A soft sigh escaped Elian's lips as the sun hit his body.
They were back in the hallway, heading right in to meet the monster.
Lynda had called Elian a monster, but Elian knew who the real monster was.
At least, he would never kill anyone... not without justification.
"Thank you, Ms. Beck. I will take him," Finn intercepted them at the door to the grand hall.
"Thank you, Finn," Ms. Beck smiled and turned.
"Be good," she gave Elian a nod and left.
"Follow me," Finn said, walking ahead.
"Like I had another choice," Elian muttered.
Finn glanced back at Elian, chuckling. "You look clean," he commented.
Elian ignored him.
Of course, he looked clean... he washed.
But what was the use of looking clean when that lunatic was likely about to make him bleed more?
Finn led Elian up the stairs and toward the dining hall.
"Anything we can help you with, Finn?" the guard at the door asked.
Finn shook his head. "Open the door, Check," he simply commanded.
The guard, Check, nodded and stepped aside.
Finn gently placed his hand on the handle and pushed the door in.
"Enter," he said to Elian.
Elian nodded.
There was no need to stall. It was time he faced Lucien once and for all regarding Lynda's case.
He moved quietly into the room and instantly froze.
Right beside the door stood Lynda's adoptive father.
The man suddenly shuddered as he saw Elian, pressing his back against the wall to appear small.
Elian sighed.
Just great.
Now, how was he going to convince the devil?
When he first came to, he realized that a strong, familiar gaze was already burning harshly on his skin, making it prickle with something that was far away from fear and very close to awareness.
Lucien.
The moment the door opened, Lucien had found his eyes stuck on one thing, or rather... one person.
Elian.
He looked… different.
Not dressed in fine garments.
Not groomed with care.
And yet—
The bruises did little to dull the sharpness of his features.
Lucien's gaze lingered a second longer than necessary.
Too long.
His expression hardened.
A traitor.
And yet…
His jaw tightened, dismissing the thought entirely.
"Your Grace?"
Finn's voice disrupted the uncharacteristic analyzation in Lucien's head.
With a frown, Lucien tore his eyes away from Elian.
Like nothing of that sort had gone through his mind.
Lucien straightened in his chair, his sharp eyes falling to Lynda's adoptive father.
"Step forward, Simon," he said to the man.
Simon glanced at Elian and quickly moved away from him.
"Stop," Finn spoke, stopping Simon at the middle of the dining table.
"Come here, young Morel," Lucien commanded evenly.
Elian exhaled and moved.
He took the other side of the table, avoiding Simon.
"Stop," Finn spoke again.
Just as Elian was about to halt, Lucien's voice cut through him.
"Closer," Lucien said, his eyes briefly glancing at Finn.
Disapproval.
Finn lowered his head in silent apology.
Elian proceeded, stopping only when he was beside Lucien's chair.
"Your Grace," he said quietly.
Without acknowledgment, Lucien picked up his fork and lifted his food to his mouth.
Silence.
Everyone held their breath as the Duke ate.
Tension rose high in the air.
Elian watched.
He followed Lucien's gloved hand from the plate to his mouth.
And for some reason, he took deep interest in the way those lips closed around the fork.
"What happened, young Morel?" Lucien suddenly turned, lifting his face to the beautiful man beside him.
Their eyes locked for a second, hearts suddenly racing with something unknown, forbidden...
A taboo.
Elian looked away, casting his eyes to the floor.
"I saved Lynda from her abusive adoptive father—" he paused, locking his gaze once more on Lucien's.
The room stilled.
Lucien's gaze did not waver.
Neither did Elian's.
"He... he lies, Your Grace!" Simon suddenly interrupted.
Lucien paused, turning his hardened eyes to Simon.
Simon immediately cowered, bowing his head as he realized he'd spoken out of turn.
Slowly, Lucien returned his gaze to Elian.
"You will tell me the truth, young Morel. Do not forget your mother is still very much under my knife," he threatened.
Elian's face darkened, his shoulders visibly tensing as he endured the urge to snatch that fork and drive it right into Lucien's eyes.
The murderer was so openly threatening to kill his remaining parent.
He inhaled deeply, calming himself. "I speak the truth, Your Grace... nothing but the truth," he said, pinning his eyes on Simon.
Simon gasped quietly, fear evident in his eyes.
"Speak, Simon," Lucien permitted.
"Y-your Grace, that man is a monster..." he pointed at Elian.
"He kidnapped my little angel and tried to soil her, and when I tried to save my poor daughter, he hypnotized me... he's the devil's son!" Simon accused, his voice trembling as he recalled what he had seen last night.
Elian scoffed. "Men like you deserve to be burned, not my innocent father," he murmured clearly.
Lucien rose, towering over Elian.
Intimidating him with his height.
"Your father..." Lucien lifted his hand, catching Elian's chin between his fingers.
Soft. Delicate.
He frowned and hardened his hold.
"Your father deserved to die. Attempted murder is rightly punished by death—"
"Get your hands off me!" Elian snapped, stepping out of Lucien's hold.
Lucien raised his hand, stopping Finn, who wanted to seize Elian for insubordination.
His gaze never falling away from Elian, he commanded:
"Bring the girl in."
"Yes, Your Grace," Finn bowed and left.
"Your words are true, Simon?" Lucien asked, moving away from a raging Elian.
Simon nodded. "Yes, Your Grace. B-but, I fear he might have hypnotized my dear daughter. She might speak in his favor—"
"Nonsense. I'm sure of what I speak... you know that, Simon," Elian interjected, locking his intense eyes with Simon, reminding him of exactly what he saw last night through his look.
Simon looked away, too afraid to challenge Elian anymore.
Lucien observed.
The way Elian spoke to Simon, like he truly held some power over him.
Elian seemed so rooted in his belief, like he was the right person.
But again, that's exactly how rooted he was in his belief about his father—and he was so wrong.
"I—"
"Silence, young Morel," Lucien hushed, pinning him with a hard look.
Elian fell silent, balling his fists beside him.
Soon, the door opened, and Finn led Lynda in.