49 Lucian

Lucian sat down in the grass, stretching out his long legs to settle languidly on the soft earth. The sun was setting, casting long shadows through the leaves overhead as he listened to the sound of water babbling over rocks in the nearby river. It would have been a calming and peaceful moment if every plan he had made wasn't falling apart in front of his eyes.

The vampire flopped backward, abandoning all care while laying himself down and staring up to the dense green foliage. He tried to replay the scenario in his head from the beginning, examining the sequence of events and attempting to determine where everything went to hell. How could he have lost Ender? Lucian thought to himself. Undoubtedly one of the witches was more likely to be captured, but his strong and stoic brother? Impossible. The girl was changing him, and Lucian was not sure it was for the better.

As if he had summoned her with his thoughts, a blonde head popped into view above him, blocking out the orange rays of sunset.

"What are you doing? I thought you did not like...you know...the ground?" Caroline asked tentatively. Her face was still puffy from crying throughout the ride away from Greir and his trap.

"I don't," Lucian said pointedly, sitting up and patting the square of grass next to him, indicating for the girl to sit. Caroline lowered herself to the ground, pink dress splaying out around her in soft folds. He could see a tinge of red at the gown's hem, marring the otherwise pristine garment. The symbolism was not lost on him.

"Are you alright, little witch?" Lucian asked in his best attempt at a sympathetic tone. He liked to think he was getting better at it, albeit slowly.

Caroline hugged her knees in close to herself, a habit he noticed she possessed from her first night at Castle Mont. She nodded slowly, "I think so. I'm worried about Ender and what Greir is doing to him."

"Remarkable," Lucian breathed out, a note of awe in his smooth voice.

Caroline gave him a questioning look, clearly confused at the vampire's response. Her blue eyes bore into his own, prompting an answer to her unasked question.

"It's just fascinating," Lucian continued, "A vampire and elite guard of soldiers attack today with the sole intention of capturing you for their own sickening appetites, and here you sit, worried about someone else. Not a care for your safety."

Caroline shrugged, her gaze focused on the patch of grass in front of her small feet, "Will he be okay until we can get him back?" she asked sheepishly, ignoring Lucian's comment.

"Ender? Of course. Once he spent an entire month locked in the jail at Wolveshire Hold, that's Lord Gerent's castle, after losing a skirmish at the western border. He came back rather hungry and more grumpy than his typical demeanor exudes, but no worse for wear." Lucian said flippantly.

That was not the answer Caroline was looking for because Lucian could still see the lines of her face creased with concern. He sighed puffing a lock of jet-black hair forward. Her kind could be annoyingly short-sighted due to their limited lifespans, he thought. Even as extended as hers would be, it was no comparison to immortality.

"Do not worry, little witch. This will all be behind us soon, and all of us will be enjoying drinks and the fine offerings of Ravin-Sha together," he told her with a smile.

"Behind us?" Caroline snapped at him.

Lucian had seen the girl frustrated, and they had quipped from time to time back at home, but nothing had prepared him for the look of disgust in her eyes as she stared at him that moment.

"Nothing will be behind us, and everything lies ahead." Caroline hissed. "Women are enslaved here for being able to perform magic, Lucian. You know full well under what circumstances Aniyoh was contracted. My home is under siege by a foreign army. My grandmother could be dead at their hands already. Ender is gone, and we barely got out of there with our lives, how can you not see how big this is and what is at stake?"

Lucian felt warmth rise in his face at her words. No one challenged him like this, not until Caroline came along. It wasn't fair for her to go to his home, his lands, and question where his priorities lie. After all, he had only been trying to comfort the girl.

"You cannot just come here, Caroline, and expect everything to change at your will," he sneered back.

She stood with a huff then, her lengthy hair waving behind in waves. The sunlight reflected off it, giving her silhouette a halo of orange glow as the wind picked up suddenly. As small as her figure was, he had to admit the sight was intimidating regardless of how much she held magically.

"And why not? Why can't I change things? It's not like you have been living in paradise, Lucian. I have seen nothing but deception, violence, and despair since arriving in Ibudal, and you contribute to it," she said while her hand subconsciously rubbed at the marking snaking down her arm.

Lucian began to open his mouth to respond but found that for once, he was at a total loss for words. Running fingers through jet black hair in frustration, he before nodding slowly. She was right, and he knew it.

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