Prologue: Hadrian James Cruor
'Italics'-thoughts
"-and they lived happily ever after." A young woman finished to a mass of children. In the dimly lit room with peeling wallpaper, one child was missing from the gathering. A black-haired boy scanning a thick text, was hidden in a corner by the ever-lengthening shadows casted on the wall by the flickering candles.
"Fairytales," the little boy scoffed, turning back to his book on snakes. "Will get you nowhere in life." Continuing to read his book, the boy was undisturbed by the children who seemed to keep a wide berth around him. The boy remaining so immersed in the tattered book didn't realize that while he was reading about the poisonous Black Mamba, an elderly woman had joined him in the shadows.
"Hadrian," the woman said sharply, "why are you not with the other children listening to Ms. Meyers's story?"
The boy now known as Hadrian, hid his scowl behind the book. Quickly plastering on a sheepish smile, he faced the woman with an innocent expression.
"Sorry Mrs. Anders, I wanted to read this book about animals without disturbing the others." Hadrian said politely.
"Even though that is a considerate thing to do," Mrs. Anders sniffed "Ms. Meyers did not take off time from her work for nothing. Times are hard now, as I'm sure you know."
Quickly nodding his head, Hadrian replied "Of course Mrs. Anders, I'll go join the others now."
"See to that you do Mr. Cruor." And with that being said, the woman twirled around and swept off to go bother another child.
Sneering at her turned back, Hadrian gently folded the page he was reading. Slowly getting to his feet, he brushed off the filth on his worn pants and faced the little gathering sitting on the dirty rug in the middle of the room.
Curling his lip at the children who were so in awe of the woman telling another fairytale of a world filled with dragons, magic, and shining knights in armor, he surveyed the only available spot in the back.
It's disgusting how attached they are to those myths, but it's funny how only a story can transform them so much. Such a change from how they act in the morning, I have lost count of how many bruises I have gotten from their so called "help to beat the 'freak' out of me". The bruises could have been prevented if that pathetic excuse for a human, Mrs. Anders, would stop wasting money on the alcohol she claims she doesn't buy and instead use it to hire actually competent caretakers.
Frowning at how ignorant the caretakers were, he quickly sat down on the rug with all the others. Ignoring how some scrambled to get away from him, too used to the treatment to care. It's a vast improvement from last week, however. They finally got the message that they're beneath him, that he rules them like the servants they truly are. He smirked at how he finally got them to comply, nothing what a few nightmares and broken bones can't fix.
Yes, he mused, some would call him heartless but can you really blame him, they had it coming to them. Ever since he was dumped on this retched orphanage's steps when he was five, he was reminded of how unwanted he was by all the other children. They all thought he was the Devil's son, since he was different, special unlike them. Forced to go to school with the other children, Hadrian James Cruor was found to be a genius. 'Simply brilliant!' some of the teachers would say. With his stunning intelligence and handsome looks, he had the all the adults wrapped around his little fingers. Though that wasn't the reason why the children hated him, no, Hadrian could always do things nobody could explain. He could make the weather change with only his will, and he could summon a book to him from across the room. The "special thing" as all the children called the strange happenings, was not to be trifled with, for more than one child has experienced the pain that Hadrian could exert on them with the just one look from those cold emerald eyes.
Pulling out of the fond memories of his retributions on his tormentors, Hadrian prepared himself for an hour of disgustingly detailed passages of fair maidens trapped in towers, waiting for a handsome prince to come save her. Paired with the children squealing at every scene of kissing, it seemed like he was in a Hell of his own making. He would rule this Hell though, after all isn't it better 'to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven'.
Did you like it? I know it's short, but this is just the prologue. The next chapter should be up soon if you liked it. I promise that it'll get better, just bear with me!
tandhale