Retrouver (verb) to find

A severe-looking woman stood framed in the doorway, holding a writhing Seraphina by the root of her hair.

My heart leapt into my throat at the sight of her.

"Look what I found snooping around," the woman said teasingly.

She dragged my sister inside the dimly lit room, and an angry scream tore from my throat.

"Let her go!"

Before I could think better of it, I snatched a candelabra from a nearby table and ran at the woman, intent on doing as much damage as I could, but was held back by Bastien, whose arm caught me around the waist and pulled me back against his chest.

"Not so fast, Claire."

I tried to twist out of his grip, but it was useless. He plucked the weapon out of my grip, setting it back on the table like I was an errant child.

"This is Natalia," Bastien explained against my ear. His voice low. "You'd do well not to try and attack her again. Especially when I'm not around to stop you. Understand?"

I didn't say anything. I was too angry, and I certainly wasn't going to promise not to hurt this woman who had captured Sera.

Natalia wore her long black hair in a ponytail at the top of her head and was dressed in breeches and a shirt like a man might wear, except they were perfectly tailored for her lithe body.

Despite the glasses perched on her little nose and the red welt on her cheek, I could tell by looking at her that she was a vampire by the way she moved.

"Do you know this woman?" Bastien asked. Again, the purr of his voice against my ear sent a thrill down my spine.

A thrill I easily pushed aside because, right now, the only thing I could focus on was freeing my sister.

"Yes. Of course. She-she's my everything," I said, tears burning in my eyes as the woman yanked Seraphina closer, and she stumbled forward. "Stop hurting her!"

The woman called Natalia snorted. Her red lips quirked in a frown. "Does my everything have a name? Something you call her in polite company."

My own lips pulled into a tight line. "If only there was polite company around."

I shouldn't have said that. Mama would be disappointed. I was supposed to be acting soft and sweet. Docile, even, to earn their trust. That was the point of the mission. But it was hard to act sweet when a vampire had ahold of my sister's hair.

"Watch your tongue, my lady," Natalia said, giving a sharp tug on Sera's hair that made her yelp.

"Stop!" I cried. Desperate to do whatever it took to get Bastien's assistant to let my sister go. "Her name is Sera Donadieu. And she's my little sister."

Natalia paused, canting her head to one side. "A Donadieu? From the Nightfall Convent?"

We both nodded. Sera wincing as she did. Seeding the lie.

Since I couldn't bring my own parentage scroll as proof of identification to the Sanguination ball without giving our plot away, I had to forge one. And the most uncomplicated identity to assume was that of a girl without parents.

Donadieu was the surname given to the orphans of Nightfall, a city south and west of the capital, near enough to our village. The orphans housed at the convent were those of dead soldiers, more often than not. Victims of the vampire's relentless pursuit of territory.

"Well, well," the female vampire said, an eyebrow lifted. "Two little orphan girls." She shifted her attention to Bastien. "My lord, you've truly outdone yourself this time." Her smile flattened. "I thought we agreed no more strays at Chateau Rose."

I wondered what she meant by that. It seemed like something important I needed to take note of.

I shifted in his grip to observe his reaction, but Bastien's hand flattened against my stomach, holding me still. The backside of my body flush against him.

He was too close. Much too close. I wiggled, trying to put space between us, but he only held me tighter.

"Stop," he warned.

The skin he was touching heated despite his coldness.

I focused my attention on collecting data instead of on the heat forming inside me. The vampire was tall enough that the top of my head barely reached his shoulder, and the only thing I could see from this vantage point was the hard line of his jaw and the point of his nose.

"This stray wouldn't take no for an answer," he told Natalia. "It bit my leg when I tried to leave."

I looked from Bastien to Natalia and wondered if their relationship was more than professional. She seemed to care a lot about him, and he her. If they were more to each other, it was useful to make note of. I'd need to know as much as possible about the people around me to be an effective spy.

But something wiggled inside my stomach at the thought of them together. Something that I couldn't get to lie still.

Natalia laughed dryly then pointed at the red welt on her cheek. "Looks like bad behavior runs in the family."

Sera gave me a sheepish grin, and I tried to hide my shock that she'd actually slapped a vampire. She was brave but reckless. Something worse could've happened to her, and I would've never forgiven myself.

Mama told us to be polite and respectful of the vampires. It was part of the act. So, I swallowed my hatred, and I resumed being sweet.

"Please, my lord, tell this woman to release my sister. She only wanted to ensure I was alright. I'm the only family she has."

There was silence, and for a second, I wondered what he was planning to do with her. If she'd be taken prisoner or if they'd extract justice for striking a vampire noble.

Instead, he relaxed his hold on my waist. I used the opportunity to put space between us, daring to take a step closer to Sera, who was too proud to beg for her freedom.

He waved a dismissive hand in the air. "Natalia, let her go."

Thank Diana.

"As you command, my lord," she said, releasing her hold on Seraphina's hair.

