Page 35 of A Touch of Darkness (Chronicles of the Cursed #1)

I’m just finishing the last bite of lunch when a sharp knock sounds at the door, loud enough to pull me from my thoughts. The meal was quiet, almost too quiet, and Lucian’s presence beside me feels heavier than usual, like he knows something I don’t. His gaze is steady on me, but there’s a distance in it, as if he’s waiting for something to happen—or for me to say something. If I didn’t know him better, I’d think he’s worried about taking my virginity. But a man of his stature, of his age…there’s no way.

The knock comes again, and Lucian stirs and places his napkin on the table, ready to rise, but before he can, the door swings open and a soft voice from outside calls, “I’ll get it, My Lord.”

The staff member, a quiet woman who’s apparently worked here for years, steps into the hallway, and the door shuts softly behind her. I still can’t get over people calling him “Lord.” The first time I heard it I laughed, thinking it was a joke.

It was very much not a joke.

Lucian’s eyes linger on me for a second longer, then he pushes his chair back, his movements graceful and controlled. He says nothing but stands, his dark clothes blending into the shadows of the room.

“Dorian and your friends are here,” he says, and for a moment I wonder how he knows, but then I realize he’s always a step ahead.

Seconds later, the dining room door opens again, this time revealing the expected—Dorian and the girls, all arriving in quick succession, though not together. Dorian enters first, looking concerned, his eyes scanning the room before they settle on Lucian, who stands at his entry.

“I need to speak to you,” Dorian says, his voice sharp, carrying an edge of urgency. “It’s about a potential issue at Midnight Delight.”

Lucian’s posture stiffens slightly, a rare crack in his usual calm. He gives Dorian a sharp nod but then looks at me, his expression softening just enough for me to catch it. I can feel him trying to gauge my mood, but I can’t focus on it right now.

He steps closer to me, and I stand. “Will you be alright, Sylvie?” Lucian asks, his voice a whisper, laced with concern.

“I’ll be fine,” I say quickly, my voice steadier than I feel. “Go.”

He hesitates for just a heartbeat leaning down and cupping the back of my head. His lips brush against the top of my head in a tender kiss. The soft press of his lips sends warmth flooding through me, and I almost don’t want to let him go.

But he pulls back, and his gaze lingers for a moment longer before he says, “I’ll be in the study if you need me.” He turns to Dorian, nods, and they leave together, the tension between them congealing as they move out of sight.

I take a deep breath, the sudden quiet feeling too sharp in the wake of his departure.

Rebecca and Nicole have already been ushered into the front sitting room, and I go to meet them, noticing the delicate floral arrangement in Rebecca’s hands. It’s a contrast to the heaviness that fills the house. I smile at her and take the bouquet as I thank her. After sitting down next to Rebecca, I realize how much I’ve missed them. I’ve been in contact with the girls since Lucian and I got out of the chamber, but I haven’t been able to actually see them. They insisted on coming to me today, so I couldn’t give them another excuse as to why it isn’t safe for me to be out and about.

We sit, the silence hanging between us until Rebecca speaks, her voice soft and comforting.

“So…how are you holding up?” she asks, her expression concerned. “We want to check in. Make sure you’re…”

“Okay,” Nicole finishes, leaning forward in her seat. “We want to make sure you’re okay,” she fully reiterates. Her eyes meet mine, full of empathy but also something else, a deeper understanding. She knows I’m not really fine.

“I’m... not great,” I admit, my voice trembling. “But I’m getting there. I’ll get there.”

Rebecca takes a deep breath, a subtle glance exchanged between the girls. “We weren’t sure if you heard,” she starts slowly, “about Isabel.”

The name hits me like a punch. A fresh wave of dread surges in my chest, and I force myself to focus. “Isabel?” I echo, my voice barely above a whisper. “No. It’s like I’ve been under a rock since the escape. What about her, did they send her to you guys?”

“She’s dead,” Rebecca says, and I instinctively cover my mouth with my hand.

A chill runs down my spine, my hands tightening on the delicate flowers I’m still holding. “Oh my God,” I say. “I forgot all about this, but when I was down in that chamber, Amara alluded to the fact that she knew Isabel gave me information…she must have…” I can’t even finish my thought. Something pulls at my heart. I obviously never cared for Isabel, for the way she barged into my life and tried to lie me into coming to their cult. Still, I think she wanted to do the right thing. She would’ve left Solstice if she could. I could almost feel a silent plea from her that day in the cafeteria. She wanted out.

