Days and nights have passed and Cassius only grew fonder of Lilian, enjoying every breakfast and inner with her, occasionally crossing paths with her throughout the early night.
"Where is Lilian?" Cassius asked as he walked down the hallway. They already ate dinner together a few hours before, but he had some inkling that she hasn't gone to sleep yet even though it was now past midnight.
"In a garden, your majesty." The servant responded with a bow. Cassius nodded, his mind already drifting to an image of Lilian as he continue to walk out of the castle and stride towards the gardens. It wasn't hard to find her as he caught a familiar scent in the air with a faint trace of jasmine and vanilla.
The garden, hidden between tall hedges and framed by rose bushes, was peaceful under the moonlight.
Cassius stood at the top of the grassy area and there, in the heart of it, was Lilian.
Lilian lay sprawled on the soft grass, her bare feet wriggling in a childlike joy. Her eyes darted across the sky, twinkling in joy.
"Good evening, Lilian," Cassius spoke to announce his presence, his deep voice a gentle ripple in the quiet.
Lilian turned her head which lit up with the brightest smile as her eyes met his. "Good evening, Cassius," she responded softly.
For a brief moment, Cassius hesitated, watching her, feeling the warmth of her simple joy tug at something deep inside him. Then, slowly, he moved to lie down beside her, his body sinking into the cool grass.
"What are you looking at?" Cassius asked curiously, hushing his tone not wanting to disturb the serenity of the moment.
"The moon." Lilian admitted as she pointed at the full moon. "Does a moon affect you in any way?"
Cassius was silent for a moment, considering the question. "I haven't noticed the moon in a long time," he admitted. "What do you mean?"
"There's a folklore I read... about vampires. It said your powers are enhanced during the full moon."
"I don't think I've ever noticed any correlation."
Lilian turned her head to look at him, her eyes tracing the sharp lines of his profile, her gaze soft yet intense. "What are your powers, really?" she asked directly.
His eyes remained on the sky, but he could feel her watching him. "I have no special powers beyond what all vampires possess. But if you're wondering how we compare to humans..." His voice trailed off, his mind wandering. "We're faster. Stronger. More dexterous. Our senses are sharper—sight, smell, hearing. We can sense emotions. We don't age, and human illnesses don't touch us. Some can heal and some have other talents. And yes, we can drain the essence of life from humans."
Lilian listened, her lips curving into a quiet smile. "Just like the stars," she murmured, her gaze drifting back to the sky. "Better in every way."
Her words were innocent, but they struck Cassius like a wave. His chest ached with something more profound than he expected. There was a softness in her, an acceptance that made him feel seen in a way he hadn't been seen before. The nonchalant way she spoke to him proved that she didn't just see the vampire—she saw him.
His love for Lilian grew every day and he could not deny that she was his fated. He watched her contours in the moonlight, breathless and powerless, buckling under the weight of his feelings and fear of rejection.
"Humans are better at some things," Cassius remarked. He knew there was more he could never say—how, in truth, Lilian wasn't just better; she was everything. Better in every way than anyone he had ever known.
"Oh, really?" Lilian's eyes widened in playful surprise.
"For one, your blood is… delectable," he teased, a smile tugging at his lips, revealing his fangs.
His words hung in the air for just a moment before Lilian's laughter, light and pure, rang out.
"And yet," Lilian said, her eyes glinting with mischief, "you've resisted it for a whole month now."
Cassius faltered. It has been a whole month. She had been in Ironwood for a month already, and in that time, they had shared countless moments—stolen glances, soft laughter, and most of their meals.
But despite the growing closeness, Cassius had been paralysed by fear, too afraid to ask her the question that clawed at his heart: Could she ever see beyond his curse, beyond the fangs and the shadows of his past? He didn't know. He couldn't bear to know.
Lost in thought, his hand moved on its own accord, gently untangling a blade of grass from Lilian's golden locks. The simple touch felt intimate, electric. Lilian watched him, her breath catching for a heartbeat, before a soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Perhaps not the best choice of seasoning," she said, amusement dancing in her eyes. The joy that swelled inside him at her laughter felt like sunlight breaking through the darkest of nights.
Cassius laughed deeply and genuinely. "I have no appetite for grass," he replied. He realised then that Lilian made him laugh more than anyone ever had, and with her, he felt something dangerously close to happiness.
Lilian's eyes sparkled with mischief as she tilted her head. "How would you season fresh blood, then? Any garnish?"
Cassius glanced around, his eyes falling on a delicate daisy. He plucked it, turning back to her with a soft smile. With the gentlest care, he tucked the flower behind her ear, his fingers brushing against her soft hair. "That's much better," he murmured.
"Charming," she declared, her attention shifting upward to the star-filled sky. "Oh! Look! A falling star!" Her voice was brimming with excitement as she pointed out the streak of light blazing across the night. "You must make a wish!"
Cassius's eyes followed the trail of the star as it vanished into the horizon. He didn't believe in wishes, but in that moment, there was only one thing he wanted—one wish that consumed him. *I wish for Lilian's happiness, for her joy to last forever, even if it's not with me.*
"What did you wish for?" he asked, his voice quieter now, almost hopeful.
"I can't tell you," she said. "Otherwise it won't come true!" She turned her gaze back to him, her warmth still lingering.
Minutes passed in comfortable silence, the night wrapping around them like a soft blanket. Lilian eventually sat up, stretching with a small, tired groan. "As much as I'd love to stay out here until dawn, I do need some sleep." She smiled, though there was a hint of reluctance in her voice as she stood.
Cassius rose beside her, feeling the sharp pang of their night drawing to a close. "It's late," he agreed. "I do not wish for you to exhaust yourself. Humans do not fare well without much sleep." His eyes lingered on her.
"What about vampires? Do you ever sleep?" she asked as they walked slowly toward the castle.
"We rest, but sleep as humans know it? No." He glanced at her.
"That must be sad," Lilian mused. "To not be able to dream."
"Do you dream often?"
"Regularly." Lilian nodded. "I'd say that I have more nightmares than dreams."
Cassius's heart twisted, concern filling his eyes as he glanced at her. He wanted to ask more, to take away whatever haunted her nights. But before he could speak, they had reached the corridor where their rooms stood so near each other but yet so far.
They paused at her door, the moment stretching out between them. Cassius forced himself to bow his head slightly. "Goodnight, Lilian," he whispered, the words feeling heavy on his tongue as he turned toward his own chamber.
He took a few steps, but something made him glance back. There she was, walking toward her room with that familiar bounce in her step, her hair swaying like gold threads made from the sun itself. He was utterly captivated. His heart ached with a longing so fierce it nearly stole his breath. If only… He clenched his jaw, fighting against the emotions surging inside him.
Once in his chamber, Cassius closed the door, but there was no peace to be found. His mind, his heart, his very soul was filled with thoughts of Lilian. She haunted him. If only she could love him back.