The Blood Between Us

Victor’s eyes sparkle with dark success as he closes the door behind him. His smile sends a chill down my spine. Dante is fallen over, blood running from his forehead. His hands are tied tight behind his back. He tries to lift his head, but it dips again like he’s ready to pass out.

“What did you do to him?” I shout, trying to get forward.

Victor steps in my way, pushing me back. “He got in my way. Again.”

“Let him go!”

“Why? So he can keep playing hero? He’s not your hero, Isabella. He’s nothing. Just a boy who thinks he can protect what doesn’t belong to him.”

My fists clench. “I don’t belong to anyone!”

Victor laughs. “You still don’t get it, do you?”

“I’m not scared of you anymore,” I vow, standing tall even though my knees are shaking.

He tilts his head, then grips my wrist and pulls me close. “You should be.”

I try to break free, but his grip is strong. Too strong. “Let go of me!”

He throws me onto the bed. My body shakes against the mattress, and I crawl backward until my back hits the wall. He watches me, chest rising and falling, eyes filled with madness.

“You left me,” he adds in a low voice. “After everything I gave you. After everything I done for you.”

“You used me. You hurt me!”

“I made you strong.”

“You broke me!”

He goes closer, but suddenly, Dante moans. Victor turns and approaches back to him, grabs a hold of his hair, and yanks his head up.

“This one… he really thought he could steal you from me,” Victor mutters. “Pathetic.”

“Let him go, Victor. This isn’t love. This is obsession!”

“I own you, Isabella. You don’t get to walk away from me. Ever.”

I look around the room, heart pounding. Where’s Lucian? Where are the guards? Did Victor murder them? My stomach turns. I have to get us out of here. I can’t let Victor win.

“You’re not the one I love,” I mutter, pushing the words through my fear.

Victor freezes.

“I never loved you.”

His eyes deepen. For a second, I thought he might punch me. But instead, he drops Dante and slowly turns back to me.

“You’ll regret saying that.”

He draws a knife from his belt. My heart stops.

“Let’s see if you still think that when he’s bleeding out on the floor.”

“No!” I scream.

Victor walks near Dante, raising the knife. I leap from the bed and grab him from behind. He trips, but I’m no match for his strength. He throws me off easily, sending me crashing against the wall.

Pain runs through my arm, but I ignore it. I crawl back up as Victor takes Dante by the collar.

Suddenly, the door bursts open.

Lucian.

He storms in, eyes burning with rage. Two guards rush in behind him.

“Drop the knife,” Lucian orders, voice like thunder.

Victor turns, grinning. “Ah. The fiancé.”

“Not yours to hurt,” Lucian growls. “Let him go.”

Victor laughs and puts the knife to Dante’s throat. “Take one step, and he dies.”

Lucian doesn’t move, but his eyes flit to mine. “Are you okay?”

I nod, barely. “He’s going to kill him.”

“No, he won’t,” Lucian answers quietly. “Because if he does, I’ll make sure you don’t live to breathe another second.”

Victor smiles wider. “You think threats scare me?”

“I don’t need to scare you,” Lucian adds, raising a little remote in his fingers. “I just need to end this.”

He pushes a button.

A loud beep fills the air, then a burst of gas comes through the roof vents. I cough, covering my nose. Victor falls back, coughing hard. The guards move fast, knocking him to the ground. The knife moves across the floor toward me.

I grab it and cut the ropes around Dante’s hands.

He groans again but opens his eyes. “You saved me…”

I shake my head. “We saved each other.”

Lucian walks over and pulls me into his arms. “Are you hurt?”

“Just bruised.”

He brushes my hair back, looking into my eyes. “I almost lost you again.”

“You didn’t,” I say. “I’m here.”

His arms close around me like he’s afraid I’ll disappear.

Victor is taken away by the guards, still coughing and screaming. “This isn’t over! I’ll come back! You can’t keep her from me!”

Lucian glares at him. “Yes. I can.”

The guards take him away, and quiet falls over the room. I kneel alongside Dante, who’s trying to sit up.

“You need help,” I say. He smiles weakly. “You always were bossy.”

I giggle, tears filling my eyes. “Don’t scare me like that again.”

Lucian helps Dante to his feet. “You can rest in the guest room. I’ll have a doctor look at you.”

Dante nods slowly. “Thanks…”

I stick close to him as we walk down the hallway. My body still shakes from everything that just happened. Victor. The knife. The fear.

I stare at Lucian. “How did you find us?” “I never stopped watching. I knew Victor would try something.”

“You knew he was alive?”

“I had suspicions. I couldn’t say anything until I was sure.” My chest tightens. “You should’ve told me.”

“I wanted to protect you.”  “You can’t protect me with lies, Lucian.” He stops walking. “You’re right. No more lies.”

I nod. We keep going. I help Dante settle into a room while Lucian goes to talk with the guards.

Later that night, I sit by the window, looking at the moon.

So much has happened. My heart feels split in two. I care for Dante. I always have. But Lucian… he’s not the same cold man I once feared. He’s changed.

Or maybe… I’ve changed. The door creaks open. Lucian steps in, eyes tired.

“I couldn’t sleep,” he says.

“Me neither.” He walks over, sits across from me. “Victor’s locked away. Maximum security.”

“Will that be enough?” “I’ll make sure it is.” I look at him. “Lucian… I need to know. Why me?”

He’s quiet for a time. Then, “Because you’re the only person who ever made me feel like I wasn’t just a monster.”

My chest aches at his words. “I never wanted to hurt you,” he continues. “I just didn’t know how to love you the right way.”

“Then learn.”

He nods. “I want to.”

We sat in silence. Just the two of us. For the first time, it doesn’t feel forced. It feels… real.

But that peace doesn’t stay. A knock at the door breaks the silence. A guard runs in, pale and breathless.

“What is it?” Lucian asks, standing.  “It’s the prison, sir. Victor… he’s gone.”

My heart stops. “What?!” The guard nods. “There was an attack. Someone broke him out.”

Lucian smacks his hand into the wall. “No. No!”  I stand, shaking. “He’s coming back. He’s coming for me.”

Lucian grabs my hand. “Not this time. I vow I’ll end this.” But I’m not so sure. Because in the darkness, Victor is always watching. And he doesn’t give up.