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She smiled in a way I didn’t like. “No place is impenetrable, especially not if Constantine is the one knocking on the door. Do not be foolishly assured of their safety. You need to be by their side all the time. Whether Constantine knows or suspects is irrelevant. What is relevant is that he will do everything to get to you, to obtain the power that you two possess when united.”
I shook my head, determined of my choice. “I will never join the dark side. I have chosen what to protect and who to pledge my loyalty to.”
“That is good,” she nodded. “Keep reminding yourself of that. Because Constantine is a devil incarnate. He will make you see things that are not. He will make you believe things you never would otherwise. Tread carefully, King Adrian and go home to protect your family… before it is too late.”
I immediately got up. “Do you think they are in danger right now?”
“I cannot know that,” she explained. “I am merely speaking from experience. If Constantine has attacked your castle once, he has done so for a goal, a goal that obviously wasn’t met the first time, because you made them retreat. But rest assured that he will come again and again, until he obtains what he came for.”
I nodded, realizing that she was telling me to rush back home. I expressed my gratitude to the witch for sharing her knowledge and the insights she had provided. With a sense of resolve and a heart filled with newfound understanding, I rose from my seat and made my way to the door, ready to embark on the journey back home.
Mounting my horse, I set out into the night, the moonlight casting a silvery glow over the forest. The path home felt clearer now, the weight of history and destiny resting upon my shoulders. As I rode, I pondered the revelations and the journey that lay ahead. The secrets of Constantine's past and our shared bloodline had stirred a sense of purpose within me, and I was determined to face the challenges and confront the shadows that loomed over our kingdom.
I still had no idea where this path might take me or when Constantine would attack again, demanding my presence, but I knew that I needed to be with my family and keep them safe. That was my only purpose in life. Prophecies did not concern me. Like I told the witch, I had made my choice a long time ago and I had no intention of changing it ever.
Although there were still many unknowns, I felt like my return to the witch did reveal a clarity of purpose, an even greater resolve to protect those I loved. As I rode through the woods, the ancient trees cast long, twisting shadows in the moonlight. The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, illuminating patches of wildflowers and underbrush. The air was filled with the scent of earth and moss, the very essence of nature itself. I rode with a sense of purpose, determined to confront the enigma of my shared bloodline with Constantine and the prophecy that bound us.
The journey through the woods felt like a metaphor for the path I had chosen, full of twists and turns, with the promise of revelation and transformation awaiting me at its end. With every passing moment, I drew closer to the answers that had eluded me for so long, the destiny that beckoned me forward, and the challenges that lay in wait.
I could do this. As long as I had Lil and Cass by my side, I could defeat the whole world if I had to.
Chapter Sixteen
Lilith
I slept very lightly, so the thunderous sounds that reverberated throughout the courtyard woke me up instantly. Disoriented and panicked, I quickly got out of bed and rushed to the window. The sight that met my eyes sent shockwaves of dread through my entire being.
“No, no…” I gasped, pressing my hand to my lips incredulously. “It can’t be…”
But, it was. The courtyard below was a chaotic battleground, bathed in the eerie veil of the silvery moonlight. The guards of the castle, clad in their heaviest armor, were fighting the encroaching horde of vampires. I could see their hellfire eyes gleaming in the darkness, their fangs bared in a macabre display of savagery.
Leopold was bravely leading the guards in a defense attack, but there seemed to be too many vampires. They just kept coming in tidal waves, and I knew it was just a matter of time before they entered the castle.
“Where are you, Adrian?” I called out to him desperately, but I knew I couldn’t count on him being back in time. He didn’t know we needed him. I had to take care of Cass on my own.
In a frantic rush, I left my bedroom and ran down the hallway, towards Cass’ room. I could still hear the commotion from outside, but luckily, they hadn’t been allowed in. Not yet, at least. I barged inside, my heart pounding with fear. I was momentarily relieved to find her sleeping soundly. She was nestled under the covers, her innocent face serene in slumber, unaware of what had been going on beyond the safe confines of her room.
I wanted to stay here, to let her sleep through the chaos, but I knew that we weren’t safe here. This would be among the first places they would come to. I gently woke Cass up, her sleepy eyes fluttering open as she gazed at me with a mix of surprise and concern.
“Darling, you need to wake up,” I told her, brushing a strand of stray hair from her cheek. “You need to come with me.”
“Where?” she asked, her voice still sleepy.
“We have to get to the attic,” I explained, as her eyes widened at the mention of the attic.
Without asking for more clarification, she nodded and climbed out of her bed. I held her hand and together, we rushed through the castle’s corridors. The sounds of the battle outside grew louder with each passing moment, and the urgency of our situation was palpable.
As we reached the attic, I swung open the heavy wooden door, and we ascended the narrow staircase. The attic was a dimly lit spacious room that served as a storage place. It held old furniture, dusty trunks and forgotten treasures of the past. Right now, it was more than just that. It was a sanctuary, a place where we could find refuge from the chaos below.
“Help me with this, baby,” I urged, nearing a heavy wooden trunk.
Cass understood immediately. We worked quickly together to barricade the door leading to the staircase. We moved that wooden trunk, an old armoire and whatever else we could find against the door, forming a makeshift barricade that would hopefully keep us safe from any intrusion.
As we arranged the pieces of furniture, the distant sounds of the battle continued to reverberate through the castle. The clash of steel and the eerie wails of the vampires were a haunting reminder of the danger that lurked outside.
Cass watched me with wide, solemn eyes, and I could see the mixture of fear and determination in her young gaze. We were in this together, and our bond as mother and daughter was a source of strength in this moment of crisis. Once the barricade was in place, we sat together in the attic's shadows, the weight of uncertainty pressing down upon us. We clung to each other, seeking solace in the knowledge that, for the time being, we were safe from the horrors that roamed outside.
“Are we under attack, mom?” she asked, sounding more grown up than I’ve ever heard her before.
