The Vampire's marked Witch

Lucius's POV

I sped as fast as I could, not stopping until I reached the deserted, mist-heavy plains in the far north of Alaska. I glanced at my watch and pressed a hidden button. A small stone pillar immediately rose from the edge of a nearby rock formation. Rolling up my sleeve, I pressed my star-shaped scar on my arm against the cold stone. A sharp sting pricked my skin, and the stone glowed with a dark, black light.

The thick mist parted, revealing the massive golden gates that led into our hidden city, Nix Borealis.

"Lord Lucius", a guard from the earth-born Cornivus clan said, bowing deeply. Beside him, a massive black panther that reached his waist let out a low growl. "Where are your escorts, sir? These back gates are restricted. They are only supposed to be used by the city guard."

I gave a tight nod. "I understand. I went out to hunt," I replied, showing him my blood-stained palms.

The guard's eyes widened, and he bowed even lower. "My apologies, my Lord. It is not my place to question you. I..."

"It's fine."

"Please, allow me to arrange a ride to your estate."

I nodded. A few minutes later, an official dressed in an emerald-green velvet uniform pulled up in a black Maybach and drove me home.

When we arrived, a line of servants was already waiting outside, bowing as I stepped out of the car.

Finn, my loyal guard, stepped forward quickly.

"My Lord, where have you been? The ritual for your mother's anniversary is about to start." He stopped, his eyes falling on my hands. "You were out hunting? But sir... you never hunt."

I looked at him, my patience wearing thin.

"Finn, am I a prisoner of the Nix Borealis guard now? Do I really need to be interrogated this much?"

Terrified, Finn immediately dropped his head. "I am so sorry, my Lord. Forgive me."

I adjusted my coat and walked straight into the mansion.

I washed the blood from my hands using a golden bowl held out by a terrified maid. Once I was clean, Finn led me down into the ancestral tomb beneath the mansion.

The underground hall was dimly lit by flickering candles. I took my place next to my father, Lord Rhys Valerius. Standing across the circular room were Lady Ava and Lord Orion of the Calidus clan, my maternal uncle, along with our extended family and closest allies.

The room filled with low, slow chants, sending prayers to Hades and Hecate to guard my mother in the land of the dead.

As we stepped out of the tomb at the end of the ceremony, a heavy tug on my shoulder stopped me.

"Where did you go, Lucius? We agreed we were going to the tomb together," my sister, Anya, protested.

I smiled softly and leaned down to touch her cheek. "I'm sorry, my love. I just needed to clear my head"

"Lord Lucius! Hahaha, you are growing more mature by the day," Lord Orion called out, walking toward us alongside my father.

I bowed to him. He was the high lord of the Calidus clan, the vampires who mastered blood magic. "Good evening, Uncle."

"I see you have mastered the art of arriving last to every single event," he said with a broad, booming smile.

I gave him a tight, polite smile.

"Alright, I will leave you two now. I have clan business to take care of. Goodbye, children."

"Goodbye, Uncle Orion," Anya said as he walked away with my father.

Later that evening, the dining room was silent. The only sound was the quiet scraping of silverware against plates.

"You are getting married soon, Lucian," my father said, shattering the quiet.

Marriage? How?

"I don't understand what you mean, Father."

"You are marrying your cousin, Ava," he stated coldly. "I am growing old, and I plan to step down soon. You will be the next Lord of Valerius clan. It is only right that you have a companion by your side to help you rule."

"I don't need help, Father-"

"Enough!" he roared, slamming his hands onto the heavy dining table. "My decision is final. She will be your companion. The priests have already looked into it and said you two are a perfect match."

I clenched my jaw, forcing down the wave of anger burning inside me. Anya stared back and forth between us, frozen and silent.

"Yes, Father," I said finally, cutting through the thick silence.

**************

Silas's POV

Elio, Aurora, and I drove through the pouring rain toward the south of Alaska. We finally pulled over, stepping out into the storm, and headed into the woods, following the tire tracks.

"Are you sure about what you heard?" I asked Elio, keeping my eyes on the muddy ground.

Elio walked right behind me, terrified of what we might find. "I heard her voice, Silas. I know I heard Raya."

"Silas, please just follow the track," Aurora urged from my side. "We don't have time for questions."

We pushed through the dense trees and broke out onto another road. Right there, smashed against a thick tree trunk, was Raya's car.

"No, no, no... please, no," Elio muttered, his voice breaking with tears.

"Raya! Raya!" Aurora called out into the rain.

I rushed forward. The first thing I saw was a vampire pinned to a tree branch with his throat slashed open. Then, I looked down at the mud beside him. My knees instantly gave out, and I collapsed into the dirt.

Raya's body lay in a massive pool of blood.

Her stomach had been ripped open.

"Silas!" Elio called my name, but the words caught in my throat. I couldn't find the voice to answer him. Tears streamed down my face, mixing with the heavy rain drenching us.

"Silas, did you find-Nooooo!" Elio screamed as he caught up to me.

Aurora rushed over and froze, stunned by the horror in front of us.

"Look what they did to her, Aurora," I choked out, staring at the body. "Look what those blood-sucking demons did to Raya."

Elio panicked, looking around the wreck. "Wait... where is Eugene?"

Aurora didn't answer. She just pointed toward the woods, where a pale, lifeless body lay a few yards away.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning split the sky. The bright light caught on a silver object lying right next to Raya's body. It was a metal crest.

I picked it up, the cold iron heavy in my hand. "The vampires did this. They killed her and took her baby."

Aurora quickly took the crest from my hand and slid it into her coat pocket. "We need to go right now. If there are vampires nearby, we're exposed. We have to move!"

I squeezed my hands into tight fists, the rage burning through my grief. "The vampires just drew a battle line between themselves and the witches. I will make sure they pay for this."