Star-crossed double-cross 28

Chapter 28 – The aftermath

Giving Lucian an awkward smile, Nancy placed two bowls on the kitchen table before taking up an empty seat to his right. It was a frosty atmosphere over breakfast that morning, with neither friend knowing quite what to say to the other. Avoiding eye contact, Lucian scooped a spoon full of granola into his mouth, feeling embarrassed to be sitting there while wearing Nancy’s pyjamas. Meanwhile, Nancy just stared at her friend, still in shock from the drastic changes to his appearance.

“Are you really just going to sit there in silence?” Nancy questioned, sounding annoyed. “Seeing how tired you looked last night, I let you sleep, but if I’m going to help you, I think I’m at least owed an explanation.”

Placing down his spoon,” Lucian lifted his head and looked his friend in the eyes. “What do you want to know?” he replied while slowly nodding his head.

“Well, how about starting with why you look like the spitting image of Bianca Cabello,” Nancy stated, raising an eyebrow.

Starting at the beginning, Lucian spent the next thirty minutes telling Nancy his story, having to stop more than once to answer her questions. When he finished, the kitchen fell into a hushed silence, the only sound to be heard, being the dripping of the sink faucet.

After ten seconds, Lucan couldn't take it anymore. “You don’t believe me?” he blurted out, feeling very vulnerable.

“No, I do,” Nancy shot back, reaching over to take a hold of his long-nailed hand. “You’re an honest person, and that story's too crazy to make up. It’s just a lot to take in, that’s all.”

“Yeah, tell me about it,” Lucian replied, smiling. “Imagine having to live through it.” The little joke broke the tension in the room, making the pair chuckle.

Standing up, Nancy stepped forward and hugged Lucian tightly. “Everything’s going to be ok,” she said sweetly before kissing him on the cheek. “After breakfast, we’ll head over to your place and find you something to wear. You’ll soon be yourself again.”

Snorting, Lucian pulled back. “Nancy!" he stated, looking deadly serious. "I can’t go back to my old self. Have you seen my body? None of my old clothes will fit, and even if they did. They’ll send people to look for me. I need a disguise and somewhere to hide out for a while.”

“You can’t be serious? They’ll come after you?” Nancy said, sounding shocked. “Lucian! If that’s the case, we need to call the police.”

“I will,” he replied, squeezing her hand. “But, later. First, I want to see mom.”

“Ok,” Nancy replied, patting her friend’s knee. “If you don’t mind looking like a girl for a little longer, I guess you can borrow some of my clothes.”

“That’s fine,” Lucian replied, forcing a smile onto his plump lips, not sure how to tell Nancy that if they were to strip down naked, to an onlooker, he would appear just as feminine as her!

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Catching a glimpse of his reflection in a mirror on the wall, Lucian stopped dead on his cork-wedge heels. The image he now faced was a scary one. It wasn't Bianca Cabello or Lucian Styles, but some hybrid of the two.

Hearing his tight leggings creak, Lucian swivelled to examine his new look further. It felt strange to have short hair again after so long, but even more bizarre, part of him hated how ugly it looked. Reminding himself that the dye job and cut were the best Nancy could do given such short notice, he tried to suppress his feelings of remorse.

Missing his long hair was an unexpected feeling, but one thing was for sure, he was definitely glad to be rid of his claws. Clipped down and painted black, he once again had the full use of his hands, an almost indescribable feeling after being hampered by long acrylics for months on end.

Reaching down, Lucian massaged his sore chest through Nancy’s denim shirt and let out a little moan.

Strapping down his breasts and then having to cope with the uncomfortableness that came with it had felt necessary at the time, but looking at himself now, he wasn’t so sure. The plan was to help him blend in, but with his pouty lips, sculptured brows, and thick lashes, he was still attracting a lot of attention.

“Ehem… Can I help you, Miss,” sounded out a voice, making Lucian jump. Quickly releasing his chest and spinning around, the startled former boy came face to face with a rather stern-looking nurse.

(See image 28.1)

“Err… sorry. Yes. I’m here to see Sarah Styles. Do you know where I can find her?”

The nurse paused for a moment to look Lucian up and down. “Are you a relative? How do know Mrs Styles?”

“Yes, I’m her son,” Lucian blurted out before catching himself as the nurse gave him an extremely strange look. He faked a cough. “Ahem... her son’s girlfriend.”

“I see,” the nurse replied while squinting her eyes. “Well, I’m sorry, but Mrs Styles is in a critical condition. Only immediate family are allowed into the ICU. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Feeling tears well up in the corners of his eyes, Lucian teetered a few steps closer on his towering wedge sandals. “Please, her son Lucian can’t make it at the moment, but I’ve known Mrs Styles all my life. She’s the only family I have. Can I please just see her for a second? Just to see if she’s, ok?”

Breathing out through her nose, the nurse paused for a moment to look around before taking pity on the sad creature in front of her. “Ok, but only for a few minutes, and through the window. My name is Katie. What's yours?”

“Thank you, Katie Thank you so much,” Lucian said as a tear rolled down his cheek. “My name is Luci…” He added before again catching himself.

“Ok, Lucy, come with me,” nurse Katie said in a softer voice. “But I have to warn you, Mrs Styles is very Ill. She’s in an induced coma and on life support. I’m warning you now that all the machines can be a little overwhelming for some people.”

Led down the corridor and through a couple of double doors, Lucian discovered just how right nurse Katie had been. There through the glass, lay what was left of his mother. A thin skeletal figure with wire and tubes sprouting out everywhere he looked.

Unable to control his emotions any longer, Lucian began to bawl his eyes out. Falling into the nurse’s welcoming arms, he felt his shiny black legs wobble atop his ramped feet. Held up by nurse Katie, a host of emotions flooded through him. Guilt for leaving his mother. Stupidity for believing the record company would help him. But most of all, anger for what they had done to him.

Feeling as if he was about to explode with rage, at that moment, Lucian suddenly knew what he needed to do. From that moment on, he would do everything in his power to wreak his vengeance on Synco entertainment. Vowing not to stop until he destroyed them, just as they had done to his life!