The heavy wooden doors to Varis's private chamber closed with a soft thud, shutting out the sounds of the castle. His eyes flickered to the figure standing near the far wall, cloaked in shadows, waiting in silence.
Varis didn't acknowledge the presence immediately. His thoughts were preoccupied, darkened by the brewing storm in his mind. Lucien's behavior had become increasingly erratic, unpredictable. A few months ago, Lucien had been his most loyal follower, an extension of his will. Now, with each passing day, that loyalty seemed to crumble, like the steady erosion of stone under an unrelenting tide.
The vampire leader leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming lightly against the polished armrest. He allowed the silence to stretch, hoping to gather his thoughts before he spoke. He had built this empire on the foundation of control, of absolute power—and he would not let one rogue member tear it down.
Finally, Varis broke the silence, his voice calm yet edged with frustration. "Lucien has changed."
The figure in the shadows stepped forward, revealing the sharp, calculating eyes of a vampire elder, one who had been with Varis for centuries. "Is that so?" The voice was cold, with a touch of amusement. "You're starting to doubt him?"
Varis's gaze hardened as he met the elder's eyes. "I'm not starting to doubt him," he said with a growl, his frustration palpable. "I have doubted him. And now… I suspect he may be working against me."
The elder's lips twisted into a faint smile, though his eyes were sharp with interest. "Lucien? The one you took in, the one you raised to your side? You suspect him?"
Varis stood abruptly, pacing the length of the chamber, his hands clasped behind his back. "Yes. He's different. He's become unpredictable, defiant." He stopped in his tracks, turning to face the elder. "The worst part is—he's starting to question my decisions. Question my authority."
The elder arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Is it because of the girl?"
Varis's eyes flickered with a sharp, dangerous glint at the mention of Aria. "It's because of her," he muttered, his voice low. "He's become obsessed with her. I can see it in the way he looks at her, the way he defends her. I told him we needed to deal with her, that she's a threat, a weapon that could be used against us." He ran a hand through his silver hair, the motion one of irritation. "But instead of listening, he's started questioning everything."
"And what does that mean for you, Varis?" the elder asked, stepping closer, his voice filled with an unsettling calm. "If Lucien is no longer your loyal soldier, what does that do for your plans?"
Varis's lips curled into a tight smile, though there was no humor in it. "It means I can no longer trust him. It means he is a liability." He turned away, facing the wall where a tapestry hung, depicting the blood-red moon that had marked the rise of his reign. "He's the only one I thought I could rely on in this. But if his mind is clouded with sentiments for a girl who could very well undo everything I've worked for, then I have no choice."
The elder nodded slowly, his gaze contemplative. "You know what must be done."
Varis's eyes burned with a cold fire. "I do. But I want him gone before he can do any more damage. If he's turning against me, then there's no telling what he might do next."
There was a pause, the air thick with tension as Varis stood at the head of the room, his thoughts swirling. He knew what the elder was suggesting—what he had to do. But the decision wasn't one he took lightly. Lucien had been his right hand for so long, and the thought of betraying him, of ending him, was not something Varis relished. But the prophecy, Aria, and the shifting power dynamics in their world were forces too great to ignore.
"I'll handle it," Varis said finally, his voice low but firm. "I'll give him one last chance. One more test. If he proves to be an ally, then I'll consider sparing him." He turned to face the elder, his eyes piercing. "But if he falters again…"
The elder's expression remained unreadable, but his tone was steady. "Then you know what must be done. If Lucien is no longer useful to you, he's a threat. And threats must be eliminated."
Varis nodded grimly. "Exactly."
The elder's gaze softened slightly, and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of something almost like sympathy in his eyes. "What of the girl? Aria, I mean. Are you certain she is the threat you believe her to be?"
Varis's expression hardened. "She is the key to everything. The prophecy, the balance of power—it all revolves around her. And if Lucien is blinded by her, if he continues to protect her, then I will have no choice but to deal with her as well."
A silence stretched between them, and Varis felt the weight of his words settle over him. The path ahead was fraught with danger, and he knew that the decisions he was about to make would not only shape the future of his coven but the fate of his entire world.
"Keep an eye on him," Varis added, his voice low and filled with warning. "Lucien must be watched. And if he steps out of line again…"
The elder nodded, a dark gleam in his eyes. "I'll make sure of it."
As the elder left the room, Varis stood alone, his thoughts clouded with the weight of the choices before him. He had always prided himself on his control, on his ability to manipulate the world around him to his advantage. But now, with Lucien's growing doubts and the power of the prophecy swirling around Aria, even Varis was unsure of what would come next.
The pieces were in motion. And he couldn't afford to make a mistake...