Lockwood Hall: Shattered Glass

Authors' Note: C and D both worked together to write this story. These are original characters with original plotlines. The dashes mark different replies-don't mind them as far as story-reading goes. Romance to come soon-second chapter will be uploaded shortly.
PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW. We'd like your comments and input! Please be respectful and polite. Thank you all!

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Chapter 1
The Glass Swan

Ever since he was first brought to Lockwood Hall at the age of five by his mother, Lucas had known that he was to stay out of sight of the nobles and about any other of the manor servants unless they had business with him. Even before he could do any work or errands it had been a common rule and one that he had followed to the letter for nearly eleven years now. As long as he had a warm place to stay, clothes to cover him, and food and water to keep him satisfied, he had been happy to be as unobtrusive as a mouse scurrying through the stone walls. He never would have thought that his streak would have been broken so quickly and violently by a mere accident that occurred one perfect Thursday evening just as the weather started to cool and Lady Lockwood's dinner party was about to get under way. Lucas had been toiling in the sun, running small errands, and helping the regular servants set up the grounds for one of the Lady's regular dinner parties that she hosted for some of her closer friends.

It hadn't been much different from any other time save for the fact that the sun seemed to beat down on them almost relentlessly and with very little relief from shade. Therefore it wasn't all surprising that the second Lucas had gotten into the house he had nearly collapsed from the heat, his cheeks flushed and sweat causing his already dirty cloths (a white billowing shirt, brown vest, and pants) and unwashed hair (so light that it almost appeared white instead of blonde) to cling to him with an uncomfortable itchiness. He had been looking forward to a short rest before continuing with his day's work, but as luck would have it not two steps short of the kitchen he was stopped by the housekeeper, who had just happened to pass by, a grave look on her features. She always organized these little parties, though you need not live in the house to see the strain on her face as a result of it.

"You, there." She spoke with a pointed look about her, grabbing Lucas' hands the second she rested eyes on him and wiping them off with a rag before shoving something very small and very delicate into them, covered in a light blue silk cloth. The boy looked down to see a small glass swan with black-jeweled eyes staring up at him from the palm of his cupped hands. "This has just arrived a few moments ago. Take it up to Miss Raith to give to our Lady and do be careful! The Mistress has been looking forward to showing off this new piece her husband bought for there anniversary, and if something happens to it, they'll have your head in a sack! I'd take care of the matter myself, but my hands are tied. Now, get!"

The interaction lasted for only the briefest of moments before the errand boy found himself shoved towards the stairs that lead to the master bedrooms.

Lucas was surprised that he would be entrusted with such a small and delicate piece like the swan but guessed that, with all the other servants' hands tied, the worried housekeeper had, had no choice but to give it to Lucas. No matter. Quickly he would make his way from the stairs into the gallery hallway down which were the bedrooms of the Lord and Lady of the mansion. Few times had Lucas been allowed into the upper levels of the home, so as he was walking he was taking in every intricate detail of the hall-noticing the pattern in the wood, the pictures hanging in their frames, the rich colors of the wall and carpet. In fact, he had been so absorbed in his musings that he had noticed himself swerving slightly as he made his way through the hall, an effect of being out in the heat all day.

Lord Lockwood and his two sons-the eldest, Pierson (also known as Piper by his close friends), and the younger of the two brothers, Julian, had been heading up the main staircase and were making their way down that hall just as Lucas had almost reached the corner.

Lord Demetrius Lockwood had been speaking with his sons about heading out for a short ride, while their mother hosted her party, not wanting to get involved once more with all the dull womanly chatter that usually took place. He had just been telling them of a few new horses he had bought for what he thought was a fair deal, wanting to break them in during this ride, when he had turned the corner just as Lucas had been going straight down the hall. The gallery hall was massive, and normally there would have been enough room that the likelihood of the two bumping into each other would have been impossible unless one of them had intended it, but with all of his dizziness and swerving, not to mention his distraction with the sights around him, Lucas had moved to stick close to the wall only to drift away from it when he saw the corner-the exact corner that Demetrius had just rounded.

For a second a louder, gruffer, grunt that came from the lord of the house as the much smaller servant boy ran into him full force falling to the floor with an audible squeak. As if it wasn't bad enough that Lucas had just run into the master of the house, the impact with the ground caused him to lose his slight hold on the glass swan, which fell to the floor, shattering instantly. Then ensued a dead silence in which neither party spoke, Lucas staring down in wide-eyed, open-mouthed horror at the small glass shards that were once Lady Lockwood's pride and joy. Demetrius stared down at the boy in pure fury.

