Chapter 1 : The sun
Lucian was working in the courtyard again. He was the blacksmith. Not a smith as you would assume though. He was a Lycan, a slave to his vampire lord. He had known Victor his entire life, he was born in one of Victor's cells and only by his lord's mercy had he been allowed to live. Victor loved reminding him of that. It was all Lucian had ever known, but some days, I did not seem right, his brethren, the other Lycans were used as workers or servants. And if one of them faltered for a second, took a moment of rest, they were whipped. But this was reality for them, for Lucian more than any of them. He had been working for Victor all his life, Victor had trained him. He had always been impressed by the skills of the first Lycan. This was the only reason Lucian was free to work in the smithy and walk the grounds. His work forging weapons was the only thing that brought him joy. Aside from Sonja, that is. Sonja was Victor's daughter, but Lucian had known her all her life as well. Victor used to love showing him off to Sonja, as his little project. Little did he know, the two children had bonded instantly. And the bond between their hearts, although they did not see each other much, never faltered. Lucian remembered seeing her kind eyes when he was being trained in the dungeons. As they got older she came less and less frequently, but every time she did he always tried just a little bit harder, fought a little bit more fierce. And then, he did not train any more, he became the blacksmith and victor's servant. One day, he was roaming the grounds near morning. He had completed his work and was clearing his mind, it was hard to ignore the pain that was inflicted upon his kind daily. And it was even harder to hold his tongue. Lucian might have been born and bred in captivity, nonetheless he was strong willed. Every time without fail, when they spoke to him like he was lesser, he had to bite back the responses he wanted to give. Until one day he did not.
Lucian arrived at the smithy again and decided to finish the sword he had been working on. It only took a few moments, then he finally stopped working for the night. He stepped out, sweating and took off his vest. He worked too hard and for what. This train of thought flooded his mind for the hundred time and he let out a sigh. Suddenly he had the feeling he was being watched and quickly scoured the area. He saw a dark shape just around corner from the smithy. This night had been too long and tiresome already. It was close to dawn so it must be another Lycan, he thought. He got angry, they should be in cells or protecting their masters.
"What are you doing here, you should be-!" He stopped when the shape stepped forward and her face was revealed. Sonja. He had not seen her in a while. He did not even know if she still knew him. It was strange that there was no bond between them, as he knew her so well. But she was the princess first.
"A thousand apologies my lady, I thought you to be someone else." He was supposed to kneel, or at the very least bow his head. But her eyes had caught his and he did not feel like tearing his eyes away from her beauty just yet. But her face was distraught, her cheeks stained with dirt and her eyes swollen. He was shocked to find she was more beautiful than ever. She did not reply though, she just looked at him with sad eyes, pleading for comfort. Lucian felt pain for her and instinctively reached for her cheek, he had wiped away a tear from her cheek. He was surprised by his own action, expected her to punish him, get angry. On the contrary, the moment he touched her cheek, her eyes closed and she leaned into his hand. Lucian held her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb and forced himself to keep the little distance there was between them. They stayed like this for a while. Her tears stopped streaming and she opened her eyes. She seemed to wake from a trance when she did and Lucian quickly pulled back his hand, but it was not him she was startled by. It was the sun. Neither of them had realised it was dawn. Without thinking Lucian wrapped her in her cloak and ran toward the entrance of the castle. He reached the steps just when the sun did, he put her safely inside, checked whether anyone had seen them and then left swiftly without so much as word. Sonja stood there, in the shadows, realising what he had done. The Lycan, Lucian, she touched her cheek. It was still warm from where he had held her face. She knew it was wrong, but she could not help but smile when she remembered him standing there. She had been out riding all night, she and her father had had an argument. It was always the same, she wanted to know about her mother, he had not wanted to tell. But this time, she had gotten really upset, she was not a child any more, she had saved and defended her people over en over again. But this seemed to mean nothing to her father. So she had gone riding to clear her mind, like always when they fought, only she had returned still distraught. That is when she saw the Lycan, standing there, when he removed his shirt, she could see the water evaporating from his skin. It looked as if he was smouldering, like a fire place after it's been put out. She thought of this as she walked to her room. How he had looked at her, she remember the fierce eyes from when they were children. She reached her rooms and laid down in bed. She fell asleep that day, with Lucian's eyes on her mind.
