The Blood Contract
Chapter 87: Wake up soon

Chapter 87: Wake up soon

Three days had passed, each dragging slower than the last. Each hour felt like a weight pressing down on Lucian’s chest, heavier and more suffocating with each breath. Serena still hadn’t stirred. Her face remained pale, almost ghostlike, as if her soul hovered somewhere between life and death, caught in limbo.

Lucian hadn’t left her bedside much, only slipping away when he had no choice but to clean up. Even then, it took everything in him to walk out that door. His world had shrunk down to this one room, this one woman, and the rhythmic but quiet sound of her breathing.

He sat beside her now, his fingers barely brushing her wrist, feeling for her pulse, though he knew it was there. He’d checked a hundred times, maybe more. He’d never been this still in his life, not even when he made million-dollar decisions with a gun pointed to his head.

But this? This quiet agony of waiting and not knowing—it was slowly killing him.

The rest of the household had learned to stay out of his way. Even Adrian had started keeping his distance. Lucian was no longer the collected, sharp-minded leader they all knew. His temper had shortened, his eyes darker, his words—when he bothered to speak—were clipped and biting. He wasn’t himself, and everyone knew why.

Marlowe stepped into the room for the second time that day, the clipboard in her hand barely moving with her strides. She stopped beside Serena, her eyes scanning every inch of her patient like she was searching for something new.

Lucian stepped back to give her room, as he had done every time before. But even before Marlowe could open her mouth, he asked, "Anything changed?"

"Still the same," she replied softly, her voice low with empathy and fatigue. "Her vitals are stable. There’s no deterioration in her body. But she’s not waking up either."

Lucian pressed his lips together, hard, swallowing the scream that had been lodged in his throat for days.

"I believe her body is fighting," Marlowe continued. "The Splera de Plifa is rare. We don’t have all the data on how her body would react to it. Serena is alive, Mr. Draven. She’s not dying. But she’s still at war inside herself."

Lucian stared at Serena again, his jaw tightening.

Marlowe took a deep breath, gathering courage. "I don’t think you should put everything else on hold. Adrian told me the meeting with Bonnie is today."

He blinked. "So?"

"We’ve been anticipating that meeting for some time. You know how important it is. We need what Bonnie can give us. And frankly, we need to know if he’s really on our side."

"I’m not leaving her."

"I’ll stay with her," Marlowe said gently, stepping closer. "Nothing will happen to her while you’re gone. I’ll monitor everything. And I’ll call if anything changes. But you, Lucian... you’re wasting away here. Serena wouldn’t want this."

He hesitated. His fingers brushed a strand of hair off Serena’s forehead. She didn’t flinch.

"She’d want you to keep going," Marlowe added.

Lucian swallowed hard. "Fine. I’ll go for the meeting."

She nodded in relief. "It’s in two hours. You should get ready."

Lucian turned without another word and walked out of the room.

***

Lucian didn’t speak the entire ride. Adrian drove in silence, expertly maneuvering through the city’s underbelly. The vehicle hummed, cutting through neon-lit streets and broken alleyways until they arrived at Velvet Fortune—Bonnie’s casino fortress. It towered like a monument of sin and secrecy, guarded by men with machine guns under tailored suits and smiles that didn’t quite reach their eyes.

Bonnie’s men knew who they were. No checks. No questions. The car was waved through, and valet doors opened the second the engine went silent.

Inside, the air was thick with cigar smoke, murmurs, and the subtle clinking of chips and glasses. Women in crimson dresses moved between tables like dancers on a stage, masking deals and deceit behind false laughter.

Bonnie’s office was perched above the gaming floors, behind two thick doors and a biometric lock. They were led in by one of his assistants.

Lucian took a seat when offered. Adrian stood behind him like a silent sentinel.

"Mr. Draven," Bonnie greeted, rising from his high-back chair. His voice was thick with a Grecian accent, his smile too polished, too perfect. "A pleasure. Though, you look... weary."

"I’m not here to discuss my appearance," Lucian replied, his voice cold and distant.

Bonnie chuckled as he poured himself a glass of aged whiskey. "Straight to business, then. That’s what I admire about you. Efficient. Deadly. So, shall we talk about the glove? What makes you think I have it?"

Lucian leaned back slightly. "I wouldn’t be here if you didn’t."

"Don’t be so sure of yourself. You might be here because I want to hand you over to the Council of Vitae," Bonnie said.