-

Julian had been listening to his father's ramblings with great boredom--the word 'listening' employed lightly, for in fact his mind wandered aimlessly through the corridors, following the echoes of their footsteps until Demetrius' voice and Piper's remarks became buzzing drones of vague sound. Lady Vivian Lockwood was hosting another gay old gala to which a gaggle of grandmothers would escort prudent young nieces in hopes of attracting the attention of one of the wealthy Lockwood boys. Julian had fully intended to visit a friend out in the country, but neither his father nor mother would hear a word of it. Father wanted Julian to help break in the new horses (a task that the youngest son did not want and of course would never accomplish according to the highly critical Demetrius' tastes), and dear old Mother wanted to show him off to beak-nosed great-mamas and their vapid, waspish progeny, many of whom gathered around him like moths to a flame.

He dearly wished the fates had been kinder and endowed his brother Piper with the handsomer features of the two. Truly his brother was equally attractive-even more so in a smoother, more refined way-but he lacked the roguish, romantic appeal that Julian quite accidentally imposed on most females from age nine to ninety. "It's my damnable name, so feminine!" he frequently joked, but of course the real origin of his 'troubles' were his bronzed, beautiful skin; slightly sinister piercing eyes as black as tar; locks of thick dark hair that curled naturally; and a supreme physique. He supposed one could call him a sportsman, for Julian was quite fond of hunting.

Can't see the sense in chasing the poor creatures half to Shire and back, his mother had commented many times. One thing could be said for his dear, silly, kind-hearted but stupid mother; she loved animals with a passion, as exhibited by her extensive glass collection. She took pride in every gleaming beast and each glittering jeweled eye.

And here, in the midst of grand parties and prancing stallions, the most prized piece of all had been shattered: a delicate swan bestowed upon his mother for their anniversary two weeks back--a precious and treasured gift, for Demetrius rarely gave anything to any of them, much less Lady Vivian.

Julian knew it would only be a matter of time before his father exploded furiously. He gazed curiously at the boy who had caused such an upset and decided to wait for the coming storm before attempting to shield the hapless wraith from destruction. Poor little beggar. He'd be lucky to survive Demetrius' wrath.

-

A few more moments passed in which Lucas stared dumbfounded at the glass swan, his veins running cold stopping his blood instantly. He couldn't even fathom the sort of trouble he had gotten himself into and didn't even bother to look up and see the fury in the Lord's eyes as the long awaited explosion finally occurred. At first the man's garbled screaming and cursing sounded like he was trying to damn Lucas to the deepest parts of hell. The servant didn't even have to recognize half the words to know that he was being called every nasty name in the book, something that he endured with his head bowed and his body scrunched tightly as if he were trying to fold into himself. That was, of course, until Demetrius became physically violent, grabbing Lucas by his hair and yanking him up to his feet.

"Do you have any idea of what you've just done?! Of course you don't!! A cur like you would be too stupid to know how valuable and priceless an item like that was!! Worthless bastard child!! I should have never taken you into this house! I knew you were going to be trouble! I should throw you out on the streets right now and let you starve in the gutters!"

Of course the man had no idea who Lucas really was, or how he came to live at the castle, but it really didn't matter. He threw the boy back down, sending him back first onto the glass that covered the floor. Lucas only flinched, tears stinging his eyes, as the pieces cut through his flimsy wool shirt and vest, digging into the skin on his back, arms, and hands. It felt like his entire body was on fire from the shards, but he didn't dare move or cry out. He didn't dare try to run away or defend himself as Demetrius continued his rampage, turning around sharply to strike another blow at Lucas.

-

But just as the man pulled his hand back again, a grip as hard as iron and as strong as a vice caught his wrist, holding it back. In one swift movement Julian had stepped forward to stop Demetrius from causing the boy any more damage than had already been inflicted. When he spoke, his words were sharp, smooth, and overall very calm. They held an unintentional note of command, which would be sure to rile the man further. "Father, do not strike this boy again."

Even as he spoke, the nobleman's son gazed over his father's shoulder down at the servant, regarding him with sympathy, though one wouldn't know it, for the look in his eyes was almost predatory. Those well acquainted with Julian could recognize that sinister edge as something in fact protective and righteous, steadfast, determined to up
hold what seemed just--but any stranger might take it to be an unfriendly gesture. "Think, father. Should not the servant who placed this youth in charge of such a delicate piece undergo your judgment rather than a poor waif merely obeying orders? Children are clumsy. Besides which, he could have run off with it had he been dishonest, which most boys are. Punish the man or woman who caused this tragedy, not one of the victims of it."

