by RWK Clark
He climbed the stairs to get ready for bed. He took a shower, thinking constantly about the situation. While he brushed his teeth he still turned it over in his mind. When he finally climbed into his bed he was almost obsessed with the predicament.
What could he do?
He turned off the lamp on his nightstand and stared through the darkness at the ceiling. Nothing but the very best would do, for Isabella should only get to know the real him, and no bunny rabbit was going to demonstrate his reality. He began to finally doze off.
Suddenly, in the cloudy beginnings of his dreams, it came to him. Lucien’s eyes flew open and he sat straight up in his bed in the darkness. Out of nowhere he had the solution, and it came to him with surprising violence.
He would get their first one from the park where he and Isabella had first met. He would offer her a human. Nothing could be better for their first time together.
It would be easy; he knew just what he would do and how he would lure them. He would go tomorrow, after his studies. He knew with surety Mother would let him; she would consider it a test.
Lucien lay back down on his pillow, a broad smile on his face. He was more excited than he could ever remember. He would mind himself perfectly tomorrow, even going out of his way to please Mother. It was the only way.
Finally, Lucien, future Master of the World, fell into a deep, contented sleep.
Chapter 10
Rasia walked into the classroom where she taught her son his lessons. It was bright and early; he would not arrive for another hour. She wanted their day to go well. He had behaved so wonderfully lately that she wanted to treat him with a bit of kindness in an effort to keep the behavior going.
As soon as she opened the door to the room she sucked her breath in. Lucien was seated at his desk, working away. He turned to her and smiled brightly. Rasia was at a loss.
“Hi, Mama. I hope your morning has been good.”
After overcoming her initial surprise Rasia began to advance toward her desk, keeping her eyes on her son the whole time. “Yes, Lucien, it has been. You are here early, yes?”
He nodded at her, still smiling. “I wanted to get a head start on my science questions today.”
“Good. You go ahead and work on that and I will get organized for the day,” she told him. She took a seat at her desk. “Lucien, I am more impressed with you every day. I hope you forgive me for the measures I took to straighten you out.”
“Of course, Mother,” he smiled as he lied through his teeth. “I don’t even think about the nurses anymore.”
Lucien went back to his assignments while Rasia busied herself sorting out the day’s new ones. She was a bit stunned by Lucien, she had to admit. The difference in him now compared to three years ago was like day and night, and ever the cynic, Rasia was a bit suspicious. She was suspicious of everyone, though. Maybe she was not giving her son enough credit.
She pushed the thoughts out of her mind, and the two got about their day. Not only did he complete his science assignment with excellence, he attacked the new tasks she gave him with an eagerness that was completely uncharacteristic of him. He participated in discussing all the subject matter she presented, and he even asked highly intelligent questions that challenged her as well. By the time lunch arrived and they wrapped the day up, Rasia felt the first slight tugging of affection for the child that she had felt since his birth.
“Ah, Lucien. Wonderful day. You can go ahead and put your things away and go to lunch if you wish,” she told him, putting her own papers and books together.
He put his books and papers neatly away in his desk and rose to leave the room. He had just opened the door to leave when Rasia stopped him.
“Oh, Lucien,” she began. “I almost forgot. Rose called and last night, and we spoke extensively. You have been doing very well, and we have decided that it might be a good idea for you to begin having Isabella over to visit now and again on a more regular basis. What do you think? Is this something you are ready to handle responsibly? I would hate for the girl to get… hurt.”
Lucien struggled to control his excitement. He straightened his face before turning to his mother. “That would be wonderful. When do you think she will be able to come?”
Rasia busied herself with her papers. “We have planned to have her over on Wednesdays, and if things go well she will visit more often. Maybe a few times a week, but on Wednesdays only in the beginning.”
“Thank you,” Lucien said. “I look forward to it.”
He smiled at his mother and left the room, closing the door behind him. Foolish, they all were, but not in regard to his Isabella. Her presence in his life, no matter how scarce, was all he wanted and needed.
He quickly ate lunch then went to his room to formulate a solid plan for Isabella’s ‘breaking in’. He sat at the desk in his room writing furiously in his notebook, and as he progressed the evil grin on his little face grew. He was becoming more and more excited with each passing minute.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, he would ask Mother if he could walk to the park. There he would find someone, anyone, to bring home. How would he get them? That was the best part! Lucien had a vial of tranquilizer and a package of syringes which he had stolen from his mother’s room just this morning, the same tranquilizer they had used on him on occasion when he was in the care of those apes Mother liked to call nurses. He would load up one of the syringes, and when he found a suitable victim, he would lure them here, to the woods at the end of the courtyard, and there he would drug them, tie them up, and together he and Isabella would have all the fun they wanted.
When he was finished outlining his plan he took one of his backpacks and filled it with a roll of duct tape and some rope he had used in the past to tie up animals with. He also packed his pen knife, but along with that he included a hunting knife he had stolen from the apron of one of the male kitchen workers a long time back. He had everything he needed to show his girl Isabella a very good time indeed.
