Love At First Death

Damien stood in the castle's underground chamber, a dimly lit vault filled with ancient tomes, scrolls, and strange objects encased in glass. The air was heavy with an eerie hum, like a whispering wind trapped beneath the earth. It was one of the few places Elysia hadn't ventured, and he intended to keep it that way.

"Still hiding from her?" Lucian's voice echoed from behind.

Damien didn't turn around. He was crouched over a large table, poring over a blackened map that seemed to pulse faintly under the flickering candlelight.

"I'm not hiding," Damien said flatly. "I'm protecting her."

Lucian sauntered in, his usual smirk plastered on his face. "Oh, of course. Brooding alone in the dark is definitely the pinnacle of protection."

Damien shot him a glare. "Don't you have something better to do?"

Lucian ignored the question and leaned over the table, his silver-ringed fingers tracing the edges of the map. "Still obsessing over this?"

"It's not an obsession," Damien muttered.

Lucian chuckled. "Oh, it definitely is. You've been chasing this shadow for years, and what has it gotten you? Sleepless nights and a shiny new revenant in your castle."

Damien's jaw clenched. "Elysia's different."

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Or is that just what you tell yourself to justify keeping her here?"

Damien didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the map, but his mind was elsewhere– on Elysia, her questions, her determination.

Lucian sighed, stepping back. "You're too predictable, Damien. Always the noble protector, always the martyr. It's exhausting to watch."

"Then don't watch," Damien snapped.

Lucian grinned. "Oh, but it's too entertaining to stop."

He turned to leave but paused in the doorway. "You know, if you ever stop brooding long enough to ask for help, I might surprise you."

Damien didn't answer, and Lucian left, his footsteps echoing through the stone halls.

Meanwhile, Lucian made his way to a wing of the castle that hadn't been used in decades. The air was thick with dust and the scent of decay, and the walls were lined with faded portraits of people long forgotten.

He stopped in front of a large wooden door, its surface carved with intricate patterns that seemed to shift when he looked at them too long.

With a flick of his wrist, the lock clicked open, and he stepped inside.

The room was filled with strange artifacts: glowing crystals, jars of what looked like black mist, and a large mirror that seemed to ripple like water.

Lucian walked over to the mirror and stared at his reflection– or rather, the lack of it. The glass showed only the room behind him, as if he weren't there at all.

"Still hiding, are we?" he murmured to the empty room.

The air seemed to respond, a low growl rumbling from the shadows.

Lucian smirked. "Oh, don't be shy. We've been through too much for you to play coy now."

A shape began to form in the mirror, dark and amorphous, with glowing red eyes that seemed to pierce through the glass.

"You shouldn't have brought her here," the voice hissed, deep and guttural.

Lucian shrugged. "I didn't. Damien did. I'm just here for the show."

"She's a liability," the voice growled. "She'll ruin everything."

Lucian tilted his head. "Maybe. Or maybe she's exactly what we need."

The shadow in the mirror lunged forward, and the glass cracked, sending spiderweb fractures across its surface.

Lucian didn't flinch. Instead, he smiled. "Touchy, aren't we? Don't worry, old friend. I'll handle it."

The shadow retreated, and the mirror returned to its normal state.

Lucian turned and left the room, his expression unreadable. Whatever game he was playing, he was the only one who knew the rules.

Back in the castle's study, Damien was still staring at the map when a soft knock interrupted his thoughts.

He looked up to see Marcus, one of the castle's few remaining staff members, standing in the doorway.

"We have a problem," Marcus said, his voice tight.

Damien straightened. "What is it?"

Marcus hesitated. "The villagers. They're asking questions. About her."

Damien's expression darkened. "What kind of questions?"

"About the witch. Why people started disappearing. They're starting to talk."

Damien cursed under his breath. The last thing they needed was attention from the outside world.

"Keep them quiet," he said.

Marcus nodded. "And if they don't stay quiet?"

Damien's eyes glinted with something cold and dangerous. "Then I will make them."