COLOURS || Seth Clearwater

TWENTY FOUR

Lucinda hummed softly to herself as she brushed her hair, playing music to drown out Alice and Bella planning the wedding. Rosalie sat on her bed, waiting for Lucinda could finish so she could French braid her hair.

"Are you happy about the wedding?" Rosalie asked as Lucinda set her hairbrush down on her vanity. Lucinda stared at her sisters reflection with pursed lips and narrowed eyes, and said nothing else. Rosalie snorted. "Agreed." The corners of Lucinda's lips twitched upwards into a smile as Rosalie threaded strands of her hair into the braid.

"I just wish he'd think this through," Lucinda groaned after a moment. "I mean, she's human. And the Volturi already want her turned. I honestly don't think I can stand her squeaking and complaining for the rest of my pathetic existence."

Rosalie let out a soft, bell like laugh as she wrapped the elastic around the ends of Lucinda's hair. "I agree," she smiled, then glanced at the closed window. "Open it for your boyfriend. He's waiting awkwardly on the lawn." Lucinda rolled her eyes, knowing that was probably true.

As Rosalie left her room, she wandered over to the window and pulled the white curtains back. Sure enough, Seth was standing on the lawn looking mildly uncomfortable. She smiled softly at him and slid tho window up before walking back and laying on her bed. Moments later, there was a loud bang against the side of the house, and a soft thump on the lawn.

She stifled a laugh.

A short time later, Seth came flying through the window, rubbing his hip painfully. "I missed the window," he told her sheepishly.

Lucinda smiled and watched as he closed the window. "You can leave it open," she chuckled. Seth looked at her with pursed lips.

"I don't want you getting sick," he mumbled, avoiding her eyes.

Lucinda awed silently in her head, but she could practically feel Edward and Jasper cringe. "Well that's very sweet of you," she chuckled. She knew all of her family members were listening — it wasn't very often she was this giddy and smiley — but she couldn't care less. Sooner or later, Esme would tell them all to butt out of her business.

When Edward laughed, she knew she was right.

Seth blushed slightly and scratched the back of her neck. "I'm not bothering you, am I?" He asked.

Lucinda shook her head gently, small whisps of hair falling to frame her face. She watched Seth suck in a sharp breath and his eyes widened as he looked at her, causing her to hold back a laugh.

"You obviously came here for a reason, so what can I help you with?" Lucinda asked curiously, tilting her head to the side.

"I couldn't sleep," Seth mumbled back, still standing where he landed after flinging himself through the open window.

"Why's that?"

"After the fight with the newborns, I've had nightmares," he explained quietly. "It's kind of stupid, really, but I killed one of the vampires on the mountain — Riley — and that's a good thing 'cause it saved Edward, but they all look human. It didn't feel like I killed a monster." Lucinda patted the empty bed space next to her, silently telling him to make himself comfortable.

Once he did, she curled into his side and rested her head on his chest. She was't sure if this was something she should do, but it felt right to her. He wrapped his arms around her upper half, seeming to relax already. After some extreme complications — Seth kept taking all the blankets — the two were laying comfortably under the blankets, and Lucinda was almost asleep.

Seth was very warm. His body heat built up under the covers, making her more tired then she had been before. "You can go to sleep," he promised, playing with a loose strand of her hair. "I'm already tired, just need a few minutes."

If Lucinda weren't half asleep, she would've blushed. "Good night Seth," she whispered. She shuffled upwards so her head now rested on in the crook of his neck, and they both let out content sighs.

•••

Lucinda woke up to arms wrapped tightly around her waist. She blinked for a moment, relishing the sunshine that shone through her open window. It was going to be a good day.

A soft grumble from above her caught her attention, and she looked up. Lucinda couldn't hide the smile that formed on her lips at the sight of the fast asleep Seth.

His mouth was slightly open, and his relaxed expression made him seem more childlike. His eyelashes fluttered angelically across his cheeks, and his lips twitched into a brief smile.

He was dreaming.

Lucinda gently pulled his arms off of her, and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead before she made her way into the bathroom. She stripped off her pajamas and climbed into the shower, sighing happily at the feeling of the hot water running down her back. She washed her hair, then allowed the warmth to sooth all her sore muscles.

Once she'd dried herself off, she slid on her undergarments and a house coat on then walked into her room. Looking at her complexion in her vanity, Lucinda frowned.

Her there were faint wrinkles at the outer corners of her eyes, and she had dark circles beneath them. She still had darkened gums, and there were faint marks — invisible to the regular human eye due to her magic — covering her skin from potions exploding in her face.

Lucinda could feel the scars on her palms from using her blood for spells and potions, though she'd made sure no one else could see them.

She couldn't have anyone asking questions.

"You look beautiful."

Lucinda glanced at Seth in the mirror, sighing when she realized he was awake. She returned her face back to herself when she noticed the way he was looking at her. "Please don't look at me like that, Seth," she whispered sadly, averting her eyes. Seth stared at her with creased brows and confused eyes.

"Like what?"

"Like I'm the woman who hangs the moon and stars in the sky every night."

"In my world, you do."

Lucinda bit her lip as she turned around. Seth moved towards her and pulled her in for a fierce hug, and she sunk into his warmth.

"Thank you," Lucinda whispered. He simply held her tighter.

"I don't care that we aren't actually together right now," Seth murmured, smiling to himself when he felt her wrap her arms around his middle. "I don't like it when you bully yourself. I don't like it when anyone does. So wear your scars with pride. They're a part of you that you shouldn't hide. I know you have to because of public appearance and stuff, but around me you don't have to."

Lucinda felt her eyes brimming as she buried her face in his chest. She eventually dragged him downstairs to the kitchen, where Esme was already cooking breakfast.

"Good morning, dear Mother," Lucinda grinned, her black gums on full display.

"Are you hungry?" Esme asked them both in a sweet manor. Lucinda nodded happily, but her mood turned sour when Edward walked in with Bella.

"Lucy," Edward greeted tensely. Bella seemed to cower behind him as the witch stared her down with ice-like eyes.

"Edward," Lucinda spoke coldly, shooting him a curt nod. In an attempt to calm her down, Seth laid a hand on her, smiling faintly at the familiar feeling of her warmth. Lucinda pursed her lips and angled her chair so that her back faced them.

"Alice has been given free reign with the wedding plans," Edward began as he delicately pulled his mate into the kitchen. "Now just ignore Lucinda, love," she heard Edward murmur to Bella softly. "I do."

With a simple twitch of her finger, Lucinda sent a glass bowl flying at his head. It shattered, and Edward blinked at her.

"You cannot ignore me, brother," Lucinda sneered. She narrowed her eyes at Bella for another short moment then curled her upper lip. She almost laughed when Bella flinched at the sight of her dark gums. "No matter how much you wish you could."