Lumiere

My hands trembled, my mind was a complete mess. I stayed in my room, working day and night to find a cure. Some days, Theodore would bring me food, sit down, and talk to me. His face was full of worry for me. But most days, it was Anthony himself who visited me and actually tried to help. Why? Because I had given him a carrot. My experiments had yielded new results—a blood that made vampires thirst for more.

After our last conversation, something about him had changed, though I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. He seemed calm and patient.

"Have you tested it on her yet?"

I looked up at Anthony with a troubled expression. "No, my lord, I haven't. It's too soon."

"Is it really, Lumiere?" he said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You're doing this for her. You've been working day and night to help her. We both have." He placed a jewel-adorned hand on my shoulder. "It's time we find out if we're on the right path, don't you think?"

I glanced at the vial in my hand, the green liquid shimmering inside. "What if it makes her worse?" I whispered, my head falling to the floor. "What if it hurts her?"

"What are your options, Lumiere? To keep her locked in that room for the rest of her life?" he asked as he snatched the container from my hands and walked past me toward her room.

I followed behind him, my head hanging low. I took two steps at a time to keep up with his long strides. My feelings were mixed—I wanted her to get better. I wanted her to be able to go outside with me. I wanted her to have a normal life—as normal as it could be for a vampire, anyway. And I hoped with all my heart that she would want to spend the rest of her days with me.

When we reached our destination, I unlocked the door and stopped to stare at the pale girl sleeping on the floor. My heart ached, my muscles and entire soul ached for her. And at the same time, I felt a growing resentment toward the man beside me. Anthony had forbidden me from feeding her blood, claiming it only made her worse. How many times had I tried to gather the courage to ask him to give her some of his own? But I knew he would have suggested it himself if it were an option. I assumed he didn't want to waste those precious drops on a monster like her.

"What happens now?" I whispered, feeling suddenly nauseous.

I felt his eyes on me, piercing through my soul. "Do you want me to do it for you?" he asked. When I didn't answer, he chuckled dryly. "You do, don't you? Poor Lumiere, you love her."

I kept staring at her, tears welling in my eyes. My body felt fragile after all these days and nights without sleep or food—all for her. All for this moment.  My thoughts were interrupted when I felt the cold, smooth glass pressed into my palm and his warm breath against my ear.  "This is your little project, Lumiere. You started it, so you'll finish it. And you'll live with the consequences."

If the truth be told, it was Clocksworth who had started it—by bringing her here. But this wasn't the time to be pedantic, even though I had a strong urge to hit him in the face with the vial.  Instead, I took a deep breath and stepped into the room to sit beside her. Gently, I ran my fingers over her face, brushing strands of hair from her eyes. She slept so peacefully but began stirring the moment I touched her.

I looked up at Anthony. "You can leave now. I'll manage on my own."  He gave me a quick nod and left, locking the door behind him. I didn't worry—I knew he would send someone to unlock it eventually. He cared about me, even if he rarely showed it.  Instead, I turned my attention to the girl, whose head now rested in my lap. "Good morning, my darling," I whispered. "I have something for you."

Her eyelids fluttered, and moments later, those emerald-green eyes stared up at me. "Is it blood?" she exclaimed excitedly.

"No, my dear, it's not," I said, stroking her cheek. "If you drink this potion, Marianne, you'll feel better." I held up the vial for her to see. "And then you can leave this room with me."

She immediately snatched the vial from my hand, pressing it to her lips and gulping it all down in one go.  My breath caught in my throat. I had hoped to get a chance to talk to her first, to voice the fears I carried. To tell her how I felt. But it was too late now.  I watched as her body began to convulse, her eyes rolling back into her head until only the whites were visible. I held her down, preventing her from hurting herself, until her body went limp in my arms.

All I could do now was wait.

Clocksworth

The coffee tasted bitter, and the air in the room was heavy. Anthony didn't want to talk to me, and Luis kept shooting deadly glares in my direction. I wanted to leave, but for some reason, my body felt heavy, and I couldn't will it to move.

Suddenly, the door to the dining room flew open, the heavy wooden construction slamming against the wall. We all jumped in our chairs, yanked from our deep thoughts back to reality.  The sound of high heels clicking on the wooden floors filled the room, and I lifted my gaze to meet Marianne's sparkling blue eyes.

