22 Lucian

"Welcome back! Did you have a nice unsupervised visit to Montilan? Was putting our lives in jeopardy once already not interesting enough that you thought you might do it again?" Lucian asked Caroline as she entered the kitchen from the servant's entrance.

His brother's large frame came through the door shortly after, the pair looked rather rosy and had been gone for longer than he had expected. Perhaps there was a tinge of jealousy pushing through his words, he thought. Lucian pushed the idea from his mind.

"Easy Lucian," Ender told him with a soft movement of his sizable hand, "I've already spoken with Caroline about leaving. She understands her duty here."

Lucian could feel his eyes want to roll back but stopped himself, sometimes it was difficult to control his facial expressions, but the older vampire knew when it was better to keep the peace. "Very well then, we'll put the matter to rest," he said in a light tone.

Caroline only nodded, excusing herself from the large kitchen rather quickly. Lucian felt a pang of subtle guilt settle upon him for being so callous with the girl, an unfamiliar familiar. The vampire rarely felt anything when speaking to others, especially humans. It was his most exceptional skill, and he used it as a beautifully honed tool.

His brother looked...different. The creases around his eyes had softened, and his broad shoulders seemed to have relaxed some. Small changes but noticeable to Lucian, who noticed everything.

Lucian knee Ender well, he remembered when the younger vampire had first come to the castle. It had just been Marcaius and Lucian for so long in the castle, his father decided that Lucian needed company. A companion to help with defending their lands, the human captain they had chosen was growing older, and a twenty-five-year-old Ender was showing promise in the ranks of their Bannerman.

Marcaius hadn't even consulted with him in regards to making Ender a vampire, simply surprising him one October morning with a 'brother.'

"Someone for you to commiserate with," his father had told him that autumn day with a laugh and a clap on the back. Marcaius was a callous vampire that never understood him. Their father had never recognized Ender either, for his brother had held resentment towards the man for nearly a century for turning him into one of them.

Lucian largely ignored Ender for several years. He simply focused on the castle, and it's many obligations while his brother continued his military training. At best, their relationship was professional, primarily coming together over their duties to the family and crown. At worst, they wouldn't speak for years. Being a vampire meant holding grudges for a very long time. Eventually, the pair settled into a routine of quiet calm. Ender accepting Lucian's flamboyant rhetoric and Lucian coming to terms with Ender's stoic nature.

Yes, Lucian knew his brother well, and something was different now. He knew it must be the girl because Lucian himself felt subtle changes in himself when around her. The older vampire found himself tapping into an empathy he wasn't aware existed within him. Suddenly the effect of his words on others was weighing on him in a way he didn't fully understand yet.

The rest of the day passed quickly and quietly. All parties living in the castle remained in their respective quarters, surely mulling over the events of the days past. Lucian retired to his room, it had belonged to his father before him, but since Marcaius had taken residence in Ravin-Sha, Lucian had moved in. Not because the place was more spacious or furnishings more beautiful, but the view from the balcony was breathtaking. His vampire sight allowed him to view the world in a way he never could have imagined during his time as a human.

Lucian's human memories had faded over the millennia, but he remembered the rolling hills and green pastures of his childhood home. Beyond Montilan, he could see the same from his perch on Marcaius' balcony. The surrounding spectacle was one of the few things that could bring his mind a semblance of peace.

The solace was short-lived, though. The vampire could feel his temples start to ache as his second sight began to encroach upon his vision. The world went black as images began to soar past his mind's eye at rapid speed.

The vision passed quickly, some lasted longer than others, but this one only conveyed to him two things: his father had received Ender's letter, and all three of them would be leaving the castle soon.

***

Lucian hadn't slept again, the next morning found him reclining in the armchair in front of the fireplace in his study. The vampire required less sleep than his brother. With age, the need for sleep and sustenance waned, he did not need to feed or rest nearly as much as Ender. In the night, he ran over the many scenarios in his mind of how he would handle the forthcoming letter from Marcaius. There was also the matter of addressing the issue with Ender. All in good time, he thought to himself. Lucian had a plan for everything.

