chapter six

Caspian's POV

A violent surge rippled through the forest, sharp and unmistakable, cutting through the wind and trees.

Ancient magic, untamed, the kind that bent the air and called on things mortals would never dare imagine.

I was already moving before the echo finished forming.

The trees blurred as I crossed the distance, vamp speeding through the dense foliage. By the time I reached the clearing, the spells' after math was still lingering in the air, potent and powerful, salt scattered with sand, and a broken bowl of water mixed with blood.

I halted at the tree line, someone else was here.

A woman in a green cloak stood at the edge of the clearing, her presence woven tightly with forest magic.

Beside her, no... Before her, was a massive crouched low, it's body was still radiating violence. The creatures eyes were not feral, they were... Intelligent...

Werewolf....

The wolf shifted, bones cracking and flesh folding inward as the beast reshaped itself into a man, tall, broad and dark haired, lifting the unconscious girl into his arm with careful precision.

Lyra

Even unconscious she radiated power, wild, bright and dangerous. Her auburn hair glistening in the moonlight.

She was.... Mine.

The woman muttered something urgent, the man nodded once, then they were gone, vanishing into the forest like they were never there in the first place.

I waited.

Only when their presence was gone, did I step out of the shadow.

The clearing felt hollow without her.

I walked to the center where the spell had ruptured, my boots crushing broken twigs and damp soil. My gaze lingered on the blood pooled near the shattered bowl, witches blood, potent and alive even after being spilled.

“Remarkable” I mummured.

At my side, my subordinate emerged silently.

Lucien... A blood mage, old enough to know better, loyal enough to survive. His eyes glinted crimson as he knelt, pressing his palm to the earth, the blood responded instantly, lifting from the soil line smoke pulled backwards,.flowing like a thin living ribbon as he guided it to the ring on my finger.

The moment I felt it, power surged through me, heat, strength, a violent surge of powerful energy.

I lifted the ring to my nose and inhaled slowly, my black orbs turned crimson immediately.

The taste was unlike anything I had before, not just blood but.... Something ancient, divine, untouched.

“Her blood... “ lucien said quietly, awe in his voice, “... Could elevate you beyond the ancient” his words holding a deeper meaning.

I turned my head, just enough for him to see my expression clearly.

“No” I said calmly, with a tone of finality.

Lucien stiffened, “My lord—”

“You will not touch her... “ I said evenly, “.... You will not hunt her, and you will not think... Of claiming her power... “

My gaze locked onto his, “... Anything concerning the girl is mine to decide”

Lucien bowed his head immediately, “As you command my lord”.

The forest then shifted, I scented it, rotting hunger, madness in disguise.

*Ferals*

Seven of them.

“They have smelled it“ lucien mummured.

“Yes, they have... “ I replied, “... And more will follow.

The first feral lunged from the trees, lucien moved like a blade drawn from its sheath. Blood magic flared as he tore through the first three in seconds, bodies snapping before they could scream.

Two more rushed to my side.

I stepped forward and caught one by the throat and twisted.

The spine cracked with a dull crack as the body fell limply aside.

The last feral tried to flee, but I was faster, I appeared before him, eyes glowing red as I seized it's neck and crushed it between my fingers.

Silence reclaimed the clearing.

I turned around back to the clearing again looking at it, I lifted my hand and closed my eyes, not with force but will, lyra's scent was too potent and attractive, and letting her essence remain would only bring more danger, especially not now that I haven't yet claimed her for myself.

Her scent, her blood, the residue of her magic, I scattered it, fracturing the trail, dissolving it into a thousand meaningless echos.

No vampire would be able to trace her scent from here, I turned around and watched lucien ignite the bodies of the ferals into flame as a loud shriek echoed through out the forest, the flames consuming the flesh and bones until there was nothing left but ash.

“My lord... “ lucien began hesitating, “... What about the.... Girl?“

“Let her stay with her witch friend for now, when I'm ready to move you'll know”

“Should I gather the others?“

“Everything isn't violence lucien, that's not what I mean, just get the others to clean the place up and make it... Presentable... “

I smiled, “... We wouldn't want to scare our guest off when she arrives would we?“

“I'll pass the news” lucien said and I nodded in satisfaction.

“Good, the sooner the better”

I turned around, “And maybe some... Good would be nice, we can't possibly let her starve”

“But… we don't have a cook my lord, everyone just… drinks blood”

“Then find one, a good one, compel them so they don't remember anything, or freak out, then give them a new identity or something”

“As you wish my lord, it will be done”

I nodded feeling satisfied, soon enough that girl will belong to me and I'll able to use her powers to strengthen my faction.

“Come... ” I said turning around, “... We are done here”

The forest turned blurry as we began to vamp speed out of the clearing, the foliage going back in a flurry of flashes and passing scenery. I jumped through the woods and holes as we went up and then through the denser foliage filled with fog before reaching the castle deep inside the forest.

I stopped,turning back for a long second before smiling and walking back in through the castle, lucien following behind me.