12 Lucian

The vampire leaned back into the soft cushions of his chair as he rested booted feet upon the pine desk in front of him. His lean form draped over the side of the furniture, basking in the early afternoon sun streaming through the window. Lucian Mont, older brother to Ender and ranking Lord of Castle Mont, ran his hands through shoulder-length black hair, moving long fingers to his temples as he began to massage the area slowly. He could feel a vision approaching, useful as they were, they did always cause him some pain in the skull.

Flashes of images passed in front of his mind's eye, a blonde girl falling from the sky, his brother riding atop Murf with her, two soldiers keeled over in the grass. Only fragments of speech ever made it through. He heard the girl introduce herself to his brother-"I'm Caroline." she sang out within his mind. A clear vision of the two riding at breakneck sped towards Castle Mont, he assumed.

Lucian sighed. Trouble was coming. The prevailing emotion from his vision could be encapsulated in one word-panic. He wasn't in the mood to deal with any life-altering circumstances today. He had planned to play chess that afternoon with the librarian, Jerel. The old human was less than a third of the vampire's age but had mastered the game in his short years and had proven himself to be a worthy competitor. Lucian could quickly see his leisurely afternoon fading from the schedule and grumbled to himself while adjusting his perfectly tailored jacket. Preparations would need to be made.

"Mara!" He spoke aloud, "Prepare dinner for three tonight and set the fires in one of the guest rooms, please."

"Aye, sir, I'll get them ready. Who are we expecting?" she spoke back, most likely from the kitchen a floor below. Mara had been serving Mont's for twenty years before his father had decided to offer her more permanent employment as head of the serving staff.

The woman vampire entered the office, not a few seconds after she had spoken. Her red eyes set in a round rosy face looked to Lucian for an answer as she wiped her hands dry with her apron.

"Ender is returning today...and he's bringing a girl back with him," Lucian said, scandalously raising an eyebrow at her.

"Well," she huffed, "that is certainly a change of pace. Lord Ender usually only brings me back blood-soaked garments to wash and mend."

"Oh, he's bringing those too, don't you fret." Lucian teased. Mara huffed again and waved him away as she turned out of the door to attend her duties. He got up from the chair and began to pace the room. The oak stained panels of the room were lined in tapestries depicting the many battles and wars his family had fought in, always claiming victory. Of course, they didn't display the many losses, but who would in their own home.

Truth be told, Lucian mused to himself, he wasn't sure why he kept them at all. Lucian didn't fight in battles and preferred to keep it that way. His talents were of better use elsewhere than the battlefield. The vampire moved languidly about the room, his long paces covering the space in three steps. Lucian continued to pace and think until the sun began to hover lower on the horizon. It could have been minutes or several hours. Time held little meaning for him these days.

When the sound of Murf's steps came galloping up the castle's main entrance, Lucian moved quickly to the window, and he watched as Ender dismounted the horse. The girl lithely moved off the horse after him. Lucian could tell even from his perch high above the girl was beautiful and dangerous. She didn't look for Ender's hand to help her down, nor did he offer one. Lucian snorted at the lack of decorum.

"Help the girl off the horse, you uncouth swine!" he yelled from out of the window above them. Lucian laughed to himself, registering the shock on Caroline's face and the smug look of derision on Ender's, and both of their eyes met his. He did enjoy poking fun at the younger vampire. Attaching a black cape to his smart black suit, the vampire marched his way downstairs to greet the pair properly.

Ender and Caroline arrived looking disheveled and travel-worn. Lucian noted his brother was worse for wear, eying Ender's shirt stained crimson. Caroline handed Mara her cloak with a thank you. Ender's cloak, Lucian mused with a wry smile and gestured the pair indoors.

"Mara, prepare tea for Caroline and bring it up to my study," he told the serving woman. Mara nodded, turning away from the three. Forgetting his afternoon plans, Lucian began to feel excited, the monotony of border disputes and the inventory of the grain silos was boring him nearly to death, or as dead as a vampire could get, and a little intrigue was overdue. He wordlessly led them upstairs.

