Chapter 4
Avrum
Lysander takes a sip of his drink and leans back into the russet armchair. “Sit, Avrum, relax yourself,” he says with a content sigh.
Shrugging, I don’t move from my place by the library’s tall windows. My chest feels tight, my vision blurry. Even though she has no reason to be, Haven remains firmly implanted in my mind. I can’t help but feel like there’s more to her I’m not seeing. Something I need to know.
But what?
I don’t understand this strange pull I have to her.
It’s confusing and honestly, a bit unsettling.
At first, I’d thought it was the bloodlust, but I’ve interacted with many human servants before and never experienced anything like what happened between us in the foyer.
Or this constant need to know if she’s okay.
It’s like she’s silently calling to me. Asking me for help. Why? I simply don’t know.
As I continue to stare out onto the manor’s courtyard and the black-water lake, I resee Haven standing outside the window with her forehead pressed against the building’s face, trying not to cry.
I had felt her grief last night as if it were my own, and for the first time, I wondered if I was even doing the right thing by bringing her back to Greystone.
“Would you do anything, give anything, to see them again?” Haven had said to me as we walked back in the wind and rain.
If my family was still alive and I was told I couldn’t see them again, would I ignore Henri’s rules, too? Was it easier for me to dismiss her grief because I have no one else besides those in this place?
“Come away from the window,” Lysander says, this time with more aggravation in his tone. “The curtains will have to be drawn soon enough for dawn.”
Ripping myself away, I sigh. My gaze travels around the room instead.
Two tiers of shelves wrap around the walls, filled with books of every size and length.
A quaint brass chandelier hangs in the center, illuminating a set of armchairs and tables underneath, as well as the very bored face of my friend as he waits for me to join him in his drinking.
Lysander finishes his glass of scotch and places it on the side table next to my still untouched one.
“If you do not sit and have this drink, I’m going to have to take it from you,” he muses.
“Scotch isn’t a very French drink,” I say, as I watch him trace the rim with the tip of his long finger.
“Well, I’m no longer in France, now am I?”
I try to laugh, but my mind is still elsewhere. It comes out too fake sounding.
“Well? Will you have your drink or not?”
I glance at the windows again.
Grunting, Lysander pushes himself to his feet and comes to my side. “What is just so fascinating out there?” he asks.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? You’ve been staring outside for an hour now.”
Again, my thoughts slide away from me. Now, I’m thinking about the maid I’d asked to check on Haven. She hasn’t returned with any news for me. That has to mean everything is fine. Right?
Lysander claps his hands loudly in front of my face, jolting me back.
“Ah-ha!” he cries. “I know what has claimed your attention out there.”
I hesitate. “Oh?”
“You are looking for her, aren’t you? That little pet of Henri’s.”
I give a short, dismissive laugh. “Haven? No. What would make you think such a thing?”
He cracks another rare smile. “You are infatuated with her.”
“Infatuated?” I bluster. “Now, really—”
Three thuds sound and the floor vibrates underneath my feet, stopping me mid-sentence. We spin to see Henri standing in the library doorway with his cane in hand. His gloved fingers stretch on top of its round crystal handle.
He dips his head, like a king might when entering a room and addressing his subjects, and like royalty, Lysander and I bow out of respect. The air seems to thicken in the room. When we rise again, Henri’s dark eyes switch between us, and a cool smile spreads his lips.
“My friends,” he greets. Even though his mannerisms are stiff, his voice is warm and welcoming. “I’m surprised to find you both still awake.”
“We were just relaxing before the night was over,” Lysander replies.
I can’t help but notice he does not use Henri’s formal title when addressing him, like he should. But whether or not Henri notices isn’t clear. Instead of commenting, he walks over to one of the armchairs and takes a seat. Leaning back, he calmly lays an ankle over a knee.
“As was I.” He chuckles and lifts his cane to point at me. “Why, Avrum, you look distracted. Is there something on your mind?”
Fighting my nerves to stay under control, I press my lips together. How long had he been at the door, listening in? Had he heard what Lysander had said about Haven?
“No, my lord,” I manage to say without my voice quivering. “There is nothing.”
He glances at Lysander next. “Oh.”
“I-I am a bit tired, my lord,” I add, hoping that’ll be enough of an explanation for him.
“Ah, maybe that is it then.”
