Earlier that morning, sunlight crept into the Countess's beachside mansion, casting a warm glow over the lavish room. Sophia lay curled up in the Countess's arms, exhausted but content, after their intimate moment together. The Countess cradled her gently, her emerald eyes shining bright with adoration.
"It's been two hundred and twenty-five years," she whispered, her voice barely audible, "since I sealed my Lucien away. Are you certain...your little friend will truly be the one to set her free?"
Her fingers danced through Sophia's hair, a subtle gesture betraying her deep-seated longing.
Sophia leaned up, placing a kiss on the Countess's cheek. "Yes, honey, I'm absolutely sure. Zadiene's special. She's the key."
The Countess's grip tightened slightly, her eyes searching Sophia's face.
"What did you say about her dreams again?" she pressed, desperate for confirmation.
Sophia smiled, repeating herself, her words laced with conviction. "Zadie's had those dreams since she was thirteen. Every night, Vero. It's more than just a coincidence. Her mother thought it was nothing, but I knew better. Zadiene's connected to Lucien, somehow."
The Countess's lips found Sophia's forehead, imparting soft, comforting phrases.
"Shh...it's alright, darling. We'll get Lucien back. We'll trust in your little friend, and in this...this miracle."
The Countess's expression softened, her usual composure briefly slipping. She stroked Sophia's face, her touch feather-light.
"Don't trust anyone but yourself, darling," she murmured, a warning disguised as tenderness.
Sophia giggled, undeterred, her grin mischievous. "But I did trust you, my countess, my queen. I trusted you long before...well, you know." She winked, referencing the transformation that had bound their fates together.
"I'll trust you with my life. I'd swear it on Luther's grave, in our castle," Sophia vowed, scattering kisses across the Countess's face.
Their tender moment ended, and they began to dress, preparing to leave. Downstairs, Arcel stood poised, exuding a mixture of annoyance and responsibility.
"Countess, here's your schedule for today," he said, extending the tablet.
"Thank you, Arcel," the Countess replied graciously.
Arcel snorted, his sarcasm barely concealed. "Pleasure. It's not even my job." His gaze flicked towards Sophia, his implication crystal clear.
Sophia couldn't resist poking fun, even in front of the stern Arcel. "Well, ask Vero. We got, like, so many rounds last night..." She trailed off, flashing a playful grin.
But the Countess intervened swiftly, her authoritative tone brooking no argument. "Alright you two, stop it. It's too early for this."
Sophia reveled in victory, sticking out her tongue childishly at Arcel, who responded with an irritated eye-roll.
The Countess swept forward, claiming her coat, and the trio headed towards Arcel's car.
—
Vero's POV
I watched Sophia's antics, a mix of amusement and annoyance swirling within me. She knew exactly how to rile up Arcel, and I couldn't help but find it endearing. That girl—my dear, sweet distraction.
Arcel, bless his patient soul, sighed dramatically, already resigned to their banter. He held the door open, his jaw clenched.
We slid into the car, the soft leather creaking beneath us. As we pulled away from the mansion, I glanced at Sophia, her eyes sparkling like the sea outside. She leaned against the window, humming softly.
I reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Arcel cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in the driver's seat. He'd grown accustomed to our...unconventional relationship, but sometimes, I think he still struggled to reconcile his loyalty with Luther, his late master.
"Big busy day, indeed," I murmured, settling back into my seat. The city blurred past, a haze of concrete and steel. Today would be crucial. Today, Zadiene will begin her work. And perhaps, just perhaps, my Lucien...would stir. The thought sent a flutter through my chest. I clenched my hands together, fighting the urge to fidget.
Sophia sensed my tension, reaching for my hand. Her fingers intertwined with mine, warm and gentle.
"We've got this, Vero," she whispered.
I squeezed her hand, grateful for her unwavering optimism. Without her, I'd be lost. Without her trust in Zadiene...
The car halted, jerking me back to reality. Arcel announced our arrival, his voice curt.
