Dracula's Daughter

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Lucius was not one to lose his prey, and he didn't.

After following Nicholas's sweet stench through the crumbling hallways, Jessica following behind, Lucius tracked him into the chapel when his senses were overridden by burning incense.

Lucius growled as the smell burned at his nostrils, forcing him to breathe through his mouth.

"Nicholas?" Jessica panted, breathing heavy, "Nicholas, we only want to talk to you."

Lucius shot her a look.

Jessica tried to calm her flittering heart, "Nicholas, please,"

Everything became silent, the air filled with only their ragged breathing, as Lucius stalked the pews.

Jessica treaded softly down the aisle, her eyes scanning the pillars that ran down each side of the chapel, before her eyes turned to the altar.

A simple desk had been assembled with a large cross set on the top, candles and incense burning on the window ledges.

Jessica found herself looking up, thankful that the room had a ceiling, when she heard a small scuffle behind the altar.

"Nicholas?" Jessica caught Lucius's attention and he walked towards her.

A scared voice replied but he remained hidden, "They- They told me you would come for me."

"They?" Jessica asked, "Nicholas?"

"Come on out," Lucius's voice sounded softer than the mood he was in.

Nicholas said nothing.

"There is nowhere to run and we're not going to hurt you," Lucius lied, "We just want to ask you a few questions."

Jessica bit her lower lip when silence fell upon them, when, after a moment, Nicholas crawled out from beneath the desk and got to his feet.

Turning to look at them, his eyes were shining with fear as he ran a trembling hand through his curly hair.

"Hi," Jessica smiled, reassuring him that he was okay.

Nicholas looked between them frantically, expecting them to attack.

Lucius took a step forward, his nose lifted in the air as he took a few hesitant sniffs.

Nicholas jolted backwards but Lucius simply turned towards him in sharp confusion.

"What?" Nicholas swallowed, trying to appear strong.

"Lucius?" Jessica stepped forward.

"Something's wrong," Lucius shook his head, as if he was unable to put his finger on it.

Jessica looked behind her at the window, dusk was falling. They did not have a lot of time before the others arrived. Valentina had the dagger, the only thing able to kill a hybrid.

"He smells of werewolf and vampire," Lucius stepped back, not wanting to linger too close, "But there's something else."

Jessica frowned, "What else could there be? He's a pure hybrid,"

Nicholas's eyes shot to hers in question, "Pure hybrid?"

Jessica frowned. Did he not know what he was?

"Are you-" Nicholas looked between the pair of them, uncertain of how to act when neither of them did nothing for a long time, "Are you going to kill me?"

Jessica and Lucius looked at one another.

"The- The woman said you would. She said you would kill me and that's why-"