The rain continued to pour, soaking the grounds of the manor as the hours ticked by. Lucius stood by the window in the library as he watched the storm, his fingers tapping nervously on the bottom of the frame. The family cemetery lay just at the edge of the wood and from his vantage point he could see it clearly. A figure stood out there. Even with the fog and sheets of rain, Lucius knew who it was. He knew the ragged clothing, the heavy stance with the limp leg. He knew the ghoul that was his father was out there in the cemetery. Watching him.

Lucius' breath rushed out of him, a wave of cold dread slipping its icy fingers around his spine, his fingers tapping more erratically against the wooden sill. Suppressing a shiver, he pushed away from the window and quickly left the library. The clock in the hall was chiming, meaning it was time for him to meet Tabitha in the dining hall for their first dinner together. The knot in his chest eased a little when he thought of their earlier interactions. Despite his worries that this was going to be an awful time for both parties, there seemed to have been something between them. If not romantic, perhaps they could at least be friends. Even if she hated him though, at least he wouldn't be alone.

With a small spark of hope, he entered the dining room. Still, anxiety bloomed in his chest. The long, dark table, decorated with an emerald runner and several candelabras, seemed like an altar, the firelight that was meant to comfort twisted the shadows, making them slither over the wood. For a moment, a memory flashed through his vision. Bodies, twisted and contorted, hovering just off the dark wood. A snake's maw, widening in hunger. His shoulders bunched and for a fleeting moment, he wanted nothing more than to set the table on fire. Watch it burn until on smoldering embers remained.

He blinked and the vision was gone as if it were never there. The fireplace and candles giving it a warm, welcoming glow. His mind swirled as it usually did when these visions of the past would assault him, making bile rise in his throat. Lucius made a mental note to get rid of the furniture as soon as he could. Perhaps, Tabitha would come along with him to pick out another one. His fingers twisted at one of his cufflinks, seeking some way to relieve the nervousness that had clung to him so persistently these past few months.

When footsteps echoed through the hall and into the dining room, Lucius stood, making his way to the door so he could greet her. The corners of his lips curved, a phantom of its own, as she stepped into the room. Her new outfit was dark, almost somber, and she had an almost grim look to her features. Had something happened? She had seemed…. different earlier, a tentative enthusiasm. That ghost of hope he felt earlier withered as he saw her now- her posture stiff and gaze cast onto the marble flooring. Had he been wrong? Had he only seen what he'd wanted to see?

"Is everything alright?" he asked, his brow furrowing slightly as she avoided his gaze. Lucius moved to take a step forward but stopped when he saw her step back, green eyes flashing to his for only a moment. Instead, he locked his hands behind his back and flattened his lips. Disappointment flickered across his face before it hardened into his usual mask of calm indifference.

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm sorry I'm a little late, SIr. "

Lucius grimaced.

"Lucius."

"Pardon?"

"You're to call me Lucius," he repeated, his tone a bit too sharp. Bitterness coated his tongue as he turned from her. "I thought we had already established this." His voice faltered, nearly betraying the cold mask that had slipped so easily over his features. Tabitha's eyes shot to him, her mouth opening as if she wished to say something before snapping shut.

She almost seemed to shrink from him more, her hands clasped tightly, something passing over her face. Fear? Whatever it was, it chewed viciously at the small flame of hope that Lucius was somehow still holding onto, threatening to snuff it out entirely.

The two moved to take their seats at the table, each at the opposite end. The dinner was a silent affair. No matter how much Lucius tried to make conversation, she would give him short polite answers that were irritating him more with each word. What had changed?

"Have I done something, Tabitha?" He finally asked, putting down the fork he'd been using to push around his food. Across the table, the blonde jumps slightly, having been previously lost in thought. She leaned to the side, looking past the large candelabras to answer Lucius, a look of sheepish guilt on her face.

"No! No, Lucius you've been…very kind to me. I just…" the words trailed off as she looked down at the table, worrying at her bottom lip with her teeth. "I'm just awkward sometimes."

