— Inspector Cedric Langley, Report on the Aftermath of Philio’s Watch Fire
“Lux!” Emily shouted.
Lux leaped off the stone wall, landing hard before she broke into a sprint, her boots kicking up dust as she ran.
Emily barely had time to brace herself before Lux slammed into her and locked her arms around her in a crushing hug. The impact sent her stumbling back, but before she could fall, Mina caught her by the arm and steadied her, then set down the basket of new clothes she had been carrying.
“Oh my god,” Lux’s voice was muffled against Emily’s shoulder. “It is you!”
Emily’s heart pounded. Her arms trembled as she raised them, almost afraid that if she touched Lux, she would disappear. But she didn’t. Emily collapsed into the hug, squeezing Lux just as tight, burying her face into the crook of her neck.
“Lux…” Mina said, crossing her arms, but the young elf ignored her.
When Lux finally pulled back, she gripped Emily’s arms like she wasn’t going to let go. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes glassy. “Holy shit!” she breathed, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re alive!”
Emily sniffled, rubbing at her nose with the back of her hand. “I thought you…”
Lux laughed, pulling her into another hug. “I thought you died!”
Emily struggling to keep herself together. “H-How…”
Lux didn’t answer and hugged her even tighter. “It’s so good to see you,” she whispered. “‘Tomorrow’ took forever to come, huh?”
Emily shut her eyes and gripped the back of Lux’s jacket. She remembered the panic she felt when she first woke up after the attack on Pillio’s Watch. She didn’t know where she was or how far she had gotten. She couldn’t find Lux or her family. She had mourned her. Spent nights curled up, crying herself to sleep, knowing she’d never see Lux again.
And yet, here she was.
It took a while for the initial shock to settle, and for Emily to calm herself enough to think clearly again. When she finally pulled back, she wiped at her eyes and gave Lux a small, watery smile. “How are you?” she asked, her voice still shaking.
Lux smirked, nudging Emily’s ribs a bit too hard. “Better than you, from the looks of it.”
Emily let out a small laugh. “Y-Yeah… I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Lux grinned, reaching up to tug off her flat cap, letting her golden blond hair spill over her shoulders. “How about now?”
Emily smiled wider, her heart still pounding. “Better.”
Lux reached out suddenly, running her fingers through Emily’s tangled hair. “Yours could use some work, though,” she teased.
Emily chuckled. “You’re telling me?”
“You know each other?” Mina asked after a pause.
Emily opened her mouth to tell her that they had been friends since they were children, but before she could utter a word, Lux cut her off.
“You know the vampire?” Lux pulled Emily a step away. “What the hell are you doing with her?”
Emily hesitated, glancing at Mina, who stood with her arms crossed, her tinted lenses hiding her expression. “She’s helping me. Mina’s… she’s going to teach me how to hunt monsters.”
Lux’s jaw dropped. “Monster hunting? With a vampire? Are you out of your mind?” Her voice rose. “Don’t tell me you forgot what one of them did to Pillio’s Watch! And you’re cozying up to one?”
Mina tilted her head. “I’m not like the rogue that attacked your home. Emily’s my apprentice now, and I’m going to train her to hunt the real monsters. You’d do well not to distract her.”
“Distract her?” Lux scoffed, stepping toward Mina with her fists clenched. “You’re a bloodsucker! Everyone in this town with half a brain keeps their distance from you. You think I’m gonna let my best friend live with you? What’s your game, huh? Lure her in, then drain her dry?”
Mina didn’t flinch. “If I wanted her dead, she’d be dead. I saved her.”
Lux’s face flushed red. “Don’t you dare act like you’re some saint! You’re a monster, and I know what monsters do! You’re using her, and I’m not letting her fall for it!”
Emily’s heart kept racing, only for different reasons now. She agreed with Lux on one thing: she didn’t know if she could trust Mina, but she didn’t want things to escalate. “Lux, wait,” she stepped between them. “Mina’s not like that. She’s been kind to me. I’m staying with her, and I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry.”
“You’re really choosing her over me?
