Chapter Nine
Adrian
I walked out into the courtyard, seeking out Commander Leopold, to discuss the aftermath of the vampire attack and the casualties we had endured. I found him talking to one of the guards. As soon as he saw me, he dismissed the guard and approached me. His face bore the weight of responsibility as we exchanged a solemn look.
“How does it look?” I asked, realizing that he already had a preliminary report, having spoken to the guards and overseen the clean up of the courtyard.
“The casualties were fewer than they could have been, but we did lose some good men,” he told me, his voice reflecting the sadness of our losses. They were his men, the men he had taught everything, the men who stood by his side defending the castle and everyone in it. “The guards fought bravely,” he continued. “And their sacrifice helped protect the castle.”
I nodded, feeling a deep sense of bravery for our defenders. “We’ll make sure that their families are taken care of. They won’t be forgotten.”
Leopold’s unwavering loyalty to the late king and now to me was evident in his response. “As you command, Your Highness. I believe that is the right thing to do. We’ll also need to assess the damage to the castle’s defenses and make necessary repairs.”
I acknowledged the importance of this task. “We can take a quick look now,” I suggested.
We strolled slowly, walking past guards who were cleaning up broken glass, wood and steel. Others were mopping up the blood from the pathways. The very thought of Cass running out at any moment and seeing this sent shivers down my spine. I didn’t want her to know about any of this. She was just a child and she needed to be protected, kept safe from all the harm in the world.
We walked along the castle’s perimeter, closely inspecting the damages and discussing the repairs that were urgently needed to fortify our defenses. The aftermath of the vampire attack had left no room for delay.
We approached the eastern gate, where the most significant damage had occurred. The gate’s large wooden doors had been battered, and the stone walls surrounding it bore the scars of the battle. I ran my hand over the splintered wood.
“This gate is top priority, Leopold,” I told him. “We can’t have it compromised again.”
Leopold nodded in agreement. “Yes, Your Highness. We’ll have the gates replaced and reinforce the surrounding walls.”
As we continued our inspection, we noted the damaged sections of the outer wall and the crumbling battlements. Leopold’s keen eye caught every detail.
“We can’t afford any weak points,” I heard him say. “We’ll need to repair the walls and replace the battlements with stronger materials.”
“See that it is done,” I instructed.
Leopold continued to point out areas where the guard towers needed fortification. His finger was aimed high, guiding our eyes. “The guard towers took a beating during the attack. We’ll ensure that they are repaired and made more defensible.”
We continued our thorough inspection, searching for any other potential weak points in the castle’s defenses. We were determined to leave no stone unturned, ensuring that our fortress was impenetrable in the face of future threats, namely Constantine.
As we walked, we examined the moat as well, which was also scrutinized for vulnerabilities and areas that needed improvement. I listened as Leopold pointed out areas where the moat’s water levels had been altered during the attack, which could also pose a potential threat.
“We need to assure that the moat is consistently filled to its proper depth. It is our first line of defense.”
I nodded in agreement. “Yes. See that that necessary adjustments are made.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Leopold was quick to reply.
I stopped to look at the towers again. “We should consider enlarging the arrow slits for better visibility and wider range of fire,” I suggested.
“A great idea,” he nodded. “We could take out more of them before they get close to the castle.”
We spent the following half an hour discussing everything, when our path took us back to the castle entrance. Leopold went back to overseeing the guards while I went back inside to look for the girls. I found them in Cass’ room, drawing.
As I entered Cass’ room, a rush of relief washed over me. There they were, my two most cherished beings, surrounded by the innocence and simplicity of a child’s world. Lilith and Cass sat on the floor, engrossed in a shared drawing, their laughter filling the room.
My heart swelled with love and gratitude. The events of the previous night, the vampire attack and the battle to defend our kingdom, had been a stark reminder of how fragile the safety of our family was. I could have lost them, and the thought was too traumatic to contemplate.
“Daddy!” Cass’ face lit up upon seeing me. “Do you want to come and draw with us?”
“Of course, honey,” I told her.
I knelt beside them, taking in the vibrant colors and joyful creations on the paper before us. The act of drawing with my wife and daughter, the two most precious people in my life, brought a sense of calm and reassurance. As I picked up a crayon and joined in the drawing, I cherished this simple moment of togetherness. Their presence was a source of strength and inspiration, and the love I felt for them was immeasurable.
As we continued to draw together, the soft scratching of crayons against paper filling the room, our conversation was filled with the warmth of shared moments.
“When we’re done drawing, can we go outside?” Cass wondered, not lifting her eyes off of her paper. Lilith and I exchanged a meaningful glance.
“Maybe draw a few more?” she suggested. “You draw so nicely, sweetheart.”
