Before Lucian could process what was happening, the man's right hand shot out swiftly, thrusting him forcefully against the back wall of the room. He crumpled to the ground, blood spattering as he coughed.
As the man closed in, poised for another strike, Maria, who had been cowering in the corner, suddenly stood tall, positioning herself in front of Lucian, her voice piercing the air in a desperate plea, "No!"
The man halted, his face contorted in bewilderment, his deep voice steady as he questioned, "Why? He's a wrongdoer, he deserves this."
Maria's legs quivered under the weight of the man's presence. Meanwhile, Lucian, on hands and knees, eyed the man with a steely resolve, then opted to feign vulnerability.
"He isn't a bad man!" she cried out.
The man was left further perplexed, retorting, "If he's here, he is. Don't fret, lady. I'm a police officer; I'll protect you."
"He tried to save me. He's a reporter!" she insisted.
"Step aside. I won't harm him," he commanded with authority.
After a brief pause, the lady relented, giving way for the man to approach Lucian.
"You're coming with me," he declared, hauling Lucian to his feet.
Who is this man? He's certainly no police officer. Perhaps a Bart? No, a Sunner?
The man draped Lucian's arm over his shoulder, supporting his weakened form. As they exited the room, Maria inquired, "Will he be alright?"
"Yes," he assured her.
Throughout the ordeal, Lucian maintained a facade of frailty, as if enduring severe injuries. Fear coursed through him, for this man exuded a palpable aura of power.
As they emerged from the room, Lucian's gaze flitted to the once-intact door, now reduced to wreckage, the man he had glimpsed earlier lying motionless, leaving only a trail of blood.
Several others, clad like the alleged Sunner, were present, each guiding women to safety through opened doors.
I shouldn't have involved myself f*ck.
The man walked with Lucian draped over him. They approached the cobbled street where four beautiful carriages waited, lined up in a row. Each carriage was black with elegant golden accents. The carriage boxes featured glass windows on each side, and as Lucian peeked inside, he could see plush, dark gray seating.
He gestured for Lucian to enter first, then took his own seat and asked, "Are you alright?"
Lucian feigned weakness and pain, hunching forward slightly and avoiding eye contact with the man. He explained, "No, you hit me too hard. Why? Aren't you a police officer? Shouldn't you have questioned me before attacking?"
The man observed Lucian, searching for any inconsistencies between his words and body language, before responding, "It was a misunderstanding. Forgive me. I thought you were one of them. May I ask your name?"
Lucian looked up, puzzled. "One of them?"
Taking a moment, he explained, "I thought you were a member of this illegal business. Ah, my apologies for not introducing myself earlier. I am Levi."
He's certainly a member of the Sunners team. I told Maria I'm a reporter, and she understood. She also informed him that I'm a reporter, which means I should maintain that cover while injecting a bit of truth. What puzzles me is why I haven't seen any newspapers yet. Perhaps only the wealthy purchase them? Why didn't I spot any at Price's residence?
"I'm Lucian Wright. It's a pleasure to meet you. By day, I'm a reporter, and by night, a pianist. Have I done something wrong?" Lucian inquired.
Levi seemed somewhat disinterested. He instructed the carriage driver, "Head to the doctor's," and then addressed Lucian, "I see. Well, we still need to ask you a few questions to gain a better understanding of the situation. Since you're a reporter, you likely have gathered sufficient information about them."
Lucian pondered for a moment whether to mention Henry, his brother who worked as a lawyer, and inquire about him. However, he feared it might make him appear as if he was hiding something, which, in truth, he was.
"Alright," he finally responded.
As the carriage began to move, drawn by a horse, Lucian kept up the appearance of weakness. They both sat in silence.
The carriage came to a stop on a sparsely populated street with a few houses boasting expansive lawns. They stepped out.
"Didn't you say we were going to the doctor's?" Lucian inquired.
"We are."
Wait. Doctors? F*ck, I've already healed from his punch. What should I do if the doctor notices that there's nothing wrong with me?
