chapter Eight

Maria's POV

I shouldn't have let him in.

The moment Caspian Noir crossed through the threshold of my shop, the atmosphere shifted, recognizing, that alone told me all I needed to know.

We sat in an uneasy circle, Lyra had insisted on it.

She stood between us earlier, her jaw tight and her eyes sharp, banning any violence with a firmness that startled me and even Richard.

Now she sat cross-legged on the low chair, her hands folded neatly in her lap, trying very hard not to look like a girl who had nearly died less than a day ago.

Richard leaned against the wall, arms crossed, silent as stone. He watched Caspian the way wolves watched storms, not fearful, but alert while Caspian lounged as if the room belonged to him.

“Relax.... ” he said mildly, glancing at Lyra. “... I get that the witch and the wolf don't trust me but aren't you a bit too trusting? What if I wanted to kill you?“

I rolled my eyes, Lyra didn't flinch.

“If you wanted me dead...“ she replied calmly, “you wouldn’t have helped me with my luggage. I would have barely made it past the airport”

That earned my full attention while Caspian’s gaze sharpened, not predatory, but rather intrigued. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

“Smart” he murmured.

I turned to Lyra. “You met him before today?”

She nodded. “At the airport and on the plane. He disappeared after we landed”.

I shot Caspian a look, “You followed her?“

“No....” he corrected. “….I noticed her, there's a big difference”

There was indeed a difference and I hated that I understood it.

Richard shifted slightly but said nothing.

Lyra exhaled, then looked at me directly.

“Maria… what is this? Why did you react like that when you saw him?”

The question hung between us as I hesitated then sighed.

“We’ve…. met before....” I said.

Lyra’s brow furrowed. “How long ago?”

“A century” Caspian answered smoothly.

Her head snapped between us. “A... A... What?”

I didn’t bother softening it, “I’m actually two hundred and seventy years old”

Lyra stared.

Caspian inclined his head. “One hundred and seventy-five”

Her gaze slid to Richard and he shrugged. “Don't look at me, I'm not that old, I'm Thirty, but stopped aging at twenty”

She let out a quiet, humorless breath. “Right, of course, supernatural power play”

There it was.

Not fear or hysteria, Just exhaustion.

I continued before I lost my nerve.

“Caspian was among the vampires hunting witches during the.... purges”

His eyes darkened.

“I killed those who hunted me first....” he said flatly, “... Those who tried to use my kind as weapons or experiments”

“You slaughtered covens” I shot back immediately.

“And you sanctified blood rituals...” he returned calmly, “... Let’s not pretend either side was holy”

Lyra stood abruptly, “Stop!”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it cut and both of us fell silent.

Caspian studied her, something unreadable passing behind his eyes.

She looked confused now. “What happened?” she asked quietly. “What aren’t you saying?”

Caspian paused, just a fraction too long.

“There was a war....“ he said finally, “.....Witches turned to darker practices and... Vampires rebelled. Lines were crossed”

He stopped there, didn’t mention the names.

I saw it, the careful omission he had done. The truth folded neatly away.

“It wasn’t one-sided” I said.

Richard pushed off the wall then, “It never is”

We all turned to look at him.

“Witches sinned and Vampires retaliated. Wolves intervened when the land itself began to suffer....“ he said simply, “... No one was innocent”

Silence followed, and even Caspian had nothing to add...

Lyra inhaled slowly, before she straightened up.

“I’ve decided....” she said.

All eyes turned to her, “... I’m staying….” she continued quietly. “... Here. In Transylvania”

My heart sank.

Caspian’s lips curved, not triumphant. Possessive.

Richard watched her carefully.

“But-”

I tried saying, trying to think of how to convince her to leave and escape the danger before she was pulled in too deep into webs of a war she wasn't involved in.

“No... I've made up my mind, all my life I've wanted answers, and now that I am close to finally finding out something, I'm not going anywhere, my mom, I have to save her, wherever she is”

I didn't know what to say to that, and I knew her mind her made up, I could see it in her eyes. I sighed....

“Fine, but then leave the hotel, it's too dangerous especially after what happened last night”.

She nodded and Caspian stood erect.

“I could offer you my protection, as long as you're in Transylvania, I promise nothing will happen to you”

I stood up and shook my head immediately..

“No, I don't trust you”

“Put your grudges aside witch”

“That's enough!“ Lyra said before I could respond.

She turned to look at Caspian, “You don't look like you're a charity doer, what's in it for you”

“That's why I like you, you're very smart”..

I rolled my eyes,

“Of course, just one thing, I simply need your powers”