Princess Of Darkness (Editing)

Blood Magic (Edited)

My day was spent with Nidia and Eve, alternating between the library, bedrooms, bathing rooms and numerous other places around Lucian's castle. We practiced magic, or talked and laughed, taking breaks every so often when we grew tired, making our way through the twisting corridors and winding hallways to the dining hall when we were hungry.

Twilight had befallen on the Underworld, and most everyone had retired to their rooms, only a few left remaining to mingle in the great dining hall when I made my weary way back to the library.

When I lived with Brett on the Surface, I was used to being alone. Quite regularly, he would dissappear for days at a time, leaving me locked in our apartment with no idea when he would return. Those days were bliss, my only, rare moments of freedom, though I was constantly plagued with fear of his return, for, when he eventually did, he would beat me mercilessly.

Lucian had been absent all day, besides that morning, the last time I'd seen him, and I was trying my hardest to convince myself that I wasn't disapointed at not having seen him at some point that day, though, I was hardly fooling myself.

Often, it seemed, when the night crept up and swallowed the warmth of daylight, the Underworld would grow cold. Tonight, though, the warmth lingered, somewhat, but I still craved the comfort of fire, trying to tell myself that it wasn't because the smell of the woodsmoke reminded me of him.

Kneeling by the hearth, I guided a small tendril of energy toward the carefully stacked wood, and, slowly, but surely, the embers burned to life, sparks flickering and leaping up into burning flames. Then, I wandered to the closest shelf, pulling out a book at random, and went back to the hearth, curling up in front of it, opening the pages.

I didn't read the words. Instead, I stared blankly into the flames of the fire, my eyes feeling weighted with fatigue, letting my thoughts chase one another around my head, until a soft knock came from the door, bringing my wandering mind back into reality.

"Yes?" I called, letting the pages of the book fall closed as I climbed to my feet, smiling brightly as Lucian stepped tentatively through the door. He pushed it closed behind him, the sound reverberating around the library, bouncing back to us from the walls like a thousand tiny echoes. Lucian pressed his back to the deep mahogany, his palms laying flat against the wood.

"Hello," I said to him, my voice bright, the happiness singing in my soul evident in my greeting.

He looked as exhausted as I felt, his impossibly broad shoulders slumped, glowing eyes heavy, yet foreboding still. Something was troubling him, a weight settled on his mind, causing the scowl that twisted his beautiful face into something angry and malicious.

"Lucian," I said softly, concerned. "What's wrong?"

Then, his eyes met mine across the dimly lit room, and his expression relaxed, a lazy smile taking the place of the sinister grimace from just moments before.

He closed the short distance, striding purposfully across the dark floor and I slipped into his embrace, eager for his touch as he nuzzled my hair in affection.

I looked up at him, searching his face, but he only smiled slightly, all traces of his aggravation having vanished.

"Nothing is wrong," he assured me, his voice as soft and warm as his lips were when he brought his mouth down over mine, letting me savour his sweet taste.

He tilted my face up toward his, curling his fingers beneath my chin, studying me. He brushed back a stray stand of hair that had fallen across my face, cupping my cheek in his large hand. I covered it with my own, letting my eyes shut for a moment, finally understanding bliss.