As school is let out for the day, Radian attempts to find a ride home—with absolutely no luck. He has been studying and practicing for his driver's license here in France. Despite his kidnapper's overbearing control of his life and presence, he had, without them knowing, managed to acquire an American driver's license, so he is prepared for the French version. Sighing, he starts his long walk home. Well, he admits to himself, not so long of a walk as one might think at first… I hope…
A half hour later, and slightly winded from his brisk walk along with carrying his heavy book bag, Radian reaches his home. Letting himself in through the gate with a key given to him by his father, Radian sighs in relief at finally being home, and out of sight of the public's eyes. Two large Great Danes and a white Borzoi-Saluki mix run up and greet the slightly overwhelmed Radian. Happily, yet still warily, the white dog gingerly sniffs him as though to make sure the tall young man is really Radian and not some imposter. Despite being just barely less than a year old, she already stands as tall as Radian's hips and the two Great Danes follow her lead when she is let out with them. Of course, the two Danes were neutered, so that might be a factor. The skinny, tall, white mutt is, after all, is one of Radian's pets—and nothing less than his favorite—that he had "rescued" from an animal shelter soon after arriving here, at his true home. But the puppy was not the only dog he adopted at that time, to help him adjust to his new life, looks, and home. Radian himself fairly exudes a strong aura of dominance, and therefore, most animals that he comes into contact with recognize him as their master and superior, if not the alpha animal in the pack or household. Satisfied that Radian is Radian, she jumps up and gives him several sloppy kisses.
"Down, girl, down," he laughs. "It's only been a single school day, I have not been gone all that long!" The snow-white puppy obeys immediately, although she looks slightly out-of-sorts, as if questioning why he did not want her to show him love. The masked seventeen-year-old reaches down and rubs behind her ears. If she were a cat, she would probably—nay, most likely—be purring right now, he thinks to himself. Straightening back up to his full, impressive height, he says to the dog: "Come on, Lis, let's go inside and greet you pal, Ombre, you silly girl."
By the time he reaches the door, the sun is starting to set over the Paris skyline, creating long, deep shadows. Before he opens the door, if anyone would happen to see him there or eve just look outside, one could see a pair of feral, golden-gleaming cat's eyes "floating" in the shadows of the front stoop. The moment is disbanded when Radian opens the door, letting out the light from inside the house. From the smells that he can smell, dinner is almost done, being served, or already over with—but which he cannot tell exactly, for how does one tell such particulars when one does not have a nose to speak of?
Quietly, Radian closes the door, not wanting to attract undue attention for being so late. But it is all in vain and for naught, because his mother, Amellé, seems to have some kind of sixth sense—as all mothers around the world, at least, for the most part, seem to have—and immediately appears in the grand hallway. Her face is a vivid red, flushed with anger, immense irritation, and disgust—and not a single ounce of concern for the welfare or safety of her son. She stands there silently for at least five minutes, or so it seems to poor Radian, fuming all the while. Amellé affects a concerned look when she hears the steady footsteps of her husband approaching. Quickly, so as not to be caught by Lucien, she "whips" him verbally with a nasty tongue-lashing.
"What the Devil were you gone so long for? Someone could have seen you, for Christ's sake! Not to mention seen your face! Go straight to your room. There will be no supper for you for the rest of the week—and I'll make sure of it—or until you learn some common, good old-fashioned sense and not stay out in the public's eye for longer than you absolutely have to!"
Behind the silk mask he has adopted, the remains of Radian's eyebrows—or at least where they used to be—furrow in anger and his eyes narrow dangerously. Radian is usually exceptionally calm and easy going, but since the Change, when he gets angered, he literally sees red. For when Lucien's eldest son is aggravated madness often takes over his mind and dealing with him is like trying to persuade a deadly viper not to bite. His mother had just pushed him to that invisible point, pushing his mind over the edge.
Speaking in a voice barely above a whisper, he hisses, "And what about my face? Does it bother you? Yes, I quite think it does… When I came home, what were you expecting? A perfect son, nearly an adult who hadn't changed since he was a child—is that it? Someone you could be proud of? Or look at without cringing in disgust and horror? Go ahead, Mother, "punish" me. It will not do any good; nor will it change my looks!"
As he speaks, he walks steadily towards his mother, anger and madness combining to make his amber-hued eyes flash and burn with a demonic glow. He reaches out with his boney limb and grasps the woman's throat with a hideous strength that she cannot find in herself to break. His grip, however, does not strangle her, much as he wants to, as she is both a woman and his mother—no matter how much he hates her and she hates him, although, given the chance, she would gladly "off him" as the mafia movies say.
"I know you hate me, mother," Radian spits. "And all because of my face—and body—a thing I had little to no control over. I'm sorry for not being the perfect son you remember, but I am not sorry for what I look like now. So get off your high horse and grow up for once, princess-brat-bitch!"
He releases her and storms off to his room. A few minutes later, an angry, violent and wild melody played upon a violin "screeches" from his room. There is an odd, demented beauty in the music being played. In fact, it sounds almost as if it were some heavy metal song being played on a violin. However, the snatch of music is not a metal song, but is, in fact, an original piece that came to the top of Radian's head—metaphorically speaking, of course—and begged to be played. Over the summer, Radian had picked up the skill to play and master many instruments. He found that he was excellent when it comes to stringed instruments and keyboard-based ones, also. He had mastered the violin first, in only a matter of a few weeks, and when people listen now, they say that young Radian could easily outplay the virtuoso, Paganini.