Awakened

Valentine Manor stood still as the sun settled, bruising the sky in vivid violet and pink. Pressing a palm against the frosted lace window, Mina’s green eyes watched a shadow move up her driveway toward her front door. The way the man walked was all but familiar to her. Slipping silently away from her window, Mina briskly made her way down the long hallway lined with wall sconces lighting the way to a set of stairs. Mina descended the sweeping staircase, her gaze settling on her brother entering through the front door into the foyer below. Cassian Valentine had the kind of presence that made stillness seem deliberate, tall and lean beneath a charcoal coat that fit neatly across his shoulders. His dark brown hair was nearly black in the low light, shorter at the sides with the top left just long enough to fall slightly out of place after his drive. Sharp cheekbones and a strong jaw gave him a severity that hadn’t softened with the centuries, though the thin scar cutting through one dark brow kept his features from looking too perfect. But it was his hazel eyes Mina noticed first, as she always did, warm brown threaded with green and flecks of amber that seemed almost golden whenever fire was near. To anyone else, Cassian might have looked intimidating standing there in silence. Mina only saw her brother, four infuriating minutes older and entirely too pleased with himself for it.

Mina paused at the bottom step. “You’re late”

Looking at his watch, he shrugged softly. “Given that it is dusk, I’d say I’m early”

Rolling her eyes playfully, she smiled before she fully walked to her brother, embracing him in a hug. It had been too long since she had seen her brother.

“Six long years you travel the world, doing who knows what and torturing who knows-” Her eyes search his. “What are you really doing here, brother?”

“What can’t I come by and see my baby sister?” He asks, pulling away from her and looking around the foyer. “Absolutely nothing has changed here.”

“You’re dodging.” Mina crossed her arms over her chest.

Sighing heavily, Cassian turned toward his sister.

“There are rumors that Valcan wants to stir up a war. In the underground.” His eyes searched her face.

Mina felt her body stiffen slightly; Valcan- the name sounded like poison to her. “Is that supposed to shock me?”

“Mina, I know you two have history together. He isn’t the same anymore.” Cassian places his hand on her arm. “When you two split up, he has become more power-hungry.”

“This is not my problem, Cassian. I live on the outskirts of a small town for a very good reason.” Mina pulls back slowly. “It’s quiet, everyone knows everyone, and the best part is I get left alone. You know as well as I do that’s what’s best for everyone.”

Mina walks with her brother further into the manor as they enter the large kitchen, with white marble counter tops dark cherry wood cabinets. Up-to-date appliances that fit in most every modern-day kitchen.

“Wow, you really took out Mom’s old kitchen and gave it a huge modern update,” Cassian said.

“Have to keep up with the times, Cassian. We may be vampires doesn’t mean we have to stick with the year we were changed. In any case, kitchens didn’t even exist in our time.” Mina says, pulling out a couple of blood bags from the fridge, placing them in the microwave and warming them up a bit.

Cassian fumbled around the kitchen until he found the drinking glasses and plopped them onto the counter. Mina filled both glasses up and took a long drink.

“I don’t think Mother would like the era we are in now,” Mina mumbled.

“With all the technology and cars, no more horses and buggies.” He chuckled a bit. “You’re right; she wouldn’t. She struggled even with buggies.”

The corners of Mina’s lips curled a bit. Mina moved over towards her small breakfast table in the corner of the kitchen.

“So tell me, brother, even if Valcan is starting a war. What does that have to do with me?” She questions.

“I think you very well know why.” Cassian locked eyes with her. “You and that fucking marking on your neck.”

Mina moved a hand up to her neck, the lightning-strike-looking mark that started at the nape of her neck traveling down her left shoulder, all the way to her fingertips, spreading out like veins. The dark color of the mark stood out against her light skin; Mina was pale but not too pale. She brushed her dark shoulder-length hair towards the left side like it would cover the mark.

“It’s been doing things, hasn’t it?” He demands.

“Nothing to be concerned over, Cassian. Dimitri has done well to keep it under lock and key.” She mumbles.

“Who the hell is Dimitri?” Puzzled, Cassian glanced around the kitchen as he would appear.

“Dimitri is a warlock who is living in the manor with me. He crossed by town about thirty or forty years ago. He was on the run, and I’ve been keeping him safe here as long as he doesn’t blow up my house and keeps this thing under control.” Mina explains.

“I thought you wanted to be alone?” Cassian mocks.

“I am alone; Dimitri keeps to himself mostly.” Mina stood up after finishing her glass of blood. “I’m in need of a drink. Care to join me?” She asked, placing her glass in the sink.

“We going to a bar?” He asks.

“Only the best is ever served in a bar, and-” She turned towards her brother. “You still have more explaining to do. My mark isn’t the only reason why you have come.”

Cassian huffed a bit as he crossed his arms over his well-built chest before following his sister to the garage. Another addition she added to the large manor. Driving into town took mostly fifteen minutes before they arrived at a very small bar that was a bit busy, as it was Friday.

The air in The Rusty Anchor always smelled the same: spilled bourbon, clove cigarettes, and the underlying metallic hum of humanity. It was a thick, suffocating warmth that Mina usually craved, but tonight, with her brother Cassian trailing behind her like a cold shadow, it felt different.

“This is it?” Cassian’s voice was low. He looked at the peeling vinyl booths. “Your grand sanctuary?”

“It’s a place where no one asks why I don’t age, Cassian. Just try to relax and enjoy yourself.” Mina winked at him.

Mina went straight to the far end of the mahogany bar, where the light was the dimmest, and the shadows were the kindest. Jack was already there, wiping down a glass, his movements practiced and rhythmic. He didn’t look up immediately, but Mina saw the way his shoulders tightened—the split-second change in his breathing that told her he knew exactly who had just sat down.

