the blackthorn castle
958 Words
The castle looked like it had been carved from the night itself.
Perched atop jagged cliffs, Blackthorn Castle towered above the surrounding forest like a warning meant for the living. Its black stone walls rose into the mist, ancient and unyielding.
Ethan tightened his grip on his sword.
This was madness.
Every instinct screamed at him to turn back.
But Lily's silver ribbon rested in his pocket.
He climbed the final steps leading to the massive iron gates.
Before he could knock, they creaked open on their own.
The sound echoed through the cold air.
"Not creepy at all," Ethan muttered.
He stepped inside.
The grand hall stole the breath from his lungs.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated polished marble floors. Portraits lined the walls. A grand staircase curved toward the upper levels.
It looked less like a den of monsters and more like a noble estate.
"You expected piles of bones?"
Ethan spun around.
Lucien leaned against the staircase railing.
He had changed out of his bloodstained clothes.
Dressed in a black tailored suit embroidered with crimson thread, he looked more like royalty than a killer.
Ethan hated how calm he appeared.
"Where's Lily?"
"No greeting?" Lucien sighed dramatically. "I'm wounded."
Ethan drew his sword.
"Where is my sister?"
Lucien's crimson gaze dropped to the blade.
"You really insist on pointing sharp objects at me."
"Answer me."
"She's safe."
"That's not good enough."
Lucien studied him for a moment before saying quietly,
"I gave my word."
"You expect me to trust a vampire?"
"No."
Lucien descended the staircase slowly.
"I expect you to trust how desperately you want your sister back."
Ethan wanted to drive his sword through the vampire's heart.
Instead, he lowered it slightly.
"Take me to her."
"I will."
Relief flashed through Ethan.
Then Lucien added,
"After dinner."
"...What?"
"You heard me."
"You brought me to a vampire castle for dinner?"
Lucien blinked.
"You've traveled for hours."
"I thought you'd be torturing people!"
"We can eat first and torture later if it makes you more comfortable."
Ethan stared at him.
Lucien smiled.
"I was joking."
"I don't think vampires should joke."
"I'll add that to my list of character flaws."
A soft laugh echoed through the hall.
Ethan's head snapped toward the doorway.
A woman entered.
She had dark skin, elegant silver hair, and sharp violet eyes.
"You've finally brought him home."
Ethan stepped back.
Another vampire.
The woman bowed gracefully.
"Lady Seraphina Moreau," she introduced herself. "Advisor to His Highness."
His Highness?
Ethan looked at Lucien.
"You really are a prince?"
Lucien rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's complicated."
Seraphina smiled.
"He dislikes titles."
"He enjoys using them against me," Lucien corrected.
Before Ethan could speak again, another voice interrupted.
"So this is the hunter."
A young man with blond hair entered the room.
He looked around Ethan's age.
His amber eyes narrowed.
"I expected someone taller."
Ethan frowned.
"I expected a monster."
The blond vampire grinned.
"Excellent. Neither of us got what we wanted."
Lucien pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Adrian."
"What?" Adrian shrugged. "I'm being friendly."
"You threatened him."
"It was a joke."
"You threatened him with a knife."
Adrian looked offended.
"It was a decorative knife."
Ethan stared.
These people weren't acting like bloodthirsty creatures.
They argued.
They joked.
They rolled their eyes at each other.
They felt...
Normal.
He hated that thought.
"You've all lost your minds," Ethan muttered.
"No," Seraphina said softly.
"We've simply learned that survival is easier when we don't become the monsters others expect us to be."
The words unsettled him.
Lucien turned toward Ethan.
"Come."
"Where?"
"You wanted answers."
Ethan followed him through endless hallways until they reached a pair of carved wooden doors.
Lucien pushed them open.
A library.
Books stretched from floor to ceiling.
Ancient maps covered the walls.
In the center stood a single portrait.
Ethan froze.
The woman in the painting looked familiar.
Too familiar.
She had the same dark eyes.
The same smile.
The same face shape.
"No..."
His voice cracked.
Lucien watched him carefully.
"You recognize her."
Ethan stumbled toward the portrait.
His hands trembled.
"That's impossible."
Because staring back at him from the canvas...
Was his mother.
He spun around.
"Why is my mother's portrait in your castle?"
Lucien's expression darkened.
"Because, Ethan..."
He hesitated.
For the first time since they'd met, the Crimson Prince seemed uncertain.
"...your mother once saved my life."
Silence crashed over the room.
Ethan's world tilted.
"No."
"You deserve the truth."
"You're lying."
"Am I?"
"My mother hated vampires!"
Lucien's gaze softened.
"I don't think your mother hated anyone."
Ethan backed away.
"Stop talking about her."
"Ethan—"
"No!"
His voice echoed through the library.
"You don't get to use my family to manipulate me!"
Pain flickered across Lucien's face.
Only for a second.
Then it vanished.
"I understand."
"You understand nothing."
Ethan stormed toward the door.
"If Lily isn't here by morning—"
"She is here."
Ethan stopped.
"What?"
Lucien looked toward the upper floors.
"Your sister is alive."
Hope and fear collided inside Ethan.
"Take me to her."
Lucien nodded.
Without another word, he led Ethan through the castle.
Up another staircase.
Past silent corridors.
Until they stopped outside a single door.
Ethan's heart pounded.
"Lily?"
His hand shook as he reached for the handle.
Lucien caught his wrist.
Ethan glared at him.
"What now?"
Lucien's expression was unreadable.
"Before you open that door..."
His voice was unusually quiet.
"...you need to understand something."
Ethan's stomach twisted.
"What?"
Lucien looked directly into his eyes.
"Your sister wasn't kidnapped."
The world seemed to stop.
"What are you talking about?"
Lucien released his wrist.
His next words shattered the last piece of certainty Ethan had left.
"She came here willingly."
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