Chapter Text
“Ms. Lycan, can you speak on the rumors surrounding your brother being the Ultima?”
“Is it true that Mr. and Mrs. Lycan are dead? Were they really killed by your brother when he went on a Rampage? Is Aaron Lycan in a mental institution, or has he been taken care of?”
“What do you see in the future of the Lominza Corporation, now that investors are losing faith in it after the incidents at Starlight?”
Cameras flashed in Melissa’s eyes as microphones and reporters pushed towards where she was standing on a podium in front of the crowd, a mob just past the barrier screaming with derogatory Anti-Ultima and Werewolf propaganda pasted on signs and banners that they waved above their heads, some trying to surpass the barrier with their fists.
Aaron. They can’t find him. He was sitting all alone in her office, nearly helpless without his sight and memories.
I can’t do this. I can’t do this without them. Her heart was racing,her breath came in short gasps, and she felt like she would faint on that stage before she went anywhere in her life. She was a failure, a good-for-nothing daughter that couldn’t even keep her brother safe from the dangers of the cruel, cruel world, and now she was about to die on this stage, and Aaron would never know her, never know what they had together, never know how much she lo-
“Thank you, everyone, but Ms. Lycan needs to get to her morning brunch.” A calm voice called, stepping in front of the podium and silencing the crowd for mere moments until they burst with questions again.
“Ms. Luke, is it true that you practice witchcraft?”
“What really happened on that island?”
“Is it true that you and Ms. Lycan are in a romantic relationship with each other?”
“Please, no more questions. Ms. Lycan must take her leave.”
And when they were far enough away from the crowd, from the stage, from the lights and cameras and action, Lucinda’s hand slipped into hers, and for a second, everything was okay…
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…and then again, maybe it wasn’t.
Melissa slumped over her desk, her hands clutching at her hair as she groaned into the wood, Lucinda standing at a safe distance while she vented.
“LOMINZA IS GOING TO CRASH TO THE GROUND, AARON IS NEVER GOING TO GET HIS MEMORIES BACK, AND WE’RE NEVER GOING TO SEE OUR FRIENDS AGAIN, AND IT’S ALL MY FAULT!” She screamed into her palms. “AND BEFORE WE KNOW IT, THE DEMON WARLOCK WILL-“
“Melissa, babe, respectfully, shut up! I love you, but sometimes you drive me insane!” Lucinda held her face, wiping away the tears before they even came. “Sometimes you just need to relax, you know?” Her hands dropped to hold Melissa’s, long orange nails rubbing against her chewed ones. “You’re acting like your father.”
“HOW CAN I NOT?!” She cried, and pointed at Aaron in the corner of the room accusingly, who was struggling to eat the microwavable cold pasta that Lucinda had made for him over half an hour ago.
“I see your point, but- uh, wrong time for puns.” Lucinda got onto Melissa’s lap, and kissed her. And maybe that was all Melissa needed, because she kissed Lucinda back, and forgot about everything, truly this time, as Aaron watched from a corner, a picture of himself and a woman he had never known before staring back at him from Melissa’s desk, and he wondered… he wondered.