The Dark Heiress

Visenya awoke to a gentle knock at the door, her mind still groggy as it struggled to orient itself. Lucian, immersed in his work at the desk, looked up briefly as Emi entered the room with a tray of food. Upon catching sight of Visenya, Emi quickly averted her gaze, clearly aware of Visenya's nakedness beneath the thin blanket. Hastily, she placed the food on the table and hurriedly left the room, leaving behind an air of discomfort.

In that moment, Visenya's realization hit her like a bitter wave. Lucian had placed her on the rug by his bed, a stark reminder of her bleak reality. Could she truly be angry, though? Sure, she would prefer to be snuggled up in bed next to her mate after making love, but that was something she’d only ever read about in the pages of fairytales. There was no love between her and Lucian; they were merely two tormented souls bound to one another against their will.

He finally glanced over at her, his attention caught by the movement in his peripheral vision. To her surprise, he wasn't frowning at her this time.

"My apologies for falling asleep in here, Master," she spoke up, rising from the ground to gather her clothing.

"It's alright," he replied softly, causing her head to whip around, needing to confirm that it was indeed him uttering those words.

She had to be certain it was him speaking because the tone of his voice didn't match the man she had lived with for the past three months. She gasped as she looked up at the grandfather clock, realizing she had napped for nearly two hours. How on earth was he not angry with her? Under normal circumstances, she would have been jolted awake by a bucket of cold water.

"Is there anything you need?" She asked, swiftly tying up the laces of her sandals.

His gaze veered between her and the table, an uneasy expression appearing on his face as if he longed to speak but struggled to find the right words. That was when she noticed two cloche trays set across from each other. With pleading eyes, she silently implored him to say the words she yearned to hear.

"You can... join me," he finally uttered.

"I'd love to," she responded eagerly, her steps quickening as she practically raced to the table.

Taking her seat across from him, she inhaled the tantalizing aroma that made her stomach rumble in hunger. The hunger was too intense for her to feel any embarrassment; she didn't care about such trivial emotions. Swiftly removing the cloche from her plate, she wasted no time in devouring the meal before her. There was no trace of poise or ladylike manners as she indulged, and she didn't give a damn about it either.

Her plan had worked... or rather, Marienne's plan. And as soon as she finished eating, she made sure to thank her for the helpful advice.

In the days that followed, Visenya effortlessly maintained her charade... except, it wasn't really a charade at all. She reluctantly admitted that sex was not as terrible as she had initially believed. It had become more enjoyable, less constrained, and even a bit wildly exhilarating at times.

But what surprised her even more was Lucian's unexpected kindness. He didn’t raise his voice or hurl his hurtful insults at her. She couldn't help but hope that this newfound behavior would continue.
———

The day of Lazarus' banquet had finally arrived - a day that Visenya had been dreading. She really did not want to attend and had considered asking Lucian's permission to stay behind. However, she didn't want to upset him, especially since they had been getting along so well lately.

"Should I bring some extra clothing for us?" She hesitantly inquired.

"No," Lucian shook his head. "We'll be back home tonight."

There was something sentimental about the way he referred to it as home. That place had never felt like home to Visenya, until recently. It was only when Lucian allowed her to paint over the black walls and remove all the shades from the windows that it started to feel like a true home. Even the other slaves seemed to be more chipper, not only because of the atmospheric change, but also because of the noticeable shift in Lucian's once formidable demeanor.

"I don't want us to stay there any longer than necessary," he concluded.

Visenya felt a wave of relief wash over her upon hearing his words. She, too, had no desire to remain in the place that was once her home—a home that had been cruelly taken away from her, along with everyone she held dear. Determined to keep her emotions at bay, she pushed those painful memories aside.

As they stepped outside, Lucian took his dragon form. Visenya expected him to wrap her up in his tail once more, but to her surprise, he lowered his wing, gesturing for her to climb onto his back. The familiar gesture ignited a sense of deja vu within her.

They had been in this exact situation before, a distant memory from ages past. The moment stirred a bittersweet nostalgia, making Visenya wonder what could have been if that fateful night had unfolded differently. Swiftly dismissing such thoughts, she climbed onto Lucian's back and held on tightly as he gracefully took flight into the open sky.

It wasn't long after their departure that they arrived at the former Lycan Kingdom. Visenya's gaze scanned the land she had once ruled, hoping to catch sight of a familiar face amidst the bustling city, but luck did not favor her. Lucian gracefully circled the garden, seeking a soft spot to land and ensure her safe descent.

