Disclaimer: I do not own The Mortal Instruments, either the book or the artefacts themselves.
Warnings: Rated for later chapters, this chapter is T
False Idol
Chapter 4
Valentine's room was austere by design rather than necessity. The furniture was of superb quality dark wood, but it lacked any sort of embellishment or comfort. Even the wide mattress was rock hard. However this supposedly humble simplicity held a hard edge of ruthless pride.
It was a matter of denying weakness. It gave Valentine a warm sense of superiority. While many students tried to evoke a feeling of home in their rooms, during training he stripped away comfort, layer by layer, until his strength was honed. However, he didn't despise the weakness in others. Instead he chose to be pleased by it. After all, it would make his own ambitions more attainable.
Valentine sat at his desk, thinking. It was a common pastime for him. One graceful hand was idly drumming the polished surface of the wood, his other placed on the unyielding armrest of his chair.
Lucian Graymark. He twisted the name around in his head, observing it from different angles. His thoughts were turning as wheels inside wheels.
Lucian Graymark. He had made remarkable progress under his tutelage. This was expected. The debt was already being fulfilled as each day Lucian bound himself more closely to his teacher.
Valentine could see it in the looks of helpless awe and adoration. When the time came for him to reveal his ideas concerning the future of the Nephilim, he knew that he could be sure of Lucian's support. He and many like him, the forgotten, the fearful and the unremarkable looked to him for guidance. He cultivated these…friendships closely.
No, there was no problem there. The reason for Valentine's musings derived from the other sort of looks that he saw on Lucian's face. His student clearly wanted something more than simple friendship. If those guilty blushes were anything to go by, it was likely that he realised this and was probably ashamed.
Valentine already had his eye on Jocelyn. Not in any romantic sense, he thought with a wry twist of his well-shaped lips. She was an exceptional Shadowhunter, a natural, if you will. She was good breeding stock and would produce fine children when coupled with him. He did feel genuine desire for her, but that was secondary.
Valentine did not really distinguish between the genders. People were either useful or not, potential allies or potential obstacles. He knew that some people agonised over this sort of thing and was willing to wager that Lucian was just such an individual.
Because of this, he knew that if he did not initiate anything then neither would his pupil. Like most things in his life, it was entirely up to him. That left the question of whether he wanted to start something.
The tempo of his drumming fingers increased. Lucian clearly had feelings towards his choice of mate, Jocelyn. That could create problems if it wasn't dealt with. If he contrived an intimate relationship with Lucian first, then that could reduce the impact of his seduction of Jocelyn later. Lucian would then see it as Valentine doing his duty to his cause of increasing the Shadowhunter ranks, which it was.
The closer he became to Lucian the less likely his student was to feel jealous. Valentine knew all about the destructive nature of emotions. It was better to work to prevent it now than have to deal with the consequences later.
Valentine didn't even consider the possibility of either Shadowhunter refusing him. While he always factored in as many variables as possible, it was nonsensical to consider that eventuality. That sort of thing just didn't happen. He could project whatever his target wanted to see. In fact they usually did that all by themselves. That was something he had learned quite early. People saw what they wanted to see and they always wanted to see something inspiring.
Valentine's fingers stilled. He needed someone close to him when he finally begun putting things in motion. He needed someone he could trust, someone who would be utterly loyal, a right hand.
Lucian was already a prime candidate. His skills were increasing rapidly and he practically worshiped his teacher. Valentine gave a rueful smile. To tie Lucian to him through the bed….that thought had definite merits. That sort of relationship could even cloud judgement if used correctly, if necessary.
The only conceivable problem would be if Lucian's emotional investment made him irrational. Valentine had seen this happen in intimate relationships. Two perfectly sensible individuals suddenly became completely unreasonable whenever sex was involved. It was madness. While Valentine was certainly not adverse to pleasure, he did not believe in letting it control him. That was something that happened to other people, idiotic people.
Valentine stretched elegantly. It would be pleasant to share Lucian's bed. Lucian was rather attractive, with his dark hair and clear, blue eyes. Also his pupil would likely give Valentine whatever he wanted. Restraint wasn't an issue either. Valentine only felt a certain level of hatred for demons and their various incarnations and a level of contempt for mortals. He wouldn't do anything that might cause Lucian to become disillusioned.
The only foreseeable difficulty lay with convincing Lucian that he was worthy. That might prove challenging, considering that no one was truly his equal. Baring the Angels and God of course, he added as an afterthought. But equality wasn't that important in these matters. While such things seemed to mean something to other people in physical relationships, they held little importance to him.
Well that settled things. Lucian would become his most trusted companion and he now had the means to ensure that. Smiling happily to himself, Valentine rose and padded towards his door. It was time to visit Lucian Graymark.