A heart of the vampire

Chapter 15

Lucian moved swiftly beside her, his hand brushing hers as they navigated the moonlit path. His senses were heightened, constantly alert for any signs of danger. Every sound, every movement in the night, drew his attention, but his focus remained on her—protecting her. Serena's breath came in soft, steady rhythms, but inside, her heart was pounding. She kept glancing at him, wanting to ask so many questions, but the fear of breaking the fragile silence held her tongue.

They walked in silence for what felt like hours. The dense forest stretched out ahead of them, thick with trees that seemed to close in, like the night itself was wrapping them in its embrace. The sounds of nocturnal creatures were the only noise that broke through the quiet, and even that felt distant. It was just the two of them, navigating through the darkness.

"Where are we going?" Serena finally whispered, unable to take the quiet any longer.

Lucian paused, his gaze scanning the path ahead before turning to her. His face was a mask of calm, but his eyes told a different story—one of deep concern. "A few hours from here, where Vlad won't find us. In the mountains like I said before, love. Somewhere I can keep you safe."

"But for how long?" she pressed, her voice shaky.

Lucian's expression darkened, but he reached out, taking her hand in his. His touch was cold, yet it brought a strange sense of comfort. "I promised you I wouldn't fight him, Serena. But if he finds us... we'll deal with that when the time comes."

Serena bit her lip, fear gnawing at the edges of her resolve. "You don't have to protect me like this," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Lucian stopped walking, turning to face her fully. His grip on her hand tightened, but not in anger—more as though he was holding onto her as if she were the only thing anchoring him in place. "You should be afraid," he said quietly, his voice heavy with emotion. "Vlad isn't just another vampire. He's—"

"A monster," Serena finished for him. "I know. But so are you." The words hung in the air between them, not as an accusation, but as a simple truth.

For a moment, Lucian just stared at her, the intensity of his gaze making her heart race. Then, to her surprise, he smiled—a soft, sad smile. "Maybe," he murmured, "but I'm not a monster to you. Am I?"

Serena shook her head. "No," she whispered. "You're not."

They stood like that for a moment, the world around them fading into the background. There was something in the way he looked at her that made her feel like she was the only person in the world. It was overwhelming, intoxicating—and terrifying.

Lucian was the first to break the silence, his voice low. "We need to keep moving. It's not safe here."

She nodded, though she could feel the weight of the moment between them, something unresolved lingering in the air. As they continued down the path, Lucian's hand remained firmly around hers, a silent promise of protection.

The landscape shifted as they ventured deeper into the forest, the trees growing denser, the shadows longer. Serena's mind was racing, thoughts of Vlad and the danger they faced swirling in her head. But beneath the fear was something else—something she couldn't ignore.

They reached the edge of the forest, and as they stepped out from the shadows of the trees, a sleek, black car waited for them. Its engine was running, a quiet hum breaking the stillness of the night. The headlights cast long beams into the darkness, illuminating the narrow dirt road ahead. Serena blinked in surprise, her breath catching slightly as she saw the car.

"I didn't think—" she started, glancing at Lucian, her thoughts spinning.

"I made sure it would be here," Lucian interrupted, his voice calm but firm. "I had to prepare for our escape. We can't linger here."