They both slumbered peacefully until Lucian stirred, eventually rising and sitting on the bed. For half an hour, he sat quietly, gazing at nothing in particular.
Suddenly, a manic laugh erupted from him, jolting Lucy awake. She watched in growing concern as he continued to laugh uncontrollably, a sight that unnerved her.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Lucian turned to her, his eyes now an unsettling void of pure black. With a gentle touch to her forehead, Lucy's eyelids grew heavy, and she slipped into slumber, her body sinking back onto the pillow.
A short while later, Lucian followed suit, succumbing to the embrace of sleep.
...
Monday, 23rd August:
The first light of day roused Lucian, and he found himself still nestled beside Lucy on the bed. He couldn't help but notice her slightly tousled hair, an endearing sight that prompted a soft whisper from him.
"She's quite adorable."
Yet, he quickly pushed the thought aside, reaffirming his feelings for Elizabeth.
I should head home now. Henry might be worried, he reflected, checking his pocket watch to find it was 7:30.
Approaching the door, he was greeted by Lucy, who had just woken up.
"You're up early. Good morning. I'm sorry about yesterday. I got a bit emotional," she apologized.
"Good morning. It's alright. I'm heading home now," Lucian replied.
She rose and suggested, "Let's have a cup of coffee first."
They shared a moment over coffee, after which Lucian bid farewell and made his way back home, finding his brother already preparing for the day ahead.
...
"Where were you? I came home, and you weren't here," Henry asked, worry etched on his face.
"I was with a friend," Lucian replied.
Henry looked pleasantly surprised. "Tell me about it later. I've got to run now. I'm glad you found a friend."
"Alright."
With that, Henry headed off to work, leaving Lucian alone in the living room, where he quietly savored a cigarette.
"In the afternoon, I'll have to hold the event," he reminded himself.
After finishing his cigarette, he carefully stowed away the other core in the hidden chamber, then helped himself to breakfast from the icebox.
...
At Whitebeard's Bar:
Lucian entered and ordered a glass of whiskey, accompanied by his customary cigarette. The place was quieter than usual, and he found himself awaiting Whitebeard, who hadn't yet arrived.
"How much?" Lucian inquired.
"It's on the house. Compliments of Whitebeard," the waiter informed him.
"Thank you."
"I suppose he's taken quite a liking to me and wants to keep our business flowing," Lucian mused to himself.
After about 15 minutes, Whitebeard finally made his appearance, accompanied by Alpha, Sigma, Omega, and Gamma.
Approaching Lucian, Whitebeard spoke, "Let's go, young man."
As they entered the room, Lucian's eyes fell upon four wooden boxes that Whitebeard had thoughtfully prepared.
"Hello, everyone. It's time," Lucian announced, his voice steady and confident.
Everyone held their breath in anticipation as Lucian carefully stashed the core in one of the boxes. Once it was secure, he signaled for everyone to exit the room before shuffling the boxes.
They filed back into the room, everyone except Whitebeard, who had stayed put. Taking their positions in a line, they awaited their turn.
Gamma, the first in line, approached with a hint of nervousness. He meticulously considered his choice, spending a good two minutes before making his selection, only to find it empty.
Next was Omega, who made a swift decision, but luck wasn't on his side.
Then came Alpha and Sigma. They exchanged a brief, meaningful glance, and it was Alpha who stepped forward. To the astonishment of everyone present, he was the fortunate winner of the core adorned with green vines.
Alpha's expression remained stoic, not betraying any emotion. In contrast, Sigma's reaction was almost explosive.
"This is a scam! You..." he burst out, unable to contain his frustration.
"I should've been the one to win, I've taken down the most Barts, hahaha!" he declared with a mix of indignation and bravado.
Sigma moved swiftly, a desperate attempt to snatch the core from Alpha's grasp, but he was promptly restrained by the others.
Alpha spoke sternly, "We had an agreement, and if you're not going to honor it, we'll be forced to take action."
Sigma's demeanor betrayed a simmering anger, though he refrained from making any rash moves. Relieved, the others released their hold on him, unaware of the vengeful thoughts swirling within him.
I will kill him.
As the tension settled, they exchanged farewells. Alpha, however, stayed behind to address Lucian directly, "It's been a pleasure doing business with you. Should you ever require my services again, simply speak to Whitebeard."
"Thank you, Alpha. I'll keep that in mind," Lucian replied, appreciative of the offer.
Alpha took his leave, leaving Lucian with Whitebeard, who inquired, "Young man, when do you plan on visiting the market?"
Lucian pondered for a moment before responding, "I'm not entirely sure yet. Firstly, I'll need to gather sufficient funds. Then, I must procure a suitable robe and mask."
Whitebeard, with genuine concern, offered his assistance, "Given my profession as an Appraiser, would you like me to accompany you? It'll ensure you steer clear of any potential scams. I happen to have an extra robe and mask as well. All I ask in return is information about that unique core of yours."
Lucian appreciated the generous offer, taking a moment before accepting, "That sounds like a good plan. Once I've gathered the necessary funds, I'll let you know. Also, if anyone requires services that don't involve any... ah, eliminations, feel free to recommend me for hire."
Whitebeard chuckled warmly and replied, "You're a good man, Lucian. I'll keep that in mind."
I don't know about being a good man. Since I came here, I had to kill to survive and protect, Lucian thought.
...
At home:
Lucian checked the mail, hopeful for a letter inviting him to perform a piano piece, but none arrived.
Frustrated, he retreated indoors and began his rigorous practice regimen, manipulating his aura, releasing and gathering it repeatedly.
"This is exhausting," he muttered.
Curiosity led him to experiment further. With a kitchen knife in hand, he carefully made a shallow cut on his arm, deliberately switching off his healing. To his satisfaction, the wound remained unhealed.
"This might prove useful."
Afterward, he activated his healing ability, watching as the wound closed seamlessly, leaving no trace behind.