Chapter 33: Unraveling the Bloodline

The air in the underground haven was thick with tension as Cassia paced back and forth in the dimly lit hallway. The quiet murmur of voices from the adjoining rooms and the occasional metallic clink of weapons being prepared filled the space, but it did little to ease the anxiety coiling in her stomach. She had never felt so out of control. The stakes were higher than ever before. Lucius, still unconscious, was the first priority, but the threat from the Varros had escalated beyond anything they had expected.

Ulderic had gathered everyone in the war room, the small, circular chamber hidden deep within the haven's labyrinthine passages. Cassia could hear muffled voices through the door—orders being given, plans being formed—but her mind couldn't quiet the whirlwind of thoughts and worries swirling inside her. She couldn't help but think of her uncle, the lies, and how deep the shadows seemed to stretch in Velmora. Could they really face down the Varros? Could they really stop the empire's corruption that seemed to seep into every corner of their lives?

Her fingers drummed nervously against the stone wall, her breath shallow. The flickering light from the lantern at the end of the hall seemed to mock her thoughts, casting shadows in every direction, hiding the path forward.

"Cassia." A low voice broke her thoughts, and she turned to find Selene standing at the entrance of the hallway, her sharp eyes studying her with the usual calm intensity.

"Are we ready?" Cassia asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. She hated how unsure she sounded, but the weight of the situation was too much to bear.

"We're ready," Selene said, her gaze unwavering. "The team's in position. Dorian and Castor are keeping an eye on the perimeter, and Ulderic's already relaying the final instructions. We've set up a decoy to buy us some time if the Varros come for us."

Cassia nodded, but her thoughts remained clouded. The decoy plan was risky. They were gambling with lives to slow the enemy down long enough to escape, but there were no guarantees. Every second they spent in this haven, they risked being discovered. Every moment that passed could be the one that determined their fate.

"What about Lucius?" Cassia asked, her voice cracking slightly as she thought of him lying unconscious in the next room. "How long can we wait for him to wake up?"

Selene's face softened, though her eyes still held that same fierce determination. "We're doing everything we can. But if we don't move soon, we'll be trapped. The Varros are ruthless—they'll burn everything in their path if it means finding us."

Cassia's heart sank. She knew Selene was right. They couldn't afford to wait forever. She turned to look at the door to Lucius's room, her mind torn between her loyalty to him and the urgency of the situation. Could she leave him? Could she abandon him when he needed her most?

Suddenly, the door opened, and Ulderic strode in, his expression grim. "It's time," he said. "We have to move now. The Varros are on the move, and they're closer than we thought. We can't afford to stay here any longer."

Cassia's breath caught in her throat, and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine. "What about Lucius?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. "What happens if he doesn't wake up in time?"

Ulderic looked at her, his jaw tightening. "We'll figure something out. We can't afford to stay and wait for him to recover. If we don't act, we're all going to be dead."

The words hung in the air, thick and final. Cassia's heart pounded in her chest, the decision weighing heavily on her. She couldn't—no, she wouldn't—abandon Lucius. Not after everything they'd been through together. Not when he was the one who had fought so hard for her survival. But if they stayed here, they'd be trapped. If the Varros found them, it wouldn't just be Lucius who would suffer.

"I can't leave him," she said finally, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotion raging inside her.

Selene stepped forward, placing a hand on Cassia's shoulder. "You don't have to. We'll make sure he's safe. But you need to trust us, Cassia. We need to get out of here. If the Varros find this place, it'll be over for all of us."

Cassia closed her eyes, her heart heavy. She knew Selene was right. There was no time to waste. They couldn't stay here any longer. But she couldn't just leave Lucius behind. He had been there for her when she had nothing, when she was just a girl caught up in a web of lies and deceit. He had fought for her. Now, it was her turn to fight for him.

"I'll stay with him," Cassia said, her voice firm now. "I won't leave him."

Ulderic nodded, his expression softening just slightly. "I'll make sure you're not alone," he said, his voice low. "We'll protect him. But you need to stay strong. We can't afford to falter now."

As Ulderic and Selene left to gather the rest of the group, Cassia returned to Lucius's side. She sat by the bed, her fingers gently brushing his hair back from his forehead as she studied his face. It was hard to believe that just hours ago, he had been fighting for his life, his body broken and bruised. Yet here he was, still breathing, still alive. He wasn't gone yet. And neither was she.

She had a purpose now. She had people to protect. And she wasn't about to let the shadows of the past swallow them whole.

Suddenly, Lucius's hand twitched.

Cassia's heart skipped a beat as she leaned forward, her breath catching in her throat. Could it be? Was he waking up?

His eyes fluttered open, a faint groan escaping his lips. Cassia's relief was overwhelming, and she immediately reached for his hand, gripping it tightly.

"Lucius?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

His eyes focused on her, a flicker of recognition in them before they clouded with confusion. "Cassia..." he muttered weakly, his voice rough from disuse.

Tears stung Cassia's eyes as she squeezed his hand. "You're awake. Thank the gods, you're awake."

Lucius blinked up at her, his brow furrowing slightly as if trying to process everything. "What... what's happening? Where are we?"

Cassia swallowed hard, trying to steady her emotions. "We're safe, for now," she said shouted out. "Kaela!! Kieran!! Come quick! He's awake!"

"Who are those people, Cassia?"

Just as they rush in she tells him, "These two are friends of mine from the Inn I was staying at when I came to Aurelia that time. They saved us when we were escaping. They came with Octavian, the inn keeper and they are healers, they are the ones who helped dress your wounds and care for you. So, please let them help you Lucius."

Kieran spoke out, "Cassia please step outside."

...

