The silence that follows seems to drag out for minutes, despite knowing it’s mere seconds.
Callum’s hand reaches back to brush against mine, deliberate and fleeting as he turns to stare down at me. His grin, when it comes, is edged with a reluctant acceptance. “Well, family duty calls…as you understand.”
I nod, unsure of what to say back, only knowing a heavy weight drops in my stomach as I watch him walk toward the vehicle.
Elias lingers in front of me as the window begins to roll up. Once it’s sealed, he glances back over his shoulder, his eyes catching mine.
“I was wrong about you,” he says simply, the words low but firm. “Good luck chasing your dreams, Briar.”
Then he’s gone, folding into the dark interior of the car. The door shuts with a solid thud, and the vehicle pulls away, taillights bleeding red into the night until they disappear altogether.
I stand frozen on the sidewalk, the echo of their words tangled in the hollow ache their absence leaves behind.
For weeks I’ve clung to this chance to chase something of my own. Yet watching them vanish into that car, duty shackling them to a future they don’t want, twists a sharp ache through my chest.
Why do I suddenly feel guilty for chasing freedom when I just watched theirs being ripped away?
CHAPTER 6
BRIAR
The first hotel I walked into had gleaming marble floors and chandeliers dripping from the ceiling, the kind of place that smelled faintly of roses and polished brass. It reminded me of the meticulous care of our castle, but the price at the desk nearly made me choke. So did the second one. And the third.
If not for Aunt Bex, I wouldn’t have had any human currency at all. She always humored my fascination with the world outside Sanguis, slipping coins and bills into my palm after her trips, urging me to squirrel them away. “Build a stash, Briar,”she’d whisper conspiratorially. “When you’re old enough, we’ll spend it all on a spree, just you and me.”
That spree never came. Not because Bex didn’t want to, she always kept her promises, but because my mother drew a line and held it fast.
Now, standing at the counter of a cheaper hotel that smells faintly of a citrus scent barely masking a sour stench, I accept the flimsy key card with a tight smile. My chest squeezes with the quiet realization that this is my life now. No castles. No gleaming chandeliers. If I want to make this work, I’ll have to shelvewhatever taste for luxury was drilled into me and learn to live on less.
The elevator lurches as it begins its climb, metal groaning like even it disapproves of my choice. My reflection stares back at me from the smudged chrome wall, my usual sleek waves of hair now a poofy mess from this realm’s humidity. My undereyes are smeared with some smudged mascara, giving me an exhausted appearance. For the first time, I don’t look like an immaculate Van Helsing princess, just a woman trying to figure life out.
My stomach growls low, a reminder I can’t ignore. I press a hand against it, trying to soothe the ache. There are still some blood bags tucked in my satchel that I need to refrigerate soon, but once those are gone…My throat tightens as the question curls through me.
I should’ve asked Ms. Tomlinson what accommodations the school could provide for my diet, if any. The thought of walking into her office tomorrow and asking where to get my next meal makes my skin crawl. I hate feeling so dependent upon others. Not to mention I have yet to tell her what kind of magical being I am.
I can already imagine her look of horror and disgust when I ask if they can supply me with blood bags. A small, tired laugh works its way up my throat. Maybe it’ll make them less excited to use me as their poster child for the program.
The elevator dings, signaling I’ve arrived at the third floor. I quickly navigate the long halls to my room at the end. The room itself smells faintly of the same lemon scent in the lobby, but I’m just not convinced it’s truly cleaned away the grime of all who have stayed in this room before me. I close the door and lean back against it, my satchel still slung over my shoulder. For the first time since stepping foot in this city, I let myself breathe.
While I might not have achieved everything I set out to do, yet, the future looks promising. For now, I at least have a place to lay low until I can get on campus.
I walk into the small room, taking in the queen-sized bed with a particularly awful floral bedspread that would make my mom shriek. There’s a small desk shoved against one wall and a TV atop it. To my left, a bathroom door is cracked open to reveal a tiled shower and laminate counter top that has what looks like makeup stains rubbed into it.
My body shivers when the feeling of ick comes over me, but I quickly take in a deep breath and hold it. I count backwards from ten and then blow it out, focusing back on manifesting my dreams. I’ll be moving into a dorm tomorrow. A real place to call my own with other students bustling in the halls. Safety in numbers, safety in being ordinary. But for now…this will do.
I drop my satchel onto the desk, the leather landing with a soft thud, and glance toward the doors on the furthest wall. I pad over to it, pushing the musty-scented curtains to the side to reveal a small balcony that overlooks a courtyard. Easing the tight lock open, I step outside and let the light breeze lift my hair and wrap around me.
“I did it,” I whisper to the night sky. “I actually left Sanguis.”
The thought prickles, sharp at the edges, but I shove it down. Tonight isn’t about how my family is likely reacting right now–it’s about me finally carving out a path of my own.
After locking the door again, I make quick work of getting ready for bed, heading to the shower first. I tip my head back, eyes closing as the water beats against my face. For a few precious minutes, there’s nothing but this. The white noise of the shower spray, the warmth seeping into my skin, and a fresh start.
I breathe deeper, letting the heat soak into my bones, and a thought slips past before I can stop it:I hope they forgive me.
I picture Mom’s eyes watering when she realizes I’m gone and the way Papa, Father, and Dad will immediately jump into action in a frenzied state of panic.
I want them to understand. I want them to see me standing on my own two feet, chasing my dreams when I graduate. I want to see the pride shining in their eyes for taking the hard path just like they did, because it’s what they knew needed to be done.
