The name of power

Ren traced a finger over the fresh ink of his name.

Aaron Mordaine. 

Honestly, he didn't know why he still decided to go by the name Aaron when he could very much still be called Ren.

But at least his name carried power and commanded respect. 

He turned towards Lucian, "I still don't know what you want from me."

Lucian leaned back in his seat, "I wanted you from the start.... your powers too."

Ren tilted his head slightly, watching him.'

"You don't seem surprised that I was able to tell you had powers... or rather that you were strong?"

Ren set his pen down, before he crossed his arms over his chest while leaning back slightly, "Lucian, you're a Mordaine, you should be able to figure it out." he said with his face marked with.... disdain that he dared to ask such stupid question.

He smirked. "Right, nearly forgot about that."

Ren met his gaze, his own expression unreadable. He knew now that Lucian needed him for his powers but why he needed his powers he wasn't sure. 

But that was fine. 

All the more fun to come by.

Lucian stood up; his presence as heavy as ever. "From now on, you'll live here. You'll have everything you need, clothes, food, training". He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "I don't expect you to be useless however."

Ren exhaled lightly. "I don't look useless, do I?" He asked, the question not directed to anyone in particular.

Seriously though, is he blind?

Lucien only let out a tiny laugh, amused.

Just then, the doors swung open.

A man stepped inside, tall and lean with sharp features and icy silver eyes. His long, tied-back hair was a stark contrast to Lucian's shorter style, but the resemblance was there.

This had to be the young master Damien Lucian was asking about earlier.

The moment those piercing eyes landed on Ren, they froze.

His entire body went rigid, his fingers twitching slightly, like he had just been hit with something he didn't understand.

Ren blinked, tilting his head.

Lucian's lips curled up in a smile. "You're late, Damien."

The man, Damien Mordaine, didn't even glance at him. Hos gaze was steadfastly locked onto Ren, his gaze unwavering.

Ren had seen countless expressions, some from the original's memories and the other from his own. The ones he could grasp. Greed, hatred, admiration, envy.

But this one?

This was pure, raw fixation.

Like Damien had just found something he couldn't let go of.

Seriously though, what is it with the Mordaine men?

Still Ren just smiled.

His life probably just got interesting.

He held Damien's gaze, letting the silence stretch. 

Meanwhile Lucian looked at the both of them wondering if he should exist the stage or interrupt the staring contest.

He decided he'd flip a coin, heads meant interrupting. 

It landed on tails. 

"Damien, meet Aaron."

The words seemed to snap Damien out of whatever spell he had fallen under. His jaw tensing, fingers flexing by his side.

"Ren."

Lucian raised a brow. "Aaron." he corrected smoothly.

Damien barely reacted. His silver eyes never left Ren's face. "That's not the name he wants to go by."

Ren blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

How did he know?

Lucian looked amused. "You're already claiming to know him?"

Damien ignored him. "Ren," he repeated, like he was testing the weight of the name on his tongue. Then, with slow and deliberate steps, he walked over to Ren.

Ren didn't move, he practically just stayed still.

Damien stepped in front of him, towering over him at 6'6, close enough that Ren could feel the faint warmth of his presence.

Then in a voice that was barely above a whisper, like a confession, he murmured, ".... You feel like something I've lost."

Ren's breath hitched.

It was subtle, almost invisible, but Damien caught it.

A small, almost imperceptible smirk flashed across his lips before it vanished.

Lucian chuckled. "It's been five minutes and you're already acting possessed."

Damien ignored him again.

Ren exhaled softly regaining control of his thoughts. He met Damien's gaze, while tilting his head slightly.

"How strange," he said lightly. "I don't recall belonging to anyone."

Damien's silver eyes darkened, like he didn't agree with whatever Ren had just said.

Lucian, entertained by the entire exchange, clapped a hand on Damien's shoulder. "Enough. You can obsess over him later. I have business to discuss with Aaron."

Damien hesitated, his gaze lingering on Ren for a moment longer before he finally stepped back.

Lucian led Ren through the grand halls of the Mordaine estate, his every step exuding effortless authority. Ren watched his every step, that screamed power, influence, basically an untouchable presence that could crush anyone that dared stand in its way.

And now, he was under that presence.

A strange thought.

Lucian pushed open the doors to his study, motioning for Ren to sit. The room was lined with shelves of rare books, and behind Lucian's desk, a massive window overlooked the city below.

Ren sat, crossing one leg over the other as Lucian settled across from him.

"You understand what it means to be a Mordaine, don't you?" Lucian asked, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his chair.

Ren gave a nod, a smile on his lips. "Power."

Lucien smirked. "That's the simple way to put it. But yes. As my adopted son, no one will dare touch you. Your past? Irrelevant. Your enemies? Mine." He leaned forward slightly. "And in return, I expect one thing."

Ren met his gaze. "Loyalty."

Lucian's expression didn't change, but there was a hint of approval in his eyes. "Good. You're quick."

Seriously though, that was an easy answer. 

Ren had seen the way he and his brother interacted. Did it look like there was an internal family feud?

Anyways he exhaled lightly. Loyalty. It was a dangerous word.

He wouldn't trust Lucian that fully, he wasn't naive, and he expected the same from the man sitting opposite him, as for Damien... that was a different case entirely.

Well, he hoped Lucian didn't expect him to be an obedient son.

"Okay kid, I have somewhere to be in about seven minutes, Steven will get you to your room and I'll see you tonight." Lucian stood up, ruffling Ren's hair before he made his way to the door and left the study.

Soon the study room was quiet, Ren however remained seated like a doll, not moving from his position.

Five minutes later, the study room was knocked on.

"Come in."

Steven, the butler was a fairly old man, he had a kind smile on his face as he walked over to Ren. 

"The master said to get you to your room." he said, ushering Ren up.

"Forgive me as I did not know we'd be having another addition to the family I have not prepared a room for you, but I'll get that done as soon as I settle you in Lord Lucian's old room."

Ren followed Steven, listening to him ramble about the location of each item in the castle and how to call for help if he needed them. 

They soon reached the room.

Lucian's old room was decorated in cold tones, with a massive bed in the center, there was a French window that overlooked the west garden and a lake.

Ren liked the room, if possible, tonight he was going to stake his claim over this room.

Butler Steven watched Ren get settled in before silently taking his leave, happy over the fact that he gets to serve someone younger than the people in this estate.