He slung the backpack over his shoulder and headed downstairs. Mother was sitting in the dining room eating her lunch and enjoying a glass of wine.
“Mother, I am going outside to the courtyard. Is that alright with you?” He kept a pleasant smile and tone; he was Mother’s good boy now, after all.
Rasia looked up. She had smelled him coming before seeing his face. “Of course. Enjoy the day; it is beautiful outside.”
He nodded and turned, walking down the hall to the back entrance. He would put the pack safely under the shrubs in the wooded area. There it would wait for him and Isabella until it was time for fun and games on Wednesday.
He was more excited than he could remember being in a very long time indeed.
∞
Lucien’s study period seemed to drag on and on Tuesday morning. He tried hard to concentrate fully on his assignments, but his mind kept wandering to his walk to the park. He had made his request to go to his mother at the breakfast table that morning.
“I wondered if I could visit the park today Mother,” Lucien had begun.
Rasia had looked up at him while taking a drink of her coffee. She said nothing right away, and this had made him just a little bit nervous. Would she refuse his request? She was definitely digesting it.
Lucien remained quiet and let her think. It was best not to nag her or try to talk her into it with slick words; she was someone who would see right through that behavior. No, he would let her take her time.
Finally she cleared her throat. “I don’t know, Lucien. Do you think you’re ready for such a step? It has been a while since you have been out in the ‘real’ world.” She kept her eyes on him, watching for how he would act.
But to Rasia’s surprise he remained very calm and controlled. “I know it has been, and to be honest, I am a bit nervous,” he lied. “I just thought seeing something new would be good. If you don’t think I’m ready…”
“No, no!” Rasia was choosing her words carefully. “I just want to know that you are going t
o be okay. That you won’t perhaps fall backwards a bit in the wrong direction.”
She got quiet once again, Lucien remained collected. She would let him go. She was acting as if she didn’t want to offend him. It was a good sign.
Finally Rasia spoke. “I’ll tell you what, let’s have our lessons, and if you are still in the mood to go to the park afterward I will let you take an hour to visit there.”
“Thank you, Mother,” Lucien said carefully.
She continued. “If all goes well you can visit more often, okay?”
Lucien nodded. Awesome! He would go and find someone to lure away, and if for any reason he couldn’t find someone, he would be paving the way to go and keep looking. His plan was working out beautifully.
Now he sat and pounded away at his work, his mind wandering, and his eyes glancing at the clock every thirty seconds or so. If there was anything he had learned during the three years he spent under the care of his ‘nurses’ it was patience. The time would eventually come, and until then he would contain himself appropriately.
At eleven-thirty Rasia excused him, telling him she had a meeting, and that she wanted him to take his lunch before he ventured out. She would not return home until late afternoon or early evening, so if he needed anything he was to go to Martin Lamb. Lucien thought about giving his mother a hug goodbye for good measure, but knew that the behavior would be way too unusual, and would likely spread suspicion in her mind. He opted to simply keep up his polite façade, but he was more than glad that Rasia would be gone for most of the day.
“I hope your meeting goes well, Mother,” he said. “And thank you again for letting me go to the park. I will see you when you get home.”
“Yes, and if you are in bed I will look in at you,” she replied. “Take advantage of this opportunity today to earn a little bit more trust, Lucien.”
As he walked out of the room Rasia got a good smell of his blood. It made her skin crawl and awakened her thirst. Maybe she would take some time to ride around and ‘hunt’ for herself a bit. The men Martin had been bringing her had been sadly lacking lately. It would be the perfect opportunity.
Lucien left the classroom with a smile on his face. Not only was he being allowed to go to the park without supervision, he would have most of the house to himself when he returned. He didn’t intend to keep the person in the house; no, they would be tightly bound and kept out in the clearing. He would check on them in the night a couple of times, because it would be easy to slip in and out after bedtime. It was already in his mind that he would make sure the person was fully tranquilized until they met their fate. It wouldn’t do to have them escaping and running to tell someone what had happened.
No, that would be his undoing, and he wouldn’t have it.
His lunch consisted of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and potato chips. Lucien had apple juice with his meal. He basically inhaled the food, eating it all in just a few quick bites. He knew that the servants would report to his mother how much he had eaten. Mother was big on Lucien getting the proper nutrients. He knew he would need his strength, so he ate it all.
When he was finished with his meal he grabbed a light jacket from the hall closet near the courtyard exit, and made his way out to the wooded area. There he prepared one syringe, which he put in the inside pocket of the jacket. He then took in a long breath, drawing the early afternoon air into his lungs. Then he looked in the direction of the park and began walking.
It would be a great day.
∞
Lucien sat on the park bench, his hands in his pockets and his foot kicking at the rocks on the ground. There was really no one visiting the park at all; a couple of adults had walked through, but they took no notice of his presence. A few children were playing, but they were all with adults, and he did not feel like dealing with that kind of hassle.
He had no interest in taking a female. Lately, more and more girls and women caught his eye among the servants. After all, those were the only people he came into contact with. He did know that there was something special about girls, something he seemed almost able to… smell. No, the first person to fall victim to his little scheme of presentation for Isabella would be male. Boy or man, it made no difference to him.
