HIIII.*Nervously waves* How've you guys beeeeennn? Good, that's great. I've been slowly dying on the inside; that wasn't fun. But I'm back with a new chapter, which is rare, because usually, if I stop a story, I drop it and start with a new idea, which I did. Kinda. I have the outlines of about 30 new stories in my notes. But anyways, I hope you all enjoy the chapter. It'll be a starting point for the original arcs I have planned, and It'll hopefully answer some questions about Lucuisw while adding even more that I can't wait to reveal to you all. Please leave comments and constructive criticism in the comments. See ya'll next chapter
The Night Sky above Nevermore was cloudless, the moon illuminating the school grounds in silver and shadows. The haunting melody of a cello permeated the air as Wednesday Adams sat on her balcony, her arm moving in expert movements as the bow moved along the strings. Things sat on the stand, dutifully turning the pages of the sheet music and acting as a pseudo-conductor. Her playing reached a crescendo before coming to a slow, drawn-out end.
Thing made a sequence of one-handed motions, his finger pads tapping lightly on the sheet music. Wednesday remained quiet before letting out a breath, "No, I don't feel better; it's bad enough I'm forced to attend another so-called "Institute for Learning", but it also happens to be the very school where mother was basically queen of the student body." She rolled her eyes before furrowing her eyebrows.
"Not to mention there's something...off about this place, and it irks me that I can't figure out what it is."
Behind Wednesday, Enid opened the door-sized window leading out to their balcony, watching the macabre goth with a slightly surprised expression, eyeing the cello between the Noirettes' legs. "How'd you even manage to lug that oversized violin out here?"
Wednesday glanced over at her new roommate before her eyes looked pointedly at the severed hand she'd caught spying on her at her parents' behest. "I had some help, an extra hand if you will."
Enid's face twitched oldly, a mix between morbid curiosity at an autonomous severed limb that could wave at her, and repulsive instinct at the fact that a severed limb was able to wave at her, "Umm, where's the rest of him?" She asked, scooting her feet back as the thing dropped to the floor and began walking away. His finger made an odd sticky sound as he moved.
Enid's eyes tracked the moving limb with almost comical intensity before Wednesday's reply brought her back, "No one knows, it's one of the Admas family's great secrets."
Enid nodded and made her way to the balcony's edge overlooking the school's expansive grounds. Her face fell as the full moon broke through the clouds and the sounds of dozens of howling werewolves echoed through the air.
Wednesday's eyes traveled expectantly between the direction of the howling and her werewolf roommate. "Why aren't you wolfing out?"
Enid's frame went rigid for half a second, but it was long enough for Wednesday to narrow her eyes. "Because I can't," Enid raised her hand and her nails extended into rainbow-colored claws before returning to normal, "That's all I've ever managed. I've been to the best Lycanologist in the world, had to go all the way to Milwaukee if you can believe it, and still...they said I may never be able to.. you know," she said softly, leaning over the balcony, the night breeze blowing in her face, tousling her hair, concealing her face as a distressed expression crossed her features.
A silence took over the area for a second, Wednesday observing her blonde roommate's sullen body language before asking, "What happens then?"
Enid took in a shuddering breath. "Eventually..." she started slowly, "I'll be forced from my pack, and forced to become a lone wolf. And if I can't shift, I won't be able to find a mate, meaning I'll be alone forever, no husband, no kids, no family. And I'll die alone," Enid's voice was strained as she stared dejectedly over the edge.
"I'm failing to see the problem here,"
"Did you not hear when I said, I could die alone!?" Enid rounded on her roommate with a hurt look
"We all die alone, Enid," Wednesday replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Enid just looked away, beginning to cry, "You suck at this. I bet you've never even cried before have you?"
That caused Wednesday to pause; she searched Enid's profile for a second, seeing the genuine fear and sadness in her features. She let out a breath, making a decision. "I was six years old, and it was the week after Halloween..." She told Enid about Nero, her pet scorpion that was murdered before her eyes.
Enid listened with a sullen expression, feeling sympathetic at the loss she could hear in Wednesday's voice, even if she tried to hide it.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Enid sniffled, getting her tears under control.
"Don't be. Sympathy and tears didn't fix what happened then, and they won't change anything now. That's why I see no point in them, and neither should you." Her voice hardened, but not unkindly. "There's no point in crying over something you can't control; it's better to focus on what you can do."
Enid stared at Wednesday. She'd known her roommate wasn't the heartless individual she pretended to be, but it was still unexpected to receive her encouragement.
