(Caspian's POV)
The silence in Lucien's room was a heavy blanket, woven with the dust of forgotten hopes and the scent of forbidden knowledge. The Aura in his room felt strangely comforting. It had been seventeen days since he vanished, swallowed by the shadows he so readily embraced, and seventeen days since I last made any contact with blood. Not a single drop. And Lucien's room has been my Solace.
I was sitting on the floor, surrounded by Lucien's books, their spines cracked and pages dog-eared. Fiction, every one of them. Stories of humans, with their messy emotions and fleeting lives. Lucien, the vampire who scorned sentimentality, hoarding tales of love and loss, joy and despair. The contrast was jarring, fascinating. I devoured them, seeking a glimpse into the mind of my twin, searching for the key to unlock the riddle of his absence— to fix his puzzle.
The words are suddenly becoming hard to read, and they seem to be moving, the writing which was elegant is becoming blurry, messy, the ink bleeding into a single line. I blinked, rubbed my eyes, but the distortion remained. The room swam around me, the familiar outline of Lucien's belongings seems to be shifting and wobbling, like reflections in rippling water.
"My eyes…" I whispered, the sound raspy and weak.
Suddenly, the door slammed open, the sound echoing like a thunderclap. Father stood there, rigid and imposing, his eyes narrowed with disapproval. Kael hovered behind him, his face etched with worry.
"Caspian!" Father's voice boomed, filling the room. "This… this is unacceptable! Are you deliberately trying to disgrace our family?"
I struggled to focus on his face, the edges of his form softened and indistinct. "Father, I…"
"You haven't fed in weeks! You neglect your training. You ignore your duties. The coven needs you, Caspian, and you're… you're wasting away in here, surrounded by… this." He gestured disdainfully at the books scattered around me.
"I am just… resting," I mumbled, my voice barely audible.
"Resting? You look like a ghost!" Father advanced into the room, his presence suffocating. "The prophecy hangs over us, and you choose to wallow in self-pity? I thought I raised you better than this."
He turned to Kael, his voice laced with accusation. "Have you been enabling this behavior, Kael? I trust you understand the importance of Caspian's well-being."
Kael stepped forward, his eyes pleading. "My Lord, I have tried to reason with him, but…"
Father cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Enough. Caspian, I expect to see you at the training grounds tomorrow. And this… this obsession with your brother needs to end. He has made his choices. You must make yours, and embrace the destiny that awaits you." With a final, withering glare, he turned and swept out of the room, Kael trailing behind him.
"Obsession with your brother." I'm not obsessed with Lucien, if anything we come off as rivals but I remember us being so close. We shared a precious bond— only that we grew apart. Even though he hates me so much now, I still see my brother in him. Lucien was my other half.
Kael lingered at the door, his expression troubled. He slipped back in, closing the door softly behind him. He knelt beside me, his hand hovering hesitantly over mine.
"Caspian, you can't keep doing this," he said, his voice low and urgent. "You look terrible. Dark circles under your eyes, your skin… you're too pale, even for us. You're becoming sensitive to light."
I pulled my hand away, avoiding his gaze. "I'm fine, Kael."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No, you're not. I understand you're worried about Lucien, but starving yourself won't help him. It won't help anyone."
"He's been gone for weeks, Kael," I said, my voice cracking. "He always comes back, always lurks around for some time. But this time, he's not. You don't understand."
"Then make me understand, Caspian." Kael's voice softened. "I can't stand seeing you like this. Please, at least consider… food. If you can't bring yourself to feed on blood, at least eat something."
I shook my head, my throat tightening. "I can't. It feels… wrong. I can't eat, I can't train, not until Lucien comes back."
"Why, Caspian? Tell me the truth..." Kael searched my eyes, his brow furrowed in worry. "Why is Lucien so important to you? Are you so scared of him fulfilling the prophecy and bringing doom to the coven?"
"It's not about the prophecy!" I snapped, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "It's about Lucien. He's… he's always been there. A part of me. I can't explain it. You wouldn't understand."
"Then explain!" Kael's voice was rising, laced with frustration. "I'm trying to help you, but you're pushing me away. Is this about the prophecy saying one of the twins will bring either doom or salvation? Is that why you're putting this weight on your shoulders, because of your father?"
"No, it's about me. I have to wait for Lucien. I have to know he's alright." I closed my eyes, a wave of dizziness washing over me. "Lucien..." I whispered his name, a desperate plea.
As if summoned by my voice, the door swung open once more. This time, it wasn't Father. It was him.
Lucien stood in the doorway, etched against the dim light of the hallway. His silver hair cascaded around his shoulders, a shimmering curtain of moonlight. His pale skin seemed to glow, an ethereal beacon in the gloom. Even through my blurred vision, I recognized him instantly.
"Lucien," I breathed, my heart leaping in my chest.
I tried to stand, to rush to him, but my legs betrayed me. The room tilted, the floor rushing up to meet me. I gasped, reaching out blindly for something to hold onto.
A strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me upright. I stumbled against him, burying my face in the cool silk of his tunic.
"Careful, little bird," Lucien murmured, his voice a low, melodic rumble that sent shivers down my spine. "Looks like you've been missing me."
He held me tight, his presence a solid, grounding force. The dizziness began to recede, the world slowly coming back into focus. I looked up at him, his silver eyes gleaming with an intensity that both thrilled and frightened me.
Kael watched us, his face a mask of pain and confusion. He opened his mouth to speak, but Lucien silenced him with a raised hand.
"Leave us, Kael," Lucien said, his voice stern and leaving no room for a word from Kael. "I need to have a word with my brother."
Kael hesitated, his gaze flickering between Lucien and me. Finally, with a sigh of defeat, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.
We were alone. The silence returned, but this time, it was different. Charged. Electric.
Lucien tilted my chin up with a gentle finger, forcing me to meet his gaze. "What have you been doing to yourself, Caspian?" he asked, his voice soft but laced with concern. "You look like you haven't slept or fed in weeks."
"I couldn't," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I couldn't do anything until you came back. I was waiting… for you."