The First Encounter(inspired by @gioiasart
Lucien. A simple man, living in a nice house at the edge of town, with his wonderful little girl, Charlie. A divorced man, having lost his wife for not being up to her standards. A creative man, who worked as a craftsman and carpenter, creating masterpieces and selling them. A broken man, one who doesn’t realize that life right now isn’t correct.
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Lucien wakes up one morning, smiling as he steps out of the bed and gets ready for his day. He heads downstairs and begins to cook breakfast, humming to A Spoonful of Sugar. He sways as he flips the pancakes, perfectly in time with the song. He adds some to a plate and pours syrup onto them along with whipped cream to the top.
“Charlie! Breakfast is ready, my dear!”
“Coming!” Charlie flies down the stairs, practically running into the wall at the end of her descent. “Pancakes! Thanks Dad!”
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Charlie. An adorable girl, and the daughter of Lucien. A beautiful girl, with hair as beautiful and rich as gold, despite her being 12. A sweet girl, always being kind to others, respecting them even when they make her mad. A lost girl, not knowing what the future holds for her kindness.
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After breakfast, the two head out to their garden and tend to it, singing along to musicals as they worked. They would pick what was ripe and leave what isn’t to ripen. “Charlie! I found something!”
“I can’t tell.” Lucien holds the rock up to the sun and doesn’t see through it.
“Let me see.” He hands her the rock and she does the same, lifting it up to the sun. “Odd.” She sniffs the rock, smelling sulfur and ash. “It smells horrific. Seems to be volcanic.”
“What would volcanic rock be doing in our backyard?”
“I don’t have all the answers, Dad.”
“Whatever. Do you want to come with me to the city?”
“Of course! I love going to the markets!”
“Well get ready. We leave in 10 minutes, alright.”
“You got it.” She flees back into the house to get ready, handing the stone to me. Lucien looks down at the rock again, feeling a warm spark on his hand. Then a flash.
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Lucien sees a large room. Portraits lined the floors and ducks lined the floors. The room had a crimson hue to it. Then a voice.
“My Lord. Don’t leave, please.”
“I have to, my love. It’s not safe for her here.”
“That’s why I’m here! To protect her! And you!”
“This is final, my love. We will return. I promise.”
“Please…don’t leave.” The man sounded like he was begging him.
“I’m sorry.” Tears are shed from Lucien as he returns to the surface, tears on his face. “Dad?”
“Are you okay? You were crying.”
“I’m good. Let’s go, shall we?”
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In the market, Lucien is trading his creations and commissions for supplies while Charlie explores. “John!”
“Luci! How good to see you!”
“It’s good to see you as well, sir. I’ve completed the shelf you requested.” Lucien pulls off the cover and reveals the beautiful cherry wood shelf, shimmering in the sunlight.
“It’s more beautiful than I imagined! Your craftsmanship knows no bounds, Lucien!”
“Thank you, John. I was happy to fulfill the request.”
“Here’s your payment.” John hands him the money and a basket of fruit. “Picked from the garden this morning.”
“They look delicious. I’m sure Charlie will enjoy them. Thank you.”
“Of course. See you next week.”
Lucien leaves John and heads to find Charlie. “Charlie?! Where are you?”
“Dad! Over here!” Her voice. Lucien could tell it sounded different. Like she was in danger. Lucien placed down the fruit basket and ran. Ran as fast as he could towards her direction. Weaving through the crowd of people. “Charlie!”
“Are you the girl’s father?” Lucien stops at the man’s voice. He recognizes it, but from where? “Hello? Sir?”
“Hm? Oh. Yes, she’s my daughter. Are you okay Charlie?”
“I’m fine, Dad. He helped me.”
“A pleasure to meet you, sir. The name’s Alastor. I’m the Grand Duke.”
“Grand Duke? Who’s that?” Everyone began to laugh.
“You don’t know who the Grand Duke is? He reigns over this entire area,” a soldier asks.
“Huh. I did not know that. I’m sorry for my negligence, Grand Duke.”
“Lucien, sir.” The Grand Duke’s eyes widen at the name. He offers his hand for Lucien to shake, and he does, a smile on his face.
“Finally. I have found you…Lucifer.”
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Back at home, Charlie and Lucien are eating lunch together, talking about new ideas for the garden design when a knock was heard on the door. “Coming!” He opens the door and sees the Grand Duke from earlier. “Grand Duke? What? What brings you to my home?”
“I am wishing for you to come work for me. You are a craftsman, correct?”
“Yes sir. But there are people better than me, sir.”
“Not in my opinion. According to the people in the village, you are the best craftsman. I am wanting to see if their claims are true or false.”
“If I work for you, sir, what will payment be?”
“Monetary. Along with a place for you and your daughter to stay at the palace, food, and more, depending on what you desire or require. Does that suffice?” Lucien’s face begins to crunch, thinking about his options.
“You have a deal.” Lucien shakes the duke’s hand, a mischievous smile lying on the Grand Duke’s face.
“Excellent!” Alastor snaps his fingers and three men enter the house, heading up the stairs.
“What! What are you doing?!”
“Having them retrieve you and your daughter’s belongings! You both will ride in the carriage with me.”
