Celine didn't try to spend time with Lucian during the day (acting sick), which he took as a sign that she was indeed very busy.
He probably took their last naughty time too far, because she also stopped initiating any intimate moments after that.
His chatty moods would leave him whenever he saw her tired face in the dark of the night. If he tried to annoy her, she'd leave and not return, so he just hugged her to sleep, and she would stay.
It was becoming too serious, their interactions. Like a calm sea that would just swallow them in the darkness of its depth without a warning, without a storm.
"Are you choosing your house over me, again?" Lucian asked in a whisper, holding her close.
"What are you saying, love? You are my house," she said, burying her face in his chest, "You are my only home."
Avoided. Again. She was trying to avoid a fight. A fight that would make her kick him out of bed, and out of her life.
"What really happened five years ago?" he asked. "I want to hear it from you."
Celine didn't reply, and her breathing didn't change to show that she was asleep. She just didn't want to answer, and she wasn't going to.
Lucian was also tired of playing these games. He wanted to know the truth, "Tell me!"
"Stop asking me that!" She pushed him away and got off the bed. "It's the past! It's over!"
He reached out to her, but she was faster than him, slipping away from his grasp. He leaped from his side of the bed to catch her.
"I'm sleeping in my room," she said, her voice cold and distant, "Move away."
Lucian didn't, his hand shooting out to grab her.
But before he could, her bare feet met his chest, sending him flying back on the bed.
He groaned in pain as he fell onto the mattress with a loud thud. His heart throbbed, and he struggled to catch his breath.
"Get back here!" He quickly gathered himself, launching off the bed.
Her hand was on the doorknob. She was about to flee the room.
His eyes flashed golden for a moment, and he was by her side in a split second, grabbing her by the arm and throwing her onto the bed.
Celine yelped in surprise, shocked by the sudden change in his strength and speed. She immediately got into a fighting position.
"Hah, finally showing your true colors," she said, her tone mocking. "I thought it would take forever to get you to drop the mask."
She ran in his direction, throwing a punch straight at his face. He dodged, grabbing her wrist and throwing her over his shoulder.
She landed on her feet and kicked his leg out from underneath him. He stumbled backward and fell onto the floor.
She lunged at him, but he caught her ankle and twisted it.
Celine grunted in pain as she felt a pop in her joint. She kicked him in the chest with her other leg, sending him flying into the wall.
Lucian hit the wall hard, knocking the air from his lungs.
Blue veins appeared on Celine's skin. Her pupils dilated as she charged at him again, "Where is he?! What did you do to him?!"
She was crazed, her mind clouded by madness that had consumed her for years. It was as if she couldn't think straight anymore.
Lucian ducked under her fist and swept his foot across her feet, sending her tumbling to the ground. He slammed his fist into her stomach.
She blocked with her knee and kicked at his head. He dodged, his fist meeting hers in mid-air. She countered with an uppercut, and his knee met hers in mid-air.
The impact sent them both skidding back, and they stared at each other from opposite sides of the room.
They were both breathing heavily, their chests rising and falling rapidly. Sweat beaded on their foreheads as they stared at one another, neither willing to back down.
"Where is Lucian?" She demanded.
"Here," Lucian said, pointing to himself, "Where else would I be?"
Celine grabbed the nearest object she could find, a book, and threw it at him, "I'm not playing games, tell me where you are keeping him!"
"Stop this nonsense!" Lucian yelled, ducking out of the way of the projectile. But then, he paused. A realization dawned upon him, and he widened his eyes at the woman before him, "No...I'm not what you think I am. I'm the same Lucian, I'm just–"
She snarled at him and charged forward once again, leaping into the air and kicking out at his chest.
Lucian sidestepped and swung his fist at her chest.
His eyes flashed golden as his fist made contact with her body, sending a shockwave that knocked Celine back.
The force sent her crashing through the door and into the hallway outside.
Lucian roared at the voice inside his mind. 'What are you doing?!'
The voice laughed inside his mind, and the golden glow disappeared from his eyes.
Lucian ran after Celine, finding her lying motionless in the hall. She was still conscious, but her body was limp and unresponsive. Her eyes were glazed over, as if she were in a trance.
Lucian approached her and crouched down beside her, but she remained still.
"Celine?" he asked quietly, reaching out to touch her shoulder.
Her body jerked violently at the contact, and her eyes widened, "Don't touch me!"
She scrambled backward, away from him, and held up her hands in defence, "Don't touch me! Don't touch me! Don't touch me!"
She rubbed her body, trying to erase the sensation of his touch on her skin, and Lucian watched her in horror.
She didn't even seem to notice him anymore, just picked herself up and mumbling, "I need to clean up, I have to wash it all off, I have to get rid of it, I have to..."
Lucian stayed frozen in his spot, unable to move, unable to say anything.
Celine's veins glowed again as her wounds healed themselves, "Guards!" she shouted, and the sound of heavy footsteps echoed in the hall.
Everything happened in a flash, and the events that unfolded in front of Lucian's eyes were like a blur.
Chains flew from every direction, surrounding him and pulling him down to his knees.
"To the dungeon!" Celine yelled, her eyes wild and crazed, "Now!"
Lucian was dragged to the dungeons, the chains around his wrists and ankles digging into his flesh.
He didn't fight back, didn't resist, didn't even try to escape.
He simply followed along, his head bowed and his expression blank.