"Have I been holding you back?" Lily asked after dinner. She was walking him back down the main foyer of the mansion, but stopped a little once she was sure that nobody was around.
"What? Of course not–how could you say that?" Lukas turned to her and held her hand. A flash of guilt ebbed in his chest but he spoke. "You… you make me want to be a better person."
Lily blushed over his words. "But you–you're supposed to be helping the city, but instead you're here with me doing very simple tasks at city council when you could have been doing so much more."
"I… you really think I should serve the best that I can right?" Lukas cleared his throat. "Did your father raise you in that way of thinking?"
"It only seems fair to return the most we can do Lux after everything they've provided for us… but I guess you don't feel that way?" Lily looked askance.
"Is that a red flag to you?" Lukas scratched his head. "I… I'm a really selfish person, Lily. So yeah…"
He had let himself succumb last night with Chaerin and it filled him with guilt–but he couldn't even find the words to say.
Lily squeezed his hand. "Well, I'm also very selfish in wanting to be with you. I… I'm aware that my family doesn't seem to like you that much, but I don't care. I just want to be happy with you."
Fuck.
Those words left Lukas stunned as he stared down at the young woman–there was a gracious and loving smile on her face that scared him so much. She didn't deserve this kind of treatment at all.
"I–I cheated on you."
"What?" The smile froze on her face.
"I–things just kinda happened with me and Chaerin, and I know it's unforgivable and I think you should get mad, but I also don't want to see it–"
A dagger flew and grazed through Lukas' cheek.
Out of nowhere, Theodore appeared and kicked Lukas back down into the ground–stepping on his chest and crushing it hard. There was no expression written all over his face, just a brutal coldness that didn't quite fit with Lukas' imagination of the guy.
"A quick death doesn't seem fair does it?" A cold smile crossed over Theodore's lips.
"Wait, Theo please stop!" Lily snapped out of it and instantly grabbed for her cousin's arm.
"This bastard cheated–"
"Please just let him go." Lily begged tearfully. "I… I can do things on my own, alright? And I want you to let him go."
"Tsk, you lucky bastard." Theodore reluctantly stepped away–but then slammed his foot down hard on Lukas' chest.
"Ack!" Lukas felt his entire world go dark for a second, but then it was over–and he got up. There was an unsure look on his face as his gaze met Lily's, but then Theodore glared hard at him.
Lukas knew his place.
He clenched his fist and turned away from the two, and did his best to step out of the mansion and made his way back home. The way back home was the longest that he'd ever been in.
His own feet seemed to want to drag him elsewhere–anywhere but the place where he and Chaerin followed their desires thoroughly.
Lukas ended up in VitaBlood and dragged himself towards the store. When he stepped in, he saw Stacy–the girl who worked at the counter working despite the time. Nobody else was around.
"Welcome to VitaBlood–oh, it's you. You look horrible." Stacy wrinkled her nose as she stared at the young man who kept buying BloodWater.
"Uhhh… thanks." Lukas weakly grinned as he plopped down the chair closest to the door and slumped over the table.
"Okay, no orders it seems."
"One BloodWater please–a glass." Lukas raised a finger as he made his order. At least it was common courtesy to get something if you were planning to sleep in the place right?
"Coming right up." Stacy nodded but then frowned as she looked over at the young man still burying his head on the table. It was strange–it wasn't as if Stacy was watching or paying attention that much, but he was usually more chipper.
Stacy rubbed her eye and then got some fresh pure blood and then walked over to Lukas table and plopped down on the chair opposite side of him.
It made Lukas look up–especially when he detected the purity of the blood and looked at Stacy in surprise. "I didn't order–"
"I have an employee discount. Drink up, you need it." Stacy sipped her own glass of blood. "You look paler than any kind of fucking ghosts."
"Gee, thanks." Lukas smiled weakly and chugged the blood. It was good on the mouth, it tasted really nice but it didn't quite change his feelings.
"You really drink hard–don't expect another free glass." Stacy said as she placed her glass down and then looked out the window. She didn't know if she should ask about stuff, it seemed rude to pry.
"Right, sorry. Just really needed that drink." Lukas chuckled and then followed suit.
"What happened? Did you break up with your girlfriend or something?" Stacy asked.
"I guess it must be like that."
"Fuck–I didn't know, sorry." Stacy held her hands up awkwardly. She didn't think she would have guessed correctly… she was kinda hoping that she was actually wrong. "Did that girl break things off with you?" freewe(b)novel.com
"I… uh, it's complicated and a long story."
"Seems like that's fair since we have all day." Stacy shrugged. "Most people are resting around this time… so if you wanna say it? I don't mind."
"Why?"
"Eh, keeping customers happy is a requirement."
"Are you actually serious?" Lukas chuckled.
"No, but I've got nothing better to do and there nothing seems to be wrong with being a decent Vampire and asking why you're down in the dumps, alright?"
"I think I kinda deserve to be down and miserable though. I've made a lot of mistakes–it wasn't her fault at all, but mine."
"What do you mean by that?"
"...please don't hit me once I finish the story, alright?"
"No promises."
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