Lucian gestured for Caroline to sit in the chair facing the empty fireplace observing that she was a meek thing. Beautiful without a doubt but small and unaccustomed to the world. He could tell by her doe-eyed stares around the castle as she walked in, a pure look of awe spread across her features. But the girl was hardy too, he could tell. Her heartbeat remained in a steady rhythm throughout their short walk to the study. The cadence was almost in defiance to the vampires surrounding her, as real a threat as any she might encounter.

Ender, of course, opted to stand by the door, leaning against the tapestry depicting the Battle of Falcon Forge. Lucian took the seat opposite Caroline surveying the two crossing his legs and resting his elbow upon his knee. He stared at them in silence for a full minute, trying to decide where to begin.

"How did you know my name?" The girl chirped before he could launch into the litany of questions he had just finished mentally preparing.

Without missing a beat, Lucian tapped his temple with his overly long finger. "I can see things," he told her, leaning forward, looking into her face. The girl shifted uncomfortably at his gaze, only making the conversation more fun for him.

"Riveting. Care to elaborate?" Caroline asked smartly. Her appearance of doe-eyed innocence quickly shifted to brazen contempt. Delightful, Lucian mused. Chuckling at the girl's sheer lack of self-preservation, he leaned in even closer. Her remarks would have gotten her killed anywhere else in Ibudal.

"Careful Lucian, she'll throw a dagger at you next," Ender interjected sardonically from the doorway.

Caroline threw an icy stare at the younger vampire and then turned back to Lucian, adjusting herself in the overstuffed armchair, trying to look more menacing than her short stature allowed.

"My, you're a lively little thing, aren't you?" Lucian said, looking at Caroline with an almost disparaging look.

"Don't patronize me. I'm not stupid." Caroline told him flatly. For a moment, he felt he had been too severe, insulting the girl. The steady stare from her direction made it apparent, though that she did not fear him. So he continued,

"I can see the future...of a sort...sometimes," Lucian told her. "The gift is tricky. Anyway, I saw you two coming. Mara is preparing a room for you as we speak."

"Can all vampires see the future?" she asked him.

"Can all humans sing?" he retorted. Understanding dawned on her face, and she nodded in response. "I take it the border is secured again?" Lucian asked, tilting his head toward his brother, his shoulder-length hair falling over in a dark curtain against his shoulder.

"Aye, none of our humans were lost in the battle," Ender replied simply.

Lucian sighed, "And you just picked up a stray farmgirl on the road...for fun? A celebratory meal? To keep on the mantle and look at when you're bored? Do enlighten me." His brother could be overly simple in his responses, and it aggrieved him to have to pry out explanations from Ender.

"Did you see in a vision that I'm from a farm?" Caroline asked, excitement in her voice.

"No, you smell like a barn." Lucian quipped. Caroline huffed, but before she could speak, Ender cut in,

"-She fell out of the sky. I thought I'd bring her here, and you could sort out her predicament, but she put two Ibudali Captains to sleep on the road, so trouble is behind us, I fear."

"She's a witch?" Lucian asked.

"I'm not a witch," said Caroline.

"Aye, she's a witch," Ender told him.

"I. Am. Not. A. Witch." Caroline enunciated each word, throwing the syllables at his brother, her blue eyes smoldering in anger.

Cold rage suddenly erupted from Ender before Lucian could say anything else, "You fell out of the sky, you levitated in the air, you knocked out two vampires with a sleeping spell, and you glow when ye sleep!" the last sentence came out in a yell, his full accent barreling through.

For a moment, Lucian imagined this was how Ender appeared on the battlefield, red curls shaking and muscles tense, ready to engage. Indeed a formidable sight, like a beautiful God prepared to strike down on his enemies. Ender's stood firmly, glaring at the witch with fists clenched at his side. Caroline sunk back into her chair, clearly frightened but cheeks reddening in a fury of her own.

"She glows when she sleeps?" Asked Lucian brightly. The question went unanswered. His brother was still seething with anger. "Interesting," Lucian continued, "Brother, when did you last feed?" Lucian asked him calmly.

"This morning, an elk," Ender replied shortly, breaths still shallow.

"Go hunt. Now." Lucian ordered, pointing toward the door.

