Jarlen stared at his reflection in the mirror as the maids wrapped bandages around his stomach. He recalled what happened with Hades and a low laugh rumbled from his throat. The menacing laugh echoed in the dimly lit chamber startling the maid whose hands were beginning to shake.
"What is your name?" he asked, still staring at his reflection.
The brunette dragged her gaze from his bandaged torso to the mischievous glint sparkling in his eyes. Her words were caught in her mouth and she couldn't speak.
She threw her gaze to the the floor, reminding herself it was a sin to look at the Dracula in his eyes.
There was a quiet knock on the door. "My lord, Sir Von Burren is here to see you -
The man had barely finished his sentence until a grumpy Eric barged into the room.
"So no one wants to talk about what happened with that beast? I nearly lost my life if that woman hadn't intervened." Eric dragged his hand through his hair.
"You need to calm down, Eric," Jarlen replied Eric, not taking his eyes off his reflection in the mirror.
Eric hissed. "So you got injured too? That's news. I thought vampires have some kind of immunity of some kind."
In a swift motion, Jarlen grabbed Eric by the collar and shoved him to the walls. "You talk too much for an old man."
"Unhand me this instant, you vile men!" Eric burst out with rage.
"Really? Do you know how difficult it is putting up with you? I've killed you in my head ten times over, you human pig! Speak to me that way and I'll feed you to Hades." Jarlen roared in rage. When he saw the terrified look in Eric's face when he mentioned Hades. The wolf had scared him. Exactly, what he wanted.
He let go of the Count and turned to the mirror. "I have my men sent after Anna and Bat. They'll be found and dealt with. In the mean time, return to your home."
"Fine!" Eric turned to the door.
"And one more thing, Eric," Jarlen said,
"Yes?" Eric turned around, his face distorted in a frown.
"Leave your soldiers behind. I'll make good use for them."
Meanwhile,
Canter Hall was awfully quiet, save for echo of the grandfather clock ticking slowly.
The ceiling-to-floor glass windows let in a substantial amount of sunlight, casting tiny shadows on the chinaware on the breakfast table, the light beams dancing around as items as they were moved.
Lucia watched with fascination as the wares gleamed in the brightly lit hall while Colette and Archer occupied themselves with eating their food.
She lifted her hand to one of the ceramic mugs and one of the stray beams met her hands, sending warmth through her skin.
She suddenly recalled her dream lastnight. Damian was in her dreams. He had come to her but their kiss had felt so real. Her fingers flew unconsciously to her lips and she smiled. Damian had kissed her in her dream. According to Nelia Nicklebone, if you dream about any man kissing you, he wants to be with you in real life. Wherever Damian was, he wanted to be with her. She wished she could see him one more time.
Immediately, the door burst open, startling them especially Colette who yelped.
"How dare you barge in here without a word!" Archer, in his anger, pushed back his chair, his teeth bared.
The knight, Sir Gawain hung his head low. "Apologies, my lord and ladies but Sir Damian's right-hand man is here. And I believe he holds the Lady Lucia's lady-in-waiting hostage."
Lucia pushed back her chair. "What? Anna is here with Bat?"
Gawain had a puzzled look on his face, amazed at Lucia's familiarity of the them both.
"Yes my lady." he answered Lucia with a low bow.
"If you have them locked up I suggest you release them at once to me." Lucia shot the knight a menacing gaze and he turned to Archer.
"My lord," he asked, his voice trembling.
Archer heaved a sigh and waved his hands. "Do as she wishes.".
"Right away, Your Lordship." Gawain bowed his head again and stood to his feet.
Colette protested. "But Archer, don't you think that's a bad idea?"
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Lucia crossed her arms over her chest, staring at her sister.
Colette set down her fork on her plate. "Lucia, it's important you grow up. Sir Gawain just mentioned that vile man's name here - -
"You will not speak to my Damian that way!" Lucia flared up, pushing back her seat to show her anger.
"Ladies, please!" Archer banged his fist in the table, silencing them both.
"She started it." Lucia pointed at Colette who acted like she couldn't cause trouble.
"Wow, you're even more dramatic than I am." Lucia scoffed and turned aloof.
"We'll have Anna and Bat brought here." Archer pushed back his seat and walked away. His wife, following behind him.
"Typical."
Anna and Bat were sitting in the drawing room, awaiting the Duke and his wife. Anna for one didn't anticipate their presence neither was she weary of it. She had met the new Duke on several occasions when he stayed at the Von Burren's estate as a young boy. What her heart wasn't prepared for was meeting Lucia again. Her heart beat faster than it should and her legs were shaking she feared she would fall if she stood up.
Bat placed one hand on her lap to easing the tension building up in her body. "You have to calm down or someone would think you're going to face execution."
Anna looked at him, her eyes watered now. "I'm sorry. I'm just terrified. That's all."
"You shouldn't be. Lucia is fine." He squared his hand on her lap, reassuring her with a bright smile which she returned.
The door clicked open and the Herald announced the Duke and those who came with him.
"The Duke of Canterbury, ruler of the island and principalities in the South, His Grace, Archer Canterbury, the Duchess of Canterbury, Lady Colette Canterbury and the Lady Lucia von Burren!"
Anna took to her feet, her hands were still shaking. The Duke walked in first with his wife and the ln Lucia came into view.
With a gasp, Lucia picked up her dress and ran to meet Anna. Both women shared a war hug, kneeling to the floor while overwhelmed with so many emotions.
