SWNOVELXO Chapter 4: A Sovereign'sPossession
The dim candlelight flickered against the cracked walls of the apartment. Outside, the city remained a wasteland of death and despair, but in this moment, within these walls, Lucien had begun rebuilding something that belonged to him.
The girl sat up slowly, her golden eyes still wary, but the fear was gone. Instead, something else flickered behind them-submission, curiosity... and something darker.
She was still weak, her body trembling slightly from exhaustion, but she did not look away from Lucien.
"...Yours?" she repeated his words from before, almost testing them.
Lucien met her gaze directly. "Yes."
A shiver ran through her spine-not of fear, but something else entirely.
Selene, who had been quietly watching, finally spoke, her voice soft but firm. "You don't have to force yourself to agree. You're safe here."
The girl turned towards Selene, studying her with mild disbelief.
Safe?
Safety did not exist in her world.
Safety had been an illusion shattered long ago, replaced by torment, betrayal, and endless suffering.
Safety was a lie.
But this man-Lucien-he had killed for her. He had slaughtered six without hesitation.
To her, that was safety.
She clenched her frail fingers into the thin fabric of the blanket around her. "If I belong to you...." her voice was quiet, yet intense, "then I have no need to be safe."
Selene's brows furrowed. "That's-"
Lucien raised a hand, stopping his mother's words. His golden eyes gleamed as he studied the girl.
"Tell me your name," he ordered.
She was silent for a moment, then she lowered her gaze slightly. ".. Eris."
Lucien stilled.
For a brief second, a fragmented memory surfaced. A girl, cloaked in shadows, whispering his name from another life.
Not Evangeline. But close.
Fate had brought her to him.
He leaned forward slightly. "Eris."
She shuddered slightly, gripping the blanket tighter. The way he said her name-it wasn't a question. It was a claim.
"I will not ask what they did to you," Lucien said, voice calm but edged with cold authority. "But I will tell you this-you are no longer their victim."
Eris swallowed, staring at him.
"You are mine now," he continued.
"And I do not allow what is mine to be weak."
A flicker of something passed through her expression. Hope? Or something darker?
Valeria, who had been listening in silence, suddenly scoffed. "Tch. I don't like her."
Lucien turned his gaze toward his sister. "You don't have to."
Valeria's eyes narrowed. "So that's it?
You just pick up strays now?"
Selene sighed. "Valeria.."
"No, I want to know," Valeria continued, crossing her arms. "She shows up, half-dead, and suddenly, she belongs to you? What, are we just collecting people now?"
Lucien smirked. "Jealous?"
Valeria froze.
"...Shut up," she muttered, looking away.
Lucien let his smirk linger before turning back to Eris. "You need to rest. We'll talk more later."
Eris nodded silently.
Lucien stood up. His mother and sister watched him as he walked toward the door.
"I'm heading out," he said.
Selene tensed. "Again?"
Lucien's expression didn't change.
"We need supplies. And now, we have
another mouth to feed."
Valeria frowned. "I don't like this. You just came back, and now you're running off again?"
Lucien's gaze softened slightly. "I won't be long."
Selene bit her lip. "Be careful."
Lucien reached out, gently brushing his fingers over her cheek. "I always am."
Her breath hitched, her icy blue eyes widening slightly at the unexpected touch.
Lucien turned and left before she could say anything else.
The streets were eerily silent tonight.
Lucien moved through the ruins with silent precision, his senses sharp. He had one goal in mind-resources.
Food, medicine, anything that would keep his mother and sister healthy.
And Eris.
A flicker of annoyance crossed his mind. He hadn't planned to take in anyone else yet. But she was different.
She reminded him of something lost.
As he walked, his ears picked up faint whispers in the distance.
Scavengers.
He moved toward the sound, leaping onto the remains of a collapsed building, his golden eyes scanning the street below.
A group of men stood in a circles discussing something-weapons trade.
Lucien smirked. Perfect.
He dropped down from the ruins like a phantom.
The first man didn't even have time to scream before Lucien ripped his throat out.
Blood sprayed.
The others spun, eyes wide
'too slow'.
Lucien moved through them like a ghost, snapping bones, crushing skulls. In the past, he had fought to survive.
Now?
Now, he fought to dominate.
Within moments, it was over. The alley was filled with the scent of death.
Lucien searched their bodies, finding what he needed-rations, painkillers, and a few weapons.
More than enough.
As he turned to leave, something rustled nearby.
Lucien's golden eyes snapped to the source of the noise.
A boy, no older than thirteen, stood frozen behind a broken car.
A survivor.
His eyes were filled with horror.
Lucien stared at him.
The boy trembled. "P-please."
Lucien stepped forward, watching as the boy flinched.
He saw himself-his past self-in the child's fear. The weak Lucien who had once begged to survive.
"...Run" , Lucien ordered.
The boy hesitated.
Lucien's voice darkened. "Before I change my mind."
The boy scrambled to his feet and disappeared into the ruins.
Lucien stood there for a moment.
He had changed. But... not completely.
Exhaling slowly, he turned and walked away.
There was still much to do.
And this world had yet to truly learn
the Sovereign had returned.