A plan for the future

Eden hummed at the lycan’s politeness, but he didnt say anything further. Instead he just placed a hand on his shoulder and seemingly squeezed proper and firm like the in-law he had to pretend to be but it was actually rather soft, it just looked hard because he dug his nails a little into the fabric. He let go and left them alone after that.
Lucius was enjoying a drink and some of his old friends when the couple came by. He greeted them with a nod, smiling in a pleasant manner as they still seemed to be a couple. When Romeo left them, Lucius could tell that Josette wasnt much for staying in his company. Which maybe ticked something in his mind. Had Eden told her something? To stay away from the old lycan? He watched her leave but remained with his friends until he had finished his drink. He did eventually end up passing by in the hallway, spotting her in the room. She was rather pretty, he had to admit it. Like his wife when she had been young and seemingly naive. He liked women that were easy. That knew how to behave. He ended up joining her in looking at the paintings. “Which one do you prefer?”

He looked at the one she was looking at, humming as he could see why she admired the detail. Though the painting’s depiction was ruthless. The true face of war, he believed it was called. He listened to her speak about the large gathering, chuckling a little as he looked up at the painting again. “Not many of then are worth remembering. You of your status already can afford not to remember. No one would take offense to have to say their name once more to a pretty girl.” He said, glancing shortly at her. Somehow it was like for every blink she shifted from being Josette to someone more familiar. Someone he missed. Which was weird because Lucius didnt really like women so how could he miss one?

“I get that all too well. I moved here with nothing but my backpack and a goal when I left my homecountry.” He explained. He understood what loneliness could feel like all too well. She looked at him and it was somehow a rather peculiar way. He wasnt sure if someone had looked at him like that before. “Hopefully one day I’ll be able to write my pest of a son out of getting the Trevino firm when I retire and hand it all over to Romeo. I couldnt see a better man to lead it than him.” He said rather proudly. She complimented the old lycan and a small grin appeared on his face. She had a way to sound rather enchanting and kind. “You are being too kind child.” He said, looking at the new paintings as he slowly caught up to her. “Tell me something about yourself.” He urged her, looking at her rather kindly.

“He is.” He said a little dismayed. It was good to hear that Kurtis had done as he was told to but it was wearing out. Just doing what he was told to wouldnt last forever. But then again, Lucius was just waiting for the young lycan to get the answers on the DNA test that he wanted so bad. It would bring him so much joy if that little shit wasnt his after all.
He let her think about what she wanted to say, looking at the painting in the meantime though he was quite curious. She mentioned France and he hummed a little surprised. Not that it was far away, but it was a different country. When she mentioned nail polish he chuckled though she had asked him not to laugh. He looked at her nails, humming as it was a pretty pattern. “So you like to paint? On smaller surfaces that is.” He remarked, but it wasnt really something overly impressive.
He thought it was probably better to head back to the party now, but it was like when he looked at her, she looked like that person again. And this time she just wouldnt change back when he blinked. “Your dress is very pretty tonight.” He complimented her, lifting a hand to put a stray hair behind her ear. “Your hair too. Is there a reason you’d dress up this nicely tonight?” He chuckled. Then he glanced back towards the doors. They were truly alone here. “Does Romeo appreciate your beauty?” He asked like he was concerned.

“Well he takes after his mother and she is something to behold.” He said but it wasnt really what mattered. No he brought that up pretty fast. And he frowned as she looked down, excusing it on Romeo being gallant. “No, that is not what he is supposed to do.” He said, not really able to hide his disappointment. He sighed and looked at her. “He is dutiful in many ways, but I cant figure out what is stopping him from securing a solid future with someone as pretty and kind as you. To not choose you is madness.” He remarked, like he couldnt believe she wasnt more angry about this. Gallant? He had to scoff as her words repeated. “You spend so much time with him. And he has not once..?” He asked. Maybe a bit of a intrusive question but he did sound just concerned for her and angry at Romeo.

He barely heard her as she said it was her decision. Her defending him however didnt make it any better. No, he wasnt sure he could recognize the young lycan. He seemed so far fetched from the one that had come to Lucius’ office in the dead of night with the perfect plan to tear Kurtis from his annoying girlfriend, no this was different. He felt his own confusion grow and she spoke again. “So you dont want him, is that it?” He asked, reaching out to grab her arm to keep her in place. He was strong even for an older lycan. He did keep in shape, though it wouldnt show through the suit he wore. “I want to understand.” He said, sending her a half smile but he felt like he was losing it. Nothing felt right and nothing felt wrong. Who was Romeo? Where was the real one? Had he been replaced? He squeezed her arm a little in the storm if thoughts he went through.

She pleaded with him but he didnt budge. When she confessed it was like she had to process. And somehow his mind just couldnt really follow. He had bad days and good ones. This one had seemed manageable but that had seemingly got up and left at this point. “A what?” He asked, before he looked at her like he couldnt believe that was what was holding her back. “Is Romeo not the one for you then? Enlighten me Miss. Parish because I dont understand.” He said. Then he remembered Eden and how the bastard had acted in his office. She was just another Parish brat, wasnt she? Exactly like her uncle and even worse, she was a woman. “You vampyres always seem to think you’re somehow above us all.” He said as he still kept a tight grip on her. He stepped towards her rather threatening, standing up close to her. “I know you vampyres though. You’re all dirty through and through.” He said through gritted teeth, squeezing her arm a bit more, probably leaving a mark that would heal fast enough.