Lucius' eyes narrowed as he scanned her features. He had only known her a few hours so it was hard to tell if she was lying or not. Except, she still had a look of guilt on her face like it wasn't quite the truth.

"This situation isn't easy for either of us. Arranged marriages are still common over here but I imagine you had other dreams for your future. I want this to be as comfortable for us as possible so if there's a problem, you need to tell me so I can find a solution." Lucius' voice carried down the table, echoing through the large room. Tabitha met his eyes for a moment before darting off. When she looked back at him, her face had fallen.

"Before dinner, I'd called my family to let them know I was here and well, my father is just worried because you…" those green eyes went wide as she swallowed, his eyes trailing the movement. Lucius stood and moved around the table, walking slowly to her end and unbuttoning his cufflink as he went.

"Because of what Tabitha? I'm not a mind reader; you'll have to use your words," he said as he reached her, sitting on the edge of the table, silver eyes staring down at her. His fingers worked at freeing his cuff before sliding the sleeve up, exposing strong forearm and a mark. A mark of a Death Eater. He could see the blonde pale visibly as those large eyes landed on it.

"Death Eater," she breathed out, voice barely audible. A silent rage built inside Lucius. Had Jensen done this? Had he frightened his daughter purposefully to make her shut Lucius out? How selfish of him. Lucius sneered.

"Your father likes to express his opinions and views on people without knowing all the variables," he spat, voice low and quiet, "but I can assure you, my dear, that I'm no longer a Death Eater. It's something that ruined my life, my marriage and nearly killed my son. I'd appreciate if you'd ask me these things before forming an opinion of me."

Lucius stood up swiftly, his face tight with anger. But just as quickly, he forced himself to pause. He'd been too harsh; he could see it in the way she leaned away from him. It wasn't Tabitha's fault that her father had poisoned her mind with fears. Lucius should have anticipated Jensen's interference. He turned back to her, softening his expression, though the tightness in his chest remained.

"Tabitha," he began, his voice calmer now, "I'm sorry if I've frightened you. I understand why you'd be cautious around me. My past... it's something I'll never escape, not something I am proud of." He looked down at the mark on his arm, a reminder of choices that haunted him.

Tabitha sat there quietly, her green eyes betraying the emotions that passed over her. Shame, guilt?

"I'm not... I didn't mean to upset you," she murmured, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to meet his gaze. "It's just...my father was, is, worried about me. I've never been this far away and he's worried that we won't get along, is all."

Lucius sighed. "How could we if he tries to put a pre-built image of me into your head before we even met? You and I—this is our story now. We have to decide how it's written."

She stilled, a look of hope passing over her features before Lucius reached out, gently grasping one of those burnished curls between his fingers. Could it really be that simple? Could they start anew, despite everything?

"You have nothing to fear from me, Tabitha," Lucius continued, a touch of earnestness slipping through his otherwise cool demeanor. "Whatever Jensen told you, I'm not that man anymore. I want this to work. I need this to work. And I want us to be... comfortable, at the very least. This place can be dark, frightening. It's easier when there is someone that you can rely on. I'd like to be that for you."

Tabitha looked up at him, searching his light eyes for any sign of deception. All she saw was a man trying to rebuild his life from the ashes, a man that looked so very haunted. She knew that fear, that desire to hide parts of oneself, hoping to be accepted despite it all.

"I... I believe you," she whispered, more to herself than to him. Her eyes darted to the strand of hair, the curl having wrapped neatly around his finger.

Lucius nodded, relief flickering in his silver eyes. "Tabitha, if you ever struggle with anything while here, whatever it is, you can tell me. I've seen and done terrible things, but I'm not here to judge you. We're in this together, are we not?" His eyes flickered from her curl on his finger, to her eyes. "Partners, in a sense?"

Tabitha swallowed hard, mind racing. Should she tell him? Could she trust him with her secret, knowing that it could mean her life? But as she looked into his eyes, she saw a man who, despite his past, was trying to be better. Maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to trust him—at least with this one step.

"Thank you, Lucius. I…appreciate it," she finally said, her voice trembling slightly. "I really do."

Lucius nodded, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Then we'll take it one step at a time. Together."