Ancient Darkness (On HOLD)

Chapter Fourteen - Heartfelt Confusion

Sang slipped out of the shower and stood before the fogged bathroom window, trying to peer through and see her reflection. The clothes that Lucian had supplied were a long sleeved orange shirt and a pair of thick black pants, making her blink as she didn't think that creatures of the night would consent to wearing such a bright colour.

She wasn't entirely sure what the time was or if Owen and the others had returned to the house but she was hoping that they would make the decision to leave her alone for the rest of the night.

Owen and Lucian had made some noise about not believing vampire stories but Sang had the feeling that they would be sleeping throughout the day, presenting her with another perfect opportunity to either escape or traverse the house and make some sort of sense of the current situation.

Dropping the towel over the rack once more, she tucked the shirt in tighter and pulled open the door into the bedroom that she had assumed was to be hers while she remained a 'guest'. It was a large space with a poster bed and coral décor but the fact that it was a gilded cage drew away from the beauty of it. She wished that it was her own bedroom, or even the one that she had hired out in the town that was somewhere nearby.

The was a noise from somewhere further in the house and she moved towards the other side of the bed, trying to convince herself that it would provide some sort of protection should one or more of them decided that she hadn't endured enough for this one night.

... ...

Owen led the way through the front door after carefully scanning the house to ensure that everything was as it should be. Sang was so deeply immersed in her thoughts that he left her the semblance of privacy by turning his attention to that of his brother Lucian.

He had expected the younger warrior to be waiting at the door, itching to discuss the possible threat and a suitable plan of action, but it was with surprise that Owen trailed through the bottom floor rooms to the kitchen.

To any of their kind it seemed to be a ridiculous thing to want within their home since they were able to survive on a diet purely of blood but the architects who had designed and built their home before their arrival had taken it upon themselves to ensure the area was added.

With a human amongst them, it would appear that the forgotten room would finally prove its worth.

Lucian stood before the large window over the sink and stared with what Owen felt was forced attentiveness. His back was stiffened and his mind completely closed to those who would try to speak to him.

Although they had the ability to share thoughts, it was not their way to trespass against those that they lived and fought beside. If Luke wanted to keep his own council then Owen would allow it unless it became a bigger issue.

"How is the human?" He tried to keep his tone light and impersonal as he clenched his hands against forcing his way into her current room.

Lucian glanced over his shoulder for a short moment before his gaze drifted once more to the outside landscapes. "She is well - scared and planning ways of escape but unharmed physically. She is much stronger than what I had expected and I can understand your wariness but I do not believe that she will manifest as a threat to us."

Owen cocked his head to the side and re-evaluated his brother's mood; as with them all, it was normal for Lucian to be unable to connect with deep emotion but this seemed to be a voluntary withdrawal. Something that sparked interest within Owen as he guessed that something of interest must have occurred with Sang.

"Why do you think so? The only way to know for sure would to do as North suggest and delve into the deepest recesses of her mind," Owen paused, his canines beginning to extend, "and you would have done no such thing, yes?"

Lucian heard the threat and turned to face the man who had adopted him as brother and family many centuries past, "Of course not. You ordered me to protect her while you tracked and I did nothing but sit with her and offer her clothing."

His emotions cooling, Owen sent out a silent apology and inclined his head in thanks, "I would not expect it of you. Do you believe it madness that I have bought her among us?" He had always been one to value the opinion of those who had fought beside him.

Luke's eyes darkened to the point where the brown was swallowed by impenetrable black, "As I have said, I do not predict that she will become our enemy but there is something other about her and I find myself questioning the future should she reside with us for any length of time."

"Why do you think this?"

The blonde warrior looked perturbed, something which Owen had never seen upon his face, "I found myself reacting strangely in her presence. I have never relished the thought of killing humans but I would never shy away if that is what it took to keep my family safe but with her," His head dropped forward, shaking, "the darkness that holds sway over me wanted the blood of any who conspired to injure her. I feel as though I would rather take my own hand than strike against her with violence. How is this possible?"

Owen shared in the pain that his brother projected, "I do not know but this madness has gripped me also. I left the sanctity of our home and left you all without explanation to collect her simply because a human male dared to place hands upon her, hands that she did not welcome." He scoffed, "I cannot delude myself into thinking that I would not have reacted the same even should his touch have been desired. I have felt more during my short time with her then I have since the darkness took me millennia ago."

"Perhaps she is a threat after all," Lucian whispered.

"Yes," Owen murmured, clapping his brother on the shoulder, "but we still have to determine what sort. If she bewitches us, we will source away to fling off her influence."

"What shall we do for now? Soon the sun will rise and we will be forced to sleep. I have picked up on her wish to use that advantage." Lucian snapped mental teeth at the thought of her running once more without protection. Wolves were not the only thing in the woods if Owen's discovery proved to be more than just a wandering passerby.

"She will join us in sleep above the ground," Owen assured, already turning away to find her.

"And tomorrow?"

"We will show her what we truly are and I will allow North to flex his strength."

"My brother cannot be permitted to harm her," Lucian growled, his vision threatening to haze at the possible danger to the girl. North had fallen the furthest of any of them and would not even allow Sang time to defend herself should she be thought of as a risk to them all.

"No one shall harm her unless she proves to work against us, and maybe, not even then."