Rebecca and Nicole exchange a glance, both of them looking at me with more concern than they’ve ever shown.

“We weren’t sure how you’d take the news. But if we didn’t know before, we clearly now know that they really mean business,” Nicole says. A hush falls over our small group but then Nicole adds, “They found her hanging in the courtyard. They’ve ruled it a suicide, but I think we all know Solstice was behind it.”

What a tragic way for her to die. My heart pangs in my chest, and I shake my head in disbelief. I’m not sure why, though. I know Solstice is capable of that—and so much more.

“Do you and Lucian have any plans on how to move forward? It’s not like you can just stay holed up here forever,” Rebecca says, her tone light but laced with the worry she’s trying to mask.

I hesitate. There’s so much I can’t tell them—so much they don’t know about the plan Lucian and I have, about the part of myself I’ve only just begun to understand. About the bond between us.

“We’re going to get Lara back,” I say, keeping it simple. I can’t say too much. “Lucian and I... we do have a plan. I don’t know what will happen after that, but we’ll get her back. I’m sure of it.” The words help springboard my confidence, even if I don’t always feel so sure.

The weight of my words hangs in the air, and for a moment, all is quiet. The girls stare at me, their expressions unreadable.

“You seem different,” Rebecca says, her voice low but full of something. “More confident. More... sure of yourself.”

“I feel different,” I admit, my voice catching. “I feel like I know what I have to do now. And it’s... it’s all connected.”

Nicole tilts her head, studying me. “So, when do you plan on coming back to school?” she asks, her voice careful, as if she’s already expecting the answer. “I just wish everything could go back to normal…whatever that is.”

“I’m not sure,” I reply, the uncertainty clear in my voice. “Maybe after everything is over. But even then... I don’t know if I’ll ever be safe. If Lara will be safe. The Society will still want something from us. They’ll just have to find a new way to get it.”

There’s an unspoken agreement between us that the world outside is dangerous, and we’re all trapped in it, whether we like it or not.

“I’m glad you’re taking control of this,” Rebecca says with a small smile. “I knew you would, but hearing you say it... makes it feel real. Like we have a shot.”

I nod slowly, but my heart races, the weight of everything still pressing on me. I glance toward the hallway, where I know Lucian is somewhere with Dorian, the urgency in their voices still echoing in my mind. I hope everything is okay. I hope Lucian isn’t being dragged into something else he shouldn’t have to deal with. My problems are more than enough.

From the very beginning, Lucian has always wanted to help, even when I wanted nothing to do with him. I’m sure now, that it was the old version of me somehow coming to light. Seraphina. Her feelings toward Lucian. That’s why I felt so cold to him in the beginning. But as I’ve gotten to know him, as I’ve realized how beautiful and kind he is—despite supposedly being some deadly creature that I thought I knew from books, but clearly didn’t understand—I’ve just grown to appreciate him in an entirely different way.

He's not a regular vampire. Although, I suppose they could all be like him.

Broken and beautiful.

Damned.

But he’s just so different than what I thought of his kind.

Maybe that comes with his age, or maybe that’s just his humanity showing.

Either way, I can see why Seraphina loved him so recklessly, and why she was so devastated when he betrayed her, and part of me—somewhere deep down—feels for the woman I once was. But another part can understand and accept why he did it, too.

Because even now, all he wants to do is protect, to fix, to make things right, and I truly do believe that he wanted to protect Seraphina in that life as well. Just like he’s trying to do for me now.

The girls and I end up talking for hours as they catch me up on all the happenings around school, the guy Nicole is seeing, and how Rebecca has a crush on her “hot professor.”

Seems we both have a thing for hot professors…

By the time they leave, the sun is once again sinking on the horizon. Dorian and Lucian are still holed up in the den, and I’m beginning to worry—but if I know anything about Lucian, I know he has a handle on whatever it is.

I have nothing but time to ponder as Lucian hangs out with Dorian. I can’t help but think about where to go from here. I know the next step: losing my virginity to the man I’ve been trying to resist falling for. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t holding back due to my nervousness. I feel like it’s time, though. Before anyone else goes missing or ends up suspended somewhere in time like Lara.

Maybe by taking a stand but doing what’s right…maybe they’ll see that they can’t control everyone and everything.

Or maybe it will all burn to ashes at my feet.