Once they were grounded, Lucian assumed his natural form and together they approached the grand entrance of the castle. As they reached the threshold, Lucian was greeted by a group of slaves, their bodies bearing distinctive bite marks. These were the cherished slaves, trusted by their masters for willingly offering themselves.

Kneeling before Lucian, these slaves revered him as if he were a god, and perhaps in their eyes, he truly was. Visenya reminded herself to keep her head low, suppressing the desire to fully take in her surroundings.

"Emperor Dragon, we are honored to be in your presence," one slave humbly spoke. "King Lazarus has eagerly awaited your arrival. Please, come on in and allow me to escort you to the ballroom."

They followed the slave, their footsteps echoing through the corridors, until they reached the grand ballroom. Even with Visenya's gaze fixed on the ground, the desolation wrought upon her home was impossible to miss. The once vibrant walls had been stripped of their beautiful colors, replaced with a haunting darkness that enveloped every inch of the room. Every window had been blacked out, shutting out the world beyond. She couldn't help but suspect that Lazarus had gone even further, destroying her cherished family portraits, perhaps even consigning them to the flames in some diabolical ritual.

"That's all it would take," Delilah whispered, her voice filled with a smoldering determination. "Set this place ablaze and let the smoke drive them out."

Visenya nodded in agreement, her eyes gleaming with a fiery resolve. If she couldn't have her home, then those who had defiled it sure as hell can’t either. As they stepped into the ballroom, a hushed silence fell over the assembled guests. Visenya initially believed that it was Lucian's imposing presence that rendered them speechless, but soon discovered that it wasn’t him that had captured their attention.

“You despicable bitch!” A voice roared, and venomous tongues joined in the chorus.

She was subjected to ruthless names, with many wishing her death. They took pleasure in her misery, labeling her as the Emperor’s whore. The room was filled with vampires who despised her, their intense hatred resonating through their words.

"Silence!" Lucian's voice cut through the air, and an eerie stillness fell upon the room, so profound that even the sound of a pen dropping could be heard.

Visenya peered up at him, her gaze meeting his glaring face as he scrutinized everyone in the room. In a rare moment, that look wasn't directed at her, but rather at those who dared to ridicule her. Was it foolish of her to believe that he was actually defending her? Perhaps. But at least they all shut the hell up.

"Emperor Lucian," Lazarus chimed in, extending a greeting. "Please excuse my people; they're a little emotional after encountering their oppressor up close and personal."

Visenya felt the urge to scoff at Lazarus for labeling her as an oppressor. After witnessing how he and 'his people' treated their own slaves, she couldn't fathom his audacity. However, she fought to maintain her silence, keeping her head bowed.

She was determined not to step out of line and risk angering Lucian. Her goal was to navigate through this pointless gathering without creating any friction between herself and the man she reluctantly called Master.

"You will see to it that your people know their place in my presence," Lucian asserted firmly.

"Of course," Lazarus replied agreeably, gesturing towards the table. "Please, have a seat... I have prepared a place for you at the head of the table, right here next to Sebastian and me."

Visenya was well aware of Sebastian. He was Lazarus' beloved, and she had heard tales of the killing spree he embarked on the night Lazarus turned him. Though it had happened a century ago, the carnage he left behind would forever be etched in history.

With grace, Lucian took the seat prepared for an esteemed guest like himself, and Visenya humbly knelt at his feet, right beside him. The band played on with their festive music, and the rest of the gathering continued their exuberant chatter.

They all sipped their wine glasses, the crimson liquid thick and foreboding. Visenya's heart weighed heavy as she contemplated the countless lives lost to fill those glasses. She attempted to avert her thoughts, but both she and Delilah seethed with growing fury.

"The blood is sourced from our voluntary donors," Sebastian explained to Lucian, sensing his curiosity about the origin of such a vast supply.

"And we have many donors," Lazarus interjected. "I invited you here tonight to dispel the notion that we are the monsters society portrays us to be. We provide our slaves with a choice. Admittedly, Sebastian and I haven't always been benevolent leaders, but our daughter has softened our hearts over the years."

"'Daughter?'" Delilah questioned, her confusion mirroring Visenya's own.

Visenya couldn't recall Lazarus and Sebastian having a daughter, adding to her perplexity.

"Ahh...here she is, our little Dark Heiress," Sebastian exclaimed, a hint of pride in his voice. "Emperor Lucian, surely you remember our daughter, don't you?"

Visenya couldn't help but be intrigued by the mention of a daughter she had never known existed. Her eyes widened in shock as she locked gazes with the woman before her, who returned her gaze with sympathetic eyes.

"Victoria?" Visenya muttered under her breath, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and recognition.