Bound by the Blood moon

Chapter 3

Charlotte ascended to her chambers, where Lilias awaited her with dutiful patience. Weariness clung to her, and she was acutely aware of her dishevelled appearance. Yet, she needed to divert her thoughts from the harrowing events that had transpired. Leo had possessed ample opportunity to end her life; it would have been a fitting retribution against Aldrich. Why, then, had he refrained? This question gnawed at her.

Charlotte pressed her hand against her throbbing side, wincing as the pain lanced through her. Her wounds, though healing, still caused her considerable discomfort. She knew she must soon seek sustenance to hasten her recovery, for her strength was waning.

"My lady, are ye alright? Here, let me assist ye," Lilias said, offering her arm for support. Charlotte gratefully accepted, leaning on the young werewolf for stability.

"I am quite alright, thank you. I merely require some rest. You werewolves possess greater strength than I had anticipated. You must think me rather naive," she remarked, as she gracefully lowered herself onto the red velvet chaise lounge.

"Well, it depends," Lilias said, letting her guard down a little. Against me, well, Ah wouldn't stand a chance. It depends on what kind of lycanthrope ye fight." She glanced around, listening intently to ensure they weren't being overheard. "Who was it, if ye don't mind me asking?"

"Leonardo," Charlotte uttered, wincing slightly as she endeavoured to find a more comfortable position.

Lilias's eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth. "Yet ye're still alive!"

Charlotte raised an eyebrow, prompting Lilias to hastily amend her words.

"That wasn't what..." Sorry," she lowered her voice. "Charlotte, he's just... He's a really strong lycanthrope, and I'm sure ye're a great fighter."

Charlotte raised her hands to halt Lilias, sparing her further embarrassment. "It is quite alright," she chuckled softly. "I understand precisely what you mean. I, too, thought he would kill me." She paused, the memory lingering, and then, eager to change the subject, she added, "Tell me about yourself, please."

"What do ye want to know?" Lilias felt a sudden nervousness, unsure of how much to reveal.

"I'm Scottish, as ye know." She looked away, and Charlotte gestured for her to sit. "We were living free. We were forced from our home as the Five Fangs wanted more land, more power, and thus declared war on us lycanthrope. It took us all by surprise, as we'd lived together peacefully for over a century. My town was attacked, homes burnt to the ground. Armies of vampires killing families, capturing some who were fit for subservience." She wiped a tear away and continued, telling Charlotte she did not know where her mother, father, and sister were now.

Charlotte felt guilty. Her father, one of the Five Fangs, had always taught her that it was their birth right to dominate and rule over the werewolves, whom he deemed savages. Yet, seeing Lilias's sorrowful expression filled her with disgust. Her father, once a respected physician, would now, if alive, be relegated to a menial position of servitude.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and Lilias quickly resumed her role as a maid, departing abruptly.

Charlotte beckoned Emeric over, who handed her a cup of blood. "It is O positive, your favourite."

"No, thank you," she replied, and he sighed, setting it down.

"It will aid in your healing," he insisted, picking it up again and thrusting it towards her. She offered him the forced smile he sought and drank the blood.

"You fought well today," he remarked.

She scoffed at his attempt to console her. "Hardly. I lost."

"Charlotte, you must understand that you never stood a chance. It took four men to drag the beast back to its cage. Your father should never have..." He hesitated, unwilling to criticise Aldrich directly. "Well, the odds were never in your favour."