My sister rushed to me, wrapping her arms around my middle and squeezing me tight. I smoothed my hand over the back of her head, hoping she wasn't in too much pain.

"Are you alright, Clairey?" Sera asked in a whisper.

I choked on a sob. Sera was the only person in our coven who treated me like I belonged. And the only one I'd do absolutely anything for.

I nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a little sore. How are you?"

"No worse for the wear."

From the corner of my eye, I watched Bastien walk around us to stand beside Natalia. Talking in Sanguisi.

I pulled back and took Sera's face between my hands, my gaze tracing every inch of her to make sure she hadn't been harmed. Sera did the same, and her hands shook when she narrowed on my neck.

"Oh, Claire," she whispered. Tears sparkling in her eyes. "That looks awful."

I didn't want her to be sad. I wanted her to be proud. I'd done it. Against all odds, I'd been taken into Bastien's service. I'd endure a thousand bites if it meant finding the location of every demonic relic for her. 

Mama and the coven would destroy them, and at last, Sera would be safe, and she could live a blessed life practicing her magick in peace.

As I stared into her eyes, I watched as her brown irises turned bronze, like a shield catching the light of the sun, just like they always did when she was casting a spell, and the tingle of magick tickled over my neck. Easing the worst of the pain caused by the choker and Bastien's teeth.

She shouldn't have wasted her magick on me. Sera still needed to make it back home in one piece, and this time, she'd be traveling alone. The full moon was a week away, and she wouldn't be able to recharge her powers until then.

I also couldn't believe she dared to use magick in a room full of vampires. Even if her back was to them, it was reckless. So, so reckless.

I leaned my forehead against hers, like we used to do when we were girls. Our quiet moment was short lived.

"I wonder how two orphan girls came to own such fine dresses," Natalia said to Bastien in the common tongue and loud enough for us to hear.

We both turned to face them, and I took Sera's hand in mine.

They were suspicious of us. Thankfully, we had an answer for this.

"The dresses were donated to the convent by the Dame of Nightfall for any girl wishing to attend your Sanguination." I ran my hand over the smooth black lace covering the boning of my bodice. "With a few modifications, we were able to make them fit."

The best part about this answer is that it wasn't a lie. The Dame of Nightfall, a member of the human aristocracy, donated dresses each month to hopefully girls. With a bit of planning and a lot of magick, our coven was able to secure these two.

The vampires stared at us like they weren't sure what to make of our story.

"The Dame is in attendance tonight," I offered. "If questioned, she'd be able to confirm that these dresses were, in fact, donated."

Natalia went to move, like she was going to do just that, when Bastien gave a slight shake of his head. "That won't be necessary. I have no desire to remain any longer at Chateau Corbin, questioning nobles. Now that I have my new sanguine partner, we ride for Roselyn. I've already been gone too long."

He reached inside his pocket and removed a small coin purse. With a thoughtful look at my sister, he tossed it to her. Sera caught the leather pouch in her hand with ease. Loosening the strings to reveal gold and silver coins.

Both of our mouths dropped.

"My lord?" Sera asked, closing the pouch.

His pale blue eyes flicked from me to my sister. His hard, chiseled features remained stoic.

"Considering your circumstances, I'm assuming Claire would prefer you to have her first month's earnings. She will want for nothing at my castle, and that purse will provide you with enough money to return to Nightfall in a coach and purchase comfortable accommodations for yourself."

To say I was shocked by the gesture would be an understatement. But giving an orphan a small fortune was the least he could do after sending so many into battle. It didn't prove anything about Bastien other than perhaps he had a conscience, no matter how small it was.

A small part of me was hoping he'd invite Sera to come to the castle with me, or demand it. His suspicions of me extending to her and wanting to keep us both under watch. It would've been nice to have her at my side throughout all this. Besides, if she was inside Chateau Rose, she couldn't be attacked by a dark witch.

But Bastien's tone didn't leave any room for argument, and it hadn't been the plan that Sera would accompany me on this mission. Mama would be grateful for the extra coin as they plotted their next moves. It meant more weapons. More rare ingredients for potions.

This was for the best.

All the same, I was going to miss her.

"I guess this is goodbye," I said, taking Sera into my arms. Hugging her tight. I hadn't spent more than a fortnight away from her since the day she was born.

"It's not goodbye. It's see you soon," she whispered.

With her head held high, my sister allowed Natalia to lead her out of the room, turning to wave one last time before disappearing down the hall.

I pressed my lips together, trying to keep the sob threatening to escape buried in my throat.

The vampire prince didn't make a move to comfort me. He simply waltzed to the door, picked up his cane, and waited at the door for me with an expectant look.

When I didn't move, he expelled an annoyed breath. "Claire, are you coming?"

Off we go! 🏃‍♀️

I'm curious what you think about Natalia? 👀

Question: Do you like side characters more than the mains? Or do you fall into the main characters and the side characters are an afterthought?

I have a tendency to latch on to side characters. They get the freedom to be themselves without the burden of plot.