Lukas awoke, quickly attempting to ascertain where he was in the first few seconds of his renewed awareness. He tried to move, but his body was unwilling to answer, nor could he even open his eyes. It was as if he was suspended within the darkness of the void, his body held by layers of shadow, the chill never reaching him. Something protected his body and mind, if only for a moment. The fantasy lasted only a few more moments before the weight and pain of the last few days slowly returned, Lukas savoring the last few remnants of peace and comfort.


    Unfortunately, reality returned, and the fear of what he would return to began to spread through him; he knew he would have to open his eyes soon. Taking a deep breath, Lukas felt his body ache with the attempt, his ribs burning with every breath he took, feeling his revenged body.


    Knowing he was in no shape to do much, Lukas allowed himself more rest; he instead listened to his surroundings for a time. It was eerily quiet. Lukas heard no voices, not even the movement of people in the building where he had awoken. There should have been servants or soldiers busily working into the late night hours, but nothing. His surroundings were too silent; none of the fighting or screams that had plagued him since his cousin''s death, none of the fear of being ridden down by the men chasing him for so many hours.


    Pushing back at the fear building up and feeling he had enough control, Lukas opened one eye and saw the blurry grey ceiling above, and his vision became clearer as the seconds passed. It took some time, but as he moved his eyes slowly, unable to move his body, Lukas recognized the sizable room as the one he had stayed in before leaving with Marcellus. Relief and confusion swirled in Lukas’s mind. Had everything just been a dream? But alas, Lukas knew in his heart and mind that no matter how much he hoped that sentiment to be true, there was only one cold, hard truth bearing down on him now: Marcellus was dead.


    Questions marred Lukas as he lay in the Sulli Estate, his brain trying to understand everything that had happened to him in the last few days. Lukas had expected to be with his cousin at the Legions fortress, learning to control his Wraith and training day and night until his fingers bled and he dropped from exhaustion.


    But now everything had changed; the exhaustion was there, but nothing else of the plans that had been paved before him by his father and uncle. Lukas took control of what he could and focused on the few questions that mattered. How had he gotten here? Who was the man that saved him? And finally, and most importantly, how long had he been gone to the world?


    The first was answered reasonably obviously with the memories of a man appearing and disappearing as a shadow through his pursuers playing through his mind, cutting each down with such ease. These were not some fanciful dreams but the reality. The power he displayed was something Lukas had expected only the Archons could display. But some stranger had been able to cut down so many within mere heartbeats, set his mind ablaze with the need to know more. He would have to learn the man''s name from his Uncle or someone. He was sure they would know or would be able to find out.


    Having heard no one come near his room, Lukas attempted to make his body sit up to get someone’s attention. But no matter how much he wanted to move, His every limb, muscle, and bone protested in their very core. Lukas tried several times before, but finally, he was forced to give up the attempts. He lay there staring up at the ceiling, barely able to make a whisper. His entire body felt like he''d been pulled from all his limbs by galloping horses.


    How long would he be like this? Lukas did not know and tried not to dwell on the nightmares that began to creep into the back of his mind; even the thought of never being able to move again had no place within the confines of his mind. He would not allow such thoughts to plague himself any longer.


    Minutes passed, and the only thing changing in the room was the movement of the small light elemental slowly within its glass prison. Lukas continued to watch as it kept the room light with its body of pure light, one of many that lit the entire estate’s many rooms and buildings. Time continued to pass until Lukas felt a little energy flicker to life within his body, just enough that he could start moving a single finger, then move his head back and forth with slight discomfort from his many sore muscles. But as time passed and he regained movement, thirst finally made its way to the front of the line of the many pains and annoyances that plagued him. Wine or water, Lukas did not know how long he had either, but he needed something to quench his thirst.


    The door opened before he could look for a cup or pitcher in the room or try to raise his voice to have someone hear him. Slowly turning his head, Lukas saw a young woman dressed in the grey dresses of his uncle''s household servants. She was no older than himself, her lengthy hair tied into a braid almost touching her waist.


    "Water, please." His rasping was barely louder than a whisper; he wouldn’t have been surprised if she had not heard him.


    She looked up from the folded blankets in her hands before dropping them as her hands covered her mouth. Without a word, she ran from the room, and Lukas could hear her yelling loudly, "He''s awake, Lukas is awake."


    I just wanted water, Bloody Echoes, and the Fae be damned. Lukas sensed a change with another spark of power forming within his core. It was just a little spark, but enough, he thought, to attempt to raise himself up. Moving his arms slowly, Lukas used every muscle, each burned from the effort, to raise himself to a sitting position when someone familiar opened the door again minutes later.


    Marie rushed through the door and sat on the edge of the bed, hugging Lukas hard.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "You''re finally awake." Marie cried. Lukas could hear the tears in her words as she spoke into his shoulder.


    He flinched from the fire running through his ribs as she held him.


    Marie let go of him before she backed away to the far edge of the bed, her hands up to her mouth, her eyes full of concern.


    "I''m so sorry. I should have realized you would be in pain. How are you feeling?" She asked, eyes examining every inch of him that wasn''t covered.


    Lukas felt his skin burn as he realized he was very much underdressed and shirtless. He pulled the covers up with difficulty, covering himself so she couldn''t see anything.


    "It''s alright," He croaked out, and again, barely a whisper came from between his lips.


