I held my tongue because nothing else needed to be said. I was willingly letting the vampire king seduce me. I craved his lips, his touch, his voice, and this, this was wrong. It had to stop.
7
LUCIA
After Titus walked me home, I couldn’t sleep. Instead, I wrapped a shawl around my shoulders and sat on the swing in the garden. By sunrise, I was pacing the patio, thoughts whirling through my mind. The situation with Titus was dangerous. It had to end because I was afraid of myself, afraid of what I’d do if I lost control and gave in to his pleasurable kisses. His touch made me long for carnal pleasures, to be stripped bare by him and dominated by his kisses. To feel the warmth of his hand against my skin, touching, exploring, making me squirm.
I bit down on my knuckle, trying to halt the surge of feelings, but when I closed my eyes, I felt those lips against mine and the possessive way he held me.It was all a dream, a ploy, and his endgame was me. This could not go on, and I needed the knights help to halt the vampire king’s rule. I had to act now before my heart got twisted and involved. I’d thought I was so high and above worldly pleasures; all it took washimto bring my reasoning crashing down.
Would it be so bad if I kept him a secret? Continued to sneak out as long as the village was safe from attacks? But then there were my runes and how he’d made them glow with his music and his touch. Skin on skin. I had been afraid of what I might do, of what might be hidden inside me. With a sigh, I spun toward the abbey and burst through the doors, slamming into the High Priestess.
High Priestess Merci was like a mother to me. She was tall and broad-shouldered with a heart-shaped face, dark eyes, a wide, flat nose, and thin lips that gave her a regal appearance. Her once-black hair had gone almost completely white, and she wore it in a simple braid that trailed over one shoulder. She was calm, every hair in place, every piece of clothing perfectly placed. Despite her hair, she appeared ageless, her green eyes clear and her skin free from the wrinkles that troubled others. Eventhough we weren’t supposed to gossip, the priestess often said her relentless faith and passion for her work kept her young.
Now, she recoiled with an oomph, eyes wide, nostrils flared as she faced me. Her mouth pressed into a firm line, and she held out her arms, her dry voice tinged with concern. “Lucia, you look distraught.” Taking my arm, she gestured me back outside. “Come into the garden, let’s talk.”
“I didn’t sleep well,” I admitted.
“I can tell. Your hair has come loose, your clothes are wrinkled, and your eyes are tired. Lucia, you’re struggling with something. Whatever it is, the burden of your choice can be shared. You don’t have to hold it all in and try to figure out your struggles alone.”
Sudden moisture came to my eyes, and I blinked, but I had nothing to say. High Priestess Merci had served at the abbey my entire life. She would not understand the choice that lay before me. Had she ever been tempted by the arms of a man? Had she ever stood by the window, peeking at the half-dressed knights as they practiced in the courtyard? Had she ever wondered what it would feel like to have a man between her legs? Probably not. She wasperfection in every way, a shining beacon of hope and an example of what a true priestess should become. She’d earned her place as High Priestess by her actions and her faith. I would not dream of shattering the vision she had of me.
High Priestess Merci patted my arm. “Perhaps a change would be good for you. Go down to the village with Edith today. Faith and Willow are going to pass out food, and a few of the knights will be accompanying them for safety. You should go, walk among the people, and gain a different perspective. Perhaps that will help you.”
“I will go.” I bowed my head. “Thank you.”
“Oh, don’t thank me,” the High Priestess scolded. “I’m here to help, Lucia, not only the village but you personally. It is tough living here, and I sense the fear of going out at night, the worry about the work we are doing and if the vampires will come for us, once and for all. It is disturbing, but we shall face this challenge and overcome it.”
“I have been concerned about the vampires,” I admitted, skirting the truth. “But I also wonder about myself and where I come from. My runes have begun to itch, and sometimes they glow. I wish I knew why I have them and what they mean.”