Ender nodded and exited the room with superhuman speed, a blur of red curls and tattered sleeves.

"Apologies for my brother's remarks, he's typically very well mannered, but you seem to have struck a nerve," Lucian said, turning his attention to Caroline.

"It's okay. It's been a long day. I didn't mean to put those soldiers to sleep, one was going to feed on me, and I panicked." Caroline said to him, cradling her head in her hands. Lucian took note of the absence of a marking on the girl as her braid slid away from her graceful neck.

He softened toward her then, as much as Lucian softened toward anyone, which was not much by any means. It was apparent the strain of the day's events was wearing on her, "Well, there's no fault in protecting yourself, but my brother is right, trouble will be coming due to that little mishap. I'm sure you have some questions, so go ahead and ask me what you want to know."

He knew Ender likely explained nothing of where she was, or who he was to the girl. Lucian sighed, might as well let her ask away before more harm could rain down upon his home. Mara entered then with the tea. The older woman gave Caroline a soft smile before placing a tray, complete with a steaming silver teapot and tiny cakes. Caroline took the cup gratefully that Mara offered and muttered her thanks.

"Don't mind the boys," the serving woman told Caroline in a warmly, referring to the vampire brothers. "They both get feisty when they're cooped up..." she directed her eyes at Lucian, "or hungry," she said, pointing her thumb toward the door in the direction Ender had left. Lucian watched as Caroline pursed her lips in a polite smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Mara reached out and patted Caroline's shoulder lightly before taking her leave.

After a pause, Caroline spoke. "Am I a witch?" she asked, looking up at him from her seat with expectant eyes.

Lucian flicked the dagger carefully concealed at his wrist into his palm and, with lightning speed, brought it to her neck. The point drew a single drop of blood, and Lucian tried not to look at it hungrily as the drop flowed freely down her slim neck.

The room became quiet as a static penetrated his skin and began to permeate the air around him. Just as quickly as he drew the blade, it vanished back into his sleeve. Lucian had found his answer.

"Yes." He told her simply. "You are a witch, Caroline."

Caroline exhaled a deep breath she had been holding, and for a moment, he thought she might be relieved at the news. He realized rather quickly that she was bracing herself for the scream that was going to erupt from her lips,

"What is it with your family and drawing knives on strangers?!" she shrieked while grasping her hands to her neck, feeling for any further signs of a puncture. "You can't just bring out your sharp pointy objects within the first five minutes of meeting someone!"

Lucian shrugged, trying to conceal his laughter at Caroline's quickly reddening cheeks. "Your magic seems to be roused when you feel the need to protect yourself. I provided a threat. You provided the magic. My kind can feel when a witch is using their powers nearby. I could feel you drawing upon it even though you didn't use it."

"I'm sure there were better ways to have gone about it," she huffed, "You could have at least warned me."

"Ah, then it would not have been a genuine threat, little witch. It should be noted how lucky you are the vampires you put to sleep didn't realize what you were doing. They were probably too focused on their hunger, or you would most certainly be dead." Lucian leaned back in his chair, he was sympathetic to the girl, but he needed to know if she was an uncontracted witch. "I am sorry if I frightened you, but that was really the quickest way to find the answer you were looking for."

Caroline nodded acceptance, washing over her eventually. He could tell she was struggling with his confirmatory words. Her next question tumbled out, "Why did Ender keep asking me about my neck?"

"Ibudal and all the surrounding nations keep witches under contract. Girls are tested at a young age, usually as small children. If they show magical abilities, they are sent to the Academy immediately." Lucian explained, "Upon completion of their schooling, they cannot leave the Academy until they sign a contract, the more powerful the witch, the more lucrative the contract. There is negotiation involved." Barely any, he thought to himself, "Once signed, that which is bound by magic and law to adhere to its contents. Witches usually sign with high ranking nobles, the army, or the king himself. It costs a fair sum of coin to procure the contract of a witch, mind you. Once a contract is signed, the witch is then imbued with a permanent neck marking that denotes her area of specialty and which noble she is contracted to. Does that answer your question?" Lucian asked once his speech concluded.

Caroline nodded, a somber look passing over her small angular features. "That's terrible...it's slavery," she said quietly.

