As Jules had gotten more comfortable in Lucian's home. She'd spend her days reading on her canopy bed or dragging Cassius out into the lawn to watch the fireflies. Unbeknownst to Lucian, she'd also spend some nights out with the Rogues, where they'd go to the samps and sit in the hot Louisiana sun, or rooftop bars until the sun began to rise. She liked how she felt when she was with Silas and his friends.
Jules had grown close to a few of the Rogue members: Maeve Sterling and Rafe Archer. Maeve Sterling was a wild card. She was tall, slim, and had cherry-red hair and emerald green eyes. She had been turned when she was only eighteen, and refused any sort of contact or assistance from the Coven. She didn't want to be handled; she could handle herself. That was one of the things Jules admired about her the most.
Rafe Archer looked as though he was carved of stone. He was tall, powerful, and reckless. He was always by Silas' side and patrolled the Rogue territories during the night. He had been changed when he was twenty-four, so he was one of the most respected members of the Rogue.
The Rogues were a small group that resided in the swamps. They each ranged from seventeen to twenty- four. But the one thing they all had in common was their distaste for the Coven. They thought the vampire political system was outdated and that it would hold them back. The court and supremes looked down on them because of that. Each member complied with all the rules, except for them.
One night, Jules sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the flickering candle on her nightstand. That was when she heard a knock. As the door creaked open, Lucian slipped inside. He wore a dresscoat and a black vest, his black hair ruffled over his forehead. A silver locket hung around his neck, but disappeared underneath his white, collared button-down. His eyes looked different- worried.
"I'll be gone for a few days." He said.
Jules frowned.
"Why?"
"It's nothing for you to worry about," Lucian replied softly, and as he turned to leave the door, Jules felt the words slip out of her mouth.
"Is it because of me?" She asked.
Lucian stopped and turned back towards her.
"Don't forget I chose to save you. This is on both of our heads."
Jules felt her throat go dry. She sat back a bit. Without another word, Lucian slipped out of the door and disappeared.
Sick with boredom, Jules got off the bed and walked out to her balcony. She could hear the music from Scarlett's jazz club all the way down the road. She wanted nothing more than to go out and experience life. And just as she turned to go back inside, the opportunity presented itself.
Silas sat on her bed, his sun-kissed hair slicked back.
"Surprised to see me?" He grinned.
"Thank god," Jules started. "I just about thought I'd die of boredom." She looked up at him as she dramatically tossed herself on the bed. Amused, Silas raised a brow.
"So, you'd want to come to the rooftop party with me tonight?"
Jules squealed and hopped off the bed, straight to her dresser. Quickly, she threw on a red slip dress and pinned her raven hair halfway up. Clipping her pearl choker, it took her a moment to realize how many nice things Lucian had gotten her. She'd never seen someone spend money the way Lucian had. For a second, she felt a tinge of guilt. But when she looked in the mirror, she remembered how terrified she'd been of him the other day. Even if it wasn't directed at her, she could still feel his rage. And that scared her.
She slipped on her heels and grabbed Silas' arm. The rain began to patter down on their heads as they slipped into the night and headed towards the rooftop. When they got there, she was immediately met with a myriad of faces, each staring at her; they knew. One of them wrinkled her nose, and another just laughed at her. Silas stepped around Jules and narrowed his eyes.
"If any of you have a problem, feel free to speak now." He said deeply.
A wave of silence fell over the crowd. The string lights flickered around them, and the music had been turned to an awkwardly low level. Silas smiled.
"Then let's have a good time." He grabbed a cup from the table beside him.
Handing it to Jules, she pressed her nose to the liquid. Just like the ball; Liquor mixed with blood. She bit down on her lip, pondering the idea. Impulsively, she put the cup to her mouth and drank more than she should have.
Silas tilted his head towards her, smiling with amusement.
"Now tell me, Jules," He looked towards her, "what's your last name?"
Jule's stomach suddenly began to turn. She felt a wave of shock rush through her body. For some reason, it was like she'd forgotten who she was; that she was a living human before this. She took a step back, and for a moment, she remembered everything from her life.