He decided against visiting Caroline this morning. He could tell the witch was cross with him yesterday for his comments and intruding upon her the previous morning. Best to leave the girl be for now. He had confirmed yesterday that what Ender said was right, the girl did glow when she slept. A peculiar phenomenon, much like her extended tattoo, she was unlike any other witch he had encountered. It would be interesting to hear what Aniyoh would have to say about the girl. The teacher would be arriving today.

He could hear Ender begin to rouse and move around the castle, his brother often avoided him in the mornings, but today he would need to speak with his brother before Caroline started her lessons. Who knew if today would be the day the girl unleashed her powers and leveled Castle Mont?

Lucian poked his head out of the study door, he couldn't see his brother but knew the younger vampire was rustling around the kitchen.

"Brother," he whispered out the door, knowing Ender's heightened senses would hear him. "We must speak." The sounds of rustling stopped, and only a moment later was Ender standing at the doorway wearing only a faded pair of brown trousers and a tired expression. Lucian was faster due to his more languid form, but Ender could move quickly as well when needed.

Lucian ushered him in, and Ender took the other chair by the fireplace while Lucian sat across from him. "Do you ever wear a shirt? Maybe a tunic or a vest? We have guests now." he asked the bleary-eyed younger vampire. The hour was still early, sunlight barely creeping through the open office window, gray dawn still hovering on the horizon.

"Do you ever sleep, brother?" Ender grumbled a weak reply, clearly still in the process of waking up. The bare-chested vampire ran both hands through red-brown curls as he let out an exaggerated yawn.

"Occasionally," Lucian told the younger vampire, "but sleep did not come to me last night. I had another vision." Lucian saw Ender's crimson eyes perk up at his brother's more somber tone. The pair knew each other well enough by now to know when the time for jabs had passed.

"What did you see?" Ender asked.

"Father. He received your letter. I, as well as you and Caroline, will be traveling to Ravin-Sha." Lucian replied while settling his elbows on his knees.

Ender bristled and rose to stand next to the fireplace. Lucian knew his brother did not care for sitting, making him more vulnerable to attacks, even within the castle walls. Some habits never left, no matter how many centuries passed. Deep muscles tightened in the younger vampire's neck,

"When?" was all he asked.

"I do not know," the older vampire said, rubbing his temples. He didn't feel a vision coming, but the ache still lingered from the night before. "He is sending a letter of his own, so we have a least a few days before a response will be required. I will start to get affairs in order. Jerel can balance the finances for the time being. Do you have a man that can lead our forces if need be?"

"Aye, I can put Horath in charge while we are gone. Was he angry?" Ender asked.

Lucian nodded, "Well, the man was not in all of his wrath-full glory, but he was displeased enough to call for both of our appearances at court."

It was Ender's turn to nod. The younger vampire began to pace back and forth, bare feet plodding quietly on the intricate rug. Lucian observed, facial expression unchanging. He wondered what was on his brother's mind. After a long pause, Ender finally spoke, "Will you be telling her?"

Lucian was surprised at the request, of all the things his brother could have been mulling over, it was the girl that concerned Ender the most. Lucian's mouth spread out into a small grin, white teeth gleaming. It was remarkable to him that in just two days, Caroline had penetrated the stark defenses his brother had built around himself. Lucian could not tell if Ender himself was aware of the effect the girl was having over him.

"Oh, I am not telling Caroline. That is your responsibility, brother." Lucian told him, still smiling. That conversation would undoubtedly be interesting to hear, he thought.

"Tell me what?"

Both vampires jumped slightly, the action so small that Lucian was sure Caroline's eyes would not have seen. So absorbed in the conversation, neither vampire had heard the tiny girl's feet patter to the door. An unlikely occurrence, unless she used magic to disguise her steps.

"We are leaving," Ender told her simply. Lucian watched Caroline's eye narrow, but before the girl could speak, a loud knock reverberated from the front door.