Everything goes silent.
“A curse of vengeance,” the vampire lord whispers. “A curse wrought in blood…”
A curse.
A curse…
The dreams slip around me,shifting, changing. I’m no longer in the marshes but the smithy. Mother and I are lighting the fires. Dawn has just broken.
“Get inside, Floriane,” she urges.
“Mother?”
“Inside, now.”
The sound of the charcoal hitting the ground rings in my ears. It deafens the groaning coming from my father’s lips. Animal growling hissing between two fangs.
A blur of movement.
A flash of silver.
A scream.
My father crumples and his skin sinks into his bones.No. As the sunlight hits him, the body of the vampire that stole his face begins to steam and burn away. Its screams match my own.
“Wake up!”
I jolt awake. Ruvan looms over me, his golden eyes wide and frightened, almost comforting. Almost human. Until my attention drops to his slightly parted lips and I see his fangs.
I’m back in the dream and I violently shove him away. Ruvan tumbles back, head over heels. I stare at my hands, surprised by the force. Shaken by it. By the dream. My fingers tremble as if trying to release the energy and I grab my head as a flash of pain splits through it, vanishing as quickly as it came.
“Are you all right?” he asks, composing himself, as though he wasn’t just turned into a living tumbleweed. He runs a hand through his disheveled hair and tugs on a worn velvet dressing robe, loose trousers and shirt underneath. It almost looks as if he just bolted out of bed.
“What do you care?” I glare at him.
“You are my bloodsworn, it is my duty to care,” he tries to say, having the audacity to look concerned.
“I don’t want your lies.”
“I can’t lie to you.” Ruvan shakes his head, silvery hair in the lowlight falling into his face. “Was it a nightmare?”
“I’m fine.” I look away from him.
He snorts. “You don’t look fine.”
“I said I’m fine!” I snap, clenching my hands into fists to stop them from shaking. The last person I will let console me is him.
“Very well.” Ruvan’s upright once more, looming over me. I don’t look up at him. It’s his fault my father is dead. It’s his fault… “I’ll let you suffer in silence, then.”
I stay on the settee long after he leaves, thoughts of my father leaving aftershocks in their wake. “Get yourself together, Floriane.” I grip my head and try to force myself to stop shaking. It takes a while, but I manage.
Shaking my head, I reorient myself and head to the washroom, settle my morning ablutions, and check the status of my armor. Only a few straps need to be tightened. I pull on the straps as far as they will go, leaving no room for any fears or trembling.
Inspecting the clasps gives my mind something to do. There’s a few that got dented in my initial scuffle with the vampire lord. If I can find a chance to fix them before I see any combat, it’d be a good idea.
Finally emerging into the main hall, I immediately pick out Callos’s soft voice.
“I think I have it entirely covered.”