"Lucia, I've missed you so much," Anna cried as he patted Lucia's back. "I feared something terrible had happened to you."
"I'm fine, Anna. I missed you too." Lucia sobbed as Anna palmed circles on her back. They pulled away and laughed.
"You're more beautiful than the last time I saw you." Lucia removed a hair straying from Anna's braids.
"Aww, thank you, my lady." Anna smiled.
Archer cleared his throat, obviously fed up from watching the camaraderie.
Lucia rolled her eyes. "Oh please, this is a woman I haven't seen in a while. Allow us to reunite solemnly."
"Your dress, my lady." Anna whispered to Lucia who was absentminded.
Lucia looked down at her light-pink dress on the rug. "So? Is the floor dirty?"
Anna helped Lucia up. "You're still the same."
"I know." Lucia kissed her cheek and Bat cleared his throat.
Anna smiled at him and he chuckled to himself.
"I heard you wanted to see Lucia. Well, here she is. What do you want to say?" Archer shot Bat a hostile look as he spoke.
Bat crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm sorry, pal, but do you have a problem with vampires?"
Archer scoffed. "Well, I'm not your pal and do you have problems with humans?"
Lucia couldn't help but smile at the gentlemen. "What are you both, a couple?"
"Ew." Bat scrunched his nose.
"Can we just get to why we're here?" Colette who had been silent interrupted them.
"She's right." Archer took a seat on his chair. Colette sat beside him while the others shared individual couches.
"What is you wanted to tell me?" Lucia asked.
Bat and Anna exchanged looks before he nodded and carried on with the story.
"Jarlen killed the vampire king and pinned the murder on Damian." Bat said.
Lucia snapped her finger. "Aha! I knew it! I knew Damian couldn't kill his father. I was there in the silver chamber. I saw the king on the floor that day."
Bat interrupted her. "Late Dracula Fieren wasn't Damian's father."
"Damian is adopted?" asked Archer, confused.
"No. He sired half of De Caspian. Damian is the rightful heir to the Blood throne."
"What?"
At Castle De Caspian, the carriages were ready to move. August was seated, his gaze and attention stolen by the snow falling to the ground. His stay in the North was a wondrous adventure - the different weather, timezones and culture but one thing he loathed from his stay here was the fact that he almost lost his life.
He recalled that day as clear as day. Anna was standing right in front of the cage, awaiting execution when suddenly, a voice tells her to run. When she did, Hades followed after her. But she vanished into thin air. Someone had come for her but not for them. Jarlen managed to hold the beast back but it wounded him deeply and mawed down the guard.
He too was terrified. Eric had hidden in the far corner while he had no way of way of escape. Hades approached him with slow careful steps and he froze, afraid he'd die when suddenly, an arrow shot through the air. He had heard a heavy this and dust lifted in the air.
August had reeled back a few steps in fear. The beast was on the ground now with a woman standing over it. Her face was hidden in a black hood and so was the rest of her, covered in a long, black cloak.
"Lady Nelia!" Jarlen had called. When she lifted her head, he went on his knees and bowed his head.
"Nelia?" Eric stoke his chin. That name sounded familiar to him but he couldn't recall where he heard it.
August looked at the woman, whispering to himself. "Nelia. Nelia Nicklebone?"
The woman cocked her head as though surpsied he knew her name. Before August could move an inch, she picked the arrow off the beast and vanished.
"Who on earth is that?" Eric yelled from where he stood.
August had no answer to that question. He, too, had no idea who the woman was but he thanked her for what she did. Shortly after, he, Jarlen and the Count were taken to safety.
He sat in the carriage, deep in thoughts when Eric held the door open and climbed in, slamming the door shut.
"Onward!" He yelled at the coachmen.
"Wait!" August pushed the door open and jumped down.
"What is your problem!" Eric yelled behind him.
His mind was his map as he navigated his way through the kitchen and all the way to the back alley, his destination. His eyes fell on the gigantic cage covered in a pillar of darkness. This time fear didn't cloud his heart, curiousity did. He inched towards the cage and stood there.
"I know you're there," he began with a whisper.
The ground rattled heavily as the beast approached.
His heart began to beat fast and he clutched his chest as thought trying to settle it.
Hades came into view, the murderous glint had never left it's magnificent eyes.
August knew it was a bad idea but he extended his hand through the cage to pat the beast. It opened it's mouth and he ran back.
"I want to pat you not give you my arm as food!" he yelled at the creature.
Hades winced and he pointed to the ground. "Bad dog! Down!"
Hades went down obediently and he was amazed.
He approached the cage again and reached out his hand to pat it's head.
"Woah, your fur is so soft," August smiled. "You're really beautiful."
He ran his finger over the scar on the creature's head. "Who did this to you poor thing?"
Hades winced, howling in pain now and it broke August's heart.
"If you weren't so big, I'd put you in my pockets and return to Drakensberg." August smiled, still patting it's head.
"You can take me to Drakensberg if you want, master." A female voice spoke.
August was startled. "Who said that?"
Hades lifted it's eyes to meet his. "Me."
"What the-" He fell to the ground in shock.
The darkness in the cage swirled swiftly till it vanished into thin air, leaving the cage, emptied and void of the dark.
"Woah. You're -" August pointed at the figure standing in front of him.
It was a petite woman dressed in a thin worn clothes, her hair was as dark as midnight and so was her skin. She had golden slitted irises that she blinked and they became human.
The woman fell on her knees. "Please, take me with you."
August got off the ground and went to the cage. "You are human?"