Luc knew this was a mistake. A big one, and not even for the first time. He knew, and here he went, making it again, knowing where all this could lead.

Pisinia, a few centuries after he fell. How could he forget?

This girl must be a trap they had sent his way. She must be. Just like that one, and the one before that. Some would think, considering how low he had fallen, they would leave him alone, but no, that was not how they operated.

His kin were a pain to deal with.

Then the sensible thing would be getting rid of the girl, fast, but Luc found himself indecisive.

Again.

Luc stared into the dark room over a mountain of papers on his desk. Somewhere down the hall, water leaked from a faucet, dripping drop by drop into a basin, in sync with the grandfather clock downstairs. The smell of pipe smoke and whisky lingered.

Luc was in a trance. An easy escape. The only kind he had these days. They kept coming every few minutes as he sat here. Some were his memories. Some were not.

All curtains were drawn. The midday sunlight seeped through the thick fabric, turning everything into a shade of garnet. The room that Luc had been staring into used to be filled with old furniture and decades' worth of dust until Albert cleaned everything out a few weeks ago, leaving only a bed. The reason for that change was currently under said bed, in a nest of blankets, where she had been the past few days.

She had stayed there like a wounded animal, long after her physical wounds healed. From time to time, she lashed out, screaming or crying at some shadows, or dreams.

Human dreams were like his trances. Sometimes, it was hard to tell what was real and what was not.

Luc dropped his gaze to his hands on the desk. Just a moment ago, they had been covered in bite marks and scratches. Now, as if nothing had ever happened.

He remembered it, the girl's desperation as he held her down so she couldn't bash her head into the wall or fly out the window.

Luc blew some smoke in the air and watched it wander to the ceiling. He would've been exhausted if he was human, doing the same thing for the thousandth time, but he wasn't.

The girl watched him from her 'nest' with open hostility. She chewed her fingernails, or what was left of them, aggressively as if she wished each one was Luc. Her plate of food was untouched.

Luc tapped his pipe into an ashtray and debated if he should stop her before she swallowed her whole hand when some loud knocks from the main entrance got his attention.

Luc ignored the sounds at first, knowing Albert would get the door eventually, but after it happened for the second time, louder, he realized there was no one downstairs.

Albert had gone for the day since Luc's schedule was clear, and the one who was under the bed surely wouldn't help.

Luc exhaled and pushed the chair out of his way as he stood up. He descended the stairs like the wind to see who this imbecile was, the one who dared to show up at his private residence without an invitation or appointment.

The knocks were obnoxious, echoing in every nook and corner of the house, rattling Luc's nerves. As he yanked the door open, it groaned like an old person. Must remind Albert to add some lube to the hinges, Luc took a mental note.

The familiar beautiful face greeted him at the doorsteps. Amelia's hand was still up. Her lips slowly turned into a sweet, timid smile.

"What a nice surprise," Luc said while leaning against the door. "What has brought you here today, my dove?"

He looked at Amelia from head to toe, taking in her glamorous appearance. The hot pink dress made the girl look like a blooming peony. There was no mistake about who she dressed up for.

The hint of approval passed Luc's eyes, making Amelia feel all her efforts were worth it.

"Well, must you ask?" She raised her eyebrows and tugged the lapel of his check waistcoat playfully.

Luc's low chuckle rumbled under Amelia's hand. He didn't wear a jacket or necktie. It was improper, but Amelia wouldn't complain. The man was a feast for the eyes even if he was wrapped in rags.

Through the layers of her gloves and his clothes, Amelia could feel Luc's solid muscles contract. Luc's body was always cold. Amelia, as usual, barely detected any heartbeats. If it was not for the fact that her eyes could see the man standing right there, breathing and smiling, she would think that she was flirting with a corpse.

Luc grabbed Amelia's hand and pulled her inside while shutting the door. He stood back to watch her admire his extravagant space.

