Lucien was assigned to travel to the Kingdom of Serius when he arrived from his meeting. According to Rheynoak, they needed more information on this girl before the mission started.

He didn't want to go, knowing that specific kingdom was filled with ruthless assassins and BloodBones that would love to sink their sharp teeth into his skin. Still, Rheynoak insisted, well rather threatened, and since Lucien was in no mood to argue or lose an eye, he reluctantly accepted his mission.

The sun was still asleep when he awoke from his slumber and prepared for his voyage. The desert sun was hot, even in the early hours of the morning when he kicked the sheets aside and planted his feet on the cold floor.

His muscles were aching as he shuffled his way over to the washroom where he quickly stripped out of his remaining clothes and sunk himself into the warm water.

Thoughts of the trip to the Kingdom of Serius pondered inside Lucien's head as he let his body sink into the water.

The Kingdom of Serius was at least a seven-day trip. He had to travel over the Rovien Sea and travel up north past the Yakbaen Mountains before he finally reached his destination.

And he was pretty sure storms and other catastrophes would be his close friend throughout the entire journey. A soft sigh left his lips, his fingers brushing away strands of white hair. As his thoughts of the voyage dimmed, the image of Venix appeared in his head.

She seemed to have been stuck in his head since yesterday, her gaze burned into his memory as she watched him leave the room.

There was a fire in her soul that made her interesting. She knew she was powerful and she wasn't afraid to use that to her advantage yet still showed a shred of vulnerability before attacking her prey.

It kept him intrigued and, in return, drawn to her.

Letting his head fall back, Lucien enjoyed his last few moments of peace before scrubbing himself clean and grabbing a towel to dry himself off.

The sun was still rising as he pulled on a black shirt over his head and slipped into a pair of thick training pants. His dark cloak was still spread out on his bedsheets when he tied up his shoes and grabbed his satchel.

Inside the satchel, Lucien had stored a map in case the ship got lost in strong currents, a container of Siren Poison, a short dagger, and a book the size of his hand. The ship had already been stocked with food and he prayed that it would be enough to keep him sane before any predators started to attack.

He tied his cloak around himself and strapped a silver sword around his hip, covering the crafted blade with a handmade leather sheath before leaving his room and making his way into the chilly morning air.

The tribe grounds were quiet, most of the descendants still sleeping as he made his way across to the brass gate. The ship Rheynoak had arranged for him was set up by the shore and the captain, who was another descendant, was awaiting him.

Too focused on his thoughts as he neared the gate, he nearly missed the silhouette sitting nearby on the rocks as he passed by.

"Leaving so soon?" the silhouette uttered, snapping him out of his thoughts.

His eyes darted over to a woman sitting on a boulder, dressed in black and her white hair falling over her shoulders. A small glint of surprise twinkled in her violet eyes, a large book in her hand.

"Nice to see you up and about Venix" Lucien greeted the BloodBone, watching as she crossed her long legs over one another.

"Catching up on your reading I see. How are you feeling?" he asked once their eyes met one another.

A smile tilted on her lips, the first glint of her sharp inner teeth glinting in the thin light of the dawn. "I asked you the question" she uttered, raising an eyebrow.

The Hell Siphon stood still for a few seconds, examining the BloodBone Witch carefully.

She was striking in the early morning sun. Wisps of white hair danced against her violet eyes. Her lips were pressed into a thin line as she awaited, brows arched in anticipation

His eyes traveled down her arm, noticing the messy design of new, fresh scars intersecting with one another in intricate patterns.

Venix noticed his gaze, casting her violet eyes down to her arm. A small chuckle came from her lips, her other hand moving to brush strands of her hair away from her lips. "Courtesy of Rheynoak" she whispered, raising her scarred arms for him to examine.

An embarrassed shade of scarlet flooded the Hell Siphon's face and he felt the guilt rise in his stomach once again as his eyes traced the scars down her arms.

"If you must know, I'm on a mission" he finally answered, pulling his eyes away from the witch.

"Fancy way of escaping out of this hell isn't it?" she questioned once again, gesturing towards the large land before them. A smile forced its way on Lucien's lips, shaking his head to answer her question.

"I'm not escaping. Simply following orders" he reassured.

A deliberate scoff left her lips as she stared at him "Orders. Why do you listen to him?"

The Hell Siphon himself stopped to think about her question, never digging deep when others asked him. But somehow when she asked, her tone was commanding.

When Venix spoke it wasn't a statement or opinion. It was an order.

Lucien thought hard about Rheynoak, the leader of a great tribe, and what he had done for him. Rheynoak knew stuff about him that he couldn't share with another human. Rheynoak had power over him and always seemed to show up at the right time.

But Lucien was well aware that Rheynoak was manipulative and always suffocated him underneath his power. He was intimidating and ruthless and never seemed to care about the consequences. Only the actions.

And while those were very good reasons to drop him, Lucien reminded himself that his fellow Hell Siphon was there for him when everyone else abandoned him. He was there when he fell and he was there when he rose.