Lucian laid down in his chamber, it was not very big or accommodating, but it was much better then the cells given to some of the other Lycans, he was lucky to be the first. Or that was what he had been told his entire life. Normally he would lay contemplating these things before he fell asleep. But not this night, no, tonight his thoughts were completely occupied by another matter; Sonja. He had yelled at her, touched her face en then carried her to the castle. He did not want to imagine his punishment. But the lady Sonja had not given any indication that she planned on punishing him. When he had left her on the stairs, she had looked grateful. And he had run away so that she could not change her mind. His hand felt like it was burning, he could still see her face, as he had touched it. She seemed to have felt comfort in his touch. It was the last thing he had expected. But he convinced himself he should put it out of his mind, she was distraught and needed comfort, he was just lucky he was the one who found her. This decision however did not stop his mind from returning to the moment she had closed her eyes in his hand. And he fell asleep thinking of her only.
The next evening, he woke. It was just dusk. He could see the last deep red colour the sun gave the sky before disappearing entirely. He washed and dressed for another day of hard work, but somehow this day felt less heavy, like it contained a glimpse of hope.
He was forging a beautiful sword for one of the young noblemen when he heard the noise. Lycans, wild ones, beyond the gate. He went to the wall to see, it was Sonja being chased by three of them. She was fast, but they were rabid, wild… and faster. He ran to grab his crossbow. He could not see her harmed, after last night especially, she had looked so frail. The other vampires, guards on the wall were trying to shoot the beasts down, but failed. Lucian lunged himself on the wall with one arm. He aimed for the wolves and shot. The first two were down, but the last one was gaining on her. She was close to the gate and Lucian shot just as she entered the fortress. Inside, Sonja rode in followed by a Lycan with an arrow through his eyes. Lucian jumped from the wall, to attack the Lycan if necessary.
"Have you nothing better to do, blacksmith, than play with weapons of war?" Sonja held her head high as she spoke those words, she did not get off her horse, this way she could look down on him. Lucian was shocked by this cold answer. He gave no reply. Sonja's face did not falter. "A little gratitude for the one who saved your life." Victor spoke calculated as always.
"I needed no saving." After these words, Sonja left. Leaving Lucian angry at himself for expecting any besides cruelty.
Lucian was working in the smithy around midnight when he was called upon by one of Victor's subjects. Even though they were vampires, they knew their place was well beneath Victor's.
"Lycan! The Lord wants you. Come!" he snapped at Lucian. Who bit back a few curse words but followed either way. He spoke not one word to Victor's servants. He despised these men, they thought themselves better than Lycans, but they were weaker, they had nothing but their race to distinguish them from the Lycans. And yet, they behaved as of they were kings compared to them. Lucian was quicker and met Victor before the servants, who were panting behind him.
"My Lord, you called upon me." He spoke calmly.
"Ah! Lucian! I have to leave for a few days and with the unrest amongst the Lycans and the attacks from William's kind, I need Sonja to be safe." Victor spoke slowly as usual.
"How may I help, my lord?"
"I want you to protect her, like you have, on the wall. All the best guards on the wall could not have saved her, but you did. Prove to me once more that you are different from your kind."
"Yes, my lord." He was careful not to react to quickly, as he dearly wanted this assignment, but could not let Victor know that.
"Sonja is in her chambers, you will wait for her at her door, then you will not leave her side until my return, do you understand? If anything should befall her, I shall hold you personally accountable."
"Yes, my lord." Lucian bowed his head.
Victor gave him one last stern look, then left the courtyard. Lucian practically ran up the stairs to Sonja's room. There he paced himself, she had been cruel to him when he had saved her. He should not delude himself, he had found her once in a fragile state but that meant nothing. By the time he reached the door, his hopes had been killed by his inner compass. He knocked, but the life was drained out of him.
"Yes, who is it?" He heard from the chamber. Her voice sounded more beautiful than before.
"Your bodyguard." He answered, seeing little point in revealing his name, she would probably not remember him.