"We're here, Countess."
I smoothed my skirt, composed myself. Time to focus.
"Thank you, Arcel. Give us a moment, will you?"
He nodded, exiting the vehicle. Sophia squeezed my hand again, reassuringly. Together, we stepped out, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Inside the building, we bypassed the bustling halls, heading straight for the secluded wing where my private office awaited. Once the heavy doors closed behind us, muffling the outside world, Sophia turned to me, her expression serious.
"Vero, what exactly do you plan on telling Zadiene?" she asked, releasing my hand to pace the room. "You can't just spring two centuries of sleeping princess on her without some context."
I sighed, moving to pour us each a whiskey. The sun wasn't yet high, but I needed reinforcement.
"You're right, of course." I handed Sophia a glass. "I'll ease her into it, feel out her...flexibility. But she must understand the gravity of her role."
My grip on the crystal stem tightened. "Lucien needs her, Sophia. I can't lose hope now, not when we're so close."
Sophia watched me sympathetically, nodding. "You won't lose hope, Vero. Not as long as I'm here." She raised her glass, a silent toast. Together, we savored the burn, steeling ourselves for the encounter to come.
We stood there, lost in thought, planning our next moves. Then, Arcel suddenly reappeared in the doorway, looking rather annoyed. He crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed.
"Wow, I disappeared? For a second, I thought I was invisible. 'Give us a moment, will you?' Yeah, yeah, I got it. You two needed to...consult."
He snorted, shaking his head. "You're lucky I'm used to being ignored, aren't you?"
Sophia chuckled, clearly enjoying Arcel's sarcasm. I rolled my eyes, smiling despite myself.
"Oh, Arcel, you're such a joy."
He huffed, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Someone's got to keep you both grounded."
Sophia giggled again, clearly pleased with herself. It was a small, intimate moment, one that reminded me why I appreciated having Arcel around—despite his tendency to act like a disapproving chaperone.
He shook his head, clearly exasperated, muttering under his breath.
"Seriously. I shouldn't have hired Sophia as my secretary. Now look at you two. You're...this. And I thought the countess was straight. Straight! Ha! What a joke. If I'd known I was playing matchmaker for the century's most powerful lesbian couple—"
He threw his hands up, his face twisting into a wry smirk. "—I'd have charged extra for my services."
He leaned against the doorframe, clearly joking, but his words stung a little. Not because they weren't true—we were, after all, deeply in love—but because it was Arcel saying them. He'd always been a rock, a constant presence, never one to dwell on sentimentality. Yet here he was, teasing us like we were just any other lovestruck pair. It was...refreshing.
Sophia snorted, clearly entertained. "Oh, Arc, you're not still beating yourself up over that, are you? You're basically our fairy godfather."
Before Arcel could continue his rant, the phone on my desk buzzed. I picked it up, and a soft, gentle voice spoke from the other end.
"Countess, Ms. Martinez is here. She's just arrived."
My heart skipped a beat. This was it.
"Thank you, Rachel," I replied, trying to maintain my composure. I hung up, turning to Sophia.
"She's here," I said, my throat constricting slightly. "Go down and greet her, would you? Bring her up to my office."
Sophia nodded, already moving towards the door. Arcel straightened, sensing the shift in atmosphere.
"Ah, the new girl, huh?" he said, his voice dropping its earlier humor.
"Yes, that's right. Zadiene Martinez. Go fetch her, Sophia, and be quick about it."
I watched Sophia hurry out, a flutter of anticipation in my chest. This was it – the moment of truth. I took another sip of my whiskey, letting the liquor steady my nerves.
The doors swung shut behind Zadiene and James, leaving me alone with Arcel. He crossed his arms, a stern expression darkening his features.
"We'll discuss this later, Vero," he growled, his voice rumbling, like thunder before a storm.
I raised an eyebrow, unperturbed. Arcel's disapproval was nothing new. Still, something about his demeanor hinted at more than mere annoyance. He was worried.
