The Handsome Devil

Stepping out of a carriage, assisted by the coachman was little Morrigan and her father. She beamed brightly as she stood in front of her favorite and only uncle's house but, she wasn't just happy because of this fact, she was happy because today, just like any other day, she would make an attempt to befriend someone even though she had failed woefully many times before now, Morrigan would never give up!

She looked up at a mansion that stoop high on a hill, behind an ocean. The sturdy walls of the mansion stood quietly as it exuded this gloomy aura around it but, Lazarus was no gloomy individual.

Morrigan breathed in the fresh air around them, taking in the sound of the ocean's waves silently crashing against the hill of the mansion. If not for the sun that was shinning ever so brightly at that moment, all that would be needed for the mansion to look haunted would be rain and lightning as the mansion was painted in dull colors ; grey and a blue color that looked close to black.

Earl and Morrigan approached the main door of the mansion hand-in-hand as the butler of the Beckett mansion greeted them both. "Good afternoon Master Earl. Good afternoon Miss Morrigan"

"Good afternoon John!" Morrigan greeted with a bright smile and immediately ran into the mansion using her tiny feet.

"Try not to fall!" Earl yelled but the little girl didn't hear even a whiff of what her father had said.

He turned his gaze to meet the butler named John who immediately stiffened his back and lowered his gaze.

John who was around his early twenties had been working at the Beckett's for almost a month now as he was filling in for his father who had fallen quite ill and within that time span, the man who stood in front of him always made him feel so small under his gaze and, it wasn't just the height, but the way he looked at him as if he was waiting for the day he would make one foolish mistake so the man could have his head served on a golden platter, as if the man didn't trust him one bit.

He quickly bowed at the man. "I shall inform master about your-"

"EARL!" a loud voice beamed through the halls, followed by the laughter of a young girl.

Soon, a slender looking man with broad shoulders could be seen descending a flight of stairs as he walked with Morrigan who looked quite short compared to him.

The man approaching Lazarus had curly black hair that reached just below his shoulder, his curly hair that was tossed in all directions that still had water dripping from it made him look wild yet alluring at the same time and as he smiled widely, one could clearly see a dimple on his right cheek.

He came to stand in front of Earl and pulled him in for a hug.

"Lazarus" Earl said as they hugged.

Lazarus looked at his dear friend with his black eyes that looked nothing less than an abyss but if one looked closely, you could see the little stars that formed as he looked at his friend.

"I have been expecting you" Lazarus stated and immediately, the butler bowed his head and left the men alone.

"What's with the black - black outfit? And could you button up? Why wear a shirt if your not going to button it?" Earl asked, completely ignoring what Lazarus said last.

"It's just to give the maids a little something to look at" Lazarus winked at the end but Earl's eyebrows were tied in a knot. "You look like the devil himself"

"Then the devil must be a very handsome man" he said before he turned to face Morrigan "Now, before this conversation get a little inappropriate, you can go meet Egan in the music room".

"Okay!" she beamed happily as that was why she went to find Lazarus in the first place ; to know where Egan was.

She took the first step but ended up stepping on the front of her dress, almost tripping in the process but Lazarus was quick to catch her "Be careful little one" but, she only replied with an excited giggle and ran out of the room.

"It must be fun having her cute little giggles fill up your mansion all the time unlike Egan who's always moping around like a wet mop" Lazarus said to Earl.

"It isn't always sunshine with Morrigan and give Egan a little break. He's blind"

"That isn't a valid excuse in my books" he said and rolled his eyes. Changing the topic, Lazarus places his hand on Egan's shoulder and said "So, what brings you here today huh?"

"I came for some good food" Earl replied as a wide grin grew on both their faces.