#rambolva

he’s so cute hihi

The manor was too quiet, it came with peace within it, it made the walls feel too close. It was the silence of something emptied out, something waiting for its absence to be noticed. 

The clock in the great hall kept on, oblivious of the things happening in its own home. Each chime was a reminder that time didn't stop for anyone. Not for Dedric, Raphael, Theoford, or Alistar. 

Lucian stood breathing the shadow of the grand staircase, still wearing the gloves. The silk lining clung fainting to his palms, holding the last warmth of the day. There was no blood on them, but he could feel the warm, slickness of it. Gone too quickly, he would say. 

Across the hall, Elijah stood by a column, arms folded, his gaze fixed on the portrait lining the wall. They looked down in gilded judgment: Raphael with his stiff, righteous posture: Dedric with his faint, strained smile, Theo with the cold, dead gaze. Alistars eys staring into the distance forever. They looked the same as they always had — but Lucian could still see the way their faces had shifted in the end. The shock. The fear. The realization. 

“You could take them down, Kitten.” Elijah said, breaking the stillness of the world. His voice was silent, but sharp. He knew to not touch Lucian unless he made the first move. 

Lucian didn't answer right away, sliding down the wall, resting his head on the wall behind him. His eyes looked though the edges of the frame, the brushstrokes that gave life to what was now rotting under the fresh earth. 

“I will,” he said at last. But he didn't move. 

They had buried them quickly just before the sun began to sink. The family cemetery lay past the orchard, under the crooked arms of ancient yews. No ceremony, or praying to the gods. The shovels bit into the soil, and the earth took them without protest. 

Now, in his mind, those mounds of earth seemed to pulse in the dark– not with life, but with the weight of what they contained. 

“You think too much,” Elijah rolled over in bed. murring. 

Lucian's jaw got tight, staring into Elijah's eyes, then his lips, then back to his eyes.. “Maybe not enough.” 

“Enough to doubt.”

Lucian didn't answer, scooting himself closer to Elijah until they touched, the roughness of Elijah's skin was perfect, warm, and smelled like leather. That evening had come, the sun was gone and the night had come. The air was so thick with the heavy smell of overturned soil and the faint sweetness of rain. 

That had yet to fall.

The gardens were going to bloom, so green even in the season, The ivy along the archways would move in the breeze. Hiding the hell that was made by man. 

The sound of blackbirds would sing, the same one from the morning. They would hop along the garden wall before disappearing into the orchard. Lucian would watch it go. 

“What happens now?” he asked finally, his voice so low it was almost lost in the rustle of the leaves.

Elijah's face didn't change, still resting his head on the pillow. “Now you lead.” 

Lucains gaze drifted toward the manor's tall, polished windows, the garden stared back. Looking back at Elijah he could see the reflection of himself in Elijah's eyes. Pale, sharp, and faintly distorted by the color of his eyes. There was no one left between him and the weight of the world. No father. No brothers. No mother. No one can dictate his place in this home. 

It should have felt like freedom. But it lingered like a cut, pulsing. 

The quiet was filling his ears—things unspoken, questions from the servants who had seen too little or too much, whispers in the village that would soon turn into rumors. 

okay holdup this is gona be crazy…

So he isnt actually fully biologically his fathers kid, as his mama lucienne had an affair 🤯🤯🤯 dada doesnt know about this though the only one who knows about it is Alistair who pretty much resents him for it but he was also pretty jealous of Aurora because he got a lot of attention from his mom, not only because he was the youngest but also because she felt like he was the one kid she really resonated with, which made ali very pissy because he loved his mom like ALOT. Dedric and Raf were pretty chill about him, most they would do woulf tease him. But heres the thing about Aurora, hes VERY delusional. Throughout his entire childhood and even the rest of his life he truly believed his family secretly hated him especially his brothers. when Elijah comes along he pretty much fuels auroras delusions and makes his mental stability even worse to t he point he cannot function without reassurance from Eli. Wether his delusions are real and his brothers and dad are straight evil I haven’t decided yet bc the audios will show but I kinda hope they ARENT evil yk. anyways he looks a lot like his mom. Like ALOT down to the bone and it also made ali really really pissed

I need more Rambol_va fanart mannnnnnnnnn , I can’t be doing all the work:(((

My boy Mathis deserves love!!!