“They glow?” The High Priestess paused, lost in thought for a moment. “That is surprising. Regardless, it is good to question and seek answers. I’ve often wondered why you have your runes and the knowledge that they glow changes my perception. Let me work on this for you. In the past, I’ve pulled some texts and scrolls that mention light, but I’ll see what the knights find in the abbey to the north. I tried to track down your parents and some answers to the history of your roots when you arrived, but to no avail. Still, I’ll show you what I’ve gathered. I hope it brings you some peace. Always remember, Lucia, despite your appearance, you matter. You have a good heart, a strong heart, and no matter what your runes mean, it doesn’t take away your power or who you are. Don’t let your past define you. You define yourself.”
I almost blurted out my conflicted thoughts. They danced on the tip of my tongue, begging to be said. But then the bell rang. I lifted my face, glancing at the mist settling over the mountain, making it a gloomy day. The bell tower rose high on one side of the abbey, on the side nearest the garrison, so that one of the knights might ring the morning bell. It was a peaceful sound, a reminder to go to prayers ormeditate or take a moment to be thoughtful about the day ahead.
I took a deep breath as the birds called to each other in the distance, and the glistening dewdrops sparkled in the night. I’d almost acted on impulse instead of thinking through my actions. I’d still reach out to Captain Elroy because he had asked me to be the sacrifice, and he knew the vampire king held some kind of power, but I’d have to weigh how to bring up the topic. I wondered if he guessed at the truth. That something had happened to me while the knights lay sleeping. He’d been so quick to dismiss the idea of trying again.
Back in my room, I brushed my hair, washed my face, and dressed for the day. Making myself look nice on the outside always made me feel better on the inside. On a whim, I braided my hair and weaved a string of silver and sapphire around my head. When I glanced at myself in the mirror, Titus’s words came echoing back.Goddess of the moon.
The mist cleared as we left the abbey, a small procession with the knights leading the two horses. Faith and Willow sat on top of the open wagon while Edith and I sat in the back, bouncing as the wheels moved over the cobblestones and down the hill.
The abbey wasn’t far from the village, and the path twisted downhill, only a two-mile walk, although it was a strenuous walk for the abbey and the garrison perched on the highlands. The bell tower served as a watchtower, giving a view of the valley below and roads that traveled in and out. Meanwhile, the village nestled in the valley where flat lands were ideal for growing crops and grazing farm animals.
Surrounding Veilix were forests and waterfalls, pools where I’d gone to play in the water or bathe on a hot summer day. Now, I couldn’t imagine doing either activity. The vampires lurked in the shadows, and while they avoided the light, secret entrances to the tunnels in the mountains were near the waterfalls.
“You’re quiet today,” Edith said, “and you weren’t at breakfast.”
“I didn’t sleep well, and this morning, I went for a walk in the garden with the High Priestess.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. I think it will do your heart some good to visit the village.”
Three days passed before I got up the courage to visit Captain Elroy. After dinner, I strode across the walkway between the abbey and the garrison, feeling like a miscreant. Instead of going around the front, where the knights were posted as guards, I slipped through the side entrance, the quickest way for the knights to access the abbey. My mind flitted to the knight and the priestess I’d seen in the shadows the week before. The side entrance only encouraged us to sneak in and out of places we should not be.
Arched windows rose above me, letting in the breeze from outside. The day was waning, a hint of twilight coming. Soon, the sky would be streaked with lavender and pink, a sight I used to enjoy watching in the garden, a sight that now made my heart beat faster.
The sound of footsteps came. I flattened myselfagainst the wall, fearful of being discovered by one of the knights. I’d been in the garrison a few times before, but always an authorized visit accompanied by the High Priestess or a few of the other priestesses. Entering the domain of the knights alone would lead to questions I didn’t care to answer. But the footsteps faded, and my shoulders relaxed as I continued down the hall to where Captain Elroy kept his offices.
It was a circular chamber at the end of the hall, and the door was ajar, giving me a view of a desk piled with papers, scrolls, and books. Pushing the door open, I stepped inside, his name on my lips, but my voice died in my throat. Captain Elory’s office was empty.
I stared around it, for I’d never been inside before, taking in the weapons on the wall, a barrel of what might be wine, maps of the area, and the desk. Lamps were lit, glowing on his desk, and I ventured closer, looking at an open letter with a blood-red symbol and hastily written words.