"Come in." She said. Lucian hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open and found Sonja, half dressed. She was faced to her wardrobe and was only wearing what seemed like her undergarments. A thin black dress than just covered enough. She turned to the door and looked in his eyes, Sonja's eyes widened. "What are you doing here?" She sounded shocked, but for some reason evenly excited. Lucian tore his eyes away from her, with difficulty, closed his mouth and started apologizing. "I'm sorry my lady, you said that I could come in." Lucian, had a very hard time not looking back, the image of her was burnt in his mind, and he wanted to do more than look at her. "It's all right, I thought you were my maid, I must've misunderstood." Lucian heard her hurriedly putting clothes on. He was suppressing an urge and was slowly regaining control over his body. "What are you doing here Lycan?" She spoke with sharpness this time. He felt the words hitting his heart. "Your father appointed me your bodyguard for the days that he will be away." Lucian could not see her face so he could not see the smile spread across her face when he said that. And Sonja did not quite understand why it made her so happy.
Over the next days, Lucians guarded her as he was told, he followed her everywhere, except her chambers, he slept outside her door each night. He could feel her inside her room. And as he slept he unwillingly imagined her shape on the bed. Although he was constantly with her, they were never alone. Over the span of 5 days there were always people with them. In the castle, the servants, outside, the other death dealers. And every moment with her, his desire to touch her again grew. She was cold and distant. His foolish idea of her affection towards him faded very quickly, she gave no sign of even remembering that morning at all. And when Victor returned, Lucian was glad he could go back to his smithy. Victor was grateful for his protection and life went on as it had before he had left.
One night, Lucian was working when he heard a noise outside. He laid down his tools and went out. He looked around and saw the same shadow he had seen before in the very same spot. He walked up to her, whilst checking for witnesses. "My lady." He said, somewhat confused.
"Lucian." He was startled, she did know him. She looked up from beneath her cloak. Her eyes gleamed in the moonlight. "I—could not sleep. Without you guarding me—"
Lucian could not believe what he heard. His mouth fell open, she was here to ask him to be with her some more. She was not indifferent at all. But he had stayed silent for too long and she was impatient and unsure. "Never mind, I should not have come." She tried to walk past him, but he regained consciousness. "Wait!" He grabbed her waist and stopped her, but in the process accidentally pulled her very close to him. They were facing each other, only inches apart. Lucian could not stop himself and leaned in, her lips opened, ready to receive his when they heard footsteps. Lucian quickly lifted her and pulled them both into his workplace. He listened carefully at the door. She, however was occupied by the fact that he had her pushed up against the door. But she did not dare move, out of fear to be found out, and because she liked the feeling of his body pressed up against hers. She held her breath as best she could. The guards walked by the door and the sound of their footsteps died in the distance. Lucian sighed and only then realised the position he had put Sonja in. She lifted her head and now their faces were so close, their lips almost touched. Lucian looked at her expecting anger or contempt but found her face blushed and stretching towards him, breathing heavily into his mouth. His hunger for her almost took over and he let out a low growl, then jumped back and turned away from her. She gasped. He took a moment to regain himself then turned to her. He was about to defend himself when he saw her face. She looked hurt, and a single tear rolled down her face. He felt like someone had punched him in the gut, he tried to find the words, but they were too late and Sonja had run out of his reach. He could not believe what he had seen, Sonja blushing… because of him. He thought he had been mistaken when he interpreted this as lust. But how she had looked at him before she left… it could not be. She looked rejected, hurt. But he did not mean to reject her! He could not just kiss the princess. And he feared, if he kissed her, it would not end there. He had wanted and admired her for a long time. His lust would not be easily satisfied.
Over the next few days, he contemplated what he should do. He wanted her, that was clear. But he was a slave, she the daughter of the lord of the coven. He was a Lycan and she a vampire. It could never happen. And even if he did kiss her, there was still the possibility that she did not feel as he did. What if he was wrong, what if what he saw was not as he thought.
He spent his waking hours convincing himself it was wrong and it would endanger them both or she would not feel the same and he would be punished for nothing. Not nothing though, he thought, the chance of holding her again. And so his sleeping hours were spent relighting the fire he had spent all day trying to extinguish. He dreamt of Sonja, of holding her, of her face blushing. Whenever he arrived at this thought, his mind was overtaken by the few moments he had had her close. And his heart ached, for he longed to hold her again. His arms had not seemed whole ever since that night.