The masquerade was a time for jubilation for all of Vesuvia. Normally, none would be more excited than Lucio himself, more than happy to strut about the castle with obnoxious grandeur as he watched the entire city gather to celebrate his special day: to celebrate him. For the first time in the masquerade's history, since Lucio had turned his own birthday into a national holiday, this wasn’t the case.
“Stuck in my room on my birthday.” The count had been sulking for the better part of the day, outraged by his confinement and even further outraged by the lack of faithful servants surrounding him. A few of the courtiers had checked in, only to duck out quickly in favor of the festivities and Nadia hadn’t visited once. She seldom had since he’d come down with the plague. The only person kind enough to keep him company, there when he needed it most, was Rae.
“What do those doctors think they’re doing down there? Damn that Devorak, wasting time.” His thanks to her, to perhaps the only true friend he had, had been to rant and rave. He’d spent the better part of the night complaining and Rae had been the only person he hadn’t directly scolded yet, threatening even the servants who brought him the best part of each meal the masquerade served. He could hardly eat in his state of weakness, but Lucio wanted no one to forget that he was still the star of this show - even if it seemed as though most of the city already had.
“Hey.” Rae, more long-suffering than usual in the face of Lucio’s current state, placed a soft hand on his arm, trying to ignore how sickly and cold his skin felt beneath her palm, “You have them working everyday and they have the best resources Vesuvia has to offer. They’ll find a cute soon.” Rae wasn’t sure who she was comforting more now: Lucio or herself.
Lucio could be insufferable, was more often than not. He was selfish, belligerent, sometimes stupid, but in all her years of knowing him Rae could see through all of it. She could see the scars that pushed him to be better, to constantly fight to prove himself, that fed his need to be adored. More than anyone she could see the good qualities that lurked beneath. He treated those closest to him, those most loyal, well. Even on his deathbed Lucio ensured Rae was taken care of, heaps of her favourite food and drink piled high on the grandiose nightstand sat next to the bed. Lucio was oft a pain in the ass, but no matter how she complained about him Rae couldn’t imagine what life would be like without him. She didn’t want to.
“Tch. Bastards are probably happy to watch me die, ready to claw their way in here and take my position.” Feaverish and angry, Lucio was testier than ever, “Well they can claw it from my cold, dead--” A cough cut him off, one turning into many as he was overtaken by yet another coughing fit. Rae rubbed his back, offering what little comfort she could as the count hunched over, too weak to fight against his illness. Lucio had always been proud, strong, refusing to show weakness. Seeing him so frail was frightening.
“Ah, shit.” Retracting the arm that had covered his mouth, finding it smeared with fresh blood Lucio slumped back against the ornate carving of his headboard. For the moment he was too exhausted to argue, spent by the coughing fit.
Pity and concern mingled in Rae’s eyes as she took a cloth from beside her. Dipping it in a basin of water she leaned forward to dab at Lucio’s lips, cleaning the blood that stained them red.
Lucio stared at Rae as she worked, cleaning his mouth before rinsing him arm. She was the only one left; Rae was the only person to stay beside him when he had nothing to offer. She was probably the only true friend he had - the only true friend he’d ever had. Lucio had always known it, but until faced with to so bruntly he’d never wanted to admit it.
“Hey…” Once he blood was gone, filthy red stain cleared from Lucio’s palled skin and dirty cloth discarded Rae turned to Lucio again, forcing a smile. He was grouchy, tired, and had been for days. Futile as it may have been, Rae wanted to try to cheer him up, even if just a little. She knew just the story. If this didn’t make him at least crack a smile, nothing would.
“Did I ever tell you about the time Asra and I--” Rae was cut off suddenly. Lucio, fueled by a sudden spike of anger that came as a surprise to both parties in the room, stood suddenly forcing Rae to follow suit. Her eyes were wide, round and scared as she felt the anger in Lucio’s gaze, made all the more intimidating by the burning, sickly red of his eyes.
“Shut up! I don’t want to hear about Asra!” He’d heard the name far too much in passing days. Asra, the magician who was supposed to help save him, use some hocus pocus ritual to restore his health. The entire castle was abuzz with talk of his ‘amazing feats’ and not a single person had a bad thing to say about him. Not even Rae.
“Asra this, Asra that! It’s all you ever talk about.” Lucio’s voice was raspy, strained, specks of blood flying from his lips as he shouted.
“Wh-- no it isn’t! He’s my friend and I haven’t seen him in forever since you’ve had me cooped up here with you! I miss him Lucio!” The confession came in anger as Rae planted her feet, narrowed her eyes and met the counts stare with a hard glare. She realized now how true that was. Asra was her friend, someone who’d always been there for her when she needed it. To be cut off from him completely even when he was so close was a lonely feeling.
Lucio froze for a moment, feeling his heart drop into the pit of his stomach. Rae was here for him… because she felt like she had to be? Lucio felt the hurt in his chest turn to anger, bitter and unbridled. Combined with his envy it was a messy mix that had Lucio’s chest heaving in fury.
“If you don’t want to be here then get out.” Of course she didn’t. Of course she’d rather be downstairs, taking advantage of her generosity like everyone else. Of course she’s rather be with Asra. Lucio cursed himself; he should have seen it before.
“What?” Unable to keep up with the count’s whirling thoughts Rae blinked up at him, “I never said--” Her confusion, doe-like eyes and shocked face had no bearing on Lucio. Not when he was like this. It almost made him angrier, that she couldn’t understand him.
“I said get out!” Lucio’s shout was punctuated by a crash as he set all the food piled on the end table to spill, throwing it to the floor in a mess of spilled foods and shattered dishes that had Rae scrambling to move away from the spread of the mess.
“Fine! Fuck you!” Hurt and angry, unable to understand Rae shouted back with equal ferocity. Hiking her skirts she turned from the room, slamming the door behind her and refusing to look back as she stormed down the hall. All she had wanted was to help, to make things better. Why did Lucio have to be like this?
Inside the room Lucio began to cough again, falling to his bed as his overspent limbs turned to jelly beneath him. Alone he was left to feel the blood trickle from his mouth, burn in his throat as he stared at the scene carved into the roof of his canopy bed. Soon enough. Soon enough he would be healthy. He’d be strong again and then he’d show them all… he’d make them all come crawling back to him then. He just needed to wait a little longer, get ready for this stupid ritual. Then they would all see.
In another wing of the castle Rae was finally reaching her room, wiping furiously at the most persistent of her tears as they spilled down her cheeks despite her best efforts to keep them. Shedding her clothes in favor of pajamas, curling into bed and hugging at her pillows, she cursed Lucio’s stubbornness, his selfishness. But she also cursed her own. He was sick, dying, and she’d left him all alone. But she couldn’t go back. She could only take so much, and Lucio had pushed too far. She couldn’t even hope to reconcile now - she wouldn’t be able to look at him. But perhaps in the morning… maybe the next sunrise would bring with it a new day.
Comforted enough by the thought Rae settled to bed, too angry, too exhausted to do anything but sleep. Despite her best hopes Rae’s sleep would be anything but peaceful that night. It would only be a few more hours before she was woken up by a frenzy of panic and activity only to find Lucio’s wing ablaze, onlookers screaming that the count was still inside. She’d realize then, staring up at the fire burning through one of the windows, that there would be no reconciliation; her argument with lucio would be the last conversation they would ever have.
With that weighing heavily on her heart, replaying painfully in her mind, Rae would fall to her knees and weep.