I hesitate. Even though his words are what I want to hear, the way he’s staring at me makes my stomach flip with worry. It’s as if he knows everything and is waiting for me to slip up. Like I’m cornered. My skin crawls.
Henri taps his cane against the floor again, waiting, as his eyes sweep around the room. All is quiet for a long moment, and Lysander and I exchange uneasy looks.
Could he already know about Lysander’s bet with Cornelius? Or maybe Haven has told him about my moment of weakness with her after bringing her back. He could be here to punish us both for our mistakes. It sure feels like he’s waiting for one of us to reveal ourselves.
My body tenses.
“I wanted to thank you again, Avrum, for bringing Haven back last night,” Henri goes on. “I don’t understand why she constantly disobeys me.”
I bow again, my pulse kicking up a notch. “I gave you my word, my lord.”
“I’m sorry to ask you this,” he continues, “I know how tired you must be, but I need one more favor before you retire for the morning. I suggested to Haven that she go for a walk. I wanted her to have some time to clear her mind, relax, and wander the courtyard until dawn. I still don’t trust her fully, but I couldn’t deny her a simple walk.
Will you make sure she stays on the property this time? ”
My entire body wakes at the thought of seeing Haven again, and my reply comes out too fast. “Of course, my lord.”
“Thank you.” Henri stands and runs a hand over his jacket to smooth out the creases. Glancing at Lysander again, he taps his cane against the floor again. “You, above all people, know how she can be.”
Haven
As I step onto the soft ground of the courtyard, I smile as my heels sink into the soft earth and the damp grass brushes against my ankles. Autumn’s chilly morning air tickles my nose with each breath, but I welcome it, loving the lightness it fills me with.
Taking my time to the lake’s edge, my gaze stretches to where the water meets the sky. There, the horizon sparkles with lighter shades of blues and grays as the sun begins to rise. For the first time in a long time, the tension in my shoulders ease, and I let them fall with a content sigh.
But despite the beauty around me, there will always be pain lingering underneath.
I shift the heavy jeweled bracelets around my wrists, which are still raw and sting.
I’d been surprised when the servant in charge of untying and dressing me said Henri suggested I go for a walk before the sun rose.
Especially after I’d run off only a night ago.
Of course, his sudden kind gesture is a suspicious one. I’m sure this is some kind of sick test he’s inflicting on me, but I’m also not about to ignore a chance to get out of my prison. For now, I will enjoy it.
I search the property for any signs of Henri’s guards. Henri had appointed them, trained them, to watch over the manor during the day and night while he and the others were occupied with other things. Although what could be an actual threat to those creatures is unknown to me.
As far as I can see, I am alone.
A pleasant hum courses through me, urging me on. I can make my escape now, follow the edge of the lake to the road. It leads into the city and to my father. To freedom…
It’s a tempting thought. It’s the perfect time of day, since Henri and his followers never leave the manor during the day. They’re nocturnal beings. I can use the sun to cloak me until I get far enough away. The real danger wouldn’t come until nightfall.
A light breeze picks up my curls and caresses my face. There’s promise in the air, and for the first time in a while, I feel hope along with my fear. I can do this.
“Oi! Cornelius, look at what I’ve found!”
All my plans are dashed at the familiar voice. I freeze in place.
“Why, it’s Lord Henri’s pet, all alone,” the one called Cornelius replies.
Dread icing my veins, I turn around to find two very unwanted faces.
Cornelius, a mountain of a man with fierce green eyes and shaggy hair, walks toward me with his shoulders back and his chest inflated.
The man beside him is Keagan, one of Henri’s guards, known for his quick feet and vulgar mouth.
I’ve had the misfortune of seeing him often, usually when Henri felt it necessary to post a guard at my door while he slept.
“What a pretty little doll she is,” Keagan purrs.
His heated gaze travels the length of my body, and he reaches out a hand toward my face.
I quickly swat it away, my stomach roiling at the thought of him touching me.
In a blur of color, he moves to my other side, his breath on my shoulder as he sniffs me like a dog might, smelling sharply of drink.
Uneasiness worming through me, I cross my arms over my chest and step away from him. But that only makes me collide with something else solid. Gasping, I whirl around to see Cornelius leering down at me.
“Is this what you normally see while doing rounds, Keagan?” he asks. “If so, I would’ve taken Lysander’s position on guard a long time ago.”