Bloodbound: The Darkness that Loved Me

Chapter 2 - The Vampire

Elara woke to the sound of a heartbeat.

Slow.

Steady.

Thump.

Silence.

Thump.

Silence.

She opened her eyes.

Darkness surrounded her.

For several seconds she didn't remember where she was.

Then the memories returned.

The rain.

The forest.

The manor.

Lucien.

And Adrian.

Her body tensed.

She sat upright.

The room was still.

The fire had burned down to embers, throwing faint orange light across the walls.

She listened again.

Thump.

Silence.

Thump.

Her breathing became shallow.

There.

Again.

But it wasn't coming from inside her chest.

It was coming from somewhere beyond the bedroom door.

Elara slipped out of bed.

She was still wearing Lucien's coat.

The floor was cold beneath her feet.

She approached the door.

The heartbeat stopped.

She froze.

Silence.

Then—

Thump.

Right outside.

Elara slowly opened the door.

The corridor was empty.

She stepped into the hallway.

"Lucien?"

No answer.

She walked toward the staircase.

The heartbeat continued.

Thump.

Silence.

Thump.

It seemed to come from below.

Elara descended.

The manor was different at night.

The candles had burned lower.

Shadows stretched across the walls.

The portraits seemed darker.

She reached the entrance hall.

The front doors were closed.

She could hear the storm outside.

Then she saw him.

Lucien stood at the far end of the room.

His back was toward her.

He was staring through the enormous windows.

"Lucien?"

He didn't move.

Elara took another step.

"Are you all right?"

His shoulders rose slightly.

Then lowered.

"You should be sleeping."

"So should you."

"I'm not tired."

She almost smiled.

"Vampires don't sleep?"

"Some do."

"Do you?"

"Sometimes."

"When?"

He turned.

"During daylight."

She frowned.

"But you were awake earlier."

"I don't always follow the rules."

"Apparently."

He looked at her.

His eyes moved over her face.

Then her bare feet.

Then the coat.

Something softened in his expression.

"You should put on shoes."

"I couldn't find any."

"There are several pairs in the wardrobe."

"How convenient."

His mouth curved slightly.

"You sound suspicious."

"I am suspicious."

"Good."

Elara folded her arms.

"Why?"

"Because trusting everyone you meet is dangerous."

She stared at him.

"You're a vampire."

"Exactly."

She looked around the room.

"Why did you bring me here?"

Lucien didn't answer.

"Why did the gate open for me?"

Silence.

"Why did you already have clothes in my size?"

Still nothing.

"And why did you know my name before I told you?"

Lucien's expression hardened.

"You ask too many questions."

"And you answer too few."

A faint smile appeared.

"Perhaps we're equally difficult."

Elara looked at him carefully.

There was something different about Lucien tonight.

He seemed more distant.

More guarded.

Almost afraid.

She noticed the blood on his cuff.

"You're hurt."

His gaze dropped.

"It's nothing."

"You're bleeding."

"It will heal."

"Let me see."

"No."

The answer was immediate.

Elara frowned.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want you near it."

"Why?"

His jaw tightened.

"Because your blood is making it difficult for me to think."

The room became silent.

Elara's pulse quickened.

Lucien heard it.

She knew he did.

His eyes darkened.

He took a step backward.

"Go upstairs."

"You said that before."

"And I'm saying it again."

"I'm not afraid of you."

His eyes flashed crimson.

"You should be."

Elara's heart pounded.

Lucien closed his eyes.

For several seconds, he remained completely still.

When he opened them again, they were normal.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For frightening you."

"You didn't."

"I did."

"No."

Elara stepped closer.

"I've been frightened before."

Something changed in his expression.

She wished she hadn't said it.

His gaze moved to the bruises around her wrists.

"Adrian."

It wasn't a question.

Elara looked away.

Lucien's hands curled into fists.

"You don't have to tell me."

She glanced at him.

"Why do you care?"

His answer was quiet.

"Because no one should have done that to you."

The simplicity of the statement hurt more than she expected.

She looked down.

"He said he loved me."

Lucien didn't respond.

"He always said he loved me."

Her voice became smaller.

"He said I made him angry. That if I stopped making mistakes, he wouldn't have to hurt me."

Lucien's expression became frighteningly still.

"He lied."

Elara looked at him.

"He said everyone eventually leaves."

"Not everyone."

"He said I would never find anyone better."

Lucien took one slow step toward her.

"Elara."

She looked up.

"You were never the problem."

Her throat tightened.

She looked away before he could see the tears.

But he saw them anyway.