"Thank you, Wednesday. I know you don't care what people think about you, but I'm happy to call you my roommate." She smiled a bit, "You're a horrible person."
Wednesday blinked, slightly surprised at the compliment, "Yes, well, don't get used to it. I can do without overly emotional conversations about useless topics."
A silence stretched between them before Enid spoke, "I still think you're weird as shit though."
The goth gave her a blank look, "The feeling is mutual." She paused, "How would you like your single room back, all you have to do is show me how to use your laptop."
*=============*
While Enid and Wednesday had a heart-to-heart on the balcony of their room's window, a different meeting was taking place in the headmistress's office.
"So...How was your first week?" Principal Weems stood by a bookshelf, a small glass of wine resting between her fingers.
Lucius sat in the chair by her desk, one leg crossed on the other as he aimlessly flipped through a small book. "Wonderful if I'm being honest, I didn't think I'd be enjoying myself the way I am."
Weems hummed, "And does this have anything to do with the altercation you and Ms. Addams had with those three boys earlier today? "She raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow,
"No, of course not," he said, but the Cheshire grin on his face was a dead giveaway. "What would prompt you to say such a thing?"
His response was a flat look, filled with amusement and exasperation in equal measure. "I have to admit you've changed a lot since the last time I saw you. You've become much more..."
"Charming?" He cut in with a grin
"I was going to say slightly psychopathic and narcissistic, but if that's what you call charming, then by all means," Weems spoke, taking a sip of her wine. "But considering you're on a four-month sabatical to Eastern Africa to visit your family... I suppose I can understand why..." she probed lightly.
Lucius paused mid-motion, his hand still in the motion of turning the page of his book. He lifted his eyes; all traces of amusement and levity vanished in an instant, his pupils dilated, and the gold of his irises was more pronounced than she'd ever seen. "You're still on that." It wasn't a question.
"No, not at first. I was willing to drop it, but when I noticed your personality changes, I did some digging into what could have transpired over those four months to have changed you so drastically. When we met, you weren't the most open person, and certainly not what I'd call peppy. But the look in your eyes wasn't unexpected; you were guarded, calculating, and yet not a hint of unkindness or disrespect. I might even go as far as to say welcoming, you had empathy,"
She looked at him fully. "Now those same eyes are looking at me without a hint of emotion." She stared into his eyes. Despite herself, she felt a flicker of apprehension; those eyes were like two pools of molten gold, swimming with no emotion she could recognize; they were the eyes of a predator.
"My 'sabatical' as you'd call it, was a personal matter. Some extenuating circumstances had come up that made the trip necessary." Lucius's voice was calm, even as his eyes watched her intently. "Whatever came of that trip has nothing to do with my stay here and as such is no concern of yours."
"You'd be correct if I weren't such a sentimental old lady, you see... your family is very dangerous, and their view of you is less than flattering. Especially where your grandfather is concerned, he made his view on your mother and father's relationship clear during their time here at Nevermore, and as your godmother, you know full well why I'm so invested in you."
" Was concerned. And your history with my parents isn't anything of substance to me. You've been trying for weeks, and it hasn't worked yet. Godmother or not, you aren't my family. And anything not related to Nevermore is outside of your field of influence." He stood, leaving the book he was reading on the desk. "My mother, my father, they might have trusted you, asked you to look after me when I got here, but I didn't; the past is the past. I suggest we leave it there."
Larrissa looked at him, seeing the ghosts of two of her greatest friends staring back at her made her eyes sting in a way they hadn't in years. "Maybe, but I know that the young man in front of me is not the man they'd wanted him to become..." she said, recomposing herself, keeping her voice firm, like a caretaker reprimanding her charge.
"Then maybe they should have stuck around to raise me. Instead of vanishing and leaving me to the wolves," The venom in his voice was palpable. "I am the way I am because it's who I had to become to survive. To keep the vultures from ripping everything I have away from me. Nothing I have or want is safe. Hell, not even my birthright has ever been truly secure. There has always been someone waiting for an opportunity to take it from me. And I am the only one who can stop that." He took a calming breath.
"I didn't come here to connect with you; I'm here to better myself, and nothing more." He turned and stalked towards the door. "Maybe we will get closer to each other while I'm here, maybe not. But don't expect me to open up to you or look to you for comfort just because you and I lost the same people."
The silence in the room made the door closing sound like a gunshot ringing in her ear. Larrissa let out a sigh. She made her way to her desk and sat heavily behind it. After a moment, she opened one of the drawers and removed a picture, " Kara. I'm so sorry."
*============*
Lucius walked through the empty halls, his mind racing despite the blank expression he held.