"Hand me over?" Lucian scoffed. "Is that supposed to scare me? I am not a wanted man, Bonnie. I am a free man who can walk in and out of the Council of Vitae without getting any form of harassment."

"For now, yes. But what if the Council find out that you have betrayed them? Do you think you will still be a free man?" Bonnie asked.

Lucian let out an unbothered laugh. "Go ahead then, call them in," Lucian said in a relaxed tone. "I’m sure you know I am a child of the Council of Vitae."

"I do." Bonnie took a sip, watching Lucian over the rim. "So you’re telling me there’s only four wishes in the glove? I can only use it four times, and I will go crazy if I try to use it the fifth time?"

Lucian didn’t flinch. "Yes. I am absolutely certain of that fact."

Bonnie laughed. "This is ridiculous. I still have the full recording of the gala. I was supposed to get ten desires."

"Exactly."

"If I find out you’re lying—"

"You will never find that out, Bonnie, so let’s quit wasting time. A man of your caliber must have tested it out before taking me seriously. Do we have a deal or not?" Lucian said impatiently.

"What you ask of me is rather too much compared to such a small revelation. I want something else," Bonnie said, then laughed when he saw Lucian’s expression harden. "Don’t look so grim, I’m not going to ask for your life."

"What do you want?" Lucian asked.

"Access," Bonnie said.

"To what?"

"The Vexium routes."

Adrian shifted slightly behind Lucian. The Vexium routes were their cleanest supply chain—money, weapons, pharmaceuticals, and other items best kept off books. If Bonnie got access, he’d double his empire overnight.

Lucian narrowed his eyes. "Those routes are not part of this negotiation."

Bonnie’s grin didn’t waver. "Then this isn’t a negotiation. It’s a farewell chat."

Lucian leaned forward. "You called me, Bonnie. You’re the one who needs this above everyone else. I already sent you files to show you what these people are capable of. You also need something solid to ensure you secure the position of governor."

"I’m not one to mess with, Lucian. Not by you or the Council of Vitae. And my getting the seat of governor is almost a done deal."

"Are you sure about that? Or are you betting on a maybe? Because as far as I know, the opposition are not resting, and they seem to be garnering lots of support," Lucian said, voice low. "I’m offering you certainty. We give you immense backup, you win. You bring down the Council, the lesser the chance of either you or your children becoming an experiment someday. We reform the Council, everybody is happy."

Bonnie tilted his glass in a salute. "Now that’s the Lucian Draven I was hoping to see."

There was a long pause. Then Bonnie sighed. "Fine. You’ll get my support. Mine and that of those with me."

Lucian stood slowly. "All other details will be sent to you shortly. Welcome to the club," he said, then turned to leave without another word. Adrian followed.

***

When they returned to the estate, Lucian didn’t go to his room. He went straight to Serena’s.

Marlowe looked up when he entered. Her eyes flicked to the monitor, then to his face.

"No change," she said.

Lucian moved to the bed, sank into the chair beside Serena, and took her hand in his. It was still warm.

He didn’t say anything. He just held it.

"You did well today," Marlowe said gently.

"I felt nothing," he murmured, his voice raw. "I made threats, struck a deal, walked out. But I was... empty." He didn’t understand it himself, but he didn’t bother hiding it anymore.

Something was seriously wrong with him.

Marlowe paused. "You seem to have developed a likeness for her."

Lucian blinked. "I don’t—"

"Yes, you do," she cut in, but kindly. "You wouldn’t fall apart like this if you didn’t. It’s not a bad thing, Mr. Draven. You should know that. You just have to exercise control."

He exhaled and didn’t respond.

"I’ll give you two some time," Marlowe said, picking up her notes and walking out, leaving the door slightly ajar behind her.

Lucian turned to Serena again. He brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers.

"Why won’t you wake up, huh?" he whispered. "You’re trying to punish me, right?"

Silence answered him.

"I struck a deal with Bonnie today. We’re one step closer to achieving our goal," he informed her, squeezing her hand slightly. "You’re going to miss all the action if you don’t wake up soon."

He dropped his head, resting it against her arm as silence reigned once more.

"You like to fix broken cars, right?" he asked suddenly, his voice low. "If you wake up today, I’ll gift you the biggest automobile shop in this city," he promised out of the blue, expecting a reaction.

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