Bonds of the Fallen
Chapter 15

Bat felt the weight of the setting sun, its long shadows stretching across the compound like darkened fingers. With the moon’s rise, the tap of approaching footsteps sent her heart into her throat. Her breath stilled in her chest as she anticipated Val entering her room.

But it was Ace who framed the doorway. “He’s returned. I’ll take you to him.”

She expelled the breath she’d been holding. “Did your super Vampir senses inform you of his arrival?” she teased, though a thread of frustration laced her tone. She didn’t want to be angry with Ace, but the need for a guard and protection grated on her independence.

He tapped his ear, a grin playing on his lips. “Who needs supernatural abilities when we have technology on our side?” He extended a hand to help her to her feet.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, her voice soft as they walked down the hall toward Val’s chamber. “It feels like I’m a prisoner, punished for a crime I’m yet to comprehend.”

Ace’s eyebrow arched, his smirk widening. “Should you require punishment, I’m more than capable of obliging.”

She couldn’t help but laugh, any residual anger dissolving as she playfully shoved him. “You’re insufferable.”

They came to a halt before Val’s door. Ace reached out, sending her pulse racing. His fingers gently brushed her hair aside to rest just below her ear. Heat cascaded from his fingers on her skin, down her neck, and into her core. “I must say, you make for a captivating prisoner,” he murmured before pushing the door open.

As Bat stepped into Val’s room, she was struck by the opulence that defined every corner of the space. Dark walls were offset by the gilded frames of various paintings, lending an air of luxury that left her breathless. A prominent metal clock adorned one wall, its roman numerals and frozen hands evoking a moment caught in time, unyielding to the world’s chaos.

A meticulously carved wooden table stood proudly next to the clock, showcasing a collection of ornate drinking horns crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Parallel to the table was a sleek bar lined with various glasses.

In the heart of the room was a magnificent wooden bed, its ebony finish complemented by intricate carvings. Directly across the bed, a vast wooden desk occupied the far wall, providing ample space for work and reflection.

Val sat hunched over at the table, his current state at odds with the meticulousness of the room. Once the epitome of precision, his clothes and hair now lay in disarray. The only light source was the flickering of dim candles perched on the mantle, casting shadows that danced to a silent rhythm.

Bat sat beside him, her gaze meeting his, Val’s eyes, dark pools of sorrow and pain. A heavy silence hung between them as she searched his face for what ailed him.

Val broke the silence that encompassed the room. “I apologize for earlier. I didn’t mean to make you feel trapped, like a prisoner. I wanted to protect you. And now I see that was a mistake.”

“And what you said about me... my condition?” Bat asked.

Val’s hand shook ever so slightly as he raised his cup to his lips again, his gaze fixated on the deep crimson liquid that swirled inside. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“You’re saying something’s wrong with me.”

“No, I don’t know what you are. If something’s wrong, it’s my fault. My failure.”

“Now I’m a failure?” Bat pushed herself away from the table, her palms slamming against it as she rose.

Val’s hand shot out to encircle her arm, freezing her in place. “You’re misunderstanding me. I failed you. I should’ve prepared more. I didn’t even want to go through with the ritual.”

“You didn’t want to turn me?” Bat yanked her arm out of his grip.

“I won’t lie to you. I had someone else lined up to complete the ritual. Someone who...”

“Great. You took pity on me? Is that it?”

Val surged to his feet and stormed over to the desk, his fingers curling around its edges until his knuckles turned white. A wave of frustration and anger rolled off Val as he spoke, his voice cracking with the intensity of his emotions. “No!” he shouted. “You drive me insane! The idea of another Vampir being bound to you, no matter how worthy they may be, was unbearable!”

He leaned over the desk, the weight of his body pressing down on it as he fought to regain some semblance of control over his emotions. The air in the room was thick with tension, a noticeable charge that was the only thing holding back a deluge of emotions threatening to drown them both.

“When you walked into the ritual room, when I saw you standing there,” he continued, his voice low and filled with pain. “I gave in to my desires. Gave in to the dark, violent urges that surfaced. I should’ve been stronger. I should have been better for you.”

He turned to face her, his eyes darkened with regret and self-loathing. “But I wasn’t,” he admitted, a raw edge to his voice. “And now... I don’t know how to fix this, to make things right.”

The tension between them was alive. Each word spoken was laden with an immeasurable weight that threatened to devour them both.

“Regardless of what has happened, we must move forward. I need to uncover who or what I’ve become and replace out what happened to my mother. Maybe that will give me some clarity,” Bat offered softly, her voice soothing the heavy silence that filled the room.

Val moved around the desk, opening a small drawer to reveal a familiar notebook, which he placed before her with a solemn expression. “I asked Ace to retrieve this from your old home and some of your other belongings. He had strict orders not to read its contents. I thought it might be of assistance.”

With excitement and anticipation, Bat quickly reached for the notebook. The events of the past few days had driven it entirely from her thoughts. “Thank you.”

Val settled into a chair, his demeanor contemplative. “Regarding the threads you spoke of, there are legends of a Norn who forged a pact with the gods. She was said to spin the fates of mortals, creating golden threads on her spinning wheel. Some Volvas are able to perceive these threads and interpret their intertwining.”

“I could be a witch?”

“It’s a possibility. It might explain why the ritual affected you differently than expected. Tell me more about your mother. Any details, however small, could be enlightening.”

Bat sighed, her thoughts drifting to the past. “I was very young when she disappeared, but I remember her talking to herself, her words not making any sense. She spent hours in the garden at night, conversing with the shadows. People thought she was losing her mind, and eventually, she started to believe it, too. That’s why she sought out the Draugr that turned her.”

Val’s voice was filled with empathy as he spoke. “Sometimes, we are driven to make sacrifices to escape our demons. In my servitude to the gods, I’ve committed acts that still haunt me. I’ve seen my people live in darkness, and I’d do anything to prevent that from happening again.”

“Do you feel... different since you turned me?”

“More than you could comprehend. I feel you, a constant presence inside me, drawing me to you even when we are apart. This wasn’t meant to happen.” His gaze pierced through her as if he saw straight into her soul. Slowly, he rose to his feet, his gaze never leaving her. “Everything about you stays with me, imprinted on my very being. You’re always with me no matter where you are or how far I go.” His hands cupped her face tenderly, his forehead resting against hers. His breath was uneven, his hair falling into his face.

A fire ignited within Bat, the golden threads pulling and wrapping around their bodies, drawing them closer. Unable to resist the pull, she pressed her lips to his in a kiss like waves crashing against the shore. Their tongues entwined, dragging them into the depths of their passion. Her fingers worked to free him from his shirt, the fabric parting under her touch. She knew Val, the depths he could reach, the openness he could offer. Now, he was like a vessel guiding her into uncharted waters. His shirt fell away, the sculpted planes of his chest igniting a fire within her. She craved more of his taste and touch and wished to burn the vessel and plunge into the depths below.

With a gentle push, she guided him towards the bed, the waves of desire washing over her, threatening to pull her under.

Val halted, his voice low and steady. “We don’t have to do this now.”

“I want to,” she murmured, her lips capturing his again.

His hands tangled in her hair, his voice filled with a desperate longing. “Believe me, I want this too. But I need you to be certain. Once we cross this threshold, there’s no turning back.”

Her head rested against his chest with a sigh, her fingers tracing patterns above his heart. The world faded away at that moment, leaving only the two wrapped in the golden threads that danced around the room. Only one stood out, leading towards the door. She focused on that thread as she surrendered to the embrace of sleep.