"Brother, we both know you aren't trying to punish me," Lucian stated, his voice still hoarse. Leaning close enough to whisper, he said, "Maybe choke me a little next time."
When he realised he was reborn, Lucien decided he wouldn't hide the way he felt anymore. He knew what he wanted. He had always pressed the feeling down, but now he didn't want to. He would do whatever he wants.
And what he wants is his brother.
Brushing his cheek against his brother's, he looked into his eyes, close enough to almost brush against his lips.
Arthur's dark eyes took in every move. He watched Lucien as he leaned back against the wall. The rope, binding his arms and legs. He looked at the smirk plastered on his face, and something shifted in his eyes.
Lucien saw it too, as brief as it was, he saw it. But he couldn't decide what emotion it was. Shock, disgust or something else, he wasn't sure. But it didn't matter what it was, as long as he wasn't as stoic as he usually is.
Without saying anything, Arthur untied Lucien. They both left the cellar without further ado.
Walking out, Lucien looked up at the sky. He had never been someone able to express himself, but he couldn't help but think that this was the most beautiful day he had ever seen. The clear blue skies, the clouds that look like cotton candy, and the gentle breeze that passed by.
He couldn't help but stop and take a deep inhale. Spreading his arms wide as if welcoming the world.
Although he had a greater degree of freedom when he was in the apocalypse, he missed these kinds of peaceful days. Being able to sit and do nothing without having to worry about whether a zombie or mutant creature might sneak up behind you and decapitate you.
He was truly in a peaceful era. As for how long it would last, he needed to check.
He refused to assume that this life would be the same as the one before. He has heard people talk about parallel worlds, and this might be one. Even if some things might be different, they wouldn't be too big.
If he went back in time, things should be the same. As he recalled the incidents leading up to the end of the world, he noted that his memory seemed exceptionally clear. While he wouldn't say he remembered everything from his previous life. He could at least remember what was necessary.
Following his brother into the villa, he scanned his surroundings. He took note of all the people in the villa. He remembered some of the old servants who had been working for their family. His eyes passed over each of them until they stopped on the old butler and his son.
He masked his hatred as best as he could. Lucien and his brother trusted both these people, and they repaid that trust with betrayal. Even if they got out of the situation afterwards, it didn't matter. The betrayal had already happened.
"Lucien, are you okay?" Dimitri, the butler's son, asked as he placed his hand on Lucien's shoulder.
Lucien saw the look of concern on his face and wondered if Dimitri really was such an amazing actor. The thought that Dimitri could win an award for best actor flitted through Lucien's mind.
He couldn't muster up the attitude he used to have toward these people. He didn't want to pretend, but he couldn't allow himself to fall out with them just yet. He needs to get some information from them.
"I'm fine, it's not the first time," he said, placing a sidelong glance at his brother, who had walked away with the butler.
He wasn't sure how Arthur viewed him at the moment. And he didn't want to make things worse between them since he was unsure of his attitude.
Either way, it wasn't the time for him to confront his brother just yet.
There are some things he needs to figure out.
He decided not to talk to his brother until he made a few preparations.
Lucien couldn't bring himself to pretend. So he pretended to be tired and went to his room.
Once inside, he flopped down on the bed. A sense of desolation spread across his features. He soon replaced it with determination.
He would only allow himself this time to wallow in pity.
With that, he closed his eyes and let out a breath before getting off the bed.
He decided to take a shower.
He didn't feel much about it now because he was used to being dirty in the apocalypse. People can't always have a shower when they want. Well, except for people who had access to water evolvers.
Another reason was because of that woman. Whenever her little lovers decided he had offended her, they would withhold water and food, and he would have to go looking for it on his own.
Pressing the intercom in the room, he had someone come and change the sheet while he went to the bathroom.
Lucien spent a long time in the bath, thinking about what he would need to buy for himself and Arthur to survive. He didn't get out until the water became cold.
He started thinking about how to get Arthur away from the witch. But he wasn't sure how to do that. It had only been a few months since they met, but for some reason, Arthur's life almost revolves around her.
Feeling refreshed, he went back to bed and lay there staring at the ceiling.
In his past life, he had developed the habit of rubbing his pendant. It was a birthday gift Arthur had given him earlier in the year, before meeting that woman.
He knew Lucien had a penchant for sea glass and oddly shaped stones.
Arthur had found the pendant in their parents' old things. He wanted something unique for a charity auction when he stumbled upon it. Knowing he liked such things and seeing it looked similar to sea glass, he gave it to him. It was wrapped with gold thread.
As for where their parents got it from, they didn't know. Neither of them had seen either of their parents wearing it.
Lucien had taken to fingering the pendant whenever he thought deeply about something. A habit that never went away, even in the apocalypse.
So, as per his usual style, he lay on the bed, rubbing the pendant, only to feel pain coming from his thumb. The pendant stabbed him and refused to let go.
Trying to pull away, he hissed in pain.
Thinking the threading was what caught his finger, he removed it from his neck. The pain was getting worse. He couldn't pinpoint where he was pricked.
"Son of a b-," Lucien tried to flash the pendant off regardless of whether it would hurt more.
Before he could do anything else, he fainted. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't about to see both the gold thread and the stone that looked like sea glass melting into his finger.