-

Quickly the father directed his rage toward his son and probably would have struck him if not for the fact that Pierson was standing right behind his brother with his brow furrowed in a look that said he was ready to step in if necessary to prevent the oncoming fight. "Do not tell me how to handle my servants!" Demetrius yelled, though some of the wind had been knocked out of him by the look in his youngest son's eyes. "I have every intention of punishing the one who gave him that present in the first place, but that does not excuse him for being so careless when entrusted with something so valuable!! Not to mention not even having the common sense to pay attention to where he was going! He deserves his punishment for simply being careless enough to run into me in the first place!!"

"Father," Pierson suddenly spoke up before the argument could continue between the two of them knowing it might escalate into a full-blown fight if left to its own devices. "While I agree he should have been more careful to watch his steps, I think Julian has a good point. The servant's just a boy and should have never been given something so delicate in the first place. Besides, I'm sure under normal circumstances he wouldn't have bumped into you. He was probably just nervous and trying to hard to watch his step so as not to break the swan, which is why he didn't see you. It's not every day that an errand boy is entrusted with something so precious."

At his eldest son's words the Lord seemed to calm down considerably, though brooding fury still darkened his harsh gaze. "Fine!" He turned on the boy. "Who gave you those orders?!" he snapped, causing the boy to flinch. When the servant said nothing, obviously shaking despite his best efforts not to, the Lord lost his temper again. "I said tell me!"

"I-i-i-it was the hou-housemaid, sir...." he finally stuttered in a small voice, causing the Lord to frown, though he accepted the answer.

"Why am I not surprised? Julian, since you seem to care so much for the little rat, you can be the one to make sure he cleans up this mess."

-

Julian flinched almost imperceptibly when his father turned on him, even though he knew Piper's presence would save him from any violent sort of confrontation. Yet as soon as Demetrius began yelling at the poor terrified servant boy, the youngest male Lockwood felt a surge of empathy and protection rise within him. Julian stepped defiantly in front of his father, meeting his gaze directly no matter how much he knew it would cost him in the next private encounter he had with Demetrius. He lifted his chin and pushed his shoulders back, glaring down at the noble, though short, lord of Lockwood. Standing in the beautiful burgundy coat with its high, stiff collar, elegant white cravat, and tight cream slacks, Julian looked positively dashing and the very picture of a contemporary romantic hero. "Father, I have every right to protect my new valet. I wish to replace Eric. If you cause harm to this boy, then I will have to trouble myself finding another replacement, and I don't have time for such ghastly business."

Despite the display of courage in facing the man who so hated him and controlled every aspect of his life, Julian internally felt like a yellow-bellied coward. Had he a tail it would have curled between his legs. As things were his dark gaze had moved to look beyond his father rather than at him. He released a soft breath, wondering at the reaction his impudence would illicit.

-

"How dare you!" the father snapped, forgetting his eldest son's presence as he slapped Julian hard across the face. Piper shot a glare but made no move to help his brother just yet. He knew how his father could get, and if he weren't careful he would just make things worse for Julian later when no one else was around. The eldest son was not completely ignorant of the...rocky relationship Demetrius and Julian shared. "For one, you are not to make such a decision yourself, especially since we're talking about my servants! For another, it would never do to have such a scraggly little runt as your valet, though I do admit the two of you seem to share the same cowardice."

As he spoke, Lord Lockwood glared at the boy, who was now trembling violently not just from fear of the Lord's temper, but it was obvious that he was starting to suffer the massive damage he had taken from the glass. Blood had even started to stain his hair by seeping through the fabric. "There is nothing wrong with Eric. He is a fine valet and has done his job very well over the past years. He has far more experience and manners then any mere errand boy."

-

"He is conceited and disobedient," Julian hissed through his teeth, staring at the floor, hair disheveled from the hard slap. But he had begun to lose the vigor with which he defended the servant boy, and had he not seen blood on some of the glass, he probably would have stood idly as Lockwood punished his unfortunate quarry. Instead, driven by the urgency of compassion, he turned toward the youth and scooped him up in his arms. It was quite unseemly for a nobleman to help a servant in such a way. Even Piper would disapprove of Julian's brashness. "If you want to avoid an upset, you'll make haste to town to select another swan for mama. She'll be so disappointed, though perhaps if you'd ever offered her anything more lasting than fragile glass, it need not have come to this." Without another word, Julian marched round the corner and down the hall, heading straight for his own bedroom where he could tend to yet another victim of Lord Lockwood's wrath.