“We’re leaving right now?”
“Yes. We must get you settled in and I can have a meal with you. Does that sound okay?”
“This is all very sudden, sir!” A scream from upstairs is heard.
“Coming!” He rushes up the stairs and sees his daughter, frightened by the men that just barged in her room.
“Who are they?! Why are they coming in here?”
“They’re not.” He turns to the three men in anger. “Get. Out. Now.”
The men in fear flee running back outside. The Grand Duke walks up the stairs and knocks on the door, alerting them of his presence.
“Charlotte, correct? Are you alright? My apologies for that sudden accident, they were unaware someone inhabited this room, which is my fault. I do wish you will forgive me.”
“You’re the man from earlier. The duke, right?”
“That’s correct, my dear.”
“What are you doing at our house?”
“Well, my dear, I offered you and your father a job at the palace. I wish for your father to be the head craftsman at the palace and for you to be my personal assistant. Would that be alright?”
“You want us to work for you?”
“That is what I said, yes.”
“That sounds like fun! Why not?”
“If she agrees, then fine. We’ll go with you,” Lucien says. “Charlie, pack your stuff please, then hand it to the three gentlemen from earlier.”
“Will we be back? What about the garden?”
“Me and my daughter have a large garden in the backyard. If we leave it unattended, they’ll all die.”
“I see. One of my men will remain here and tend to the garden in your absence. Please leave him instructions as to what he needs to do.”
“Will do. Thank you, your highness. I’ll get started on that. It’ll be a long and specific one.” He goes downstairs and begins the list, writing down everything in extravagant detail, leaving the two alone.
“Well, I’ve seen your father’s craftsmanship and it’s truly exquisite. And dresses made by you are beautiful.”
“The flattery is too much sir. Thank you.”
“I’m back! And they said that everything’s loaded,” Lucien says, a large smile on his face.
“Then we shall depart! Follow me, you two.” Alastor walks down the stairs, getting onto a horse. Into the carriage you go.”
“Can we ride on a horse?”
“I don’t see why not! Charlotte, you’ll ride with me.” He gets off, allowing Charlie to get on before him. Lucien gets on his own horse from the stable in the back and together, they ride to the Grand Duke’s palace estate. When they arrive, they are given a tour by the Grand Duke, and shown to their chambers to get settled.
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Charlie, curious, prepares to assist the Duke. She heads to his chambers, nervous, and knocks.
“How did you know it was me?”
“I didn’t.” He did. “Just guessed.”
“Oh. Well, I am here to learn about what I need to know in order to be a good servant to you.”
“Ah. Well, there isn’t much. Just keep me company for now.” He gestures to sit with him, Alastor pulling up a chair for her. Charlie sits next to him, watching as he does paperwork . “Mr. Alastor?”
“For bringing me and my father here. It’s a lovely place.”
“Indeed. You’re welcome. But did you see the garden?”
“No. It wasn’t part of the tour.”
“Then maybe you can help revive it.”
“Yes. Our gardener just passed away, and the new one doesn’t know much as he was only the apprentice.”
“Wonderful. but he is a pain. Be wary around him. I’ll take you there now.” Alastor stands up and takes Charlie to the garden, where she meets a man named Anthony. "Hello, Anthony.”
“Why hello there, sir~” The man named Anthony bows to the two of them, a sultry voice coming from him. “How can I help you?”
“You, can’t help me. But she can help you. This is Charlotte, who’ll be in charge of the Garden. You will assist when she tells you to. Understand?”
“Yes sir. Nice to meet’cha, Miss Charlotte.”
“Call me Charlie. Now let’s get to work, shall we? We have a Garden to revive.”
“It’s not all dead. There is one still living, surprisingly,” Alastor says, sitting on a park bench to watch.
“This tree don’t die, I promise you.” Anthony walks over to a shimmering tree, showing it to Charlie when she blanks out. Charlie freezes, surprising Anthony. Alastor simply smiles devilishly, as if something had gone his way.
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Charlie’s in a dark place. But sees a small garden on the outskirts of it. She runs towards the plant life, and sees the same tree from outside, but significantly larger. It bore fruit, voluptuous in size. She went to grab one when all she hears is a voice similar to her father’s shouting “WAIT!”
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Back in reality, she sees Anthony holding her hand, stopping her from grabbing a small piece of fruit off the tree. “We’re not allowed to pick fruit from this tree. It’s forbidden.”
“It’s alright my dear. I neglected to mention anything,” Alastor responds from his spot on the bench. “Everything in the garden needs tending to. Except for the tree, understand?”
“Yes, Your Grace,” they both say.
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In the palace, Lucien sits by himself all alone, trying to figure out what to do when a knock is heard from his door. “Coming,” he says, grunting as he gets up. He opens the door and sees a gruff man, holding a bottle of liquor in his hand. “The Duke wishes to see you. Take this as a gift.”
“Husker. That’s what the Duke calls me.”
“Thank you Husker. I’ll be right there.” Husker walks away, groaning. Lucien slips his shoes on and heads to the Grand Dukes office, which wasn’t far. He knocks, but nothing is heard on the opposite side. “Hello?”
