Who is She? Part 2
720 Words
The chapel smelled like iron and damp stone.
Moonlight streamed through the broken windows, spilling pale light across the cracked floor.
Chains rattled softly in the darkness.
Mirella stepped inside slowly, her boots echoing against the stone. She carried a leather satchel filled with herbs, powders, and small glass vials.
Behind her, Elias pushed the heavy door shut.
“She’s through there,” he said quietly.
Mirella raised an eyebrow.
“You chained a vampire in a ruined chapel.”
“It was the only place close.”
She hummed.
“How romantic.”
Elias ignored the comment and led her deeper into the chapel.
Then the chains went still.
Completely still.
From the shadows, a pair of red eyes opened.
Vespera had been hanging against the far wall, wrists bound by iron chains wrapped around old stone columns.
But now she was very awake.
Her head tilted slowly as she studied the new arrival.
A witch.
Vespera’s lips curled faintly.
“Well,” she murmured, voice low and smooth, “you brought a friend.”
Elias stepped forward cautiously.
“Mirella is here to help.”
Vespera laughed softly.
“Help who?”
Her crimson eyes flicked between them.
Then she smiled wider.
“Oh.”
She saw it immediately.
The way Mirella stood slightly closer to Elias than necessary.
The way her eyes followed him.
The faint tension when he spoke.
Vespera’s smile sharpened.
“Interesting.”
Mirella stepped forward, examining the chains and symbols around the wall.
“So this is your monster,” the witch said calmly.
Vespera’s gaze snapped to her.
“Careful, little witch.”
The chains creaked as she leaned forward slightly.
“You might hurt my feelings.”
Mirella met her stare without flinching.
“From what I’ve heard,” she replied coolly, “you lost those a long time ago.”
Vespera chuckled.
Then her eyes slid back to Elias.
Slow.
Curious.
Possessive.
“My husband,” she said softly.
Elias stiffened.
Mirella didn’t react outwardly, but her jaw tightened slightly.
Vespera noticed.
Of course she did.
Predators were excellent at spotting weakness.
The vampire leaned forward as far as the chains allowed.
“You’ve been visiting witches now?” she said lazily to Elias.
“I’m trying to save you.”
That made her laugh again.
“Oh, Elias… you poor thing.”
Her red eyes flicked back to Mirella.
“You know he’s married, don’t you?”
Mirella folded her arms.
“I’m aware.”
Vespera’s smile grew slow and dangerous.
“And yet here you are.”
The chains rattled again as she shifted.
“Following him around. Touching him. Looking at him like that.”
Elias frowned.
“Vespera—”
But she wasn’t looking at him anymore.
Her eyes were locked on Mirella.
Bright.
Hungry.
Territorial.
“You want him,” Vespera said simply.
The words hung in the chapel like smoke.
Mirella didn’t respond right away.
Instead she walked closer to examine the iron bindings.
“I’m more interested in curing you,” she said calmly.
Vespera tilted her head.
“That wasn’t an answer.”
Elias stepped between them slightly.
“Enough,” he said firmly.
But Vespera’s eyes softened the moment they returned to him.
In a way that was almost… gentle.
Almost.
“Elias,” she murmured.
Her voice dropped lower.
“You shouldn’t bring strangers near me.”
Mirella glanced up.
“Why? Afraid I’ll hurt you?”
Vespera’s smile turned sharp again.
“No.”
The chains suddenly snapped tight as she lunged forward violently.
Faster than either of them expected.
Her fangs stopped inches from Mirella’s throat.
The iron burned against her wrists as she strained.
“I’m afraid I’ll hurt you.”
Elias grabbed the chain, forcing her back.
“Vespera!”
The vampire hissed but allowed herself to be pulled away.
Then she laughed softly.
Her gaze slid once more between Elias and the witch.
Slow.
Knowing.
“You should be careful, Mirella,” she said sweetly.
“Men like him make terrible replacements.”
Mirella’s eyes narrowed.
But Vespera leaned back against the wall again, smiling faintly.
Because even as a monster…
Even starving and chained…
Even barely remembering what love felt like…
She still knew one thing perfectly well.
Elias Moreau belonged to her.
- Writer
