Trouble In Pale Blue

The Fitzgeralds

The Fitzgerald Manor is quite lively in the afternoon; Children have returned from their various extra curricular activities, Adults are home from their tiring jobs, and a certain someone is planning on being a mischievous little bastard today.

Lindsey Fitzgerald, aged 8 years, is quite smart for a boy his age and size. Dastardly so, for all the workers in the manor deeply despise him. He's blackmailed half of the staff with sensitive information regarding their misconduct in the workplace, got several more fired due to their unsatisfactory behaviour and is the cause of his dearest mothers grey hairs. And yet still, he is doted on left and right by the entire family.

Spoiled rotten and a smartass. The worst combination in the world if you were to ask a certain someone.

Jessica Fitzgerald, aged 14 years, is the victim of Lindsey's antics. Despite being the older sibling, she is quite the pushover, which her dearest brother uses to his advantage. Blackmailing her for desserts, getting her to do things for him, and so much more. Many people think Lindsey is an angel sent from heaven with how charming he looks, but all Jessica Atelia Fitzgerald sees is a demon sent straight from the deepest pits of hell.

Today was no different. Lindsey was innocently-well, as innocent enough as he can be- hanging out with their youngest sibling, Reichel, in the library. The toddler was walking circles around him, talking nonsense about a show she's been watching for some time, Lindsey responding with astonished 'wow's and 'uh-huh's at her ceaseless yapping. Even though Lindsey knew and actively exploited her weaknesses, she knows that her little brother's biggest weakness was his pride.

He hated embarrassment more than anything.
And today was the day he would get embarrassed in front of his biggest admirer.

She's recited this plan for weeks now- pour fake blood over his head in front of just about anyone (because doing it when he was out of the eyes of people wouldn't be good enough). Even though it wasn't anything major, it would do considerable damage to his ego and pride (and scare him shitless for a small bit), which is the desired outcome.

With a bit of magic she levitates the bucket of fake blood over the door of the library, setting the spell to deactivate the moment Lindsey walks through that door. She then hides herself behind the large grandfather clock in the hallway between the library and the main lobby to watch the fruits of her labour come to fruition.

Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long before the boy fell into her trap.

The bucket falls on him the second he steps through the door of the library, a loud hellish scream, sobs and fleeting footsteps follow afterwards. Finally, she's gotten her revenge, giggling to herself and walking away from the crime scene. Jessica knows she'll be getting a lecture from her Grandparents and Grand-Aunts and Uncles, but all that trouble is worth it for traumatizing the shitbag that's ruined her life the moment he was born.

After all, some things just can't be forgiven. And oh lord does her rage run deep.

~*~

It's mutually agreed upon that Lindsey is a miracle that should not exist.

Complications with birth left his mother- Winnie Fitzgerald- permanently blind. Hours of pushing which ended up in him getting stuck in the vaginal tract for 2 days and an emergency surgery which left her in a coma for weeks afterwards. The elders of the Fitzgerald Family, alongside the Higher Council of Mages and Magic were not very hopeful of her recovery. But they were also disturbed by something else. Something truly concerning.

Lindsey was Blighted.

Blight was something that plagued any kind of person who used magic, most specifically Abyssal Magic- the rawest and most dangerous form of Dark Magic. It's like an ink stain, permanently tainting the blighted's magic, and in more severe cases, their minds and bodies, turning them into monsters in personality and/or bodies. It would explain Lindsey's blatant narcissism and sociopathy, alongside his extraordinary development in his congenital abilities. He's smarter than even the average adult, and he's only 8. He's capable of exploiting people's emotions for his own benefit, even though that 'benefit' is being spqqoiled with more desserts, because as horrible as he is, he is a child, and it is not his fault.

It is the fault of the adults in his life for allowing this behaviour to thrive under the guidance of the Council.

*~*

Dinner goes as she predicted- Shouting, arguing, and scolding from all corners of the banquet table. Aunts, Uncles, Grand-Aunts, Grand-Uncles, even her Father joined in on the scolding.

As usual, Lindsey was smiling to himself. He liked being the centre of attention, no matter how positive or negative it may be. All attention was positive attention to a monster, and Lindsey was the worst of them, at least to his sister.

After dinner, the adults promptly buzzed off to do adult things- Reading the latest news, knitting, filing taxes and paying bills, etc, while Jessica and Lindsey remained behind.

And that's where the facade drops. The boys angelic face dons a mocking scowl directed towards his sister.

"You honestly thought that would work?" He mocks. "How childishly foolish of you, and you're supposed to be the heir to the family when Father and Mother grow too old."

"Shut it. You're nothing more than-"

"-a disgusting monster, yes yes, I know. Your insults are quite dry." He says tauntingly.

"It's not an insult if it's the truth!" She barks at him, getting up to leave. But Lindsey is rather quick-witted and sharp with his words, and leaves no opportunity to inconvenience or harm others emotionally go to waste.

"Then perhaps me calling you a disgrace to our household name would also count as the truth, no?"

Jessica turns to face her brother, a look of pure hatred and anger to the person she lothed most. Someone who she deemed a monster beyond redemption.

"You- You son of a-" She exhales through her nose, choosing to walk away insteas od confronting him.
"Just know that your days are numbered. You'll get the death you deserve."

A giggle escapes hia mouth, a cruel smile plastered on his face.
"I'm looking forward to that...Sister." He says with venom, leaving the dining room in a huff. Jessica also leaves, marching off to her room to sulk about her day.

Seems she won't be getting her retribution anytime soon.