Beautiful Lies

Chapter Three: The Son

Hey there! How you all doing? I'm doing solid. Anyway, the angst train is just going to keep coming, so be prepared. And prepare to meet a new friend.....-😈

Janus paced around the luxurious bedroom. The bed was an extravagance, covered in silk blankets the color of the summer sky. A large wardrobe in the corner, beside a portrait of Patton Hart. Like he was watching. The walls were elegant and a small window seat was near the magnificent window, with a perfect view of the town below. A place Janus could never return to.

The room was certainly beautiful, but Janus would have preferred a prison cell. The cold stones, the dripping water and mold, the stench of blood, it all would have meant that at least he wasn't being forced to marry some random person. It would all mean he wouldn't be betraying Roman.

Janus hated it. But he didn't regret it. It was to protect Roman. It was to protect Roman. It was to protect Roman. Maybe if he repeated it enough, the words would soften the blow. Janus cursed, slamming his fists on the overly excessive desk.

"I apologize for the interruption," a voice commented softly. Janus turned around in surprise, immediately composing himself.

"Who are you?" Janus demanded. He squinted at the shadowy figure. "Show yourself!" Quietly, the shadowy figure crept forward, away from what used to be just a portrait. They stepped into the light, Janus reaching for the weapon he no longer possessed.  The shadowy figure was illuminated by the moon streaming in through the windows, revealing a young man with glasses and not a hair out of place. He waved quietly

"I'm Logan Hart. And you're Janus Lyra." Logan said this with certainty. He knew. Janus inhaled. Of course.

"So you're the son," Janus responded coldly. Logan flinched at the tone, but nodded.

"Yes. I am." Janus adjusted his hat, sitting on his bed with a dignified glare directed at Logan, who didn't waver.

"Why are you here? Clearly I don't want to see you," Janus snapped, frustrated. Logan shifted awkwardly, looking down at his hands.

"I came to apologize." Janus stopped. He wasn't expecting that. "I know my father can be... pushy. But I promise I won't make you do anything you do not wish to do." Janus laughed mirthlessly.

"Too late." Logan looked at him sadly.

"I do apologize. Believe me, I had no prior knowledge, nor involvement in this. I wouldn't  even know you were here if my father hadn't.... informed me," Logan winced at the last word. Janus stared at him. Logan flinched away, looking awkwardly.

He started rambling, trailing off. "I honestly don't know what made him think this was a good idea. I mean, I'm only twenty, I have a lot of time to grow and- I should have never said anything about...." Logan sighed, cutting himself off. "Never mind."

Janus looked at him, the pieces coming together in his mind, watching as Logan fiddled with his small locket.

"You don't want this either, do you?" Logan shook his head, turning to face Janus.

"No."

"Then why is he making me do this?" Janus hissed, slamming his hands on his desk again. Logan flinched, but responded anyway.

"You are a valuable pawn. As am I," Logan said quietly. "Controlling me is important to him and so is controlling you. Conveniently, he can kill two birds in one stone like this." There was a moment of quiet silence as Janus mulled over the words.

"So, who did he threaten you with?" Logan asked conversationally, as though the two were discussing the weather, taking a seat by the window, gazing out at the moon.

Janus balked.

"Excuse me?"

"You clearly don't want to be here, and have made off handed comments about being controlled. Therefore, who did he threaten?"

Janus was starting to see why Patton wanted Logan under his control. Logan appeared incredibly intelligent, and anyone would be a fool to ignore his assets. With someone like Logan on your side, you could do whatever you wished.

"My boyfriend. He works here," Janus sighed, thinking of Roman, a pang in his heart. Logan nodded thoughtfully. "Who did he threaten for you?" Janus asked.

Logan's face went blank as he turned away, completely shutting down.

"No one of importance." With that, Logan turned away, walking smoothly toward the passageway, disappearing into the night with a click of a lock.

Janus sat quietly down on the window seat, staring out the window onto the hamlet below. It was cast in a deep shadow, where seeing a single person in the dark crowd was impossible. Yet Janus looked, searching for even a glimpse of Roman, to no avail. Sighing quietly, he let his gaze wander, landing on his home. Or, he supposed, his old home.

The apartment complex was shabby and dilapidated in daylight, older than the town itself. But at night, it looked romantic. Roman had loved that so much.

"It looks like something out of a fairytale at night! Plus, it's cheap. Come on Jan, please? For me?"

Janus hadn't been able to refuse him. Roman was too perfect for that.

He took off his hat, placing his hand to the window pane.

"Roman," Janus whispered. "I am so sorry."