// TW

“You heard me.” He said rather firm in tone. He looked at her, unsure if it was even Josette or the girl he had been seeing before. It was like it changed from time to time. Josette, girl, Josette girl… Alexis? With her lipstick smeared and her hair a little messy, he felt scared emotions from the skin contact but why was she grinning at him like he was a fool then? “You’re a liar.” He hissed. Scared and then she was smiling like that? Like he couldnt tell that she had been out there fucking some other man? “I’ll show you what scared is really like.” He said as he pulled up slowly but surely under her dress. He ran his hand over her clothed nether region, keeping her in place with the other.

“No they cant help you now. They never even cared about you. All they wanted to do was just to use you. You’re nothing to them.” He said to the grinning Alexis he seemed to be looking at, though it was Josette. He didnt hear her pleas. In fact the more she felt like she didnt want this, the more he felt like this wasnt real. It couldnt be. “Where do you think they are right now?” He asked, firm in tone. He wanted answers. Gripping her underwear he tore it off by breaking the seams and threw somewhere, not even looking where. “You can beg but it wont change a thing.” He assured her, his hand moving down to touch her again, rather ruthless to the touch.

She pushed him back and her yelling made him frown as he seemed confused by that. “Dont play dumb with me! You know who I’m talking about, slut!” He just yelled back, feeling rather angry now. Did she really think he was a fool? That he didnt have eyes? People to keep an eye on her? No, he knew about every single guy. “Dont you ever!” He said as he gave her a solid backhand to her cheek. “… talk back or yell at me again! Do you understand?” He said, looking at her with angry eyes. But all he saw was Alexis. Her and her stupid smile. He grabbed her by the chin, pressing her cheeks in like he was trying to remove that mocking grin. “Stop smiling at me!”

Eden had been looking for her since she had been nowhere to be found, at least Romeo had told him so. He had gotten to the empty room, until he heard the begging and sobbing of Josette. Frowning in confusion he walked closer, quietly, luckily for him, it was night so he was almost untraceable. That was when he saw Lucius opting to hit Josette once again it seemed but he stepped up just in time to grab his wrist and pull him away from her. “What is the meaning of this?!” He demanded to know, standing in between Lucius and Josette, guarding her with his own body. The old lycan was surprised to see the vampyre to then see how it was Josette sitting on the ground and not Alexis. “I-….” He mumbled, his eyes darting around. Eden looked back at her, turning to crouch down. He took off his jacket and placed around her shoulders, at least her body would be somewhat hidden away. He looked around to see all the pieces of her dress scattered around, until he saw something that made him look at her rather concerned. “Did he do something to you?” He asked, helping her up if needed. “Stay close to me, I’ll take you to Kareema.” People who had been passing by had heard the yelling and word spread quickly. Eden’s heir assaulted in the art room, what a scandal. The vampyre turned to Lucius before he stepped up to him, eyeing him angrily. He was thinking of what to say but if he had to be honest then he was done with the old lycan’s bullshit. So he pushed him enough times until he laid down, Eden just couldnt help himself, stepping on the lycan’s hand, making him complain in pain. “Dont ever come near my daughter again Lucius.” He warned him, adding some weight, making the bones crunch a little from the pressure.

Josette ran and Eden wished that she hadnt, which only left him with the culprit that had harmed her. He didnt really care where he was and who was to come to see. He just wanted to punish the hands that thought they could just touch his daughter as they pleased. Luckily it was Romeo that got to them first, but Eden couldnt really see any positives right now. Though Romeo hissing at him just made him look sternly at the lycans. “Look around you! Her dress is everywhere!” He said, sounding rather furious. The look of betrayal just made Eden look angerier. Was he taking his uncle’s side? Without knowing what had happened? Eden couldnt say it didnt hurt, it did. A lot more than he liked it to. Lucius thanked Romeo for helping him, looking at his hand. He was older now, so his healing wasnt as good as someone young like Roemo. When they left, Eden went and gathered the pieces, feeling like a ticking bomb that could go off somehow.

He was back in Churchill but only for a little while before he would head back. It was like a back and forth thing, help Saoirse in The Abyssus and then come to Churchill to look for his sister. He hadnt gone to see Dahlia yet but he also didnt know how to deal with her as it was right now. He was just strolling around in his own mind. He didnt have a home here, nowhere to be or live. And the cold weather just seemed to get even colder day for day. He pretty much wore scraps, just what he could get. He had to find Saoirse’s mother but didnt even know where to start. He walked so in his own mind that he hadnt seen her come running until it was too late. She ran directly into him and she wasnt weak by any means, sending him on his butt. “Ouch… Why are you running so fast?” He asked, first a little absentminded as he inspected his bruised hands from the fall, before he looked at her and got worried. Her clothes were torn she was covered in bruises. Was she running from someone? “Are you alright?” He asked instead as he got to his feet, brushing off his legs from the dust and dirt.