“I’m not choosing anyone!” Emily snapped, “I just… I need this. I need to learn how to fight back, to make sure what happened to Pillio’s Watch doesn’t happen again. Mina can teach me that.”
Lux’s shoulders slumped, but her glare stayed fixed on Mina. “You hurt her, and I’ll kill you myself.”
Mina smirked faintly. “Noted. Now go.”
Emily looked back at her. “Actually… can I talk to Lux for a bit, Mina? Alone?”
“No.”
“Just for a moment. I just… please?”
Mina stared at the two of them before unfolding her arms. “Make it quick.” She picked up the basket again. “You need rest. Meet me back at the house when you’re done.” She turned, her coat swaying as she walked off.
Emily faced Lux, who was still fuming. “I know you’re scared for me, but I need you to trust me.”
Lux paused, glancing over at the group she had been with, giving them a reassuring smile before turning back to Emily. “I just got you back. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Emily took a deep breath. “The vampire that attacked Pillio’s Watch was there for me. I’m… special, somehow. I’ve got these powers… I don’t understand it all yet, but Mina’s going to help me control them. She’s going to teach me to fight so I can take down the Queen of the Vampires. She’s the one behind the attack, Lux.”
Lux’s arms crossed tightly. “That sounds like a terrible idea, Em. You’re diving headfirst into danger with a vampire you barely know. You’re smarter than this.”
Emily frowned, glancing down the riverbank where Mina had disappeared. She seemed far enough. “Look, I don’t know if I can trust her either, but right now, she’s my best shot at getting revenge for what happened. I’ll be carfull, I promise.”
Lux snorted, kicking a pebble into the grass. “You and everyone else. The town tolerates Mina, but nobody likes her. She made some deal with Lord Elric Dainford—”
“Who?”
Lux pointed across the lake to where a large estate was. “He owns the valley. She gets to stay here as long as she protects it from threats, or something like that. Some folks are okay with her, act all chummy, but they’re fools. She’s still a vampire. You don’t trust monsters, no matter what they promise.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“She hasn’t hurt anyone, has she?”
“Doesn’t mean she can?”
Emily tilted her head. “If you hate her so much, why are you here? Why’d your family settle in Cresthill? Are they…?”
“Yeah, they’re alive. Barely made it out though.” Lux stiffened slightly. “Did your—”
Emily pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes.
“…I’m sorry,” Lux whispered after a pause.
Emily’s chest ached. She didn’t know if she should reveal the truth or not. For now, it was probably best unspoken.
“Well, after Pillio’s Watch, my parents were desperate. They heard Cresthill Valley was a sanctuary for elves, but it turned out to be a vacation spot. Rich humans bought up the land and turned it into a getaway. The elven ruins are all that’s left. My parents had enough coin to buy a house, and it was nice here, so we stayed. Didn’t know about Mina until weeks later. She barely comes into town… mostly just to drink with that slut of a blacksmith. Otherwise, she holes up in that weird house of hers.”
Emily’s brows furrowed. “Weird house?” She looked back toward it, brow furrowing. It was just barley visible up on it’s hill from where they stood. It looked normal. She had been inside. She had slept inside. It was just a house. Unless whatever weird thing they were talking about was upstairs. She hadn’t been up there yet, and a small part of her didn’t want to unless Mina said it was okay.
Lux shrugged. “Yeah, nobody knows much about it. She keeps to herself, and people like it that way. Less chance of trouble.” Lux tilted her head, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “You notice anything weird in there? Does she sleep upside down? Or in a coffin?”
Emily frowned. “I don’t know?”
“Everyone talks about it, she’s hiding something in there, but no ones brave enough to ask her about it.”
“I haven’t noticed anything.”
“If you do, let us know.”
“Us?”
“Yeah,” she gestured toward the group by the stone wall. “My friends. You should meet them, they’ve lived here longer than me.” Lux grabbed Emily’s wrist and pulled her toward the wall. They were talking and laughing amongst themselves, but when Lux whistled to get their attention, they all peered over. “Everyone! I want you to meet someone!”
