The Blood Contract
Chapter 94: All clear

Chapter 94: All clear

Lucian went back to his room, but this time everything was different.

For the past sixteen days, he had been entering his room, but only to shower and change his clothes. He had not slept in his room for that number of days.

Sixteen long, restless days and the bed had remained untouched, perfectly made, waiting for a night that never came. The silence had always greeted him, thick and unmoving, pressing on his chest each time he lingered for too long. The walls, once familiar, had become cold. He hadn’t been able to lie down, not when Serena lay unconscious in the other room.

Today, however, was different.

Today, she was awake.

And tonight, he was going to sleep in that room.

It felt like the strangest thing for him to do, almost unnatural. As though the part of him that had lived and breathed beside her had forgotten how to function on its own. And yet, despite the strangeness, the room now felt less like a prison and more like a place of rest again.

A sigh slipped past his lips as the thoughts danced around his head, flitting in and out like restless ghosts. He ran a hand down his face, trying to shake off the lingering tension in his shoulders. Then, wordlessly, he walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. The water was warm, steady, and for a few moments, he just stood beneath it, letting it wash over him like a reset.

After he showered, towel slung around his shoulders, he stepped out and moved toward the bed. It still looked the same, but somehow different now, as if its purpose had returned. He sat down on the edge, the mattress giving slightly beneath his weight.

And just as he was about to lie down, a knock reached his ears.

He paused, his body freezing for a moment before he stood up. The knock wasn’t loud, but it was firm. Not urgent, but definitely not casual either. He moved to the door and opened it.

Standing there was Marlowe.

He blinked at her, noticing the envelope and some pieces of paper she held in her hand.

"Is something wrong?" he asked before she could say anything, noting the way she held the documents with deliberate care, like they carried weight.

"Not really," she answered, her tone calm but serious. "It’s just that I just received a message from Maria. And the message was directed specifically to you and Serena."

Lucian’s brow furrowed. His eyes dropped briefly to the papers in her hand, then back to her face.

"I can’t give her this right now or tell her anything about it since she is still recovering," Marlowe continued. "But I think you should read it."

After saying that, she extended one of the papers to him, on which was a handwritten note.

Lucian collected the paper and proceeded to read its content.

The production of the latest batch of the glove of Arashat has been completed today. If you ever find yourself captured by the Council of Vitae, you should know that the glove will be used on you. Although this batch is stronger and more efficient than the last one, it still has the same weakness the last one has. If you fight against it with a strong enough willpower, you can break it’s hold on you and drive the user crazy.

Never ever forget this.

Best wishes, Maria.

Lucian stared at the page for a long time after the words stopped. His eyes didn’t move, but he wasn’t reading anymore. His mind was already too far ahead.

A quiet storm brewed behind his expression.

Marlowe watched him carefully. "I am not sure if I’m right, but I have a feeling the council is planning something sinister. Maria must have heard something for her to send this."

"Bonnie is already working on the sanctions," Lucian murmured, folding the paper carefully and slipping it back into the envelope. "The question is how long it would take for his plan to have an effect. I will speak with him again tonight."

Marlowe nodded approvingly.

He rubbed a hand over his face and exhaled again, slower this time. "Don’t tell her yet. Not until she’s stronger."

"I wasn’t planning to."

He gave her a small nod. "Thank you," he said, then took a step back as if retreating into the room.

"Will you be sleeping here tonight?" Marlowe asked, and he nodded his head.

"I feel she would need some space to recover fast," he quickly added a reason when he saw Marlowe’s expression leaning toward the confused and questioning side.

"That’s true. Have a good night’s rest," Marlowe wished him, then turned around and walked away from there.

***

Marlowe climbed down the stairs with intentions of going to get some more things from the lab, only to see Adrian and Darrell walking into the living room just at the same time as she arrived at the foot of the stairs.

"She’s awake," she announced, just loud enough for them to hear, a smile tugging at the sides of her lips. Without blinking, she watched their reactions, not wanting to miss any one of them.