The Principal's words echoed in his mind: "You're not the man they'd want you to be." He scoffed, ignoring a part of him that whispered that she was right. That they'd be disappointed with the person he'd become; they'd be horrified with the things he'd done to get stronger.
He stopped, turning to look into the polished surface of a shield hanging from the walls.
*===Flash back===*
He blinked awake slowly, eyelids heavy. His chest burned with every breath he took, and every muscle in his body screamed at him.
"Get Up." A hard voice echoed in his ear, punching through the haze and pain.
He slowly turned his head, taking in his surroundings. What he saw made his blood run cold.
Bodies.
At least 20, each lay around him, in a mosaic of broken bones, severed limbs, and hollow eyes. His breathing grew ragged as memories returned. Disapproving sneers, cruel words, claws, teeth, growl, and blood- so much blood, it covered him, head to toe. He'd killed them all; he hadn't been given a choice.
"I will not repeat myself," The voice was back, tight and commanding.
Lucius strained, slowly making his way to his feet, and he looked up at him. Golden Eyes so much like his own, so much like his father's, stared down at him with something almost approaching approval.
Silence reigned for a long moment before the sound of shifting bodies caught his attention. His body moved before he could think, head leaning to the side to avoid a set of bloodied claws from behind. His arm shot up, grabbing the offending limb, and with a sharp twist, the sound of a snapping bone could be heard, almost drowned out by the scream of pain his attacker let out.
A scream that was soon cut short as a clawed hand punched through his neck.
The body crumpled, a look of shock and horror plastered on its face. Lucius looked down at the body, wide-eyed. Before it melted into a look of apathy as he felt a hand land heavily on his shoulder, "Good, but that wouldn't have happened had you dealt with him properly the first time. You cannot show weakness to your enemies, boy. Unless you wish to lose all you've worked for up to this point?"
"No," His voice sounded foreign to his own ears.
"You have one month left until your time here is up. Use it wisely." The hand left his shoulder, and the sound of retreating footsteps could be heard. Lucius stood there for a moment, staring at the massacre before him.
He shouldn't feel anything for them; they hated him, cursed his existence, and they wanted him dead. Every one of them had lined up voluntarily for the chance to kill him, to depose him as heir. They thought he was still weak, the boy they'd looked down on and sneered at because of his shortcomings. And it cost them their lives. He was strong and getting stronger each day; he wouldn't let them look down on him. Not anymore.
He turned and began to walk away. "Grandfather," he called, causing the figure in front of him to pause, "I'm ready to continue today; there's no need to wait for tomorrow."
His grandfather's eyes landed on him, and he met the gaze evenly.
"Then stop dragging your feet." His grandfather's voice was like steel, the same as it had been since Lucius had first heard it as a child, but now, there was an undertone of approval that was rarely, if ever, there.
Nodding his head, Lucius sped up, coming to walk at his grandfather's side.
*===Flashback End===*
He stared into the polished metal; the image of two figures stared back at him. "I will never let anyone take anything from me again, not like they took you," he whispered, as the vision of his parents disappeared, leaving him to stare into his own eyes.
Turning away, he continued the trek back to his dorm, the sound of his steps echoing off the walls, as the darkness swelled his form.
*========*
Xavier, Lucius, and Ajax were sitting in the quad, arguing with each other quietly.
"Dude, I'm telling you, there's no way Weems can keep an eye on all of us, it's the perfect place to try and get some action. You know, try and make a move on her." Ajax said, looking at Xavier.
"Are you crazy!? You want me to make a move on Wednesday Adams? One wrong move and I'm losing the offending limb." Xavier hissed back quietly. "She's not the girl you try and make a move on like that,"
"Yeah, plus, I don't think a harvest festival with a bunch of normies is the best place for two outcasts to try and get it on. You get caught, and suddenly, they're spreading rumors that we're creeps with no public decency. Not to mention they'll be kids there." Lucius interjected, earning a nod of agreement from Xavier.
Ajax gave them an unimpressed look. "Man fuck them, kids. And who cares what the normies think? They think we're all monsters anyway," he shrugged.
Xavier gave his best friend a dry look. He turned to Lucius for help, but paused when he noticed the wereleopard nodding. "Oh come on, you too?" the artist groaned.
"What? He makes a good point, you can't argue with logic."
"See, he gets it. You're just too scared to try and ask out Wednesday." The gorgone gave a knowing grin.
Before Xavier could respond, Ajax noticed Enid and Wednesday entering the quad. "Enid! Wednesday! Over here!" He waved them over. At the sound of Wednesday's name, Xavier's head snapped around so quickly that Lucius actually heard it crack.