Emily gave an awkward wave. “Uh. Nice to meet you all.”
They each nodded or waved in their own way.
“Emily, this is Tristan, Cedric, and Alaric,” Lux gestured lazily to them, then waved toward the girl in overalls. “And this is Ophelia.”
Tristan, who had a head of mangy hair, tilted his head. “When’d you get here? Haven’t seen anyone ride into town recently.”
“A few days ago,” Emily explained. “I’ve been resting for the most part. I didn’t ride into town, though. More like… teleported.”
Tristan’s brows shot up. “Teleported?”
Cedric, the smallest of the boys but also the dirtiest, leaned in. “What are you, a witch?”
Emily hesitated. “…I’m hoping to be one day.”
Ophelia scoffed and shoved off the rock wall and walked over to her. “So you’re a pre-witch then.”
“A pitch,” Cedric said with a grin.
“That sounds like you’re saying bitch,” Ophelia said.
“Kinda like you?”
“Shut up!”
Alaric, the most well-dressed of the three boys, smirked and crossed his arms. “How old are you?” he asked suddenly, giving Emily a once-over.
“Uh. Seventeen.”
Alaric’s eyes narrowed. “You look older.”
Emily frowned. “How?”
“I dunno, you just do. Maybe it’s the hair. Or the legs.”
Emily raised an eyebrow and looked down at herself. “My legs?”
“Honestly thought you were a boy,” he added, shrugging.
“I did too,” Cedric piped up, then slid his hands up his chest, cupping a pair of non-existent breasts. “Especially since you’re as flat as one.”
Emily’s entire face burned. “E-excuse me?!” She marched toward him, clenching her fists.
Cedric hopped off the wall and backed away. “Woah, hold on!”
“No, no, say that again!”
“There’s nothing wrong with small breasts. It’s better, right? You don’t have these huge things weighing you down.”
Lux scoffed. “Cedric, shut the fuck up.”
“What? I’m just saying.”
Emily folded her arms. “You couldn’t just say hello, asshole?”
“Can’t help it if I don’t see it.”
“Yeah,” Alric added. “Overheard my mother telling my sister, if you don’t get breasts by fourteen, you never will.”
Lux rolled her eyes. “You three are assholes.”
Cedric snorted. “Like you’re a saint?”
“At least I’m better than you, dumbass.”
“Who are you calling a dumbass, bitch?”
“You, asshole!” Emily chimed in.
The argument exploded from there, all of them talking over each other in a mess of insults and half-laughed comebacks. Emily couldn’t quite keep up. Her attention bounced between them as they argued, heat still burning in her cheeks. She looked at Lux and Ophelia’s chests, then at her own. She had never really thought about her body like that before. Personal grooming wasn’t exactly a priority when she was scavenging for food in Peccatum’s alleys, trying not to freeze to death. But now, seeing them, standing in front of her, healthy, strong, and pretty, her stomach tightened. They didn’t look like skeletons wrapped in skin. They didn’t have sunken cheeks or hollow eyes. They looked normal. And for the first time, Emily found herself wondering; Did she really look that bad?
“Just ignore them,” Lux said to Emily. “They’re just a bunch of idiots.”
“Thought you said we were perverts?” Tristan said with a laugh.
“Yeah, that too,” Lux said, shooting the boys a glare before gesturing to Emily. “Apologize.”
“Yeah, apologize,” Emily said. “You don’t see me making fun of your breasts, do you?”
Alric laughed. “I mean, he’s got about as much breast as you do.”
Ophelia scoffed and ran at at him. “Oh, that’s it!”
Alric backed away, grabbing her as she tried to tackle him. “What are you getting in a fuss over? I’m not making fun of your breasts!”
“Leave her alone!” Ophelia laughed, trying and failing to pin him to the grass.
“We’re just messing with you,” Tristen said, chuckling.
“You should get a sense of humor,” Cedric muttered.
Lux bent down, grabbed a pebble, and hurled it at Cedric.
He yelped, doubling over slightly. “Ow! What the hell—”
“You deserved that,” Lux said, then turned to Emily. “You’ll get used to them. They’re fun to have around.”
