. The door finally gave way, swinging open to reveal a scene even more terrifying than she could have imagined.
Standing in the doorway was the innkeeper, but her demeanor had changed entirely. Instead of the welcoming hostess, she now held knives in her hands, her eyes filled with a menacing glint.
"What's this? Trying to escape now, are we?" The old man's voice dripped with malice as he grinned sinisterly, brandishing a knife aimed directly at Charlotte.
Lucas, his once-calm demeanor now tinged with rage and bloodied, looked up at them with eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness. Blood streamed down his face, evidence of the struggle within him. His gaze shifted to the innkeeper, and in a sudden blur of movement, the knife was mere inches from her face, and she found herself lifted off the ground, struggling to breathe as if held in a vice grip.
"I ordered you to run, did I not?" Lucas's voice was deep, resonating with authority and a hint of danger. His crimson eyes were now dark pools of intensity, locking onto Charlotte's with a silent command
The scene unfolded in a blur of terror and confusion. Lucas, his once-calm demeanor shattered, moved with a predatory grace towards the innkeeper. With a swift motion, he ripped something from the woman's body, causing her to crumple to the ground, lifeless. Their gazes met briefly, but Charlotte's attention was drawn to the organ that Lucas now held in his hand. His expression was grave, hinting at a darkness within him that she had only glimpsed before.
She didn't need anyone to tell her to run this time. Fear propelled her towards the entrance door, which was left wide open in a bewildering twist of events. As Charlotte stumbled into the night air, her senses heightened with adrenaline, she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind her. Looking back, she saw two masked figures, clad in black from head to toe, blending seamlessly into the darkness.
Before she could process the danger fully, a sharp blow struck the side of her head. Stars exploded in her vision, and black spots clouded her sight. Hands grabbed her, binding her wrists and gagging her cries for help. Through the haze of pain and confusion, she could barely make out the outline of a third person, their features obscured by shadows, before the world plunged into darkness.
The last thing Charlotte remembered before succumbing to unconsciousness was the chilling realization that her escape had only led her into a deeper, more perilous trap.