Just then, Sophia breezed back into the room, her blonde hair bouncing with each step. She must've dashed to the restroom while Zadiene was being escorted away. "Sorry about that, I didn't wanna be rude and disappear on Zadiene, but I really had to go." She flashed me an apologetic grin, completely unaware of the tension between me and Arcel.
Without taking my eyes off Arcel, I patted my thigh lightly. "Sit, darling."
Sophia caught the silent command, her eyes sparkling mischievously. She sauntered over, plopping herself down into my lap, her arms wrapping around my shoulders. Arcel's scowl deepened, clearly not pleased with our display.
Sophia snuggled closer, and I stroked her hair absentmindedly. Arcel cleared his throat, his concern evident.
"I mean, it's not just...the two of you. I'm worried about Zadiene. She's like a, uh, tornado, minus the destruction… Hopefully. But she's clumsy, you know that, Vero. And those chefs downstairs? They're not exactly known for their patience. What if—" He broke off, shaking his head.
Sophia chuckled, nuzzling against me.
"Don't be such a worrywart, Arcel. Zadiene's a big girl. She can handle herself. Besides, cooking's her thing. She's always been great at it. Those chefs better watch out, or she'll show them a thing or two." She winked, clearly confident in Zadiene's abilities.
I nodded, my mind already racing ahead. If Zadiene proved to be the key to waking Lucien, then there was no time to waste. We'd leave for Romania immediately, return to our castle, and...and hope.
"We'll go home, Sophia. Back to the castle. Once Zadiene shows us what she's capable of, we'll make preparations. It's time to bring Lucien back to us."
My fingers dug into Sophia's waist, anxiety mixing with excitement. The possibility of finally reuniting with my beloved was almost too much to bear.
Arcel shifted uncomfortably, clearly uncomfortable with our enthusiasm. He'd always been protective, especially when it came to matters involving Lucien.
"You're not getting ahead of yourself, are you? We don't know anything yet. And even if...even if she is the one, it's not going to be easy. You know that."
Sophia nodded, trying to placate him. "We'll be careful, Arcel. We'll observe, we'll test her, and then we'll decide. Okay?"
I nodded, my jaw clenched. It was true. We couldn't afford to be reckless. Not when Lucien's fate hung in the balance.
I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. The news from the eastern provinces had been getting worse by the day. Rogue vampires, slaughtering humans left and right. The darkness was spreading, and without Lucien...
"We don't have time, Arcel. Without Lucien, our people are falling apart. The rogues are growing bolder, killing without restraint. The humans are starting to notice. It's only a matter of time before someone connects the dots. We need her back, now more than ever."
My grip on Sophia tightened, fear for our kind, our people, crawling beneath my skin.
Sophia wrapped her arms tighter around me, sensing my unease. She stroked my hair, whispering softly, "Hey, hey, it's okay. We'll figure it out, okay? We'll get Zadiene to help, and we'll fix this. We've been dealing with this darkness for years—"
She paused, her words softening further, "—and you're exhausted. You're worried sick, and rightly so, but you can't lose it now. We'll take care of it together, like always."
She pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, her touch warm and reassuring.
Arcel rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. He crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall.
"Ahem. If you two lovebirds are quite finished with the mushy stuff, maybe we can focus on the problem at hand? Though, honestly, you're making it hard not to gag. Get a room already."
He muttered the last part, but not quietly enough. Sophia giggled, burying her face into my shoulder.
Sophia stuck her tongue out at Arcel, who retaliated by ruffling her hair playfully. They continued bickering, their argument devolving into childish jabs, but neither of them seemed to mind. It was a familiar rhythm between them, one that brought a small smile to my lips. Watching them, I felt a warmth in my chest, grateful for these two people who stood by me through everything. For a fleeting moment, the weight of our troubles lifted, and all that mattered was this silly, loving dynamic between us.