Prelude (Underworld Lucian Fanfiction)

44 - Chapter XLIV: The Warmth of Something Dire

Three days later.

And so it was that Rena waited for something dire to happen. A chest slowing with every turn of the hourglass. The breath fading from a woman's mouth. For Lucian, such things were circumstantial. A lesson for the lady in question and a reason to turn his attention to other diversions. The annual festivities of a season, that singular time when he would be most preoccupied with the social aspects of his world. His thoughts mingling with light and life rather than darkness and death, for it was the former pair that had taken precedence in the upper floors of the den.

It was Christmas morning, and the great hall was decorated in all its glory. Wreaths of holly hanging above the rafters and a chain of bright chandeliers lighting the rooms. The scent of evergreen branches and mistletoe mingling with the soft perfume of ladies and the crisp tobacco of their gentlemen. By the windows, a small orchestra played a dance, causing the older folk to mill near the fireplaces, their conversation stimulating, albeit interrupted by the pitter-patter of little feet. With the full moon banished by the sun, even the children had free reign, some of them displaying their teeth, hiding behind skirts and dodging one another as they waited for the hour to tear open their gifts.

Dressed to the nines, Lucian was surrounded by half a dozen gentlemen, the subject matter moving rapidly from investments to the last horse that Diggory happened to see prior to the races being shut down. Diggory being a small, intense child of twelve who seemed rather set on acquiring a number of investors to purchase the creature for him.

The answer being no.

Several couples down from him, Raze was attending on Allegra, whose hand was firmly attached to the arm of her husband, the ivory on her wrist casually displaying her new status. The first time she had walked these halls as a married woman. The lady whispered something of import into her husband's ear, eventually causing a remarkably deep grin to appear on the man's face before they leaned in close and...

...that was his cue to leave.

Excusing himself from the conversation, he turned away, drink in hand, already considering how best to navigate his way without appearing as though he were running. His endeavours paused for a brief moment as Sabine scampered into his path, holding up her dance card and the small pencil attached to it. She had acquired a lengthy list of partners, and despite knowing his habit of avoiding dance, she wanted a full set. He eyed the card...and then crouched down long enough to write "Diggory" before sending her off on her way.

He was leaving.

Passing ever so slowly through the crowd, occasionally returning a greeting as he moved along, he left his glass on a table and stepped through the open doors into the main hall...where apparently a throng of young, powdered women had decided to take up residence. All of their eyes turning to him before flicking back to the lady at their centre. The tension growing by about...twelve hands.

Jacqueline.

She was staring at him, red-eyed, her nails clenched around her fan. The hands of at least three ladies patting her shoulder simultaneously, all of them glaring at him as though he had grown a second head. Understandable.

According to the Line Rumour, they were all under the impression that he had slept with no less than nine other women whilst in her company...when really, it had been one. He eyed the lot of them, considered whether etiquette was really all it was cracked up to be...and then by chance, was pulled aside by Rena, who mysteriously required his attention.

Rena, who was meant to be downstairs after having chosen to opt out of Christmas, if such a thing were possible. Her eyes moving coldly over the fluttering geese, giving them cause to step back as she informed him of what was occurring below. The news causing him to look at her...and then move...