Cassia paced back and forth in the hallway outside Lucius's room, her heart still racing from the events that had unfolded. She had never felt so helpless, watching him fight for his life and feeling as though the weight of the world was on her shoulders. The atmosphere in the underground haven was thick with tension. Everyone was on edge, ready to face whatever dangers the Varros were planning to bring. But Lucius, still unconscious, remained their most pressing concern.

The door to the room creaked open, and Cassia stopped in her tracks, her breath catching as she saw Kieran standing in the doorway.

"How is he?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Kieran nodded, stepping aside to let her enter. "He's stable, for now. But you need to leave the room for a moment. Kaela needs to speak with him. It's important."

Cassia hesitated, glancing toward Lucius's bed where he lay unconscious, his breathing slow but steady. She had barely left his side since they had found the haven. But she knew Kieran was right—Lucius needed privacy, especially with Kaela, who wasn't his regular healer but had proven to be indispensable during their time in the haven.

"I'll be right outside," Cassia said softly, squeezing his hand before stepping past Kieran into the hallway.

As the door closed behind her, she leaned against the wall, her mind still racing with the chaos of everything that had happened. Her heart ached at the thought of Lucius still unconscious and the weight of the revelation that had come to light earlier. Lucius wasn't just anyone—he had blood in his veins that tied him to something far beyond even the imperial struggles. He was part of a lineage that connected him to the very creation of Velmora, to beings with powers that no one could fully understand.

Inside, the room was quiet, save for the soft rustle of Kaela's robes as she moved closer to Lucius's bedside. Kieran stepped back, watching from the door as Kaela knelt beside him, her face serious but not without empathy.

"Lucius," Kaela murmured, her voice quiet but authoritative. "It's good to see you awake. How do you feel?"

Lucius blinked, the world around him still blurry as he tried to gather his bearings. The pain from his injuries was still sharp, but there was something else lingering in the air—something that made his instincts flare. He had fought against the Varros, and now he had more questions than answers.

"I'm fine," he said, his voice hoarse. "What happened? The wound... why didn't it heal?"

Kaela met his eyes, her gaze intense. She had seen the scars from the injury—the wound that had been slow to heal, as if something was keeping it open. She studied him carefully, sensing there was more at play than just a simple injury.

"You already know why it wasn't healing, don't you?" she asked softly, her voice low enough that only Lucius could hear. "It wasn't just a physical wound. It was a curse."

Lucius's eyes sharpened as he took in her words. He had known something was off with the wound from the moment it had been inflicted. The way it burned, the way it refused to close, even after his most intense efforts to heal it—he had suspected something more than just a mere blade was at play. But hearing Kaela's words confirmed what he had feared.

"A curse?" he echoed, his brow furrowing. "But why? Who would curse me?"

Kaela paused, her lips pressing into a thin line. She knew Lucius was more than he appeared—he always had been. But hearing him speak now, there was an air of hesitation in his voice, a reluctance to reveal something deeper.

She leaned closer, her tone shifting from practical concern to something more probing. "You are a descendant of the Eternal Ones, Lucius. We both know it. You carry their blood in your veins, don't you?" Her words hung in the air between them, each one heavy with implication.

Lucius remained silent for a long moment, his gaze unwavering. He had never spoken of his heritage to anyone except those he trusted completely. But Kaela's question was loaded, and the time for secrets was running out.

"You already know the answer to that," he said quietly, his voice steady but carrying the weight of the truth. "Yes, I am one of them—the descendants of the Eternal Ones. I carry their blood, their power. But what does that have to do with the wound?"

Kaela studied him carefully, her expression one of understanding and caution. "The dagger that cut you was cursed," she said softly. "The wound was designed not just to hurt you, but to prevent healing. That's why it hasn't closed. But it wasn't just a random curse. It's tied to something far older—something connected to your lineage, your blood."

Lucius's mind raced, the pieces falling into place. The Varros had known about his bloodline, about the power he carried, and they had used that knowledge against him. They had attacked him with something that was far more than just a blade—it was a weapon meant to suppress him, to keep him from recovering, to weaken him at his core.

Kaela's voice broke through his thoughts. "But you don't have to worry anymore. I've removed the curse from the wound. It should begin to heal by this evening, fully closing within a day or two."

Lucius blinked, his mind reeling as he processed the weight of her words. "You... removed it?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. He had assumed the wound was a death sentence, that there was no way to heal it once it had taken root.

Kaela nodded, her expression softening slightly. "Yes. I've cleansed the wound. But now, Lucius, the real question is—what does it mean for you? Why were they targeting you like this? Why the blood of the Eternal Ones in your veins? And what does your bloodline really mean in this war?"

Lucius didn't answer at first. Instead, he let out a deep breath and closed his eyes. He knew the time would come when he would have to answer those questions, but now wasn't the time. Now, he needed to focus on the task at hand—surviving, and making sure the Varros didn't win.

"Thank you for your help, Kaela," he said quietly, his tone steady. "But there are things I can't discuss right now. Things I'm still trying to understand myself."

Kaela didn't press further, but she studied him with a knowing look. She had seen many men in her life, but Lucius was different. His bloodline was ancient, and his fate had been written long before he had ever come into this world. But it was clear now that his path was tangled with the future of Velmora itself.

"I see," Kaela murmured, standing slowly. "Just know that whatever it is, you're not alone in this. We're all in this together."

With that, she stepped back, giving Lucius a moment to gather himself. The room was quiet once more, and Lucius could feel the weight of her words settle on him like a shadow.

As Kaela left the room, the door clicked softly behind her. Lucius sat there for a moment, his hand still resting on the bed, lost in thought. He knew this was just the beginning. The Varros were coming for him. They always had been. But now, he was more than just a man with blood in his veins—he was part of something far greater, something that would either save or destroy Velmora.

And the truth of his lineage was just the beginning of the storm that was about to break.

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