|𝙵𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝟷𝟷𝚡|
There's a war in London. No one knows how it started, but those caught in the fray can either struggle or thrive due to the nation-wide influence of two formidable factions: the Crimson Syndicate and the Brotherhood of the...
He trod up the stairs lightly but in vain. The skeleton stairs would make noise despite his every effort not to. His mother would give him hell if he woke her this early, though.
Lennox crept through the hallway on the second level, knocking at his brother's door. "Chase? You there?"
Silence.
Was he asleep? It was... He took out his phone. It was seven o'clock, and Chase was usually awake by then.
"Lennox? You're awake?" His mother's reedy voice startled him, her question followed by a tiny hiccup.
"Mum? Have you been drinking?" His mother didn't drink. Lennox considered his mother's makeup-streaked face. Her eyes were puffy, and her eyelashes were caked with tears. She had been crying, too.
He wondered if Father was to blame. Wade should have known by now the impact his words had on his wife. "What did he do this time?" Lennox asked, exasperated. He didn't think that he himself could be the root of the problem.
Emily fell into another bout of sobs. "Wade said that it was my fault that the article was ruining our reputation, and when you and your... partner came back here... he stomped off, saying that you were better off dead," she sniffled. "We all thought you were dead... and Wade, he wanted it to stay that way. He's going to file for divorce if I can't fix all this by the end of the month! That's in two weeks! I can't..." Another petite hiccup. "I can't provide for you and Chase if that happens."
"What article, Mum?"
His mother looked up. "You haven't seen it? It's about you and the person on our couch, and whatever in heaven's name you were doing on that roof."
Lennox's eyes narrowed, his brow shooting upwards. "There's a person on our couch? And you didn't bother to tell me?"
"Well, you were unconscious! What else was I supposed to do when some guy carried you home yesterday?" Emily demanded, her teardrops long gone. "You couldn't bother to tell your own mother you're gay, let alone when you have a boyfriend? You're even more secretive than I am, Lennox!"
His fists clenched at his sides, not even comprehending her words. "And with good reason! Do you know how unreliable you are? You're always clinging to Dad, or going out to parties, never sparing me or Chase a second glance!" Lennox slammed his hand on the nearby end table, jostling the vase set on top of it. "London's not like how it was twenty years ago! It's changed, and it's time for you to change along with it. You can't go gallivanting into the sunset without a care in the world anymore, Mum. You have children, and you owe it to Chase to stay alive. He... he graduates middle school this year, did you know?"
A hurt expression appeared on his mother's face. "No... I didn't. I'm not at home much, and Chase usually keeps to himself, so I never really kept track." She glanced at Lennox. "I'm sorry, my son. I know you think I haven't been that great of a mother to you or Chase, but I promise, I'm trying every day to give you two a better life. Far away from here. Away from me, if that's what you want. I just need more time," Emily pleaded.
"I'm not sure you have that luxury. You probably haven't noticed, but the flower shop can't sustain us anymore. Unless you have a magical plan to incur a steady income, I propose that you stop making empty promises and put in some damn work already," he snapped bitterly. His mother was shocked, and Lennox continued, "Sorry, Mum. Your apology isn't enough anymore. Put some action behind those words, and maybe—"
"Okay. I'll be better. Would you, uh, like some breakfast? Because try as you might to hide it, I know you can't cook." Her small smile turned sour. "Maybe it's the only thing I know about you."
He felt conflicted. He knew he shouldn't... but still, he felt sorry for her. After all, she had to deal with Father more than anyone else, didn't she? Lennox urged himself to stop. She was obviously guilt-tripping him, so why was it working?
He groaned inwardly. "Fine."
Lennox was infuriated with his mother—and himself. They were both strung together in a long chain of mental manipulation. Emily was still attached at the hip to Wade, and Lennox couldn't help but be swayed by his mother's tears and hollow words.
As he ambled into the kitchen, he gave his mother one last sideways glance. Her hair was in its usual bun, but there was a messiness to it that unsettled him. The same went for the rest of her ensemble—a grey shift dress and plush slippers. He thought about how hard the past few days must have been for his mother until his focus diverted to a mouthwatering aroma in the air.
Since when had Chase learned to cook eggs? He was sure the boy was as talentless as he was. He glimpsed upwards. The face he saw was not his brother, but a familiar stranger. A man with grey eyes that twinkled as he prepared a pan of scrambled eggs.
He had wild, short hair the colour of raven's wings, with Lennox's clothes wrapped around him as he turned to simper sweetly at him. "Lennox! You're finally awake! And your mother is here too! Sorry for helping myself to the kitchen, I'd figured I would whip up something since I didn't know when you folks normally wake up."
"It's quite all right, darling. We can't cook that well anyways, so I'm glad you won't go hungry on our account," Emily chimed in. She had taken a liking to the mysterious visitor, it seemed.
"It's a good thing I made extra, then. Would you like some?"
Lennox's mother nodded; however, the blond found his head shaking.
"Apologies, guy I don't know. I'm not comfortable taking food from strangers. Especially ones who appear in my house without any warning or premonition, stealing my clothes and acting like they've lived there for weeks." His lips thinned as he stared out at the newcomer. "Sorry, but I don't trust one bit of your sham. I was with you on a roof Tuesday night, and I want to know why. So, start talking."