Amelia knew wealth. Luc's fortune was impressive, but his charm, wit, and connections truly set him apart from many men she had come across, young or old. People bowed to him. Luc seemed easygoing, but he was a force to be reckoned with. If Amelia could secure a spot by his side, her life would be set. Nothing could threaten her, not even her past.

Something was not right, however. Amelia could feel it. Something was eating Luc up, and the pain was almost apparent in the oceans of his eyes. They resonated with her.

Amelia was no stranger to pain. She wasn't interested in the cause, much less in being Luc's savior. She just wanted to see that, for once, she was not alone.

The chandelier cast its warm light from above, reminding Amelia of a summer many years ago.

A boy and a girl jumped into the sparkling river. The water carried them away. They didn't care where it would take them as long as their hands linked.

"I'll never let you go, Birdie..."

If only he could keep his word.

Amelia blinked. She had not mentally revisited that place for years, but, at the same time, she had never left.

Amelia sucked in her breath and lifted her heavy eyelids. "I know it's not the right thing for me to show up uninvited like this, but I was just worried about you. I haven't seen you in weeks, darling, and no one told me anything. I've missed you..."

She walked back and tiptoed to put a kiss on Luc's lips. The man answered by undoing her bonnet and dropping it to the floor along with her coat. The door creaked against their bodies.

Luc's left hand wandered south. Amelia sighed, trying to gather her thoughts in between his movements. His response was much better than what she had expected, but they still needed to talk. She just needed to pick the right moment.

"Luc, darling..." Amelia closed her eyes as he grazed the curve of her ear, "Next week will be my twenty-first birthday. It also marks the end of my partnership with Bessie... Time flies, doesn't it?"

From the very beginning of their relationship, she had never called him "Master Luc" like everyone else. Amelia knew Luc liked confident individuals, so she played the part accordingly.

Luc observed the girl through his half-closed eyes. Such a beautiful little creature. Smart too. He liked her enough for that, but everything, good or bad, must come to an end.

"My dove," Luc rubbed his thumb on her icy cheek.

"Yes, dear?"

"You know me, I would say, better than anyone. I don't like indirectness. Tell me, what are you seeking?"

Amelia blinked and backed away from him. "I just want to know will you be there for me? Like I was always there for you. Do you want to be my patron, or you'd rather that we parted ways and never see each other again? I need to know, you know, to make arrangements..."

Luc sighed. He didn't respond right away but bored into Amelia. Just when she started getting uncomfortable, he spoke with honesty that she had rarely seen before.

"I'm a man with many flaws, my dove. Submitting you to the mad life that I live would be nothing but cruelty. I am cursed, but you know that, and that's not even the point. The point is I know what you're looking for, and I cannot give you that. I cannot give you my heart, or the time and attention that you deserve, Amelia. What I can give you is a place for you to reside once you move out of Bessie's and sponsor you for as long as you need. You won't have to work again if you don't want to. You will have time to enjoy life, find a husband. We can also continue our current arrangement, if you wish, since it's worked well for both of us and provided me with so much comfort." Luc winked and opened the console cabinet, fishing out a fat roll of banknotes from its drawers. "I wish you nothing but the best, Amelia. Whatever you decide."

He then tugged the roll neatly in her cleavage.

"Whatever I decide?" Amelia bit her lower lip and smiled wistfully. "Whatever I decide."

"Yes, whatever you decide, dear." Luc kissed her forehead. "You've been the best company that I've had for years. Absolute best. Any man would be lucky to have you."

Amelia leaned in as Luc caressed the side of her face. The roll of banknotes shifted as she moved, rustling against her skin. It felt so nice.

Amelia knew there was so much more where this roll came from. Numbers and prosperous images danced in her head. She had come with a proposal and received a just as good, if not better, counteroffer. He gave her freedom.

Luc was generous.

A soft rustle, not too far from where Amelia and Luc stood, interrupted her thoughts.