He was supposed to stay only an hour, but as his time drew to a close and he had no luck, he thought he would give it thirty minutes more. Pushing it was no big deal; Mother was gone and if Martin even noticed he would tell Mother he had been in his room and forgot to check in right away when he returned. No sweat.
After another fifteen minutes passed Lucien was just about ready to give up. The children and their grown-ups had all left, and now he sat alone in the playground area. That was when he heard the voice behind him.
“Why are you here alone? Are you waiting on a playmate, or your mother or father?” Lucien turned to find a young man of about twenty standing on the walkway behind him. He had short light brown hair and kind brown eyes with long lashes. Lucien couldn’t tell if he was really nice, or if he was leering at him. For clothing the man wore jeans, a blue button-down shirt, and a pair of white tennis shoes.
Lucien’s sick soul smiled wide inside of him. Perfect.
He pretended to be apprehensive about the man’s presence. “No, I’m just hanging out. Really, I can’t remember what direction to walk in to get back to my house.”
“Oh,” the man replied. “My name is Phillip. Maybe I can help you.”
He slowly approached Lucien while he held his hands up in the air. He was trying to show the boy that he would be safe with him. “Where do you live?”
“I live in the big white house,” Lucien said innocently.
The man’s eyes widened. “You mean the White House? Is your mother our Queen?”
“My mother is Rasia. Do you know her?” Now Lucien was beginning to realize how easy this was really going to be.
Phillip shook his head, but his eyes were alight with excitement. “No, not as of yet, I do not know her personally, but everyone knows who the Queen is. I could get you home safely. Do you think she would have time to meet me today?”
Lucien stood and offered his first smile. “I am sure. She will be pleased that you helped me to get home.” He offered his hand to the stranger, looking as pitiful as he could.
Phillip took Lucien’s hand in his. “No problem, Kiddo.
“Ok,” Lucien said as they began walking in the direction of the house.
Phillip smiled back at him, and the two began the walk to take Lucien home. It was only about a fifteen or twenty minute walk, and Lucien knew they would be there in no time, so he made an effort to engage the man in conversation the whole way. He talked about his studies, and how he hated certain subjects. Phillip related to him in a very friendly manner, and his comfort with Lucien made the boy more excited to subdue him than ever.
They were finally approaching the property when Lucien spoke up. “We do not use the main entrance in the front; I go in the back, by the courtyard.” They began to walk around in the direction of the rear entrance. “Oh,” Lucien continued. “I need to get my backpack from the woods. It’s right over there.” He pointed in the direction, and he and Phillip began to head that way.
Once they were at the clearing Lucien began to act like he did not know where the bag was. He looked around, here and there, under bushes and behind trees. “Would you mind checking under that bush there, Phillip?”
The man bent down and looked. “I see it, Lucien. Here, I will get it for you.” He was nearly on his face on the ground trying to retrieve the bag. That was when Lucien uncapped the syringe and buried it in Phillip’s backside, right through his denim jeans. He pushed the plunger in fast.
Phillip jerked his head up, and all of a sudden his eyes glazed over. “What…?” was the only word that escaped from his mouth. He passed out cold on the dirt and leaves that covered the ground. Lucien smiled. So far, so good.
Now he got the bag out himself and proceeded to tie the man up using th
e strongest knots he had ever learned. He had done a lot of research on the Internet and practiced each and every one. For binding this man he used the Palomar knot, and he was sure to keep the knot on the wrists out of reach of the man’s fingers.
Next he bound the man’s feet, and duct taped him around the mouth and eyes with plenty of tape. Finally, Lucien dragged the man’s limp body and hid it up against the trunk of a big tree, where all view of him was hidden by a broad-leafed bush. He then stood back to observe his work. The man was completely out of sight.
He gathered his bag and began to walk to the house, smiling. The tranquilizer would keep the man out from between four and six hours. It was now nearly two in the afternoon, so he would give him another shot right around five-thirty, right after he ate his dinner.
It couldn’t have gone more smoothly.
Chapter 11
Lucien was humming when he walked into the house, his backpack slung over his shoulder. He wanted to see what the weather was going to be like for the next day, then he planned to pack the bag with the ‘toys’ he and Isabella would need. Finally, he would call her and give her a couple of important directives.
He walked into the family room and found Martin Lamb seated before the television. He was watching some political program which was talking about how the world was in a much better place under the Queen’s leadership.
“Do you know what the weather is going to be like tonight and tomorrow Martin?” Lucien began. “Isabella is going to visit tomorrow, and I am hoping we do not expect rain.”
“Yes, I do,” Lamb replied. “They said sunny and warm. Looks like you’re all set, kiddo.”
Lucien forced a smile and thanked him. He had Martin’s ‘kiddo’, alright. He made his way up to his room where he unpacked the remainder of the tape and rope, then he prepared another syringe full of the tranquilizer before putting all of his things safely out of sight. Next he sat at his desk and dialed Isabella’s number on the telephone.
“Hello,” said Rose Gilliam when she answered.