Nervously, he followed Levi through the lawn and into the house. They settled in the living room, where a man in his mid-twenties was seated.
While the house was large with an extensive lawn, the interior lacked the lavish decor of the Price's or Artin's residences.
"Treat this man, then question him," commanded Levi, and then he exited the room, heading outside.
A doctor questioning me? A doctor? I need to hold in my laughter. I was scared for nothing.
The doctor stood up and instructed Lucian to remove his black long jacket and shirt.
I forgot I carried a revolver with me. And it's a mystical one. I'm f*cked.
Lucian then asked, "Excuse me, may I use the bathroom?"
The doctor hesitated for a moment before gesturing with his hand to show Lucian the way.
Lucian let out a silent exhale and made his way to the bathroom, entering the small space. His thoughts raced as his heartbeat quickened.
What do I do? I can't hide this revolver here now, and then later use the restroom again; it's too suspicious. I also can't just stash it anywhere on me. If it's discovered, I'll likely be the prime suspect. Even if I try to prove my innocence, they wouldn't believe me. If Lucy vouches for me, they'd just question her too, potentially leading to the revelation that I'm a Believer, in Pact with The Goddess of the Moon. She said they take care of those who are in Pact with lesser or malevolent Gods.
"Selena, help," he whispered.
He waited for twenty seconds, but she didn't respond so he repeated the same sentence.
"Are you sure? Can you handle it?" Her voice sounded ethereal.
"Yes. I'm ready," said Lucian, feeling as if he had no choice but to take action.
Then, he saw a black orb with a gray outer glow approaching him, and it flew inside of him.
His eyes turned pure black, and the murmurings became unbearably loud. He fell to the ground, suppressing a scream.
He lay there for a few minutes before rising, a loud maniacal laughter escaping his lips, his eyes still consumed by darkness.
"HAHA HA HA HAHHAHA HAHA"
A shadow oozed from his eyes, akin to cigarette smoke wafting through the air.
He started yanking out his hair, leaving clumps strewn on the floor. Before long, the doctor, who had previously heard the maniacal laughter, hurried over and began knocking urgently.
Knock Knock Knock
"What's happening? Are you alright? Please open the door," the doctor's worried voice implored.
Lucian barely gathered his senses and thought, What just happened.
He could hear the doctor attempting to breach the door, and panic coursed through him.
"Move the aura to your hand and you'll know what to do next," advised Selena.
Lucian followed her instructions, and to his surprise, a dark shadow emanated from his hand into the air. He directed his hand toward the floor, creating a small void of shadowy darkness. Retrieving the revolver and holster, he tossed them inside.
The doctor persistently pounded on the door with his leg until Lucian relented and unlocked it, meeting his gaze.
"What happened in there!!!" the doctor demanded.
Lucian's eyes bore a chilly intensity as he regarded the doctor. In a subdued tone, he replied, "Nothing."
The doctor brushed past Lucian and stepped into the bathroom, only to find a few clumps of hair scattered on the ground.
Then he firmly grasped Lucian's arm, guiding him back to the living room.
"Wait here!"
He hastened outside, making a beeline for the carriage, urgently summoning Levi to join him at the house.
Inside, Lucian sat in quiet contemplation, his thoughts adrift, until Levi pressed, "What happened!?"
Lucian shook off his reverie. "I don't know."
Levi turned to the doctor, seeking the same answers, and the doctor recounted what he had heard.
It does sound like the transformation of a Believer into a monster. But this man is not a monster; he's not even a Believer to begin with. Is he mentally ill?, Levi thought.
Levi stepped out of the house and swiftly approached the carriage driver. "Summon Melissa. Use code black and ensure her immediate arrival," he instructed.
The carriage driver hurried off, and Levi reentered the house.
"Empty your pockets," he commanded.
Lucian emptied his pockets onto the table, revealing his pocket watch, a matchbox, and a few valka notes. The rest he had stashed away. His cigarettes were also among the items.
I'm lucky enough to have left the core underneath the bed. Well even if it was here, I would have just thrown it in along with the revolver.