A New Life

Masquerade

After reminiscing on his past, a nightmare causes Lucien to wake up in the middle of the night and stand under the stars to reassure himself, though he is not alone.

PSA :: There will be mentions of what we know happened to Lucien Under the Mountain. I don't go into depth, but I do mention it. So please, keep that in mind.

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The following evening, Lucien was told about the event that would take place the next day. His colour must have drained because he was quickly told he didn't have to attend if he did not wish to. Though he shook his head, insisting he would go, telling himself that Amarantha was no longer around.

Now he was alone in the room given to him. He delicately took the box down hidden in the furthest corner of the cupboards and placed it on the bed before taking the lid off. There, he saw the only mask he owned. The old fox mask.

Taking his mask off at the end of the night would be as easy as untying it. That didn't mean he wasn't constantly wearing a mask already. That even though that physical one had come off, that his true mask had been put right on. The one he wore, as if nothing had changed between Tamlin and he.

Though truthfully, Lucien couldn't deny things had changed between he and Tamlin the moment their masks came off. Before that, even. He still bore the scars. Tamlin had been ordered, but he hadn't even tried to fight against the order. Amarantha had decided to humiliate him even more by making him count.

It was probably one of the two times his father had actually cared, but that may have been because by punishing him, and by humiliating him, it was also humiliating his father and the Autumn Court. And his mother.

Lucien shook his head, clearing the memory before her cries overtook him.

Looking down into the box, swallowing thickly, Lucien picked up the fox mask. It was just an inanimate object. The mask itself didn't hold any magical properties. Amarantha was no longer around. Despite his nightmares.

Closing the lid, Lucien decided to continue with his evening and go to bed. His sleep had not lasted long, though, as nightmares of that wretched time plagued him, and he woke, with hours until morning still.

Taking a deep breath, Lucien stepped out to the balcony, leaning against the railing to look at the stars. Remind himself he was above ground. He was not under that mountain.

Lucien heard an expression of concern, along with a soft gasp coming from behind him. He did not let himself wonder how she even got here. Though not wanting to face her while he was in this state, he didn't turn around. Though he did turn his head halfway, greeting her, before looking back out to the stars.

Rather than return his greeting, Lucien felt her walk closer. Thinking she might come stand beside him, he froze as he felt her fingers on his back, tracing his scars.

Gripping the railing tighter and biting the inside of his ckeek to keep his reactions under control as best he could, Lucien remained frozen as Elain Archeron continued to trace the scars along her mates back, having absolutely no idea the reaction it was causing him.

Suddenly, her hand was gone, and Lucien felt as if he could breathe again. Back when she touched him last, he had a shirt, a jacket. It was not her hand against his bare skin. It also was not her hand gently tracing out scars from a time he wished he could forget.