"Pfft." Lucius had to bite his lip to keep from laughing as Xavier winced and rubbed his neck.
Enid dragged a visibly annoyed Wednesday to the boys' table, her smile bright as she caught sight of her two friends. "Hey, what are you guys up to?" She asked, her eyes drifting to the new figure sitting with them, "And who's this?"
"Oh, that's Lucius; I can't believe you two haven't met yet," Ajax said off-handedly, gesturing at Lucius, who turned to face the blonde.
When Endid got a good look at the new student, her mouth opened a little; he was beautiful, with sharp features and dark hair that framed a face that looked like it belonged on the cover of a magazine or one of the adult romance novels she totally didn't have hidden under her bed. And his eyes, fuck his eyes- she felt herself shiver as she looked into them; she'd never seen a shade of gold like that in her life. "Wow..." she said softly before catching herself, "H-Hi, I'm Enid Sinclair." She extended a hand.
"Lucuis Draven, it's a pleasure, Enid." He smiled at her, returning her handshake, "It's nice to put a face to the name. These two have told me a lot about you." Even as the two stopped shaking hands, they didn't let go of each other's hands.
Enid let out a giggle, "Sorry, I try to get to know most of the new students we get. I don't know how I could have missed you." She was staring; she knew she was, but damn if she couldn't look away. It was like she was trapped in his eyes. "You have really pretty eyes," She said before blinking and blushing. "Oh, my god. I'm so sorry; I don't know where that came from."
"Don't be, it's fine really. I appreciate it, you have really pretty eyes to, your hair really brings them out." He replied with a smile, his eyes tracing over her features.
"If you two are done," Wednesday's voice broke through the moment, causing the two of them to look around, noticing the looks they were receiving from the other three students.
"Hello, Wednesday," Lucius looked to the goth girl. Wednesday glanced at him but didn't respond.
Reluctantly letting go of Lucius's hand, Enid cleared her throat, "Right, what are you three up to?" She asked, taking an open space at a table, dragging Wednesday down with her.
"We were just talking about the Harvest festival, you guys found dates yet?" Ajax answered, glancing between Wednesday and Xavier with all the subtlety of a charging elephant. Before Xavier could say something, Wednesday cut in.
"No," her eyes were fixed on Xavier, the implication clear before she spoke to the group as a whole. "And I'm not looking for one. Personally, I believe the premise of the festival is idiotic; why would I want to waste my time mingling with masses of unwashed bodies when I could spend time doing something more productive?"
Lucius leaned forward, "So you're not going?" he asked curiously. Wednesday gave him a flat look. "Unfortunately, attendance is mandatory, I have no choice but to go." she replied
Enid chose that moment to cut in with a bright smile, "But, un-unfortunately, I've been assigned as her chaperone! Exciting. Right, Wednesday?" She looked at her roomie. Wednesday raised a brow, "Do you actually want me to answe that?" Enid brushed it off easily, acting like she didn't hear her. "Shes tot's excited. She even invited Tyler to–"
"Galpin?" Xavier cut in, a frown on his face. "I thought you said you didn't have a date." His eyes narrowed at her suspiciously; the jealousy couldn't have been more plain if her wrote it on his forehead.
Lucius and Ajax exchanged a flat look, rolling their eyes; this wouldn't end well for Xavier.
" Tyler is accompanying us as an acquaintance, not that whether or not I have a date is any of your business to begin with, so I'd very much appreciate it if you could keep that fragile ego in check, because you continue to overestimate your place in my life." Her voice was ice as she glared at the artist, her eyes narrowed dangerously.
Silence reigned over the table before Wednesday rose from her seat and began walking away, Xavier staring after her before scoffing and getting up himself, walking in the opposite direction. The three remaining occupants glanced awkwardly at each other. "So…" Lucius turned to Enid, "You like pink?" He gave her hair a pointed look, a small smile on his face.
"Uh, yeah, and blue," She toyed with her hair lightly, giving him a small smile. Her foot moved under the table, kicking at Ajax's shin, all the while keeping her eyes on Lucius. Ajax, wincing slightly, stood up. "I'm gonna go find Xav before he adds more portraits of Wednsday to his collection." He paused at the look the two sent him, quickly adding, "Not that he has a collection…" He left quickly, leaving the two shifters alone.
Lucius recovered first, "So, Enid. Tell me about yourself." The smile she gave him was radiant. And he found that he honestly liked it, which was becoming a rare featuring since he'd come back from Africa.