Lucien moved closer.

This time, he stopped within arm's reach.

He didn't touch her.

He simply stood there.

Giving her the choice.

After a long moment, Elara whispered:

"Why won't you touch me?"

Lucien's eyes met hers.

"Because I don't know if you've had enough people taking things from you."

The tears escaped.

One rolled down her cheek.

Lucien's hand lifted.

He stopped before touching her.

"May I?"

Elara hesitated.

Then nodded.

His fingers brushed the tear away.

His touch was impossibly gentle.

Cool against her skin.

Elara closed her eyes.

For one brief moment, she felt safe.

Then the heartbeat returned.

Thump.

Silence.

Thump.

But this time, it wasn't outside the room.

It was inside her.

Elara opened her eyes.

Lucien had gone completely still.

His gaze was fixed on her neck.

She understood.

His breathing had changed.

"Lucien?"

He didn't answer.

His eyes had turned crimson.

His fangs slowly appeared.

Elara stepped backward.

Lucien immediately stepped away.

"Go."

His voice was strained.

"Lucien—"

"Now."

She froze.

His hand gripped the edge of the table beside him.

The wood cracked beneath his fingers.

Elara stared.

"You could kill me."

"Yes."

The word was barely audible.

She swallowed.

"Will you?"

Lucien looked at her.

His expression was tortured.

"No."

"How can you be sure?"

His eyes closed.

"Because I would rather die."

He turned away.

"Go upstairs, Elara."

This time, she listened.

She ran.

But she didn't make it to her bedroom.

A sound came from the front entrance.

Three slow knocks.

Lucien's head snapped toward the door.

Elara stopped.

Another knock.

Lucien's face became expressionless.

"Stay here."

"Who is it?"

He didn't answer.

The knocking came again.

Three times.

Slow.

Patient.

Almost polite.

Lucien walked toward the door.

Elara followed despite herself.

"Lucien."

He raised one hand.

She stopped.

He reached the door.

Before opening it, he looked back at her.

Something in his eyes made her blood run cold.

"Whatever happens..."

He paused.

"Do not let him touch you."

The door opened.

Adrian stood on the other side.

Perfectly dry despite the storm.

His black hair was neatly styled.

His expensive coat was immaculate.

His face was beautiful.

Human-looking.

Normal.

Except for his eyes.

They were crimson.

He smiled.

"Good evening, Lucien."

Lucien's voice was ice.

"Leave."

Adrian's gaze moved past him.

And found Elara.

His smile widened.

"There you are."

Elara couldn't breathe.

Her body remembered him before her mind could process him.

The room seemed to shrink.

Adrian stepped forward.

Lucien blocked him.

"You are not welcome here."

Adrian laughed softly.

"Still pretending to be noble?"

Lucien's eyes flashed.

"You have one chance."

"One chance for what?"

"To leave alive."

Adrian's smile disappeared.

For a moment, neither vampire moved.

Then Adrian leaned closer.

"You know why I'm here."

Lucien said nothing.

Adrian looked toward Elara.

"I came for my fiancée."

Elara's stomach twisted.

"I'm not yours."

Adrian's eyes hardened.

"You will be."

Lucien moved faster than Elara could see.

One moment Adrian was standing in the doorway.

The next, Lucien had him pressed against the stone wall.

The impact shook the room.

Adrian laughed.

"Still angry."

Lucien's fangs descended.

"You have no idea."

Adrian looked past him at Elara.

And smiled.

"Tell her, Lucien."

Lucien's grip tightened.

"Tell her what?"

"Tell her why you really knew she was coming."

Lucien went still.

Adrian's smile returned.

"Tell her about Eveline."

Elara's heart stopped.

Lucien looked toward her.

And in that moment, she knew.

There was something about her ancestor.

Something Lucien had never intended to tell her.

Adrian laughed.

"Go ahead."

He looked directly at Elara.

"Ask him."

Elara stared at Lucien.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Lucien released Adrian.

Adrian straightened his coat.

His smile was triumphant.

Lucien looked at Elara.

And for the first time since she had met him—he looked afraid of her question.

"Your ancestor," he said quietly, "was the reason I became a monster."

Elara stared at him.

"What happened to her?"

Lucien's eyes darkened.

"I killed her."

The words echoed through the hall.

Elara couldn't move.

Adrian smiled.

And somewhere deep within the manor, a door slammed shut by itself.

Then another.

Then another.

Until every door in the house had closed.

Except one.

The door to the forbidden east wing.

It slowly opened.

And from somewhere inside the darkness came a woman's whisper.

"Elara..."