Chapter 14
1248 Words
Lucien sat near the tall window, one hand resting on the table, his fingers tapping slowly.
Morning light spilled across the floor, soft and cold.
The wine glass from last night still lay on the floor untouched, empty, useless.
He hadn’t slept.
His mind kept circling back to Selene. Her touch. Her lies.
The bitter taste of the drug on his tongue.
She wasn’t just desperate she was planning something.
And he had let her get too close.
A knock at the door broke the silence.
“My lord,” a guard stepped in, bowing low. “There’s a man at the main gate. He says he has a message for you.”
Lucien didn’t move. “His name?” he asked
“He refused to give one. He says the message is urgent, and meant only for you.”
Lucien turned around, his eyes narrowed. “Did he bring a weapon?”
“No, my lord. Only a letter. He’s waiting by the outer gate, alone”
Lucien stood, slowly stretching out the stiffness in his arms.
The wound on his arm still ached, but it had started to close.
He picked up his cloak from the chair and threw it over his shoulders.
“Take me to him.” he said following the guard
The halls were quiet as Lucien walked behind the guard, boots echoing against the stone floor.
Something in the air felt heavier today.
When they reached the outer gate, a figure stood just outside.
Cloaked in dark gray, hood pulled low.
The guards held their ground, hands on their swords, but didn’t move forward.
Lucien raised a hand. “Let me through.”
A guard stepped forward and opened the gate
The gate creaked open, and he stepped out, the wind catching the edge of his cloak.
The man didn’t move from his position.
Lucien stopped a few feet away. “You’ve gone through a lot of trouble for this meeting. Speak.”
The man finally looked up. His face was tired and rough , like someone who had spent a long time on road.
Wordlessly, he held out a folded parchment.
Lucien took it slowly, his eyes never leaving the man.
He broke eye contact just to have a look at the parchment, no seal, no symbol. Just a thick, aged piece of paper rough around the edges.
“What is this?” he asked the stranger
“Read it,” the man said quietly. “And be careful who you trust, Lucien.”
Lucien’s brows drew together, he glanced down at the parchment and when he looked back up the man was already walking away.
Lucien walked away from the gate, his steps slow and heavy.
The warning he was given to by the stranger kept running through his mind as he walk back to his chamber.
When he got to his room, he closed the door quietly behind him.
He sat down on the wooden chair, feeling tired.
Carefully, he opened the folded paper again.
He looked at it carefully, reading it word by word
The letter hints that there's a hidden alliance forming against Lucien.
It warns him that people he once trusted may be part of it.
Lucien’s grip tightened around the paper.
He knew this battle was only just beginning and he knew also that he had to be ready for what was coming.
Lucien didn't wait, with the letter still in his hand, he marched through his hall, anger burning in his chest.
He walked straight to Aric's chamber
The stranger's words echoed in his mind about trust and what was in that parchment, about whispers in the dark, alliances forming and he knows his brother is included in all this.
The walk to Aric's chamber was quiet, but his step were heavy, controlled and dangerous.
The guards at the gate tried to stop him, but one look from Lucien made them step aside without a word.
He pushed past the startled servants as he marched to Aric's study
Lucien kicked open the study door making it slammed hard against the wall
Aric sat behind his desk, a goblet in his hand, half filled with wine
He didn't flick but he was shaken
“ Lucien ” Aric said slowly “ Didn't expect to see you”
“ What deal did you make with Elias ?” Lucien asked, his voice sharp and eyes locked on Aric
Aric's smile faltered “ I don't know what you are talking about ”
“ Don't play dumb” Lucien hissed “ Don't lie to me!”
Lucien stepped forward, his boots clicking on the polished stone floor
“ I know something is going on. I know you are making moves behind my back”
“ And you have proof?” Aric asked, trying to keep his voice calm
Lucien reached in to his pocket and pulled out the folded parchment
He didn't hand it over, he just held it up and watched Aric's eyes
“ I got a warning and I know you are plotting against me”
Lucien took another step closer
“ What are you plotting? What did you promise Elias for his loyalty?”
Aric chuckled “ You give me too much credit, if Elias wants you gone, it because you are making enemies all on your own ”
“ This was your game all along, the poison, the girl and the court ” Lucien said, his jaw tightened
Lucien stepped closer, pointing his index finger at Aric
“ If I fall, I drag everyone with me, especially you”
The room went quiet, Aric leaned back in his chair swirling the wine.
“ You have changed ” Aric said smiling “ The old Lucien wouldn't barge into my house like this no matter what, you are darker ”
“ That is because the old Lucien is dead”
The words hung between them like a curse
Then Lucien turned , leaving the room without another word
Aric watched him go, the smile gone from his face now.
Lucien stepped out of Aric's house with a tight jae and mind spinning with everything
He was halfway down the stine steps when a familiar voice stopped him
“ Lucien!”
He didn't turn, he kept on walking
Selene's heels clicked fast against the floor as she caught up to him
Her silk cloak fluttered behind her
Her breath quick
“ Please” she said, reaching out to grab his arm “ Can we talk?”
Lucien yanked his arm free “ I said all I needed to”
“ Lucien ” her voice cracked “ About last night.... I didn't mean....”
Lucien stopped walking but didn't turn to look at her
“ You tried to drug me ” he said coldly “ Whatever you were planning, it failed”
“ I wasn't going to hurt you ” she whispered “ I just... I...missed..... I thought if you... If we.. ”
“ You thought I would be weak enough to fall in to bed with you?” Lucien asked turning back to look at her “ You don't know me at all” he said , his eyes darker now
Selene stepped back, hurts flashing in her eyes “ I still love ”
Lucien's gaze hardened “ that's not love . That's control ”
Then he turned around and walked away, his cloak trailing behind him like his shadow
Selene just stood there, watching him walk away
- Writer
