The Willow Creek University has some well kept grounds and good scenery. It was here that Lucas found himself, near the fountain in the center of the quad, sketching. it was a new sketchbook, and he wasn’t drawing anything in particular – more like doodling really. He was growing frustrated with the lack of inspiration when he felt a tap on his shoulder. As he looked up, the sun was in his eyes, so he couldn’t see who tapped him right away. Shielding his eyes, he took a moment to adjust and then looked at the person.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he said to the individual.
“The doctors released me – said I was mentally competent.”
“But why are you here, in Willow Creek still? Go home, Lucius.”
“I want to be here.”
“You can’t. Do you have any idea what would happen if Claude found out that you’re not locked up?”
“Claude?” he said, blinking.
“Yes, Mandy’s dad.”
“Oh, I never knew his name before.”
“Yes, well you’re walking on thin ice.” he closed his sketchbook and shoved it into the backpack he had with him. “Come on…I’ll get you a plane home.”
“I don’t want to go home.” Lucius said. After a moment, he added “I saw Blade here. He can’t have her again.”
“He doesn’t. She’s got someone else.”
“Who?”
“Older guy. Russian. Treats her good and isn’t a psycho.” he said as he stood and shouldered the bag. He grabbed Lucius by the arm. “I’m putting you on a plane. No – wait…I’m going to make sure you were actually released, and aren’t an escapee.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“Dude, I don’t want a gun pointed at my head, again, because of you.” Not knowing what else to do, he dragged his cousin with him to the car, and put him in the passenger seat. He pulled out his phone and left Vince a text: “about to drive soon, so no calls. Need some help figuring out if someone is an escapee or not – not sure how to go about it. For now, I’m bringing him home – trying to avoid a clusterfuck.” he hung up and started the car, heading in the direction of the cabin.
“Why are you so mad?”
“Dude, you blew up her car.”
“Did I?”
“As far as everyone knows, yea. Dude, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you so obsessed?”
Lucius looked down, somewhat ashamed. It hurt Lucas to see his cousin like this – it wasn’t the Lucius he remembered.
“She paid attention to me, was nice to me. You know how people treated me at school. And then home…home is not a place I want to go back to.” he said, looking out the window as they drove.
“You seem more lucid.”
“Meds.” he responded, without looking away from the window.
“Thoughts on Mandy?” he asked cautiously.
“I’m always going to want to be with her. But…I’ve been very out of line.”
“How bad are things with Uncle Rick and Aunt Sandy?” he asked.
“They’ve gotten in really deep with the Cobras.”
“Cobras?”
“Serpents of the Light. They’re practitioners of Voodoo.” he was quiet for a bit. “It’s not…it’s…have you ever heard of a white goat?”
“Is that something specific?”
He nodded, but did not elaborate. “They’ve been trying to groom me for higher status in the cult. They want me to do better than they could achieve. That’s part of what’s messed me up.” he tapped his head. “Their teachings. Philosophy. Whatever you want to call it.”
“It’s that bad?”
“I’ve seen some scary shit, man.” he was quiet for a while. “You wouldn’t believe it, you’ve always had a good head on y our shoulders, but the weirdest part was also the scariest.” he said as Lucas turned into the driveway.
“What about it?” Lucas asked as he turned off the ignition.
“Vampires, man. They’re real. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
“You don’t say.” Lucas said as he got out of the car.
“I said you wouldn’t believe me.”
Lucas changed the subject as they headed up the stairs. “I’ve got roommates, just so you know.”
“Noted.”
The two of them headed into the house, where he had Lucius sit and wait in the living room, with Greg to keep an eye over him, and he went to hunt up Vince.