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It was much too light.
He felt much too light.
Something was definitely wrong.
He pinches himself, but of course it wouldn't tell him much now, would it? He quite literally lost his nerves after one too many rows of the Cruciatus. What is more telling is the utter absurdity of the sight before him. The Manor never has been that bright. It hurts his eyes, were they failing him too? Seeing everything in white?
Must be a dream. Lucius could be tempted to linger in one of those. If only he could trust they won't turn against him. Either the dream is pleasant, and waking up feels like a nightmare. Either it is a nightmare indeed, and the day is spoiled all the same. As he’ll be damp in cold sweat. As he’ll spend at least an hour recuperating from his panic attack.
As he is weak.
But there is none of that now, is it?
“ No use to keep grovelling boy, get up!”
No.
No no no.
Lucius closes his eyes.
“ Have you grown deaf with age? Or are you simply too limp? Worthless worm that you are?”
It won’t stop. He knows.
So Lucius gets up.
To see his father, as ugly as he saw him last, covered with scales.
“ That’s better. Oh I must say I missed this son. Truly I did.”
Lucius keeps quiet, he feels small.
He is small. He is a child again.
“ Now, do you know the best part?”
Lucius doesn’t care to know.
“ Your lord, you know, the one who fucked you over? Like I told you he would.”
Lucius doesn’t even feel the need to sight. He really does feel weightless, nerveless... There is no blood in his veins to freeze nor to boil. Remaining blank takes no effort at all.
“ He’s in pieces all over the place!”
He didn’t believe it at first, but his father truly must have missed him. Abraxas would have let his son squirm in suspense for hours on hand back in the day.
“ We have such fun with it. Walburga revels in dismembering them in even more tiny bits, with her sharp teeth. Most just can’t bear the sight and walk away. I must say I would too, but it is too priceless, walking all over him like I used too. It is music to my ears, I find bones the best of instruments-” Wait - Walking away?
Where?
Lucius tilts his head to take a look. The Manor, still the Manor. He never left it after all, where else would he be?
So, he takes his father ranting like a good boy. Head down.
I am dead, truly?
“- such a little hypocrite you are. You collected sympathy for years after your weakling of a mother died. Only use she ever had. Poor poor Lucius! They blamed it all on me as if I was the one who pulled those draughts down her throat! As if it was my fault, she couldn’t handle herself! And you! You who boasted you’ll never treat your family that way, that you’ll be the better man. Ha! Not only did you let them with the wolf, but they were the ones to save you!-“
The muggle had the good idea with the purgatory. It felt strangely cleaning to get scold by his father like he used to. And not by his own guilt.
Lucius smirks.
“ I missed you too father. Now it’s enough, go ruminate elsewhere. It is of no concern to me. I’ll wait for my wife and son here at home.”
Because it will always be the three of them.