So try as he might, Lucien could not bring himself to let go of Rheynoak. Rather, he felt like he owed him that much, to obey and listen.

"So are you going to answer my question or stand there like I have two heads?" Venix questioned, bringing him to reality.

"Let's just say I owe him a lot" Lucien uttered, pursing his lips together. The witch nodded, choosing not to say anything as the seconds passed by.

"Mysterious past" she teased, a smile on her face. "Very intriguing."

Despite all his best efforts, another warm blush flooded his face. Venix hummed, looking the Hell Siphon up and down.

Her fingers curled into the leather cover of the book, her violet eyes tracing down the worn-in old pages and nameless cover. Lucien followed her gaze, seeing the small hint of hesitation in her movement.

"Can I ask you a question?" she asked in a soft voice. The Hell Siphon's brow raised but he nodded.

The BloodBone kept her eyes on the book as she spoke. "When you said to keep the book away from Onyx, what did you mean?" she asked. "What could be in the Kingdom of Aysein that would be detrimental to her?"

Lucien remained silent, pondering on the answers in his head. He didn't think his warning had intrigued her, considering the way she had commanded him to leave the infirmary.

But it seemed like the witch was more insightful than she led others to believe.

"The Kingdom of Aysein is filled with lies and deceit. They thrive off misfortune and hunt immortals for sport. They are a deadly territory and will kill anyone who tries to infiltrate their premises. I know she is trying to figure out where she came from but trusting a book from that kingdom is the first wrong step. They are liars and manipulators. If she wants help, I can help her without Rheynoak finding out."

Venix slowly nodded, tracing the lines of the book in a slow pattern. Her grip on the book tightened as she held it close to her chest.

"I see" was all she said.

In the distance, the jingle of a lock could be heard and Lucien froze. The stench of magic roamed through the air and he could feel Rheynoak's magic desperately seeking him out.

A warning.

He sighed, turning towards the gate.

"How are you going to get past those gates exactly? Siphoning your magic out is not exactly an option" she asked. He pursed his lips and looked down towards his cloak, feeling the cold metallic feeling of a key press into his arm.

"No need to worry about me. You better get going with your training" he stated, turning his head over to see her slide off the rock, brushing dust off her pants. "I heard the sessions will be brutal today."

"I'm not surprised. Rheynoak has no mercy" she complained. She turned around and locked eyes with him again and Lucien froze.

Her eyes were so cold and her lips were pulled into a perpetual frown. It seemed as if nothing could bring down her guard.

But Lucien knew that was a lie. She had her weakness. What they were, he was not sure.

The distant sound of footsteps grew closer and the siphon turned around, burying one hand in the thick material of his cloak. He pulled out the key and slid it into the lock, watching as the gate momentarily let its guard down and allowed him to slip through the small opening.

He turned around to see Venix still staring at him, watching as the gate closed once again. He nodded his head at her, smiling. "Stay safe."

She stood still for a few seconds, pressing her lips together before she finally nodded. "Stay alive."

Pain rattled through her back as Venix's body slammed to the floor. Her head cracked against the harsh surface of the desert sand, and the metallic taste of blood flooded her mouth.

Her arms shook violently as she struggled to get up. She looked up, squinting past the desert sun to see Rheynoak towering over her.

His amber eyes looked down as he squatted next to her. "Tired of our little game already?" he questioned, grabbing a fist full of her hair as he forced her to look up.

He slammed her face into the sand again and the witch screamed, grabbing her face. The secluded area was too far away from the regular training ground for anyone to hear her screams and pleas.

Onyx was still in the infirmary room after Venix failed to wake her up. She was planning on skipping training altogether to check on her again when Rheynoak approached and dragged her away.

Grunting, she spat the blood onto his face, raising her hand to wipe her lips clean. An angry growl tore from the tribe leader's lips.

This time, his hands wrapped around her throat and he picked her up with one arm as if she was as weightless as paper. He increased his grip and Venix could feel her chest burning for air and her eyes watering.

"It's none of your business what Lucien and I were discussing. If you are curious, you can ask him when he comes back" she managed to whisper. "But you're not getting anything from me."

"On the contrary, it is my business. Everything around her is my business" Rheynoak said calmly, throwing her body on the ground. The witch hit the floor once again, letting out a breathless gasp as her back cracked against the bare rocks.

Venix should have just told him of their conversation. It was nothing entertaining and yet, she couldn't bring herself to say anything. When she had asked him about his history with Rheynoak, she could see the fear and hesitation in his face.

Lucien didn't seem like an open book but the look of confliction, sorrow, and fear in his eyes when he struggled to find an answer was all she needed to know that Rheynoak was holding a bounty over his head and he was trapped, forever serving the tribe leader.

"Let's move on to another subject. What do you know about Onyx's secret missions to mortal kingdoms? I know she told you something" the tribe leader pressed.

