Tangled Loyalties
1125 Words
Morning light slipped through the window of Lucien’s chamber.
He sat close to the hearth, the fire low. A cup of tea sat on the table beside him, long gone cold.
He hadn’t moved in hours still as stone, his eyes fixed on the flames.
A soft knock broke the silence.
“My lord,” a voice came from behind the door. “Lord Elias is here to see you. Shall I send him in?”
Lucien didn’t look up instead a faint smile touched his lips.
“Let him in.”
The door creaked open, and Lucien finally lifted his gaze.
Elias stepped in, wearing a silver and black cloak. His steps were sharp, his shoulders tense, every movement tight with purpose.
Lucien leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his face as he watched him.
“Ardent,” Elias said, voice cold.
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
“I assume this isn’t a courtesy visit,” Lucien said, still watching Elias with a calm, amused look.
Elias folded his hands behind his back.
“The council has given its final word. You are to comply. No more delays.”
Lucien leaned forward, then let out a short laugh. It was sharp and cold.
Elias’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t make this harder than it already is, Lucien.”
Lucien wiped at the corner of his eye like brushing away a fake tear.
“How brave of you, Elias to walk into my house and speak such nonsense.”
“The decision is made,” Elias said, stepping closer.
Lucien’s tone turned firm. “I will not step down. Not from my title. Not from my lands.”
“You defy the council’s order?” Elias said, voice rising. “The council brings order to the realm. You are not exempt.”
Lucien tilted his head, smiling.
“What order are you talking about? The kind that lets the rot grow beneath your feet?”
Elias’s face twisted, anger creeping into his voice.
“You are a monster, Lucien. And monsters don’t belong among humans.”
Lucien stood up slowly, eyes fixed on Elias.
“My answer is no, Elias. I won’t let anyone take my title from me. Go back to the council and tell them exactly what I said.”
Elias turned to leave, but stopped at the door.
He looked back, his expression twisted with anger.
“Do you really think your title puts you above the court?”
Lucien shrugged, voice calm. “I think it puts me in a position to question it.”
That was the final spark.
“You arrogant..” Elias growled, stepping forward.
He raised his hand and struck Lucien hard across the face.
The slap rang through the chamber like thunder.
Lucien staggered back, one hand going to his cheek.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
“You don’t know what you’re playing with,” he said, voice low, his eyes dark with something deeper than anger.
Elias smirked, cold and cruel.
“Neither do you.”
With a sudden surge, Elias launched himself at Lucien, a dagger in his hand as he sliced Lucien's forearm and blood welled instantly as Lucien hissed
Without hesitation, Lucien grabbed Elias hand and twisted it so hard making the dagger dropped to the floor
He punched Elias making him stagger before bringing out his dagger from his waist.
he lunged at Elias but Elias lunged back at him, his hands clasped Lucien's throat, squeezing hard, cutting off his air.
Before Elias could crush the lift from him, Lucien drove the dagger into elias side
Elias grasped , releasing his grip , he grunted as he removed the dagger from his waist, dropping it to the ground.
Before he could look up , Lucien charged at him, punching him which made him stagger back
Then Lucien felt it.
A cold burn crawling under his skin, like something alive was moving beneath the surface.
His eyes shot to Elias quickly
For a second, Elias’s eyes didn’t look human. They were dark, hollow like something else was staring out from behind them.
And then, just as quickly as it came, it was gone.
“You’ll regret this,” Elias growled, breathing hard and clutching his side.
He turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Lucien stood in the center of the room, chest rising and falling, blood dripping from his arm.
He looked down and touched the spot where the cold had spread.
His voice was low. “What did you do, Elias?”
Later after Lucien had finished cleaning up his wound and wrapping it with a cloth, he sat down there staring at the table, his thoughts kept returning to that strange cold he felt, it wasn't natural.
Then he heard footsteps, it was slow and steady.
Lucien didn’t turn.
“You nearly killed him,” came a voice from behind.
He spun around.
Elira stood in the center of the room, her fists clenched at her sides, her eyes burning into him.
“I expected a servant,” Lucien said, his voice calm but tired.
“Why did you hit him?” Elira asked, her tone sharp.
Lucien stood slowly, meeting her eyes.
“He brought his fists and I answered.”
Elira’s boots clicked against the stone floor as she stepped closer.
She stopped just a few steps away, glaring at him
“You didn’t fight him instead you punished him.”
Lucien’s expression didn’t change.
“He raised his hand to me in my own house. I owed him pain.”
“You owed him nothing,” Elira snapped.
Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You’re not here for justice, Elira. You’re here because you think he’s worth saving.”
She stepped forward again, voice tight.
“He’s trying to hold this realm together. While you hide in the shadows and tear it apart.”
A bitter smile touched Lucien’s lips.
“And I suppose that makes me the monster in your story.” he said his voice low
Elira said nothing.
Lucien stepped closer, closing the space between them
He reached up, brushing her jaw gently with his fingers.
Then, without warning, he bent his head and kissed her.
He waited a moment, expecting her to stop him. But she didn’t.
Instead, she kissed him back.
He pulled her closer making she gasped before pushing him away.
“That doesn’t mean anything,” she said, eyes wide with shock.
“No,” he said softly. “It means a lot.”
Without another word, she turned and hurried out, closing the door behind her.
Lucien was left alone in the quiet room.
The fire crackled low, casting flickering shadows around him.
- Writer