Adrian stopped walking instantly, his brows knitting as a question instantly flew out of his mouth. "Who’s awake?"

Darrell blinked as if he’d misheard.

"Serena is awake," Marlowe answered the question.

"Awake-awake?" Darrell asked. "Like blinking, talking, laughing awake?"

Marlowe smirked. "She’s blinking, talking, frowning, and even asked after you. So yes."

Darrell’s face lit up. "She’s baaaaack."

Adrian didn’t even wait for the teasing. "I’ll believe it when I see her. Can we see her now?"

Marlowe nodded. "Briefly. She’s still weak, but lucid.

The duo didn’t wait. They headed up the stairs in a half run pace, Serena’s room in mind.

A soft knock reached serena’s ears, and she knew instantly it was not Marlowe. "Come in," she called, suspecting it was either Darrell or Adrian.

The door to her room opened with a soft creak, and in stepped Darrell and Adrian, both looking as though they’d been holding their breath for ages.

"She’s really awake?" Darrell whispered, like the sound might jinx it.

Serena blinked slowly, still propped up in bed, her face pale but very much alive.

"Yes, Darrell," Marlowe, who arrived at the doorway after they stepped inside, said with a small smile. "She’s awake. Try not to make a circus out of it."

"No promises," Darrell muttered, stepping fully into the room, though his hands were neatly clasped behind his back like he was walking into a royal chamber.

Adrian followed with a quiet nod in Serena’s direction. "Ma’am." he greeted, his heart finally believing it after his eyes confirmed it.

Serena offered a faint smile. "Adrian. Darrell."

Darrell gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "She remembers our names! She’s back, Adrian! The Queen has returned!"

Serena raised a brow, lips twitching. "Just a few days and you’ve become theatrical?"

"Sixteen days," he emphasized. "Sixteen days of boredom," he said, already pacing a little. "Sixteen days of Boss walking around like a ticking bomb. You don’t know suffering until you’ve had Boss glare at you just because your boots squeaked too loud in the hallway."

Adrian coughed to hide his laugh.

"I sneezed once," Darrell added with emphasis, holding up a finger. "Just once. The man looked at me like I had committed high treason."

Serena chuckled lightly, and Darrell perked up at the sound.

"Oh, thank heavens, madam finds me funny. Adrian, write that down. Put it on my gravestone."

"You’re not dead," Adrian said dryly.

"Not yet," Darrell muttered. "But I might’ve been soon if she hadn’t woken up. I caught Boss standing in the dark kitchen two nights ago, just... staring at a loaf of bread."

Adrian nodded solemnly. "I saw that too."

Serena blinked, amused. "Staring at bread?"

"Menacingly," Darrell whispered. "Like the carbs had insulted him."

This time, Serena laughed outright—a soft but clear sound that filled the room like sunlight. Darrell stood straighter, puffing his chest.

"I’ve done my duty. I’ve made Her Highness laugh. Now, if I may—" He turned dramatically, then promptly tripped on the edge of the carpet and stumbled into the side of her bed.

Adrian sighed. "And now you’ve ruined it."

Serena winced as the bed jolted slightly. "Darrell, for goodness’ sake."

"I meant to do that," Darrell said quickly, brushing his shirt like it had personally betrayed him. "Just checking if the flooring’s safe. All clear."

Marlowe shook her head from across the room. "Get out before you knock over her IV."

"Right. Right," Darrell mumbled, backing out slowly. "But I’m glad you’re back, madam. Really. It’s been too quiet."

"And terrifying," Adrian added with a small smile. "Welcome back, ma’am."

Darrell cleared his throat. "It’s lovely to see you, ma’am. Please never scare us like that again. Adrian started ironing napkins out of stress."

"I did not," Adrian snapped.

"He did," Darrell whispered to her. "Twice."

Serena’s laughter echoed faintly through the room.

As the door clicked shut behind them, she leaned back on her pillows, lips still curved and her heart a little lighter.