"Even if she did, I would never tell you. You're mad" she defended. "Let it go. Leave her alone. She's been through enough already. She's just trying to find herself. The least you can do is allow her a moment of peace and privacy."

Rheynoak glared at her.

Venix opened her mouth to speak but realized she could no longer make any words. The blood rushing through her body was collecting in her throat and she felt the constricts of his magic tighten around her chest as the first trickle of blood flooded from her lips.

The resentment in his eyes was obvious as he held her in place with his magic. A scream built up in her throat, desperate to tear out but she forced herself not to, gasping and coughing for air as she choked on blood.

Rheynoak grabbed a handful of her shirt, attempting to bind the material around her throat. The front of the material tore, stopping near her collarbone.

"One way or another, I will get the truth out of you" he warned. His grip tightened, her shirt tearing further until the skin on top of her breasts unwilling showed.

Venix growled, spitting a stream of blood on his face. "Over my dead body, you bastard."

A hum escaped from Rheynoak's lips before he raised his fist and hit the right side of her face. Venix's neck snapped forward, pain radiating down her face as she let out a strangled grasp.

He let go of her shirt, letting her fall to the floor once more.

The pain was unbearable and her vision was nearly blurred as she struggled to stay awake. She watched as Rheynoak's hand grabbed her neck, his eyes lit with fire as he pointed a burning finger near the skin of her neck.

"If you won't tell me, I'll have you do my bidding instead."

A searing pain melted into her skin as he branded her with his magic, marking her as one of his now. The witch fought against him but his magic bent her body back, keeping her on the floor.

And then the pain stopped. She couldn't move

Venix stopped as she looked down to see Rheynoak had embedded a dagger into her stomach. She watched helplessly as blood spilled out and the tribe leader kept the blade in.

"You'll learn like they all do never to go against me" he whispered close to her face. "Let go now, my dear BloodBone. I'll talk to you soon when you awake. "

Rheynoak ripped the blade out and the pain pulled her down as the world sunk into darkness.

The ship sailed quietly on the Rovien Sea as the sun finally broke through the sky. The descendant Rheynoak had convinced to direct the ship was quiet as they sailed in relative peace.

Lucien looked out to the sea, seeing nothing but a dark abyss filled with unknown creatures and a fate worse than death. He sighed, biting down on his lip to stop the nausea that churned in his stomach. The salt of the sea only worsened his symptoms and he turned around to momentarily face away from the sea.

The struggle of holding down his dinner from last night was becoming a losing battle.

Despite his protest, he knew he had to complete this mission no matter what or never return.

While Rheynoak seemed focused on capturing the girl, Lucien had other intentions.

He had to know if she was a threat or if she was just a lonely girl that was sadly cursed with such a damned gift from the sources of the underworld.

If the ancestors had been this cruel to pull this innocent girl into such a cruel world.

Slipping to the floor, Lucien locked his head in between his legs, his mind straying to Venix to keep his mind at ease. He replayed her question and the way she looked at him when he asked. The way her brows raised in anticipation of his answer and how her violet eyes widened.

As if she was staring straight into his core.

The truth is Lucien was already reckless and ruthless before Rheynoak found him. He was a lost soul, not knowing where to go or what to do, or who to turn to. He was ready to go to the underworld.

But then Rheynoak found him and molded him into the being he is now. It wasn't exactly the best version of himself but it was better than the person he once was.

And in return for that, he felt grateful for his friend for saving him despite the fear he felt when he was around him. He never knew what Rheynoak was going to do, which was always something he had to be alert about, and he never knew when he was going to stab him in the back.

Lucien ran his fingers through his hair, letting his thoughts vanish into thin air.

Why was he pondering over the words that came out of the witch's mouth? Especially a BloodBone witch?

They were not to be trusted. They were selfish, manipulative, and always finding ways to lure in their pray. They could shred them into pieces without a second thought.

Their kind was inhumane.

Yet, when Venix spoke, he didn't feel the need to protect himself that he should have felt.

Sure, he felt the familiar sense of danger every time she approached him.

Yet every word she spoke melted that fear away. She spoke with elegance and respect as if every word was a demand that would not be disobeyed.

And like a fool, Lucien stayed and listened to her as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Cursing at himself, he balled his hand into a tight fist as another wave of nausea overcame him once again.

DeleteCreated with Sketch.

Closing his eyes, Lucien managed to pull himself to the lip of the boat, clutching his stomach tightly as he emptied its contents into the dark, moving abyss below.

A/N: Hey Lovelies! I just wanted to say a quick thank you to all the positive feedback and reviews I had received so far. We are almost at 700 reads and the amount of support and love you have all shown is beyond my expectations.

Thank you all again! In case there is any confusion, Rheynoak addresses his followers as his ''Descendants'' since they follow and ''obey'' his every word. Just wanted to make that clear!

Thank you all again for the positive feedback and I hope to see you all in the next chapter! 

With Love, May