Lucius's Thriller

The moment Kai Adler appeared, Lucius Malfoy's heart dropped.

Why is this cursed brat here?

His cold, calculating eyes immediately flicked toward Ciel Phantomhive, who stood nearby, expression unreadable.

"Earl Phantomhive," Lucius said sharply, "what is the meaning of this?"

Ciel removed his top hat, bowing slightly with exaggerated courtesy.

"Dear Wizard sir, my friend has a few words he'd like to share with you."

"I have nothing to say to him," Lucius growled, flicking his sleeve and turning toward the door.

"Mr. Lucius, please stay."

The moment the words left Kai's mouth, Lucius spun back around in fury, his cane already drawn—wand poised to strike.

"Silencio! You insufferable little—"

But Kai simply snapped his fingers.

An invisible burst of magic struck Lucius's hand, and his wand flew from his grip, clattering to the floor.

Lucius stared in disbelief at Kai's empty hands.

Wandless. Nonverbal. Casting.

His thoughts reeled. That massive Patronus back in the Headmaster's office had already unsettled him, but this—this was far beyond any student's level.

Even he couldn't cast spells like that without a wand.

He tried to think quickly—Apparition. He would vanish on the spot.

But the magic didn't activate.

Nothing happened.

Lucius's skin prickled with cold dread.

Kai tilted his head slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips as he casually twirled a finger in the air.

Lucius suddenly felt invisible hands clamp onto him and pull him forward, flinging him into the chair opposite Kai. He landed hard, the abrupt force ruffling his carefully styled blond hair and leaving it hanging limp over his face.

Disheveled and humiliated, Lucius pushed his hair back furiously and glared at the young man across from him.

"This isn't Hogwarts! You have no authority to use magic outside of school!"

Kai merely spread his hands in innocent amusement.

"Are you talking about the Trace, Mr. Lucius? Did you wonder why your Apparition failed?"

Lucius's heart skipped.

A large-scale anti-Apparition field—like the one surrounding Hogwarts—was advanced magic. To realize that this boy had conjured such a thing himself…

The implications struck him like a blow.

And if he could cast that, then neutralizing the Trace—the Ministry's method of detecting underage magic—was child's play.

Lucius's complexion paled to a sickly greenish-blue.

He had been lured here. There was no treasure. No Philosopher's Stone.

Just a carefully laid trap.

He turned his glare toward Ciel, who had now seated himself calmly nearby. Rage surged in his chest.

A filthy Muggle had dared to entrap a noble Malfoy.

If only Kai hadn't disarmed him so quickly, he would've cast the Cruciatus Curse on the boy without hesitation.

Ciel met his furious gaze without a hint of fear.

Kai noticed.

"Mr. Lucius," Kai said softly, "I suggest you stop staring at the Earl like that. I would hate to see you suffer the consequences."

Lucius scoffed internally. A mere Muggle? Protected today, perhaps. But not forever.

Still, years of political maneuvering had honed his control. He drew a deep breath and began composing himself, smoothing down his robes and hair, then looked at Kai coolly.

"What is it you wish to speak about?"

Kai took a sip of tea before replying.

"Mr. Malfoy, you may be interested to know… I received a Christmas gift from your son Draco this morning."

Lucius tensed.

Draco? That foolish boy had sent this monster a gift?

"I wasn't aware you two had such a close relationship," he said warily.

Kai smiled politely. "Our last meeting wasn't… pleasant. But I respect your devotion to your family."

Lucius narrowed his eyes. What is he playing at?

Kai continued, calmly. "Tell me, Mr. Malfoy. What would you do if someone harmed your family?"

Lucius's expression darkened instantly.

His hand clenched beneath his robes. He ground the words out.

"I would destroy them. Pulverize them—no matter the cost."

He remembered how Kai had invoked Draco before—used the boy as leverage.

Bringing him up again now… what was he implying?

"Kai Adler," he said coldly, "just tell me what you want."

Kai didn't answer at once. Instead, he waved his hand nonchalantly.

"Don't be nervous. I only meant… you're right. If someone harms your family, they should be ground to dust."

His voice was quiet. Too quiet.

Lucius stared, uncertain of where this was going.

Then came the hook.

"Not long ago, someone harmed my family."

Lucius blinked. That… made no sense.

As far as he knew, Kai had no known family—aside from Dumbledore, and who would dare touch him?

But then Kai added, "I tracked down the one responsible. And curiously, they had connections to the Malfoy family."

Lucius's pulse quickened again. His stomach twisted.

"But…" Kai leaned back with a smile. "That individual no longer belongs to your house."

Lucius exhaled a small, sharp breath.

Relief… followed by growing confusion.

What was the boy getting at?

"What is your point? Enough dancing around it."

From the side, Ciel remained quiet, watching Kai work Lucius with the same quiet fascination one might reserve for a chess grandmaster breaking down a seasoned opponent.

Had Kai come in asking directly about the Ivo family, Lucius would have shut down immediately.

Instead, he had disarmed him. Intimidated him. Then emotionally entangled him—through Draco, through family, through fear.

Now that Lucius's psychological walls were fractured—

Kai struck.

"Where is the Ivo family?"

His voice was calm, low—but pulsing with the faintest magical suggestion.

Lucius flinched.

The name itself stirred dangerous memories. Centuries-old agreements. Blood rituals. Secrets buried deeper than Azkaban's darkest cells.

He opened his mouth to deflect—but froze.

Kai's eyes were black. Not dark—black. Like twin abysses.

And suddenly it felt like a spike was being driven into his skull.

His mind reeled—Legilimency!

He snapped his barriers closed just in time to force the intrusion out—but the damage was done.

"You…!" he gasped, breath ragged. "You dare use Legilimency on me?"

If the Ministry ever found out—

"Relax," Kai said mildly. "I'm not interested in your private filth. Whatever deals you've made with the Ivo family… that's your business."

He rose slowly from his seat. "You weren't directly involved in the kidnapping. So I'll let you off this time."

He turned, casting one last sharp look at Lucius. Then he nodded politely to Ciel.

"See you soon."

Crack.

And just like that, Kai was gone.

Lucius stared at the empty spot, trembling slightly.

That last glance…

It wasn't just a farewell.

It was a warning.

The boy had taken control of the entire encounter from start to finish. And Lucius knew, deep down, that if Kai had wanted to destroy him tonight, he could have.

And he—Lucius Malfoy—wouldn't have been able to stop it.

Rage and shame surged through him. His eyes snapped to Ciel.

This was all because of this insufferable little Muggle.

He gritted his teeth and lunged across the room, grabbing his wand.

He raised it, voice seething with hate.

"Cruc—"

But the word never finished.

His limbs froze, locked in place as though encased in solid ice.

A soft voice floated in from the doorway.

"Guest, you mustn't be rude to the young master."

Lucius's body went cold. The kind of cold that sank into bone.

He turned—slowly.

And saw nothing but shadows. Shadows… and a pair of glowing crimson eyes. And teeth. Sharp, gleaming white, set in a smile that did not reach the eyes.

Sebastian.

Lucius forgot to breathe.

A demon. Not metaphorically.

He realized, in that moment, that between Kai Adler and this creature, the world had shifted beneath his feet.

He was no longer a predator.

He was prey.