The Vampire's marked Witch

Escape by Starlight

Lucius's POV

"Julian!" Anya squealed, running toward him to throw her arms around his neck.

"Hey, little sis. Damn, you've gotten so big," Julian chuckled, catching her. "You look... you look pretty."

Anya punched him lightly on the arm. "I am not big. I'm just grown up."

He walked up to me, holding out his hand. "Hey, brother."

Everything was quiet for a long moment as we stared at each other.

"Julian," I finally said, acknowledging his presence.

He let his hand drop. "Sometimes I wonder how you were ever close with your mother when you clearly inherited all of Lord Rhys's personality."

Anya burst out laughing. I gave her a side glare, and she immediately quieted down.

"Why didn't you send word earlier that you were coming late?" I asked. "You know how dangerous it is outside the borders right now—"

"Whoa, calm down, bro! I didn't plan on coming either, but I missed my cousins," he cut in, waving a hand dismissively. "And since I missed your wedding and coronation, I brought gifts for both."

Before I could reply, he turned toward Ava. "Hey, sister-in-law. Don't you look gorgeous," he said, sending me a quick wink. "Lady Ava," he added, doing a dramatic, courteous bow. "I am your brother-in-law, Julian." He took her hand and gently pecked the back of it.

Ava smiled. "Welcome, Julian. I hope your journey wasn't too stressful."

"Nah... with all the beautiful women on the plane, how could I be stressed?"

I rolled my eyes and turned around, heading straight upstairs.

"Hey, brother! Where are you running off to?" I heard Julian call out after me.

When I got to my bedchambers, I headed into the closet to change. Suddenly, Ava walked in behind me.

"How were things at headquarters, my Lord?" she asked, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind.

"I am tired, Ava," I said quietly, pulling on a pair of comfortable shorts. "I just want to go to bed."

"Oh... okay," she replied in a hushed tone, her arms slowly sliding away from me.

Seeing the disappointment in her face, I sighed and turned around, giving her a soft peck on the cheek before walking out into the bedroom.

I climbed into bed and stared up at the ceiling.

I didn't feel good inside. My whole body still physically longed to be close to the girl down in the courtyard, and the guilt was heavy.

Hearing the closet door open and close as Ava got ready, I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep.

Nova's POV

"Nova..."

A voice whispered my name in my sleep.

"Nova..."

I tried to ignore it and pull the blanket higher.

"Nova!" the voice shouted, making me jolt upright.

When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in my bedroom at the cottage. I was standing in the dark, cold clearing in the woods, the same place where I had passed out.

"Nova..."

I turned around, and standing in front of me was Agatha. She wasn't floating this time; she looked almost human.

"Finally, Nova!" she said, reaching out to me with a wide smile. "I can reach you!"

"Agatha... what... how?" I stammered, confused.

"I just had to try," she explained. "I saw you connect with your mom in the woods the other day, so I tried to project myself to you." She looked me up and down, her expression turning serious. "Where are you, Nova? Why couldn't I find you? Are you... dead?"

"No, I'm not dead," I said. "I don't even know where I am. All I know is that I'm trapped in a city full of vampires."

Agatha gasped, slapping her hands over her mouth. "How? Were you kidnapped?"

"I don't really know. I was saved from a monster, but now I'm being held hostage here."

"Saved?" Agatha asked, her brows furrowing.

I quickly explained everything that had happened, from the welcome party to how I ended up at the Valerius estate.

"Damn, Nova... you've been through so much in just two days."

"I failed Sister Joan..." I whimpered, tears blurring my vision.

Agatha stepped forward and pulled me into a warm hug. "It's okay," she murmured, holding me tight as I sobbed against her shoulder.

"About Sister Joan..." She paused, her voice faltering.

I pulled back, looking at her in fear. "What? What's wrong with Mom? Is she okay?"

"She... she's sick," Agatha confessed. "Ever since she heard you went missing, she's done nothing but pray day and night. It's hurting her, Nova."

"Oh my God... Oh my God," I panicked, pressing my hands against my head as my breath hitched. "I have to leave this place. Tonight."

"Hey, Nova, calm down and think this through" Agatha warned, grabbing my arms. "You just said this place is crawling with vampires. You can't just run out blindly. What if someone worse catches you?"

"I don't care, Agatha!" I cried out, my chest heaving. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to calm myself. "I can't lose Sister Joan because of my mistake. I need to get back to her. I need to let her know I'm alive."

Agatha looked at me with sad eyes and nodded. "Okay. I understand. Just please... be so careful."

I nodded, wrapping my arms around Agatha one last time and closing my eyes tight.

When I opened them again, I was back in my bed in the stone cottage. I looked over to the next bed and saw Bridget fast asleep, snoring softly.

My heart raced. This was my only chance. I had to leave now.

​I tiptoed out of bed, careful not to wake Bridget, and changed into the robe I had arrived in. Bridget had helped me mend the torn parts earlier, sewing beautiful bird embroidery over the rips. I pulled the hood over my hair and crept out of the room. I slipped past Catherine’s bedroom and saw she was fast asleep, too.

​Confirming that everyone was down for the night, I grabbed my soft flat boots and ran out of the cottage as fast as my legs could carry me.

​I was halfway past the mansion when the sound of heavy footsteps made me freeze.

​Damn it! Patrol guards.

​I ran and hid behind a tree, my heart raced against my chest in terror.

​"Hey! You there!" a voice barked.

​I glanced back and saw a guard heading toward my spot. Panic surged through me, and I ran into the dark mansion through a side entrance, ducking into the kitchen and squatting down low behind the door.

​"Umm... who are you?" a voice suddenly said above me.

​I gasped and looked up to see a dark-haired man with warm brown eyes. He was handsome, like a movie star from one of the old magazines I had flipped through back at the monastery.

​"I know I saw someone run in here. Let's check the kitchen," a guard's voice echoed from just outside the doorway.

​Without thinking, I leaped up and pulled the handsome stranger against me, slapping my hand over his mouth while using my other hand to hit the light switch, plunging us into darkness.

​A guard stepped into the doorway, his eyes scanning across the dark room.

​"Hey, I think I saw something over here!" another guard shouted from down the hall.

​The guard in the kitchen turned and rushed back out.

​Relief washed over me. I let out a breath and quickly pulled my hand away from the man's mouth.

​"I'm so sorry," I whispered, keeping my head bowed as I turned to run before the guards come back.

​Before I could take a step, a firm grip caught my arm and spun me around. The motion knocked my hood back, letting my dark waves slip down my shoulders slowly. I gasped as my eyes met his again in the dim room.

​Suddenly, the kitchen lights flashed on.

​"Nova?"

​My eyes widened in terror as I turned my head toward the kitchen doorway.