Her smile was wide and radiant, full of happiness and energy. After a quick once-over, I knew she was healthy. Her skin was no longer gray and dull; a rosy glow had returned to her cheeks. She walked with confidence, utterly unfazed by the stares of the princes. All her focus was on me—her guardian—and it made my heart swell.  Her lips were painted with ruby-red lipstick, and her eyes were framed with dark eyeliner and mascara.

Her next move was bold, and I couldn't help but laugh when she pulled out a chair. But instead of sitting down, she placed one of her red heels on the seat, using it as a step to climb onto the table instead of walking around it. There she stood, giggling in the middle of breakfast, surrounded by plates, jars of jam, and bowls of eggs. Then she extended her hand to me.

"Clockie, darling, I've missed you!" she squealed as I stood up, wrapping my hands around her waist to help her down from the table.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she spun around, showing off the fitted skirt and jacket I assumed Lumiere had picked out for her. The black fabric was a stunning contrast to her almost-white hair and ruby lips. She looked absolutely breathtaking.  "I'm glad you're feeling better," I said calmly, kissing her cheek before pulling her into a warm hug.

Our reunion was short-lived. Anthony's footsteps drew closer, and for some reason, I feared for her safety around him. Yet once again, he surprised me. Gently, he placed his thumb under her chin, tilting her face toward him—but he allowed her to remain in my embrace.  "Lumiere, you are incredible," he said, his voice filled with love and admiration. "You've outdone yourself. She's perfect."

My eyes shifted to my brother, still lingering in the doorway. He must have been nervous before, but now he looked nothing but relieved.  "Thank you, my Lord," Lumiere whispered, bowing slightly before turning his gaze back to Marianne and me. I could see it in his eyes—the love he felt for her—and it warmed my heart.

In my arms, the girl burst into a fit of giggles at our master's praise. "Does this mean I'm welcome to stay?" she asked, looking up at him with pleading eyes.

"Yes," he stated calmly, moving his hand from her chin to my shoulder.

The simple gesture made my entire body yearn for more, awakening all the suppressed feelings within me. I couldn't help but glance at his strong jaw and let my eyes wander up to meet his gaze.  "Thank you," I whispered, and he immediately let go of my shoulder and walked toward the door.

"Don't thank me, thank Lumiere," he said over his shoulder before leaving us.

I stood there, numbed by his shifting behavior, holding Marianne in my arms.

I struggled to keep my face expressionless, but I knew Luis was studying me. Our bond was so strong that he probably knew exactly how I felt.  "Congratulations," he growled as he got up from the table and walked over to Lu to kiss both of his cheeks. "I hope the two of you will be happy together. Unlike me and my husband."

"Don't say that," I murmured, releasing the girl to approach him, but she stopped me, holding my hand firmly as though she wanted to protect me. The gesture made me smile inwardly.

"Why not?" he sneered sarcastically. "You never wanted me. Our marriage was arranged by my brother; he forced you into it, didn't he?" He sighed dramatically, though something told me he wasn't as hurt as he pretended to be. "I'm the victim here; I'm still in love with you, Theodore!"

I sighed deeply and pushed Marianne toward Lumiere. "Don't be ridiculous, Luis. I love you too."

"Yes, maybe," he muttered as he stepped closer to me, wrapping both arms around my neck to look into my eyes. "But not as much as you love him," he said, tilting his head. "Are you tired of always being on top? Is that it? Do you want someone to dominate you, to take you passionately, pressed against the wall? Is that what you're longing for?" He laughed and kissed my lips lightly. "Anthony is more than you can handle, more than you could ever manage. So please, dear husband, think twice before wishing for more than you can handle." And with that, he left the room, as if nothing had happened.

Marianne was a natural; she didn't require as much training as I had, and it didn't take long before she joined me on my missions. It was Anthony's orders that I keep an eye on her and report to him about her progress.  At first, I was hesitant about the idea of working so closely with her. I knew the dangers that came with our line of work, and I worried about what might happen if something went wrong. But as we spent more time together, I began to see her potential. She adapted quickly to the challenges we faced, her instincts sharp and her reflexes honed.  Each mission brought us closer, and I found myself feeling a protective instinct toward her. Reporting back to Anthony became less of a chore and more of a way to share the pride I felt in her progress. I realized that my role was not just to guide her but also to nurture her talent and help her grow.  I watched her thrive, feeling a fatherly bond forming between us, forged in the heat of our dangerous endeavors. It was a feeling I hadn't anticipated, but it filled me with a sense of purpose. I wanted to ensure she stayed safe, to be there for her as she navigated this perilous world. She was not just my mission partner; she had become like a daughter to me, and I was determined to protect her at all costs.