-

Lucas froze up the moment he registered the gravity of the events taking place. On of the nobles, the Lord's son no less, was carrying him down the hallway towards what he could only assume were his quarters. After having answered his master the boy had started to black out and therefore wasn't truly paying attention to the conversation. He had completely missed the part about becoming Julian's valet. For a moment he even squeaked out what might have been a protest, but was drowned out by his overall panic making him unable to properly speak on resign himself to his fate. Who knew-maybe he was being carried off to his punishment for breaking that swan. Everyone had certainly seemed angry enough about it with all the yelling that had been going on, the thought that they were fighting over him having never crossed his mind.

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Julian didn't have time to tend to the bleeding servant. Unfortunately his mother's party was to begin in an hour, and the youngest son could not afford to damage his attire and coiffure. He possessed precisely half an hour, most of which would be consumed by a quick change of clothing.

"Eric, the filthy bastard, where is he?" Julian growled with great irritation, looking about the large bedroom as though the disreputable valet would be peeking out from beneath the large double bed, which was pushed into a wall nook made especially to accommodate it, or hidden behind the burgundy silk drapes at his window.

The room could not be called airy and light, and it was not a particularly pleasant one, albeit it was very handsome. Spacious and well-furnished with antiques, it was done up in scheme of cream and burgundy. A huge Persian rug had been spread across the varnished oak floorboards. Against one wall was a sofa for reclining and a coffee table nearby. Various chairs and dressers had been laid out. Large oil masterpieces depicting great hunts and foreign lands, particularly China, filled any and all empty space on the surfaces of the walls. In the center of the room sat a huge marble statue that actually doubled as a fountain--rearing horse with water frothing from its mouth and spilling down its sides, stallion eyes rolling, consumed by the wildness horses must have possessed before they were beaten tame.

Over the bed nook was a sort of canopy, filmy maroon drapes extending to each corner of the fancy oak headboard and footboard. And that was just the bedroom; another door led into the sitting room, which was decorated in a similarly extravagant, exceedingly elegant, yet somewhat uncanny way. Only Julian ever seemed to feel at home in the austere, impersonal lodgings.

"Dammit, Eric, come give me a hand! I shouldn't have to call you twice! Are you out on the terrace again?" He gently laid the boy on his sofa after throwing a small rug down to keep the blood from seeping into the expensive fabric of the furniture. Striding toward the huge windows and glass doors, he flung aside the drapes to check the large balcony that overlooked the eastern portion of the gardens.

-

Lucas would have jumped up from his seat if he didn't think he might get yelled at for it. His Lord had placed him there for a reason and he needed to honor the unspoken order, even if it was unheard of for a servant to sit on his master's couch while bleeding as badly as he was.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir."

Lucas looked over to see the owner of the tight-strung voice, a rather tall, lanky man, with pale complexion and hair done in an elegant braid, stride in from the balcony.

"I was simply overseeing the activity in the garden in order to decide what manner of clothing would be appropriate as matched to Lady Lockwood's decorations. I fear I didn't hear you calling."

Despite himself Lucas couldn't help staring at the man with a bit of confusion. While his tone and appearance spoke of a valet, there was just something about him that caused the boy's blood to run cold. He had this air of arrogance that the servant didn't think was possible to take with one's master. Surely Julian would fire him, simply for the tone in his voice, let alone the casual stride in his walk and the blatant lie he had just told. The glass wasn't thick enough for him to not have heard the lord calling for him.

-

"Never mind that, Eric," Julian replied, waving a hand dismissively. "Can't you see this boy is in pain? Tend to him immediately. I shall dress myself." He strode to his wardrobe closet (hardly a closet at all, twice as large as a servants' room, which at least two people usually shared) and began shuffling through the different outfits. Finally he decided on a riding uniform with a pale blue coat, white shirt frothing lace at the sleeves, a plain white cravat of fine silk, and tan riding pants, as well as a small whip, pair of white kid gloves, and a very light gray beaver top hat. Julian planned to make it very clear to his mother's guests that he only intended to make his appearance for a short while before going out riding. At the same time he hoped to avoid his father by escaping the party before the cruel man, but doing so would be a difficult task.