    "Oh, you need water. Hold on." She jumped up and rushed to the dresser on the opposite wall, pouring a glass of water from a stone pitcher. When she returned, she handed the cool cup over.


    "Drink slowly. You''ve been out too long and need to take your time." She ordered, reclaiming her seat at the end of the bed.


    Lukas slowly sipped the ice-cold water, the coolness going bone-deep. It felt refreshing, and even his muscles felt better for it. "Thank you."


    The words came out stronger with less of the rasp he had since his awakening, but still only a whisper. As he took further sips, he felt a little more strength return, his muscles drinking in the refreshing water with all their might.


    The door opened, and Lord Sulli strode into the room with purpose and stood at the end of the bed. "You may go, Marie."


    She stood, turning to face the man in an almost protective posture. "He''s just awakened. You shouldn''t push it too far." She argued weakly.


    He didn''t acknowledge her words. "Close the door behind you."


    Marie nodded in defeat, giving Lukas one last hug before she retreated from the room and closed the door behind her. Lord Sulli gave her no more attention, his eyes only on Lukas.


    Lukas kept himself sitting straight, trying to hold a measure of composure in front of his Uncle and head of the family. He lasted only a moment before he slipped back down into a more comfortable position on the bed. He waited for Lord Sulli to speak but only continued to watch. Lukas finally broke eye contact and looked down into his mostly empty water cup. He wanted more, but it would have to wait.


    A visit from Lord Sulli was never just a conversation. The man would analyze every minuscule detail of the conversation down to the emphasis of each syllable. Based on your reactions, the man held every detail and decided his next move. Lukas was not prepared for such a meeting.


    "How are you feeling?" He asked, hands clasped behind his back, standing firmly at the end of the bed. His voice was also harder than Lukas would have expected such a question to sound.


    "Weak, but feeling slightly better already. The water helped," Lukas said. His stomach also growled. When was the last time he had eaten? Two or three days ago, maybe. He had not yet figured out how long he had slept. It could have been weeks for all he knew. "I would love something to eat."


    Lord Sulli''s face did not change. "I''ll have one of the servants bring something to you. You need to rest and recover quickly. You’ve been asleep a full day, and there is no time to lose."


    Time? What was he talking about? "Can you explain? I don’t understand. What do you mean by no time to lose?" Lukas said. Time to lose? He had woken up barely a half hour ago. Cryptic half-answers were not what he needed in the shape he was in.


    "Lukas, things have changed with the death of Marcellus. Our family was not prepared for such a situation." Lord Sulli gave no hint that he was talking about his own son’s death. There wasn’t a hint of emotion in his words, just cold, hard facts. How did he stay so composed?


    Lukas looked down into his cup, remembering the final sight of Marcellus falling from the house. Damnit, keep it together. He saved you by doing that.


    "I have no other sons, Lukas. My granddaughter is only six months old; she is too young to succeed me as the head of this house. So I must name a new heir." Turning away, Lord Sulli walked away, his eyes painting hanging on the wall across from the bed of a family sat on a richly decorated couch, two young children and their parents.


    Why was he saying this to him? Lukas was not important enough for such conversations. His father was Lord Sulli’s younger brother. They were a secondary family, and his father never tried to influence or be part of the family politics. He kept to the family estates outside the city, away from everything. It took more time than it should have in his weakened state, but the realization of what those words meant came to Lukas.


    "I see you understand, so I''ll not tarry any longer. You will be my heir," he retook his spot, his hands gripping the wooden bed frame, looking down at Lukas. Your father has already agreed to this plan. You will live, study, and train here, and in time, you’ll succeed me as head of this family."


    What could he say? There were no words to speak. How was this even a thought that went through his uncle''s head at a time like this? It would have been one of the last things so soon after Marcellus''s death. Lord Sulli waited, and the silence began to grow between them until Lukas finally broke.


    "I''m honored. I don''t know what else to say," Lukas responded.


    "Nothing at this point. You have two days until I expect you to be up and about. The healers will arrive in the next hour to help with your recovery. Until then, rest. You have much to do after that,” He turned to go.


    "What''s in two days?" Lukas asked. He didn''t feel like, even with a hundred healers, he would be up for much so soon. Just moving a single arm felt as if he was pushing it through water, the weight forcing it down.


    "You''ll be my representative and someone else in the family to the Lord Reza’s Anceslia. A reward for the soldier that saved your life outside the city." Ending the conversation, Lord Sulli turned and walked from the room.


    Lukas’s mind went back to the memories of the fight. Reza had been a blur, jumping around the fight and killing the soldiers with such skill. He and his wraith, a partnership that brought forth so much deadly skill.


    Reaching out, Lukas summoned his own Wraith with his little power. The crimson figure of his Wraith appeared, standing next to the bed. He looked down on Lukas with a wicked smile, the cards dancing through his hands. The rush of power through his limbs felt wonderful, giving him a rush of energy that allowed him to freely move if only for a few precious moments.


    "We need to figure out what you can do," Lukas told his wraith. "I won''t be that useless the next time I''m in a fight."


    But these were plans for the future; for now all he had to do was rest and recover. Lukas would have to use every moment in the next two days to be prepared. He would do his duty as heir, and then he would get to work. Lukas closed his eyes and placed the water cup on the side table. He lay down under the warm covers. "I won''t be useless again."


    He let the power of the wraith go and fell back to sleep.