The grand Usher mansion had always loomed large over everything else. A symbol of wealth, power, and prestige, its walls were steeped in history and secrets, much like the family who lived within it. But tonight, something was different. For the first time in a long time, laughter echoed through the halls, reverberating off the high ceilings and bouncing through the grand rooms. The usual cold, stoic atmosphere of the Usher house had lifted, replaced by something warm and—dare anyone say it—lighthearted.
Roderick Usher stood by the enormous fireplace in the drawing room, a glass of bourbon in hand, watching the rest of his family scatter around, each doing their own thing. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he watched his children interact without the usual drama and tension that seemed to cloud their every gathering. For once, it felt like things were… normal.
Madeline Usher sat regally in one of the plush chairs near the window, sipping from her wine glass as she observed the scene, her sharp eyes flicking from one sibling to the next. She didn't often allow herself to indulge in such family gatherings, but tonight felt like an exception. After all, it wasn't every day that they could all be in the same room without some corporate catastrophe or personal disaster looming over them.
Camille L'Espanaye was in the corner, pacing, as usual, her phone glued to her ear as she juggled business calls and family banter. "Yes, we'll close the deal by Monday," she snapped, before covering the phone and addressing her siblings. "Would it kill you guys to act a little more professional?"
"Lighten up, Camille," Napoleon "Leo" Usher said from across the room, sprawled out on the couch, one leg propped up on the armrest. "You're not at work right now."
"Could've fooled me," Camille shot back, before continuing her call.
Prospero "Perry" Usher, the youngest of the clan, waltzed into the room, all grins and swagger, dressed like he was ready for a night out. "Why are we all gathered like it's a board meeting and not a party? This is supposed to be fun, people!" He dramatically threw his hands in the air as if to summon more excitement from the room.
"Perry, you're going to break something," Tamerlane Usher, his eldest sister, warned, though she wasn't exactly opposed to the idea of her little brother knocking over one of the ancient, ugly vases their father insisted on keeping around.
Frederick Usher, the eldest son, sat beside Tamerlane, looking slightly amused but mostly uninterested in whatever Perry was up to. "Let him. It'll be one less thing for me to deal with."
Victorine LaFourcade, the overachiever and medical genius of the family, sat beside Arthur Pym, Roderick's loyal legal enforcer, who, despite his stoic demeanor, seemed to be amused by the sheer absurdity of the scene in front of him. "Let's not tempt fate, shall we?" Victorine said, her voice gentle but firm. "The last time Perry had too much freedom, we ended up with a fire in the East Wing."
Perry shot her a cheeky grin. "It was a small fire. And for the record, that was not entirely my fault."
"Oh, it was entirely your fault," Tamerlane muttered, swirling her wine.
"I'm alive and I'm breathing, living my best life…"
The lyrics of Demi Lovato's Butterfly played softly from the speakers hidden around the room, adding a whimsical quality to the moment. It was the kind of song that seemed oddly fitting for the night, with its message of transformation and letting go of the past.
"Well, I like it," Roderick said suddenly, breaking his own silence as he raised his glass. "It's been too long since we've all been together without… drama."
"Without public drama," Frederick corrected with a smirk. "We always have drama."
Perry bounced over to his father, grabbing a drink for himself. "True, but for once, I think we're in a good place. Even you, Dad." He raised his glass. "To less drama and more fun!"
"Here, here!" Leo chimed in, lifting his own drink lazily from the couch.
Camille, still on the phone, managed a distracted, "Sure, fine. Fun."
Tamerlane raised an eyebrow. "I'll drink to 'less drama,' but let's be real—we're Ushers. We thrive on drama."
Roderick chuckled, sipping his bourbon. "Maybe. But it doesn't always have to be that way, does it?"
"Doesn't it?" Arthur Pym's deep voice cut through the air as he looked around the room, always the voice of pragmatism. "After all, we've built an empire on that very concept."
"I think," Madeline said from her seat, her voice smooth and contemplative, "what Roderick means is that we can evolve beyond it. The way a butterfly sheds its cocoon."
"Now I'm stronger, I've been waiting for this moment…"
The metaphor wasn't lost on anyone. They had all been trapped in their own cocoons for so long—caught up in the business, the legacy, the pressures of being an Usher. But tonight, they could let go. They could be themselves, just for a little while.
Frederick leaned back in his chair, finally allowing himself to relax. "Maybe that's what we need—a change."
Tamerlane raised an eyebrow, always the skeptic. "You? Wanting change? That's new."
Frederick shrugged. "I didn't say I wanted it. Just that it might be time."
Camille, finishing her call, walked over to the group, clearly amused. "Is this some kind of group therapy session now?"
"Maybe," Victorine said with a smile. "But I think it's long overdue."
Perry bounced over, wrapping an arm around Camille's shoulders. "Come on, sis. Even you've got to admit this is nice. No lawsuits, no scandals. Just… us."
Camille gave him a withering look but didn't pull away. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood, Perry."
"That's the spirit!" he said, laughing.
As the conversation flowed, the tension in the room continued to ease. They all had their differences—sharp ones, in fact—but tonight, they could put that aside. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was the music, or maybe it was the realization that they had been holding on too tightly to their pasts, their grudges, their roles in the family. Whatever it was, something had shifted.
"I feel it deep inside, it's a new day, and I'm not afraid anymore…"
"Who would've thought a Demi Lovato song would sum up our night?" Leo said with a grin, clearly noticing the lyrics too.
Perry twirled around dramatically. "It's a vibe! I'm telling you, the universe is speaking to us."
Tamerlane rolled her eyes. "Or maybe it's just a good song."
"Either way," Roderick said, raising his glass once more, "it feels like a fresh start. For all of us."
Madeline, who had been quiet for most of the night, finally spoke up, her voice clear and decisive. "We've spent years—decades—focused on building our legacy, our empire. And look where it's gotten us. Maybe it's time to focus on something else for once."
Victorine nodded thoughtfully. "Like family?"
Roderick smiled at his daughter. "Like family."
There was a moment of silence as the weight of that word hung in the air. For so long, "family" had meant obligation, power, and responsibility. But now, maybe, just maybe, it could mean something more. Something lighter. Something better.
"Well," Frederick said, standing up and stretching, "if we're all being sentimental, we might as well do it with another round of drinks."
"I'll drink to that!" Perry cheered, grabbing a bottle from the bar.
As the night went on, the laughter grew louder, the banter sharper, but the mood remained light. For the first time in years, the Ushers were just a family—not a dynasty, not an empire, not a brand. Just a group of siblings, a father, and an aunt, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
And for once, Roderick thought, maybe things didn't always have to be so serious. Maybe they could embrace the changes, the evolution, the transformation—just like a butterfly.
Because even in the midst of their chaotic, dramatic, and often absurd lives, they were still human. And tonight, they were happy.