-

The valet strode over to stand behind and slightly to the side of Julian, his arms folded behind his back and his nose tilted upward as if he were looking down at the man. "Sir, your mother is going to be most displeased when she sees your choice of attire. She expects you to stay at the party with her and meet some of her friends' daughters. All of them are fine young ladies, and I'm sure it would be in your best interest to give them your full attention."

Lucas' mouth fell agape at the way this man was speaking to the young master, not to mention completely ignoring his first order to help Lucas, though the boy couldn't say he was too surprised by it. Yet despite the way of things it was still a direct order that he should have followed the instant it had been uttered.

-

However the scene might appear to the servant, Julian was little surprised by his servant's arrogant attitude. Despite his accusations of the man being both conceited and disobedient (quite true, in fact), Julian had grown used to his valet. After all ever since the youngest male Lockwood was born, the man, his senior by six years, had been assigned to care for him. Eric was not particularly liked by any of the family except perhaps his father and Anita, but he was a distant cousin and thus trusted to serve Julian well. Though his valet was priggish and an indefatigable bully, Julian knew his father would never let him fire the man. He wasn't even sure he would even if he could. Duty bade him tend to the family bloodline, however little he and his cousin had in common. So the youngest Lockwood chose his battles carefully. He could adeptly both ignore and avoid his manservant if need be. For now he chose the former.

Julian stripped out of his clothing, casting it aside in a careless pile on the floor for the housemaids or valet to pick up later. He tugged the riding breeches on over his briefs and buttoned them before pulling on the silk shirt. "Confound these buttons!" Doing them up as quickly as possible and tucking in the shirt, Julian went about swiftly and neatly dressing himself. When he was finished he looked quite fine, those remarkably black eyes enhanced further by their dark contrast to the light, cheery riding outfit.

"Are you still here, Eric?" He narrowed his eyes and glared down at the other man, who wasn't that much shorter despite Julian's height. The question had been pointed and obvious, a reprimand more than honest inquiry. "A boy is bleeding on my couch. Bathe him, clean his wounds, and wrap them up at once before he ruins the furniture. And damnitall, Eric, try to lose that haughty attitude you take with all of the servants, and me for that matter. Be kind to him. He's just a child. If he isn't patched up and resting by the time I get back, it'll be your hide. I don't want my personal errand boy to bleed to death or die of infection while I'm strolling around with the flashiest peacocks in the country."

-

But once again the valet would not allow his charge's inappropriate manner to pass without correction. After all, Lord Lockwood had entrusted Julian's well being to him, and he intended to make sure the man grew up proper, no matter what sort of beastly heritage he had. Bloodline was the main problem in Eric's eyes, for Julian definitely wasn't a son of their lord. Savage blood ran through his veins-terrifyingly true, but nothing the valet couldn't break out of him, just like breaking in of a wild horse.

"If you had desired a personal errand boy, I am sure I could have found you one with the proper upbringing and training. This boy is a drudge, nothing more and nothing less. He has no knowledge of how to behave in civilized society. He probably doesn't even have parents. I will find one of the servants to tend to him and send him back to his quarters, and then I will go about the task of finding you a proper errand boy if you feel you really need one. It just simply won't do though to have such a filthy little child tending to you. Your father would have my head if he found out that I allowed it."

-

"You're absolutely right, Eric! Absolutely! After all, why should I have a filthy child when I can have a clean one? That's why you're going to bathe him for me! I won't have it any other way! You know all of the other servants are busy with the party. You're the only man around with little to do and so much time to do it. We will make a fine errand boy out of him, Eric--I am adamant on this point. You'll see! I promise not to be publicly seen with him until you have taught him to be presentable in society. Now it's already five till the hour. I really must go. You wouldn't want me to be late to a formal party, now, would you?"

-

Eric had been about to open his mouth to protest, when the last statement his young master made stopped him dead in his tracks. For how much he loathed his orders, he couldn't afford to keep Julian detained any longer. "Very well, sir. I'll have him cleaned up and start training him immediately. Right after he gets his rest, of course," the valet added with a bitter note, going over to Lucas, grabbing his hand, and pulling him to his feet. The boy stumbled a bit, the sudden head rush of getting up to quickly and the blood loss making him dizzy. So dizzy in fact he didn't even have time to feel nervous under the valet's critical gaze. Without waiting for further instructions, Eric started pulling him towards the servants' baths, literally dragging him behind as they went. It would be a wonder if Lucas would be able to make it down the stairs at this rate...