"Well, they do agree to the contract in the first place. Terms are negotiated, and the witches are well compensated. The contract simply puts restrictions on their magic. People just can't go around using their abilities with no accountability now, can they?" Lucian argued.

"Why? You do it." She retorted.

"That's different," Lucian replied somewhat lamely. The girl had a point. He never really thought about the magical class system put in place.

"Well, I don't see how, but taking children from their families? Forcing them to sign contracts? Their choices are taken away." Caroline said defensively. "No one should be forced into a life of servitude unwillingly."

Lucian would have to ponder the ethics later. "It is unfortunate, yes, but a necessary evil, I suppose. Morality aside, that's the answer to your question." Lucian stood up, moving to the fireplace. He rested his arm on the mantle and rubbed his temple with his other hand. "Were you living in a cave? Perhaps a small crevice that allowed sunlight in but no news of the outside world? How could you not know these things?"

"Things are different where I'm from," she said, meekly curling her legs up to her chest in the chair as if she wanted to make herself small and unseen. "There are no witches in Ovandale, well not that I know of." She told him.

He nodded slowly in understanding. Ovandale, of course, she was from across the sea. The small farming nation acted independently of the rest of the world. The magic that brought her here must have been very powerful or a complete accident. He wasn't sure which. A question came to his mind though, "And you never had reason to use your magic in Ovandale?" he asked her, "You didn't have to use it before now?"

"I've never had a reason to defend myself, no," she responded softly. Lucian was dumbfounded, what a rarity. She was like a tiny flower grown inside a thorn bush. Somehow she missed all of the world's sharp edges and managed to flourish unscathed. How unlikely a creature the girl sitting before him was.

"Well, that must be nice." He said, walking over and patting her awkwardly on the head, trying to imitate Mara's earlier gesture of kindness. The look she gave him sent his hand reeling back. Maybe he was patronizing her a little bit. His intentions were still favorable, though.

Giving the girl some space, he moved back behind the desk. Five hundred years, Lucian had lived, and this was undoubtedly the most exciting event to happen in at least the last century. He rested his boots once again on the soft pine desk, knowing his father would be livid if he knew how Lucian treated the furniture and closed his eyes. He could feel another vision approaching.

A few moments passed in silence as Caroline stared at the empty hearth, seemingly lost in her thoughts. Lucian opened his eyes, the last images of the foresight fading from his mind. At some point in the pause, Ender had returned, resuming his place in the doorway.

He could hear his brother's soft, slow breathing enter the room. He opened his eyes and met Ender's gaze evenly. Breaking the silence and startling the young woman from her reverie, he said, "Well, my dear, it seems our sleeping friends have awoken from their impromptu nap and are heading our way." He tapped the side of the head again to indicate a recent vision of the future.

"What are we going to do?" she asked the room, fear lining her face.

"We are not going to do anything." He told her. "You are going to sign a contract."

"I will be doing no such thing!" Caroline spat.

Lucian closed his eyes and sighed. Now was not the time for the girl to prove how stubborn she could be.

"Those vampires will want to know why an uncontracted witch is roaming the forests of Ibudal and why my brother and I are aiding you. We will all be on the chopping block tomorrow, you for illegal witchcraft and my brother and I for harboring a fugitive of the crown." Lucian spat back.

In his mind, him holding the girl's contract was the only real solution to saving them from an untimely fate. When the soldiers came, it would be far easier to explain that their witch had accidentally cursed them, or panicked, as she had said earlier, from fear. An allowance would be given to them, a warning or fine perhaps. The situation was not ideal for Caroline, but she was the one who had gotten them into this mess in the first place.

"I'll draw it up, and you can sign it with me. I promise to give you extremely fair terms," Lucian said with a smile from behind the desk.

Caroline's jaw hung open and then closed again. She did this several more times before being able to speak. A long moment passed before she turned her head in defeat. "I suppose if there is no other option...alright, I'll sign a contract with you, Lucian."

"No," a low voice rang out from the back of the room. Both Caroline's and Lucian's heads whipped in Ender's direction. "She'll sign the contract with me," Ender told them both, the look in his eye gave no room for argument.