#thearcan

Masterlist

Count Lucio x Female MC

Part Two | Part Three

~~~

  “He was spotted again, this time near the Flooded District,” Asra said, pulling their scarf from their head and resting it on their shoulders. “He tore up the blacksmith’s stand. Apparently he was looking for something.”

  “Oh gods,” You buried your head into your hands, your elbows leaning against the dining hall’s table. “This is all my fault.”

  Nadia frowned from her place at the head of the table. “How is Lucio being controlled by the Devil your fault, MC?”

  “I should have seen it coming, I should have been able to sense it, I should have-” All the endings to that sentence whirled through your mind, weighing you down even more. In the past few weeks, you knew something was off with your lover, but thought he had just been in one of his moods. You had been so swamped with work around the shop, since Asra had been out of Vesuvia, and didn’t stop to notice how Lucio’s actions became darker and darker with each day. It wasn’t until you and him got into an argument when he lashed out, allowing the Devil to fully gain control of his mind and body.

  “How are we going to help him?” You asked, ready to accept any sliver of hope. 

  Asra sighed. “MC, I’m not sure if-”

  “Don’t!” You cut him off. “Please, just- there has to be something, Asra. There has to be.”

  They paused, doubt on their face but the gears turning in their head. “We may be able to lure him out, but there’s no telling if the Devil will lessen his grasp on Lucio long enough for him to take the bait.”

  “It is better than allowing him to rampage free,” Nadia said, lacing her fingers under her chin. “We don’t know where the Devil may have Lucio strike next, and if he continues to act in a similar fashion as he did at the blacksmith’s stand, someone is bound to get hurt soon.”

  You looked up at both of them. “How would we lure him out?”

  The pair exchanged a look before Asra cleared their throat. “Well, as much as I hate the notion, I think you’d make the best bait, MC. Lucio hasn’t managed to stay away in the past, I doubt that if he has any control left, he’d channel it all to get to you.”

  “So let’s do it,” You said immediately.

  Nadia reached over and placed her hand above yours. “MC, I know how much Lucio means to you and I’ve seen how guilty you’ve felt over the past week, but that’s no reason to rush into this. To use you as bait is to throw you to the wolves, regardless of what face they wear. Lucio isn’t in control of his body. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”

  You could feel determination blaze through you, fueling your magic. “I know, Nadia, but it’s still Lucio. He wouldn’t stand aside if I was under the Devil’s control, and I won’t either. Not when there’s a chance.”

  Silence fell over the dining hall for a long moment, making you increasingly nervous as the seconds ticked by. Finally, Asra spoke again.

  “You’d have to trap him once you get close,” they explained. “We’ll weave a net with our magic, all you need to do is throw it at him when you get a chance.”

  You nodded firmly, suddenly fueled by newfound determination. “Then let’s get started.”

~~~

  With your heart beating erratically, you walked into the center of the coliseum, hearing only your steps in the sand. The net that you and Asra had spent the past two days weaving was stashed in your pocket, ready to be launched at Lucio the moment you had the chance. Though your eyes were heavy from the lack of sleep and your nerves were wild, you walked with your head high. The sheer desire to have your lover back was enough to power your steps. You only hoped it would be enough to bring him back as well.

  Once you stood in the center of the coliseum, you took a deep breath and yelled, “Count Lucio!” 

  Your voice bounced off the walls, echoing around you, but there was nothing else after that. The moment the echoes died off, you yelled again.

  “Lucio!” 

  You called a few more times, that determination you felt before slowly melting into fear. What if he didn’t hear you? What if he didn’t respond? What if he couldn’t respond? Every negative situation rang through your mind so loudly that you didn’t hear the crunch of boots on the sand until they were right behind you.

  “MC.”

  You whirled around, your eyes widening at who stood there. “Lucio!” 

  Instead of flashing you a cocky grin like he should have, the count’s face remained impassive. His eyes glowed a dark, blood red that was so different from plague red you’ve seen before and the silver you’re used to. There were more markings on his face, now swirling around his eyes and reaching across his cheeks. He wore black battle armour with nothing flashy about it. He looked so familiar but so foreign at the same time, making your heart leap but stomach churn. 

  “I trust you have come to your senses, MC,” Lucio said, but it wasn’t his voice, not alone anyways. It was a combination of the Devil’s with Lucio’s voice as an afterthought. Chills travelled up your spine, but you forced yourself to stand your ground. 

  “I’m not helping you,” You said firmly. “And I’m taking the count back.”

  An amused smile broke across his face, but his eyes remained dead. “How do you suppose you will do that? I have full control now. This human has always been closely tied to me, but now? We are one.”

  You felt your magic stir around your tightening fists as anger filled you. “You’re not! I’ll save him if I have to rip you away piece by piece from him!” 

  “I would like to see your attempts, MC. You forget, I am Arcana and you are a mere mortal. You are nothing to me.”

  “Then I guess I’ll have to show you exactly what a mortal like me can do.” 

5 raisons d’adorer le jeu The Arcana ♥ / 5 reasons to love the game The Arcana ♥