Chaper 2:
Lex marched down the stairs and opened the front door, a pebble narrowly missing his right knee. The small boy cocked his head and smiled at this bald man with a strange satisfaction. Then he began to smile, briefly betraying a shimmer of red in his eyes. He had raven black hair and smooth features, his skin almost translucent, giving him a look of a porcelain doll. The boy stood up and walked towards Lex, sizing him up with a glance.
"Who are you?" Lex asked. The boy continued to smile, but did not answer. "Where are your parents?"
"They're dead," the boy muttered.
"Where do you live?" Lex stammered, clearly affected by the coldness in this boy's voice. The boy shrugged. "What's your name?"
"Julian."
Julian. That was the name of this man's brother. It's a powerful, authoritative name. Derived from Julius Caesar. "Alexander" is powerful as well, but this nickname he has taken, "Lex," is such a weak, effeminate name. Why he derived such weakness from such a strong background is beyond me. . .
Lex has no idea what he's in for. He's leading me up he stairs now, talking to me like in an infantile tone of voice. But I hold my temper. I must accomplish what I set out to do. . .
He asks me if I want some food. I want tell him no thank you, I haven't eaten in a thousand years, what makes you think I'm starting now, with that slop you call food? But I accept, remembering that these creatures offer food as a kind gesture. I think it's instinct. . .fatten up the prey. . .
I ask him for a drink. The language feels soapy and foreign on my tongue. Such a harsh method of communication. These people don't know the meaning of eloquence or beauty. Barbarians. . .
Lex looked at this strange visitor with curiosity. He filed a report for a found child, and returned to caring for the boy. Julian. The name echoed in his head. He looked like he always imagined Julian would have if fate hadn't been so cruel. Lex was bothered by this, but it gave him a desire to keep the boy as the brother he never had. Although this wasn't possible, Lex knew, he promised to care for the child until he could be taken into a foster home.
"Julian, do you remember where you live?"
"Nope"
"Do you have any relatives?"
"Don't think so"
"OK, well you're gonna stay here for a few days until we find your family, is that ok?"
The boy shrugged.
"My name's Lex"
"Oh,"
Lex was alarmed by the boy's responses. He looked to be all of seven years old, but was surprisingly cold. "Well, I'll be here if you need anything," he responded, before the boy occupied himself a stress ball on Lex's desk.
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