Algernon Black

(Chapter 121) The Quiet of Darkness

When Lucy walked into the practice room later that day she could feel Algernon's anger like she could feel the cold draft of winter that embedded itself into the stone walls of Attwood, though that was a thousand times warmer than his greeting. She wasn't sure what his anger stemmed from, but he must have been stewing in it all day for it to be so potent. Algernon got straight into position for the dance and started the music with a wave of his hand aimed at the piano. The tranquil music did nothing to ease Lucy's back which had tensed as tight as a wire as soon as she placed her hand in his cold one.

"So you've found yourself a date for the ball," Algernon said, his voice as controlled as best he could to suppress his vehement annoyance.

Lucy still clearly distinguished it. "Yes." She returned softly.

Algernon's jaw tightened as he refused to look down at her. "I'm sure he'll be an able match for you."

"I know." Lucy lamented, her stomach twisting as she recalled how Algernon had ridiculed them before. "You've already said that."

Algernon's anger turned inwards as he recalled it too.

"Do you disagree with me?" He asked, his voice holding as much hope as it did resentment.

Lucy only registered the resentment and stared up at him with spiteful eyes.

"I don't think any judgments are right when they're based on social class." She was ok taking the abuse and criticism, but when it fell to Jasper, one of her closest friends and kindest souls, she wouldn't stand for it.

Algernon noticed Lucy's back straighten like she was preparing for a fight, and the trained fighter in him reacted to it.

"It's more than just that." He bitterly replied.

Lucy knew what he implied even when it went unspoken. She had been hearing it for months now. Low born, lacking, weak, meaningless, less.

"Whatever the criticism is made of is stupid." Lucy fired back as her fingers started to dig into Algernon's shoulder.

"If it's stupid, why do you care so much about it?" Even while arguing, Algernon's dancing was flawless, and he led her about the room in perfect grace while Lucy was losing all of her own.

"Me? What about you!" She replied dumbfounded by his hypocritical criticism. "You care about your reputation more than anyone."

"It-" Algernon stuttered before collecting himself. "It's not something you could ever understand."

"What can't I understand?" Lucy demanded. "What a burden it is to be Algernon Black? To have the reverence of everyone you've ever met because of your last name?" She ranted, unable to stop herself, from the months of insults, blows, and hypocrisy that had been hurled at her.

Algernon stared her down. "If you really think my life is easy because of my name then that shows how truly ignorant you are to the actual abuses of this world."

"Ignorant to it?" Lucy yelled like she couldn't believe the word. "I still have the scars on my body because of it!"

"What is it that you want to hear?" Algernon scathed, forcing the words through clenched teeth. "That I pity you?" He asked as their dance came to a sudden halt. "Because these people have a low opinion of you. You should be thankful the less they make of you." He glared down as he thought it was about time Lucy realized what was plainly in front of her. That she was trying to win over a group of people who would only use her, bleed her dry, and then throw her to the dirt. He knew he was showing her that in a cruel way but maybe then she would understand what monsters these people were, and why he fit so perfectly amongst them. "Because the less they think of you, the less they'll try to take." He finished, furious about so much, none of it her fault but all of it being taken out on her now. Even as unfair as Algernon knew he was being, he stared down at Lucy with black eyes unbreakable from the fight, and Lucy knowing she couldn't beat him in one, averted her own.