Chapter 14

~Serah POV~

"My lady," I whispered, stepping into the chamber with the silver tray trembling in my hands. "I've brought the morning blood."

The smell hit me first like sweet, and the crimson goblet rippled as my heart skipped, and then I saw Lydia lying draped over Jethro, her hair spilling across his bare chest, lips pressed to his throat.

She was feeding on him slowly and ultimately. His hand was tangled in her hair, his breath uneven with fangs glistening. For a heartbeat, I couldn't move, I just stood there, frozen, and my heart clawing inside my ribs and suddenly Lydia's eyes fluttered open and landed on me.

"Oh," she purred, her lips stained with blood. "You're early, servant."

I nodded hard. "You asked me to bring the morning drink, my lady."

Jethro didn't even glance at me, he just pulled the sheets higher around them, his voice cold. "Leave it and go."

I lowered the tray to the table, keeping my eyes on the floor, the smell of their mingled blood made my head spin. I wanted to scream, to cry, but I couldn't. I'd learned what crying earned me. There is nothing.

Lydia sat up slowly, stretching like a satisfied cat. "Wait, not so fast," she said suddenly, her tone sugary. "Where is my gold chain?"

I blinked. "Pardon?"

"The chain I wore to the banquet last night is missing." She smiled, sharp and slow. "You were the one that cleaned the hall after everyone left, weren't you?"

My chest tightened. "Yes, but—"

"Boom! So convenient." Her gaze slid to Jethro. "My poor sister can't help herself anymore, and she's fallen so far, that she's stealing jewelry now?"

My lips parted. "That's not true! I never touched your things."

"Come on Serah, just say the truth. I know you wanted this lifestyle back, but stealing won't help you. It will only make things worse. I can't believe you can do this." Lydia sounds pitiful.

"I told you, I'm not the one that stole your chain."

Jethro's voice cut through me. "Enough!"

Lydia leaned against him, pouting. "You're defending her again? After all she's done?"

He sighed, rubbing his face, but his eyes didn't even reach mine. "If the chain's missing, it'll be found but until then, she'll stay confined."

"Confined?" I gasped. "Jethro, please..."

"Guards!" he called sharply, and two guards entered instantly, bowing low. Lydia smiled faintly, victory glowing in her eyes.

"Take her," Jethro ordered. "Lock her in the underground cell until she tells the truth."

I stumbled backward, my belly heavy and I nearly crashed to the floor. "Jethro, you can't continue treating me like this!"

His eyes finally met mine, colder than the chains waiting below. "You were warned not to provoke Lydia again, so you've brought this on yourself."

"Jethro please," I whispered, but he turned away.

The guards grabbed me by the arms and Lydia's voice followed as they dragged me out. "Careful," she sang. "She's pregnant, wouldn't want her to lose my husband's precious heir before she confesses."

I didn't fight nor scream, I just let them drag me through the corridors until the light disappeared, and the air grew damp and cold, the cell stank of rust and old blood as my wrists were chained to the wall, my legs trembling from the weight of my body and the child inside me. Every time I moved, the iron bit into my skin, so I stopped.

I closed my eyes. "I didn't take it," I whispered to no one. "I didn't, Lydia, you're a devil!"

Hours passed or maybe longer then I was hungry, thirst burned and my stomach ached. I thought of Tristan, somewhere out there in the dark, maybe planning something foolish again. "Don't come," I murmured. "Please don't come this time."

But I knew he would, as a soft shuffle made a sound and my eyes opened, straining against the dark, and a tiny light appeared, small, flickering.

"Lady Serah," I heard whisper, then the figure stepped closer, holding a torch, a young maid, no older than sixteen, pale with fear.

"Who are you?" I rasped.

"My name is Maribel," she whispered quickly. "I work in the palace, though you don't know me, because I was sold to the palace recently. Please, don't speak loudly because if they know I'm here, Lydia will have my throat slit."

"Why are you here?"

She hesitated, eyes darting toward the corridor. "Because, I know you didn't steal it."

I froze. "What?"

"The gold chain, it wasn't lost! Lady Lydia hid it herself in her wardrobe and I saw her with it this morning as she laughed about it with one of the guards. Said she wanted to 'teach you your place.'"

Anger flared in my chest, sharp and helpless. "Then why not tell your master, Jethro?"

Tears filled her eyes. "He wouldn't believe me. I'm just a maid, remember, I... I'm sorry."

I tugged at the chains, uselessly. "But Maribel, please, you just have to tell him, I need to get out of this place."

Before she could answer, a shadow moved behind her, and torch flame bent, then flared again and Tristan stepped into the light.

My heart stopped. "Tri-stan?"

He looked wild, eyes glowing red, hair damp from rain, fangs just visible behind clenched teeth. "What did they do to you this time?" His voice was a growl. "I should tear this palace apart!"

"Don't," I hissed. "You'll only make my situation right now worse."

"Worse?" He laughed bitterly. "They chained you like a dog, Serah, so it was already worse!"

Maribel turned pale. "Please, my lord, if they know you're here, Lydia will kill me."

Tristan's gaze snapped at her. "Are you helping her?"

"Yes," she stammered. "But you can't stay because of the guards."

Tristan crouched near me, his eyes scanning the bruises on my wrists. He touched the chains, and steam hissed where his fingers met the silver. He reacted but didn't stop.

"Tristan," I whispered. "Don't! Please."

His jaw clenched. "How can you still protect them? After everything? You still want to be punished under them?"

"I'm not protecting them," I said weakly. "I'm protecting you."

He gave a humorless laugh. "Come on Serah, you're chained to a wall, and you're still thinking of everyone but not yourself?"

"Then think of me," I snapped. "If you fight them now, they'll use me against you, they'll use my child too."

That silenced him and his gaze softened, and for a moment, the fury drained from his face. "You're shaking."

"I'm fine."

"You're not." He reached up, his palm brushing my cheek, and for the briefest heartbeat, the world didn't hurt.

Then Maribel hissed, "Someone's coming!"

Tristan vanished into the shadows so quickly I almost thought I'd imagined him, as two guards passed by the corridor, laughing drunkenly. When they were gone, Maribel turned back, her hands trembling. "I'll bring you water or blood when I can, but please, Lady Serah, don't say my name to anyone because if Lydia finds out..."

"She'll kill you," I finished.

Maribel nodded, tears streaking her face. "And she'll make it hurt."

I forced a smile that wasn't real. "Then don't get caught, Maribel, for my sake."

She nodded again and disappeared, her footsteps soft as whispers. When the silence returned, I let my head rest against the wall. The stone was cold, biting into my skin and my wrists throbbed, as my stomach ached.

"Tristan…" I murmured into the dark. "Don't come back tonight." But deep down, I wanted him too.