Chapter 12 Midnight
Chapter twelve
Midnight
Adriana
The old grandfather clock in the hallway chimed eleven, its mournful notes echoing through Amara House and making Adriana wince.
Her heart hammered a frantic rhythm in her ribs as she continued down the staircase, earning a loud creak as she shifted her weight onto a floorboard that had decided to be particularly noisy.
She cursed herself for not remembering that specific creaky step.
It had been weeks since she’d had to sneak out at night.
Usually it was only Striga in the house, with the occasional staff member that may decide to spend the night rather than return home to the village, and so she did not have to concern herself with such trivial matters.
But her father had returned from his latest business trip that afternoon, and, although Adriana knew he was a deep sleeper, she didn’t want to take any chances.
With swift steps she made it down the rest of the stairs and set about wrapping her scarf around her to avoid the cold chill of the night. Xander would likely be waiting outside for her, as he always was whenever they’d planned to meet, but tonight was laced with an edge of nervous excitement.
The two of them usually spent their nights wrapped up in one another, whether it be in either of their beds in their respective houses or in the barn, which seemed to be Xander’s favourite.
But tonight Xander had promised something special to bring in the start of the new year at midnight, something that hinted at a future beyond stolen moments in moonlit barns.
As Adriana secured her gloves with the small buttons around her wrists, she crept towards the front door, her movements as silent as a falling leaf. Just as her hand touched the cool brass knob, a raspy voice shattered the silence.
“Evening, Adriana.”
Her blood ran cold at the sound of her father’s voice behind her.
“Shit,” she breathed out, not bothering to turn around as she still gripped the door knob, clinging onto her chance of escape.
“Such vulgar language, daughter!”
“My apologies, father.”
Adriana begrudgingly let go of the door and sheepishly turned to her father. He stood with his arms crossed in front of the dimly lit doorway to his study, his figure illuminated by a single reading lamp that sat upon his desk.
As her eyes slowly drifted up to his, she almost stumbled in shock at the playful expression he wore.
She had expected him to be furious at finding his only daughter sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night, and unchaperoned, too.
Whilst Sebastian Clarke was not a man who clung to traditional values, he still sought the respect of others, and having an unruly daughter certainly challenged that.
“Your mother was the same,” he chuckled. “Something about Amara women, all of you possess such fierce foul mouths.”
“Well, we are all descended from Striga, after all.”
“Indeed you are. I think the second biggest mistake was letting that crazed woman stay in this house when I took over.”
Adriana couldn’t help but smile at her father’s dry humour, or at least she hoped he was joking anyway.
As he walked towards her, she noticed how tired he looked.
His eyes carried more weight than usual, the lines in his skin seemed more prominent and his hair seemed so much greyer than when he had set off on his trip.
“What is your first biggest mistake?” she asked.
Sebastian smiled, though it didn’t quite meet his eyes. That was usual for him, Adriana knew that.
“Not telling your mother just how much I loved her each and every day. And not telling you the same, not telling you how proud I am of you.”
Adriana cast her eyes down, shifting uncomfortably at the sudden declaration from her father. They were not the type to regularly talk about feelings, and although she knew her father loved her, he had rarely ever said it.
“You look so much like her,” he continued.
“I could not protect her, I could not save her, and I feared that as a father I would fail to protect you, too. I know that Striga has been a wonderful teacher to you, as was Thomas. And as much as I like to pretend otherwise, I know you will never be a mere Lady of a household. You are too important to that magical world of yours. But I do not want you to believe for a second that you are not important to this world as well.”
Adriana sniffed as her eyes began to sting with tears.
She wasn’t used to her father being so open with his feelings or his willingness to discuss her magic.
They rarely spoke of her powers, and as much as Adriana had longed to talk about them to her father as a child, she understood why he distanced himself from a world he was not a part of.
“I never would have made a good Lady, would I?” Adriana asked, causing her father to nod in amused agreement. “I am sorry if I was ever a disappointment to you. I know that I should have been more respectful at all of those dreadful balls.”
“Calling them dreadful shows precisely the amount of respect you had for them. I am only sorry it has taken me so long to respect your opinions on the matter.”
Sebastian stepped closer to her and lifted his hand, as if he were going to embrace her, but quickly dropped it before she could think anymore of it.
“I wanted what was best for you,” he continued. “I wanted what was best for any young woman, but you are not just any woman. You are my daughter, and I trust you to make the right decisions for yourself.”
Adriana stood speechless, unable to respond as his words sunk in. She would not be married off like the other wealthy girls, she would not be forced into a corner, and although she knew her father would never have pushed her to do something she didn’t want, it was a relief to hear him confirm it.
“Well,” Sebastian said, clearing his throat and clasping his hands together as he turned to head back into his study. “If I were a betting man, I would put my money on you trying to sneak out of this house to meet Lord Duran. I do hope he has plans to court you properly soon.”
Adriana’s face reddened in embarrassment, her heart hammered even louder now.
Her father picked up the lamp from his desk in the study and headed to the staircase, not looking in her direction at all. “Now, I am going to retire for the night, and I am not going to pay attention to the front door. So if you or anyone were to come and go, I would be none the wiser.”
Adriana stood still, her mouth agape as she watched her father ascend the staircase and disappear, leaving her to the silence of the night again.
A low chuckle from the other side of the door made her jump. She wrenched it open and threw an accusing stare at Xander, who stood leaning against the doorframe with a smug smile.
“I do believe he is starting to like me.”
Adriana rolled her eyes as she closed the door behind her and pushed past him. “Do not look so proud of yourself, it is unbecoming.”
“You look beautiful.”
“You say that every day.”
Xander caught her hand and spun her round to face him, his head tilting down to brush his lips against hers with a delicate kiss. “Good,” he whispered against her mouth. “I mean it.”
He gave her hand a squeeze before lacing his gloved fingers through hers, his eyes roaming over her attire with a look that she had learnt meant he was ensuring she would be warm enough now that winter had arrived in full force.
“Where are we going?” Adriana asked as he began to lead them down the path towards his horse.
“I thought we could spend this evening outside of bedrooms and barns, to celebrate the start of the new year properly. Although, I’d be happy to pay the barn a visit later.”
Adriana playfully punched his arm, earning a yelp from a puppy-eyed, pouting Xander.
“Oh, shut up, that did not hurt you. You are the strongest Daemon in the world.”
“And the most handsome. Do not forget that part.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his words, though she made sure her mental barriers were up so he couldn’t see that she agreed with him.
They’d made great progress on her abilities, not just her Luciferus power, but also in her physical and mental strength.
Xander had trained her how to defend herself with all sorts of weapons, and how to shield her mind from his Manipuli ability.
It was tiring, and their training sessions often left her bruised and sore, as did their nights together, but Adriana didn’t mind.
She liked that she was becoming stronger.
She could feel it with every step she took, with every element she controlled, with every punch she threw and every ounce of light she conjured.
“I remember when I used to sneak out to the village at night to visit the other children in town and listen to their stories,” Adriana pondered aloud.
“Some of them would align with Striga’s, but most were awfully scary.
I was so terrified of Lamiae, all the tales of how they snatched children in the night to feed from them, and seduced women to become their obedient brides.
I feel so foolish now for believing in them. ”
“Hmm, and you are sure they are not real? Have I not seduced you?”
“Self-flattery does not suit you, Xander. And I am neither your bride nor obedient. So, if the tales are true, then I am afraid you are a terrible Lamia.”
Xander stopped in his tracks as they reached his horse and clutched his chest, feigning a look of hurt. “A terrible Lamia? Oh, how you wound me!”