"Upstairs," I instructed while checking how much ammunition I had left. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Marianne nod briefly and open the door to step into the darkness. She learned quickly, and I wondered what kind of job she had when she was human.

"Why does he need another warehouse, Clockie?" she asked.

There was no bitterness, fatigue, or worry in her voice. She was just curious and happy to be out, unlike me, who was tired of every word Anthony said to me.

"He never said," I replied shortly as we climbed the stairs.

The puzzled look she gave me made my heart ache. We both thought that Anthony and I were closer than that, but lately, he had been avoiding involving me in his business. "It has something to do with the new elixir Lumiere has made."

"Is it the same one I drank?" she asked as we reached the top floor and moved toward the office door. She positioned herself beside it, having my back as I knocked.

"I'm not sure, sweetheart," I said with a tired voice, not really engaged in the conversation. "Anthony might want to sell it."

"And make his competitors stronger? He can't be that stupid?"

No one answered on the other side of the door, and I knocked once more before kicking it open, causing boards, chips, and dust to create a mess on the floor. I stepped over the debris and entered the empty room. "Anthony is far from stupid," I laughed, "he's too smart for his own good."

The whole place was abandoned, the sparsely furnished rooms covered in old dust. The advertisement stated it was for sale, but Anthony was taking no risks. That's why he wanted us to check it out first. So we searched through the rooms together, looking for something out of the ordinary. The place was empty, and there were no signs of anyone living there.

"Can I ask a question?"

I glanced at the blonde girl; she looked completely different from when I first met her in the alley. She was someone now—Lumiere's girlfriend and part of our household. She was part of my family. "Of course, you can ask me anything," I said, turning to rummage through the overturned desk.

The place had clearly been a shoe factory. "Why are you married to Luis when you're obviously in love with his brother?"

The question made my heart stop, and my hands froze around the documents I was holding. "Because he made it clear from the start that it wasn't possible for us to be together."

"So you told him how you felt?"

"In a way," I replied, thinking back to my first weeks as a vampire. How he had taken care of me and how I had shown my feelings for him in return. It would have been so much easier if we hadn't been forced to live together, I thought with a smile on my lips. And if he weren't my boss.

"And he rejected you," she said with a deep sigh. "I'm sorry, sugar; I wish you could be happy like me and Lu-Lu."

"Luis makes me happy."

"Once upon a time, perhaps," Marianne said with a sad smile before she jumped up onto a shelf and began swinging her legs back and forth. "But right now, he makes you miserable."

I decided to ignore her; it was easier than admitting my problems. Luis and I had an arrangement; from the beginning, it had been a business deal—nothing more. "We were never in love like you and Lu," I explained as I searched through the rest of the rooms with the girl on my heels. "It was planned, an agreement so that I could become more powerful."

The look she gave me was full of confusion. "Why does he want you to be more powerful?"

"To help him gain power."

"So you're just a tool," she murmured as we went down the stairs and back to where we came from. I opened the main entrance and looked out at the street; it was quiet and dark—just as I had hoped.

"That's all of us, love. They are vampire princes; they've lived so long that they've forgotten what it's like to be human," I said to her, locking the door with the spare key I found in the desk. "Or what it's like to feel emotions."

"So teach him," she said, giving me a mischievous wink.

"He doesn't care about me that way, Marie; he cares about power. Luis does too." I sighed and pulled her closer to me as a group of rowdy men left a pub further down the street.

She giggled and placed her hand in mine. "It's cute how you think I need to be protected."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Let me pretend, at least."

"Oh, darling, you'll always be like a big brother or a dad to me, you know that," she giggled, leaving my cheek stained red with her lipstick.

"I know," I said, squeezing her hand. "Whatever happens, I will always have your back, Marie; I promise."

A/N - thoughts on Marianne?