When he finally looked up, his eyes didn’t go to the polished, lethal stranger at her side. They locked onto Mina’s.

“The usual?” Jack asked. His voice was a rough contrast to Cassian’s elegance, grounded and heavy.

“Make it two,” Mina said, her voice dropping an octave. She leaned forward, letting her hand rest on the cool wood of the bar, just inches from his. “My brother is just passing through. I’m staying.”

Jack’s gaze flickered to her hand, then back to her face. There was a challenge in his expression—a silent acknowledgment of the routine they were about to play out. He reached for a bottle, his forearm muscles tensing under his rolled-up sleeves, and Mina felt that familiar, sharp tug in her chest. It wasn’t just hunger; it was the thrill of a hunt that always ended with her being caught.

Mina blinked a couple of times before turning her attention to Cassian. “Now, where were we? Right! Valcan and his stupid war, and you think it has everything to do with my cursed mark.” She said, giving Jack a light wink when he placed the two scotch drinks in front of them and walked off to tend to other customers.

“What I heard when passing through the underground-“ glancing around the bar, he moved a bit closer to his sister. “Valcan was scouting creatures. Not just werewolves but warlocks, witches, even sirens. I don’t know what his plan is yet, but I heard your name come up a couple times.” Cassian starts taking a small sip of his scotch.

“Sounds like Valcan; he wouldn’t dare let his precious pack die for his sake. Let everyone else do their bidding.” She said. “Brother, no one new has come to town except you. I have my own spies working for me here. While they may just be human, they know what to look out for.” Mina stated, finishing her scotch and wiggling the glass in the air for another.

“That’s not the point, Mina. If Valcan is looking for you, it won’t take him long to know where you are. I know of the manor, and he knows that when you want to be left alone, that’s where you go. If he manages to get your powers unlocked, Mina, he will use the Dark Shadows. You locked them away all those years ago; I know they are calling out to you. I can see it on your face how tired you are. Regardless, you got some warlock keeping it under control; eventually you’re going to be too weak to fight against it.” Cassian placed his hand on hers.

Mina pulled her hand away. “Cassian, you worry way too much. This mark will keep them in their prison; the dark shadows will never get out again.”

“You were supposed to be their queen, their leader,” Cassian muttered.

“I did what was best for them,” Mina snapped.

“I know,” he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just please be careful, Mina.”

Cassian glanced toward the front windows. A pair of headlights swept across the glass as a car pulled out of the lot.

“Staying beside you won’t tell me if Valcan’s people followed me here,” he said. “I’m going to check the roads into town.”

“And find yourself a treat?”

“That too.” He stood, setting a few bills beneath his empty glass. His gaze flicked toward Jack, then back to her. “You seem to have that part handled.”

Mina gave him a flat look. Cassian’s smile faded, and he leaned close enough that only she could hear him.

“If the mark starts acting up, call me. I mean it.”

“I know.”

He studied her for another moment, then squeezed her shoulder and headed for the door. Mina watched him go. Only when he disappeared into the parking lot did she turn back toward Jack and the drink waiting at her elbow. She sat there for a few hours watching the life of the bar happen around her. Drunk men trying to best each other to get a girl to go home with them, first dates happening as well as last dates happening. To live a simple human life not knowing the full dangers of the world around them. Something Mina longed for, something she never would get a taste of. She adored coming to bars or restaurants, watching life happen around her.

Mina lingered over her drink, the ice melting. She felt a presence behind her before she heard him; the scent of Jack—sweat, cheap bourbon, and raw masculinity—hit her like a physical blow. He didn’t say a word. He simply took her arm. He leaned down, his voice a low, dangerous growl in her ear.

“I could use a little help in the back. The bar will be covered for a while.” Jack murmured.

Min glanced up at him and smirked softly. “I wish I could help with that."

“I get the sensation you’re going to leave,” He said.

“I have to disappear again, Jack. Someone is looking for me. If they plan to come to this town, I can’t let anyone get hurt.” Mina smirked. “I know you’ll miss me.” She teased.

“Now, now, I told you not to fall in love with me; this was always just for fun.” Jack teased back.

Mina placed some cash on the bar placing her hand on Jacks shoulder before she left the bar. Moving back towards her car, she paused, seeing a wolf paw print in the dirt. Stiffening, she looked around quickly; she could feel eyes on her. Getting in her car, Mina let out a shaky breath. Starting her car, she jerked the gear shift into reverse and pulled out of her spot. Her headlights found the yellow eyes of a wolf staring at her car from the bushes. Glaring Mina put the car in drive and peeled out of the parking lot, making her way to the small highway, pressing the gas pedal almost to the floor. A blur moved past her passenger side before a sharp pain started in the nape of her neck, her mark starting to glow a dark blood red, illuminating the car. The pain became unbearable; Mina let out a painful scream. Seeing the Wolf stop in the middle of the road. Mina slammed on her brakes and jerked the steering wheel to the right, making her car spin out of control, sending her into the ditch, flipping her car a few times before it landed on the hood of the car. Panting, Mina opened her eyes, looking around, no longer seeing the wolf anymore. Taking her seatbelt off, she landed on the roof of the car, letting out a small groan as she pulled herself out of the broken driver’s-side window. Standing up, Mina stumbled back against the car, feeling blood rush down her forehead over her right eye. Wiping the blood away, Mina let out a hiss of pain, looking at her mark going down her arm.

“We are waiting for you; come set us free,” a voice moved through her head.

Hearing her name being yelled out, Mina turned her head towards the real voice, her vision blurring, the ground and sky beginning to spin before the ground rushed up towards her and everything went black.