Cass stopped, then seemed to ponder something. “Do you want to put them on the walls?”
Lilith smiled. “Yes, that is a splendid idea! But you need to draw a lot. Because I want to put a lot of them on the wall. I want to fill the whole castle with your drawings!”
Cass chuckled. She seemed to like that idea. She laughed as if the choir of the angels themselves descended to earth and graced our eyes with their song. These were the moments when I remembered how lucky I was to have them in my life, and that I needed to do everything in my power to keep them safe and sound.
We continued to draw for a while longer, then we played hide and seek in the entire castle. In the grand halls and numerous chambers of the castle, there were countless hiding places, making it an exciting adventure every time we played. Cass’ giggles filled the air as she counted to ten, her little fingers covering her eyes. Lilith and I exchanged mischievous glances, each of us with a plan to find the most ingenious hiding spot.
“Ready or not, here I come!” Cass called out the words, which made us scatter in different directions, each seeking out our perfect hiding place.
I chose a nook near a towering bookshelf in the library, blending into the shadows, while Lilith found her hiding place behind a heavy tapestry in the corridor. Cass’ laughter echoed throughout the castle as she searched for us. Her footsteps padded down the corridors, and the sound of her little voice echoed all around us.
“Mommy? Daddy?” she chuckled again. “I will find you!” Her words brought a smile to my face.
As she got closer, I could hear her soft breath and the anticipation in her voice. Her giggles grew louder as she approached Lil’s hiding place, and I knew she was getting close to finding her. Finally, after much laughter and playful banter, Cass discovered our hiding places, her eyes alight with victory. We continued this game for the next hour, then after we assured ourselves that the courtyard looked untouched, we took Cass outside. Her favorite thing to do was to pick flowers and make wreaths.
The day passed quickly, as those days usually did, and soon enough, Lil and I found ourselves in Cass’ bedroom, bidding her goodnight. She was nestled under her soft blankets, her eyes already heavy with sleep. The gentle glow of a bedside lamp cast a warm and inviting shadow. I approached the bed, with Lil close behind me. Cass looked up at us with a drowsy smile, her little face radiating innocence.
I bent down and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “Sleep well, my love,” I told her, for some reason, my voice on the verge of breaking. I tucked the blankets around her, ensuring she was cozy. “Dream of adventures and happy moments, Cass,” I added, my heart full of love for our daughter.
Cass, with her drooping eyelids, mumbled a contented response, and her small hand reached out to mine. I squeezed it back, but it quickly went limp. She had fallen asleep momentarily. Lil and I glanced at each other, unable to stop smiling. Then, we tiptoed out of the room, closing the door gently behind us.
We headed back to our bedroom. It had been a long day. Lilith took a quick shower, and now, she was seated before her vanity table, combing her hair with a serene grace. The soft, golden lamplight bathed her in a warm, radiant glow, casting delicate highlights across her features.
The rhythmic sound of the comb passing through her hair filled the room, a soothing melody that matched the peacefulness of the moment. Liliths eyes, reflected in the mirror before her, held a quiet, contemplative beauty, and her lips curved into a gentle smile as she worked.
Her hair, flowing like silk between her fingers, framed her face in an elegant cascade, and I marveled at the effortless elegance she exuded. Each stroke of the comb seemed like a caress, a reflection of the love and care she bestowed upon herself.
Our eyes met in the reflection of the mirror. She smiled at me. “What is it?” she wondered.
“Nothing,” I said, mesmerized. “You are… stunning.”
“In my cotton nightgown?” she joked.
“In anything,” I assured her, walking over to her and pressing both of my hands on her shoulders. I inhaled deeply, searching for the right words to tell her something. She could sense it immediately.
“There is something on your mind,” she noticed.
“There is,” I confirmed. “The witch.”
She paused in her combing, her reflection in the mirror expressing a mixture of concern and understanding. “What about her?”
“You were right,” I said simply. “If there is a chance that the scroll is true, that there is this vital information that could affect us all, our kingdom, our family… we need to know. We need to be sure.”
She got up and turned to face me. “We will go together. If there are answers to be found, we’ll seek them side by side. I won’t let you face this journey alone.”
Her words filled my heart with gratitude and warmth. In that moment, I was reminded once again why I was doing all this. I reached for her hand, our fingers intertwining, and smiled. “Thank you, Lil. With you by my side, we can face anything that comes our way.”
I caressed her cheek. She closed her eyes. She had never been more beautiful than she was now, with her flowing golden hair and her vulnerability.
“I love you so much,” she whispered tenderly upon opening her eyes.
“I love you, too,” I replied, moments before she crashed her lips against mine with all the fervor she had to give.