Lucia's dull face was brightened up when she saw Damian standing at the top of the stairs. However, she lost all mirth when August stepped up beside him.
For a moment, he met her gaze and in the next, he went away with August.
"No." She muttered under her breath and went after him.
She lost him when she made way into the garden.
"Lady Lucia?" Bat tipped his invisible hat and she curtsied.
Her eyes traveled the dimly lit garden in search of Damian.
"I believe you are looking for Sir Damian?" He said.
"Yes. Do you know where he is?" She turned to him immediately.
"I'm afraid I don't know." He shook his head.
"Oh." Lucia bit her lowerlip.
"But I do where he might be," Bat suggested. "However, you might need a lantern."
Lucia swallowed hard. Where would Damian be?
Bat was right. She absolutely needed a lantern and she was glad she listened to him and got one. While walking through the forest, she almost tripped on a few stones and fell.
"Curse this dress!" She wrenched her dress off a twig that caught it and it tore. "Great!"
"Just this way, My Lady." Bat held out his hand and she took it.
Together, they went to find Damian in the thick forest.
"Ugh!" A grunting voice echoed in the distance.
"That's Damian!" Lucia gasped.
"Then let's hurry up." Bat said.
They both hurried their steps. Lucia held up her lantern and it's golden light pierced the darkness. The lantern fell from her hands when she found Damian tending to his wounds. His naked upper body bled and was riddled with scars.
"Damian!" She ran to him.
"Get away from me!" He thundered.
"No! You're hurt. I have to help you." She knelt beside him on the rock he sat on.
"Leave me be." Damian grabbed his blood-soaked shirt and jacket.
"Who did that to you? Was it August? I saw you with him. Did he threaten you?" Lucia yelled behind him.
"Leave me alone, Lucia!" Damian walked past Bat.
Lucia bit her quivering lowerlip to keep her tears at bay.
Wiping the tears off her cheek, she took hold of the lantern. With a determined look on her face, she set out to find Damian.
"Damian!" She called.
"I thought I told you to leave me alone!" He turned around to yell at her.
"I won't leave you alone. You're bleeding and it's my fault. If I had never invited you here you wouldn't have been injured. Let me help you!" She yells back.
"No!"
Lucia ripped off a piece of her gown, exposing her neck. "Vampires need blood to heal, right? Go on. Bite me."
"No."
Lucia begins to sob. "Then why are you making me feel guilty! You're hurt. I want to help you. Let me help you, Damian. That's all I want and if you want me gone, you'll never see me again but let me help you this time."
Damian dropped his shirt to the floor with a light thud and walked to where she stood, crying. He cupped her chin and made her look at him. "Are you crying because you're sorry or are you crying because you pity me?"
"Both," Lucia sniffled softly. "Now, come on. Those wounds won't heal themselves."
"I can't drink your blood, Lucia." Damian shook his head.
"If I slit my wrist, there are 20 or even more vampires in that party that will come after me and suck me dry. My death will be your fault."
Damian's brows furrowed and he let go off her. "Do your worst!"
"Fine!" Lucia bent over to pick a small stone.
She was about to slit her wrist with it when suddenly, Damian grabs her.
"Don't." He said calmly.
Gently, he took her to his lap making her straddle him as he sat on a rock.
"You want to help me?" He asked in a soft tone.
"Yes." Lucia whispered.
"Now, close your eyes and hold unto me. It'll hurt." He whispered.
Lucia held unto him and squeezed her eyes shut. Damian blew soft air on her neck to prepare her for the pain to come. When he noticed her shiver, he ran his tongue over the surface of her neck.
Lucia's face turned scarlet as his tongue made contact with her neck. She bit down on her lower lip to suppress any moan about to escape, holding unto him like her life depended on it.
Damian trailed light kisses from her collar bone all the way down to her neck. Lucia's grip on his shirt tightened and he nearly chuckled.
The wind whispered cold greetings to them and he knew he had to bite her. She was a fragile human and would catch a cold easily.
When he was done checking out her neck, he sank his teeth into her skin and she whimpered.
Her blood was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted. He couldn't describe not with mere adjectives but his tongue knew he had a taste of heaven itself. As he drank her blood, he felt his wounds heal and his body regain it's strength. The taste. He couldn't get enough of it.
His left hand combed through her hair, loosening all the pins as he sank his teeth further, savouring her blood.
A groan escaped his lips and he nearly chuckled. Her blood was almost making him go savage
"D - Damian, stop!" Lucia cried out to him but he wouldn't stop.
"Damian, that's enough." She cried out again and his eyes flew open, lightly pushing her away with a terrified look on his face.
When he'd realized what he had done, he extend his hands, helping her up. "I - I'm so sorry."
"It's fine. Let me see your wound." She said softly.
Damian turned around. The marks and scars were gone. His back was satiny and smooth as it should be.
"It worked. You're healed." She gave him a faint smile.
He turned around to face her. "Thank you but what about you?"
"I'm fine." Lucia smiled. Her words slurred and she wobbled. The last thing she heard before giving into the darkness was him calling her name.