Page 37 of Elegy of Twilight
“Food, wine, paints, perhaps?”
“Yes, why?”
“My brother is an artist, and he’s aware of my weakness for blood.”
“The letters demanded me, specifically, not by name but by my runes. I thought. . .”
“You thought I might be duplicitous.”
“I wasn’t sure what to believe.”
An incredulous look swept over his face, and he ran his fingers through his wet hair. “Yet you still came for me. You are a miracle, my moon, my heart, and now I understand. I know what I must do.”
18
LUCIA
The waters glimmered with the silver light from my runes until we exited the pool, taking turns drying each other and dressing in the fresh robes Edith had left for us. Titus’ stomach growled, and he winced as we went to the door. I unbarred it, and we slipped out, aware there wasn’t a way to lock it behind us. I glanced at Titus as we moved into the shadows of the abbey. What had once felt like home seemed a place where I might be condemned should I be caught.
Fortunately, the lateness of the hour and the knowledge of what might be happening outside had drawn the sisters to hide behind closed doors, praying for the long night to end, hoping that no one else would fall prey to the claws of the vampires.
The kitchen was mildly chaotic now that Faith was gone, and the sisters who kept it had done their best. Still, it was easy to filch a flask of water, a wedge of cheese and bread, and a hunk of salted meat. I was about to suggest we go to my room, but Titus fell upon the food, ravenous. It occurred to me that I hadn’t seen him eat before. Sitting in the kitchen with wet hair falling over his forehead, both elbows on the table as he chewed, he looked like nothing more than a man wrongly accused.
My heart squeezed, and a softness gathered around me, making my eyes tear up. I buried my nose in a cup of tea, unsure about my response to him and what it meant. Looking into the future was frightening because I couldn’t imagine a road that would take me far from here, nor did I want to become one of the villagers. Although the idea of a cottage and a garden overlooking the bluff, maybe a farm animal or two, did not sound terrible. Yet existing just to love him was woefully bereft of purpose, and that was what I desired as a priestess. A purpose.
Unlike Edith, I didn’t believe I could live in the abbey and hide behind my so-called vows and still serve as an example for the people. Where,then, did it leave me?
“Are you weary?”
Titus’s voice cut through my thoughts, and a wave of exhaustion came over me. “I am. Shall we retire?”
“Together? Won’t the High Priestess damn us?”
“Don’t use such words in the abbey,” I scolded. “I can’t risk letting you out of my sight.”
He stood. “Indeed. I am tempted to leave now under the cover of darkness and never return. But I made you a promise, and should your friend find success with the knights, this will soon be over.”
“How will you handle your brother?” I asked faintly.
“When I am free, he will be just as free. I suspect we will go our separate ways.”
I stared at the lines of his face, the set of his jaw, still mesmerized by how quickly he healed. Further proof that he wasn’t human. “What will you do?”
“Of that, I’m not sure. It depends.”
The quietness of the moment seeped through me, the question lingering on his lips. I strode to the door, and he followed in my footsteps as I led him upstairs to my room.
Our luck held. No one walked the halls, and we slipped inside unseen. I locked the door, and by thetime I turned around, Titus had already tossed off his shirt and slipped into bed.
He held the covers to his nose and let out a soft groan. “It smells like you, all earthy and delicious.”
He held out his arms to me, and I joined him, pushing away thoughts of conflict and fear as he tucked my head against his chest. Moments of silence stretched, and his body relaxed around me. His breathing grew deep and I knew the nightmare, his nightmare, was over.
19
TITUS
Ahalo of golden light shone through the window, and I opened my eyes to warmth. Lucia’s fingers were entangled in mine, her hair soft against my cheek, her breath feathering over my heart. Our bodies molded into each other, even in sleep. My thoughts lingered on the fact that she hadn’t rejected me despite seeing the darkness of my heart. What the knights had done to me in their anger, in their desire for revenge, had been wrong. Yet deep inside, as my body reeled from their blows and bones broke beneath the assault, I was aware that I deserved it all.
