The Darkest Dawn

Chapitre 15

A week of dressing up and walking runways is more tiring than expected. Every morning, Lucien wakes at the crack of dawn, the room still practically pitch black. There are no windows in his chambers and the door is locked until Daniel and Harper come to retrieve him. Lucien, so used to waking up with the sun to prepare for a long day ahead of him, grows bored and restless for three hours since waking. There is nothing in his chambers except for the bed sheets and pillow upon it, so there is nothing to do besides sleep in. Lucien couldn't afford to sleep in, lest he make it a habit, although that most likely doesn't matter anymore.

Lucien once asked for paper and a pencil so he could write or draw to pass the time. He was told no, since he was not allowed sharp edges. When Lucien inquired for the reason, the explanation was that there was a slave who committed suicide with the pencil they were given by stabbing themself in the throat. Lucien decided perhaps he should not ask for anything to avoid anymore horrible stories of why he cannot have things.

After three hours passed, Daniel opens the door and escorts Lucien to the Great Hall. The Great Hall have wooden tables in a long line. Slaves sit at their assigned seats and await breakfast. Lucien sat next to a couple slaves named Rowenna and Tristan. Rowenna talked quite a bit, rambling on long winded tangents. Tristan was an optimistic peacemaker, never wanting to rock the boat when asked for an opinion. Darius sat a few seats down to the left on the opposite side of the table, making pointed scowls at the two but never at Lucien.

Breakfast was different for every slave based on their preferences. Lucien ate small meals consisting mostly of breads, cheeses, and fruits. Darius usually wolfed down stacked plates of pancakes, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy. Lucien would chide Darius for his animalistic behaviour but the rest of slaves around him copied the beastly actions.

Slaves are shepherded to some kind of a multi-purpose room after breakfast. It is filled with expensive and comfortable couches, cushions on the floor in case couches weren't free and a trunk filled with old board games. Darius would stay by Lucien's side, like a dog, both waiting for Daniel to come escort them to their dressing rooms.

Tuesday, greek mythology. Wednesday, dragons. Thursday, biblical supernatural entities, namely angels and demons. Today, it was something different from mythical creatures or gods of other cultures. Harper seemed to be finishing the costume except... it didn't look like a real costume. The outfit was formal, something that looked like it jumped straight from the early Third Millennium. The black coat was pulled over a white long sleeved shirt. At the front of the collar was a black bow tie. Black slacks and polished black leather shoes completed the suit.

"What is this costume? I do not recognize it from any mythology." Lucien muttered, eyeing the suit.

"That is because it is not out of any mythology. It is a formal attire worn to special formal events by the males in the late Second and throughout the Third Millennium. It is impressive how long this traditional fashion sense lasted." Daniel replied, smiling in a mischievous and cunning manner. "We have been utterly boring by forming a pattern, although the dragons were a refreshing run. Today, you should wear something that will give everyone absolute nostalgia." Daniel instructed. "I'm afraid I cannot let you see Darius today, it would not be traditional and I fear you two messing up your outfits -as you always do, I'm still mad about the stunt Darius pulled yesterday. Today, you must be untouched and as neat as you possibly can." He then held up a gold ring. "Oh, and put this in your pocket when your outfitted. Pull it out when you're out there."

They bathed Lucien as usual, with the added salt and sugar scrubs. Daniel did not use extravagant makeup like he usually painted. Instead, after he applied the foundation, he simply moistened Lucien's lips with chapstick. He groomed the eyebrows and focused more or less on Lucien's hands. His nails were not colored, they were only filed and polished. Daniel massaged Lucien's hands with heated lotion after he soaked them in hot wax and cleansed them of the dried wax. Lucien held still while Daniel gelled his hair, now fully dressed in the suit.

In the line to the runway, Lucien was three positions behind Darius this time. Sometimes, he'd lean to the right to get a better look. Darius seemed to be in a uniform of some kind but it was difficult to tell. Darius disappeared behind those heavy curtains. Oh well, Lucien guessed he would see when Darius walked back down the line. In about five or six minutes, Darius emerged back from the runway and what sounded to be a silent and bewildered audience. Darius retreated back down line in steady walking pace. He paused seeing Lucien. Lucien, caught only for a moment in the hellfire, examined the uniform.

It was a black (dark navy blue perhaps) hip low coat with yellow buttons and a white belt adorned with a gold buckle. Just over his left chest pocket were a couple medals. Similarly, there were colored bars over his right chest pocket, perhaps ribbons. Darius' gloves, cap and slacks were pristine white, contrasting with the coat and polished black shoes. Perhaps Lucien did match Darius? However, he felt quite plain looking compared to the decorated uniform. Looking at his face, Lucien realized Darius' long golden hair was hidden under the cap so that he looked to have impossibly short hair.

"You... look really nice." Darius commented. Lucien blinked, surprised by the compliment.

"Uhm, thank you.... Y-you look... official." Lucien stuttered. Darius nodded and awkwardly continued on his way. It felt strange not to hug each other at this point but Lucien knew Daniel wouldn't be pleased if he found out they had disregarded him.

Lucien revealed himself onto the runway when it came down to him. The crowd fell silent, making him more nervous than when they deafened him with applause. Lucien felt the ring in his pocket, burning a hole in his soul. Daniel had never sent him out with a prop before. Worries ate away at his confidence.

Lucien arrived at the end. Instead of listening to the small seivohn said, he pulled the ring out as Daniel instructed. The audience seemed extremely tense when he did this, this judges leaning forward to see what he held. Struck with an idea to help everyone see what he held, Lucien slipped the ring over a finger on his left hand and raised that hand eye level. The crowd went completely berserk, ballistic even. Lucien swiftly turned and retreated down the runway, frightened by the complete change in attitude.

Behind the curtains, Darius approached him. "What did you do?"

"I don't know! I just did what Daniel told me to do!" Lucien panicked.

"Well, what did he tell you to do?" Darius asked.

"I took out a ring." Lucien answered.

"A ring? What kind...?" Darius quiried, confused. Lucien pulled the ring off his finger and pressed it into Darius' gloved hand. Darius stared at the gold ring, eyebrows furrowing. He looked up, mouth forming an "o" in some kind of realization. "Daniel told you to do this?" His voice cracked a little. "He asked you to put it on?"

"Well, no, I did that without him." Lucien replied, confused. What was wrong?

"Hm. I think it would be best if I kept this instead." Darius abruptly closed his fist around the ring and swiveled to face the approaching siblings.

"You did amazing!" Daniel gushed when he reached them. "Come on Darius, I'll escort you to your room. Harper, take Lucien."