The House of Shadows
937 Words
The drive across the city was silent.
Rainwater slid across the windows of Lucien’s car while neon lights blurred into streaks of crimson and gold outside. Evangeline sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her hands tightly clasped in her lap.
Sophia had wanted to come with them.
Lucien refused immediately.
“You will only put her in danger,” he had said coldly.
Sophia argued for nearly five minutes before finally giving up, though the worried look she gave Evangeline before leaving still lingered painfully in her mind.
Now, the only sound inside the car was the low hum of the engine.
Evangeline glanced sideways toward Lucien.
Even while driving, he looked unnaturally composed. One hand rested loosely against the steering wheel while city lights reflected faintly across his pale face. His expression remained unreadable, yet tension lingered beneath the calm surface.
“You still haven’t explained anything,” Evangeline said finally.
Lucien’s eyes remained fixed on the road ahead.
“There are things you are safer not knowing.”
“That stopped being true the second a vampire tried to attack me.”
Silence followed.
Lucien sighed quietly, almost reluctantly.
“The vampire you saw tonight belongs to neither clan nor law anymore. Creatures like that obey only hunger.”
“And the council?”
At the mention of them, Lucien’s expression darkened slightly.
“They govern vampire society.”
“Like some secret government?”
“In a sense.”
Evangeline looked away toward the rain-covered streets.
“This is insane.”
“You are handling it surprisingly well.”
She laughed weakly.
“No, I’m actually losing my mind.”
For the first time that night, the faintest trace of amusement touched Lucien’s face.
A small smile.
Brief, but real.
The sight caught her completely off guard.
For a moment, he looked less like a monster and more like a man.
Dangerously beautiful.
Evangeline quickly forced herself to look away.
After another twenty minutes, the car finally slowed before enormous iron gates.
They opened automatically.
Evangeline stared ahead in disbelief as the vehicle entered a massive estate hidden deep within the city outskirts. Towering black trees surrounded the property while moonlight reflected across dark stone pathways. At the center stood an enormous mansion illuminated by golden lights glowing through tall windows.
The place looked ancient.
Like something untouched by time.
“You live here?” she asked quietly.
Lucien parked the car smoothly.
“Yes.”
“That’s not a house. That’s a castle.”
He stepped out without answering.
Evangeline hesitated briefly before following him toward the entrance. The moment the massive doors opened, warmth surrounded her instantly.
The interior was breathtaking.
Dark marble floors stretched beneath crystal chandeliers while candlelight flickered softly along the walls. Everything felt elegant, expensive, and strangely empty.
Too quiet.
Her footsteps echoed softly as Lucien removed his coat.
A tall woman suddenly appeared from the hallway ahead.
Evangeline nearly jumped.
The woman had silver-blonde hair tied neatly behind her back and wore an elegant black dress. Though beautiful, her expression remained calm to the point of coldness.
Her eyes shifted toward Evangeline immediately.
Surprise flickered briefly across her face.
“My lord,” she said carefully, “you brought a human here?”
Lucien handed her his coat calmly.
“Prepare the east guest room.”
The woman hesitated.
“…Of course.”
Before leaving, she glanced at Evangeline one final time. The look in her eyes was unreadable. Curious. Suspicious. Maybe even concerned.
The moment she disappeared upstairs, Evangeline turned toward Lucien.
“She called you ‘my lord.’”
Lucien walked toward the fireplace slowly.
“She has served my family for many years.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Flames reflected softly in his crimson eyes as he faced her again.
“There are different vampire bloodlines,” he explained quietly. “Some hold more power than others.”
Realization slowly settled over her.
“You’re important.”
Lucien said nothing.
Which was answer enough.
Evangeline suddenly felt very small standing inside his enormous mansion.
A dangerous thought crossed her mind.
If Lucien truly was powerful… then why did the council fear him enough to watch him so closely?
“You still haven’t told me why they want me,” she whispered.
This time, Lucien’s silence lasted longer.
Finally, he stepped closer toward her.
Too close.
Evangeline’s pulse immediately quickened.
“I do not know yet,” he admitted softly. “But vampires do not hunt humans without reason.”
His gaze lingered on her face with unsettling intensity.
“And whatever that reason is,” he continued quietly, “it began the moment you survived my compulsion.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
Evangeline swallowed hard.
“What exactly does that mean?”
Lucien lifted one pale hand slowly toward her face.
“You are different.”
His fingers brushed gently beneath her chin.
The touch was featherlight.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Yet her heart betrayed her completely.
It raced the moment he touched her.
Lucien noticed.
A faint shadow crossed his expression as though he regretted hearing it.
“You should fear me,” he murmured quietly.
Evangeline looked up at him, unable to look away.
“I’m trying to.”
For a brief moment, silence wrapped around them completely.
The fire crackled softly nearby while rain continued tapping against the windows outside.
Then suddenly—
Lucien froze.
His expression sharpened instantly.
“What is it?” Evangeline whispered.
He slowly turned toward the dark hallway beyond the staircase.
The warmth vanished from his face completely.
“We’re no longer alone.”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD