Chapter 13 The Lake
Chapter thirteen
The Lake
Xander
It had been a full year since Xander had first tasted Adriana’s blood, since they had finally connected, body and soul.
He had not fed from anyone else since that night, he only drank from her when she offered.
Occasionally he’d had to decline her offer, knowing her body would not have recovered from their last time.
But despite how often they shared their nights together, Xander knew he would never have enough of her.
At first, Adriana’s father was under the assumption their spending so much time together was to continue her training.
But of course he had caught on after seeing Adriana sneaking out of the house on new year’s eve and their staff had begun to gossip by that point.
So, much to Lord Clarke’s delight, they decided to make it known to everyone that Xander was courting her at the start of the new year.
That way they didn’t have to hide their relationship, and neither of them would have to worry about other gentlemen making calls to the house any longer.
They would stroll through the town as a couple, join Deion and Edward on trips with their children, and Xander even accompanied her father to the tavern on one occasion.
The last six months had been absolute bliss.
Xander had presumed that the most nerve-racking moment in their relationship would have been when he finally worked up the courage to tell her his feelings, or when they had made it public knowledge they were courting.
But it was nothing compared to the stress he felt now, standing in the evening summer breeze in front of Sebastian Clarke’s carriage before he left on another business trip.
Xander hadn’t taken the time to learn what business specifically he was involved in, and now he felt foolish for not finding some common ground to spark a conversation.
Instead, he had merely walked up to the man, and stated his intentions.
He wanted to marry Adriana, and he wanted his permission.
In truth, Xander had never cared for traditional customs of courting or blessings, and he certainly did not ever think he would feel desperate to seek approval.
And yet he could not fight the urge to win the man’s affections.
He knew Sebastian thought highly of him, he didn’t need to be able to read his mind for that, it was obvious in the way he continued to express his joy at Adriana being courted by a wealthy Lord.
And Xander had a suspicion Striga had sung his praises on more than one occasion to win her father over.
But still, he was nervous, and he hated it.
“You wish to marry my daughter?”
“Yes, Lord Clarke, I do. I will treat her with the most honourable respect, and continue to give her the freedom and protection to progress her gifts. I will love her until the day—”
“You do realise she does not have a dowry? Not since the laws have changed.”
Xander furrowed his brow at the interruption to his speech, a speech he had spent hours running over with Edward to make sure it was perfect.
“With respect, I was under no assumption that I would receive anything, nor do I want anything. Just your blessing.”
Sebastian said nothing as he eyed Xander. He knew he was a Lamia, even if he did not speak of it, he knew exactly what he was. And although Sebastian Clarke was a rare man who was not only aware but accepting of Daemons, his worry was unmistakable as his fears screamed inside his head.
He was scared of Xander, and he was scared for his daughter.
“I would never wish to harm her,” Xander said, answering his unspoken worries. “I hope you understand that. I love her, and I would rather die than hurt her.”
The man smiled as he brought Xander into an awkward, one-armed hug.
“You have my permission, lad.” Suddenly, the hand on Xander’s shoulder tightened, so much so that it would have been painful to a mortal.
“Only know this, that you would have to strike me down before harming a single hair on my daughter’s head.
And I promise, I would not make it easy on you. ”
Xander's eyes widened as Lord Clarke stepped away and climbed into his carriage, giving him a tip of his hat as the horses started to trot away. He noticed the side-eyed look from Jonathon who was driving the carriage, and gave him a satisfied smirk in return.
“I dare say that went rather well,” a voice called out.
Xander turned to face the nosy old woman teetering nearby. “Eavesdropping again, are we, Striga? I was just about to speak with you.”
“To ask for my permission, yes, I thought you would. You have always been a man of honour, even when you do not realise.”
Xander raised an eyebrow at her and tucked his gloved hands into his pockets as he wandered over to where Striga stood. She smiled up at him as he offered her his arm.
“I am going to assume you approve so I do not have to go through the awkwardness of that again.”
Striga laughed at him as they walked arm-in-arm round Amara House gardens under the evening sun.
Adriana was upstairs getting ready for bed, hopefully keeping her window unlocked like Xander had asked so he could climb through later during the night.
He had dropped her off after they had spent a pleasant day together in town and though it had only been an hour or two, he couldn’t wait to see her again.
“Are you not usually asleep by now, old woman?”
“Watch your tone, boy,” Striga snapped. “I can still set your breeches on fire if you continue to annoy me.”
Xander feigned a look of concern as he walked them back to the front of the house.
“I know you have been drinking her blood,” Striga abruptly announced.
Xander stilled, unsure of what to say. “Do not fret, I am not here to scold you for that, if that is what you have both chosen to do. I just wanted to know if Adriana has also been channeling her power to you, to keep Lilith at bay.”
Xander clenched his jaw and said, “I may ask her in time, if I need it, but not yet. I do not want to take any more from her than I already am. I will find my own way to keep my mind safe, as I should have done before.”
Striga paused, and Xander assumed she would lecture him about asking for Adriana’s help sooner rather than later. To his surprise, she let out a long sigh and nodded in agreement.
“I understand. Providing you her blood and magic would be too much for her. But I will not be here forever, we all know that. I only wish for you both to be prepared for when I go.”
Xander sensed an underlying tone to her words, but before he could even attempt to peer through the gates to her mind, Striga disappeared inside Amara House, leaving him to wander round the lake alone.
He knew that she was right. When she died, and they all begrudgingly knew that age was fast catching up to her, the magic she channelled to Xander would die with her.
And when that day came, Lilith could very well step back into his mind.
Without a strong enough force to counter the curse, he could lose himself indefinitely.
Feeding from Adriana took its toll on her, and Xander hated it.
Her skin was always paler for a day or two and she tended to sleep for longer, even when Deion did heal her with his Medici magic.
But the thought of feeding from anyone else made him nauseous, and he knew that Adriana would certainly have an issue with the idea, for she was perhaps even more possessive than he was.
He was already taking so much, he wasn’t sure he could ask for anymore… not yet anyway.
The thought of Adriana using her power all because Lilith wanted Xander in her clutches, to make her do anything for the sake of that poisonous woman, set his blood boiling.
Adriana shouldn’t have to protect him, shouldn’t have to defend him at all.
Though he knew it was irrational, it made him feel weak to need that help.
By the time Xander made it to Duran Manor, his mind was racing. He sat on the decking, his feet hanging over the edge of the lake, and looked up at the stars that had begun to shine in the sky. It was going to be a long night.
Adriana
Adriana tossed and turned in her bed for hours that night, unable to fall into a deep sleep but unable to fully wake up either. She fisted at the sheets as she was plagued by nightmares of a red eyed serpent, slithering its way towards her in the darkness.
She tried to outrun it, but it was fast—too fast. It wrapped itself around her ankle, tripping her over with ease. It’s cold body continued to coil around hers as she collapsed on the ground, seeming to get larger and stronger every time she struggled against it.
Hello, Adriana.
She heard a voice ring through her mind. It was a soft, sensual voice, singing to her in the most alluring tone.
There you are. I have been looking forward to meeting you, little lightbringer. The woman who managed to capture his heart.
Adriana felt the snake crush her bones one by one. She was in so much pain, but she couldn’t move, couldn’t fight. She could only endure.
He sees you as his saviour, but he will not save you in return. He does not want to save you, he does not want you.
She sobbed as the voice inside her head brought forward all of her darkest thoughts. This thing, this being, it seemed to understand every fear, every painful thought she’d ever had.
You don’t want to be in pain anymore, do you? You want the pain to stop?
“Yes,” she cried.
Do you want me to help you make it stop?
“Please, please make it stop. Please, no more.”
Almost immediately, she felt a sharpness tear through her mind, as if claws were slashing her apart from the inside. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out as the serpent slithered into her mouth and down her throat, claiming her body as its own.