“So what's your deal?” Tristen asked. “You’re living with the vampire?”
“She’s training me to be a monster hunter,” Emily explained.
“Aren’t they supposed to be strong?” Cedric added, eyeing her. “They’ve got muscles, black clothes, scars. You’re pretty skinny still.”
“Women can be monster hunters too,” Ophelia said, finally getting up from her wrestle with Aldric.
“That vampire ain’t a woman,” Tristan corrected. “She’s a monster.”
“She is,” Cedric insisted. “She’s got fangs. Drinks blood. That’s what a monster is.”
Lux looked Emily over and ran her hand along the fabric of her dress. “Looks like The Tailor’s work. The vampire bought it for you?”
Emily simply nodded.
“Yeah, she’s just buttering you up,” Alaric said. “She’ll eat you when you least expect it.”
“In your sleep,” Tristan added.
“I needed new clothes!” Emily argued. “She told me I could pick out anything I wanted!”
Lux’s eyes widened. “Did you see her then?”
“Who?” Emily tilted her head.
“Violet. The Vael’thaen.”
Emily tilted her head. “Vael… what?”
“Vael’thaen,” Lux said, slower this time. “Pronounced vay-el-thane. It’s an Elven word. Means… half-breed. Her parents were an elf and a dwarf.”
Emily blinked. She couldn’t remember Karaline having pointed ears or being short enough to be a dwarf.
“That’s why she wears the mask,” Cedric added. “All the vael’thaen do. Hides their ugly faces.”
“Wait, what's wrong with her?” Emily asked. “She didn’t seem odd.”
Lux groaned, spinning around before leaning against the stone wall. “Everything. She tries to act all proper like an elf should, but she’s brutish and taints our elvish blood. Drinks tea like she's downing ale, and tries performing magic, but she doesn’t have any grace to it.”
Emily shrugged. “I don’t know, she looked like she was doing a good job to me.”
“You haven’t known her long enough to see it.”
“And you have?”
Unfortunately,” Lux crossed her arms. “Doesn’t help that she’s just weird.”
“Yeah,” Cedric said. “Purple dress, purple shoes, purple hair.”
“Surprised her skin isn’t purple,” Tristan muttered.
Emily frowned. “Is that really so weird?”
“She’s also eighteen and still plays with dolls,” Ophelia said.
“She never says anything, either,” Alaric said.
“I don’t think she has a tongue,” Lux murmured.
“No, she does,” Cedric said. “She just doesn’t talk.”
“She’s got this… dead look in her eyes,” Ophelia added. “It’s freaky.”
Emily shifted uncomfortably. She wasn’t sure what to think. Violet didn’t seem that strange or unsettling when she met her. Granted, she didn’t really get the opportunity to talk to her.
“You should just stay away from her,” Lux said. “Hang out with us instead.”
“Yeah,” Ophelia said. “It’ll be fun to have a third girl in the group.”
“We’d all have someone to make out with,” Alaric added with a smirk.
Emily hesitated. “Maybe another time. I probably need to start heading back.”
Lux forced a smile. “Right, right, can’t keep your master waiting,” she said with a tease, then pulled Emily into another hug. “Just be carful, alright?”
“You’d be safer sleeping with one of us,” Tristen said.
Ophelia crossed her arms, glaring. “What are you implying?”
“I’m just saying. Anywhere is better than in that monster’s house.”
When they pulled apart, Emily gave a small, tired smile. “I’ll be fine.” Lux grinned. “You better be. Don’t go disappearing on me again.”
“I promise. Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
Author's Note: This chapter received revisions on 9/20/25
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S CHAPTER!
Please leave a comment!
- Any theories on what might happen next?
- What do you want to see more of?
- Wanna go on a typo hunt? (You’ll find something, I promise)
Follow the story to stay updated.
Favorite it if you enjoy the journey.
Craving more right now? Join my and help support the story!
- Read 8 chapters ahead!
- Bonus & cut content!
- Behind-the-scenes stuff ;)