The Girl in the Wych Elm (XIII)

 

 

XIII. The Widening Gyre

It didn’t matter how much Alexander terrorized Wych Elm society, the man always had a steady stream of lovers flocking to his bed, undeterred by his infamous nature. The mayor was a good time for some women while others held out hoping to become his wife one day. But Alexander didn’t care about them. He loved none of the women and never would. There were no favorites. The women (as everyone was to him) were objects for his use and play until he became bored. And when Alexander grew bored, which he always did, he would cast them aside in favor of someone else. The mayor made it blatantly clear to every woman he seduced that they were replaceable. He warned those women not to become attached or fall in love with him. They were for his pleasure and nothing more.

“Love?” Alexander scoffed when she said the word. He stared at Maya like the idiot he saw her as. “I don’t believe in love. Never have and never will.” Alexander replied cheekily to the young woman, much to her chagrin. The delighted smile on her round face vanished. That wasn’t the answer she hoped or wanted to hear. 

The twenty-two-year-old was Rhonda’s daughter, Alexander’s longtime mayoral secretary. Maya worked at city hall in the mailroom and was Alexander’s current sexual partner. Their affair had been going on for six months at that time. She had an idealistic outlook on the world and was rather naïve like most young women her age. Maya pushed back against his statement. “Well, how come?” She rested her head on his chest and traced circles on his skin. The guileless woman went on a tangent about the beauty of love, thinking she could change Alexander’s mind. “Love…is such a beautiful emotion. There’s no greater feeling in the world than being loved by someone who’s also deeply in love with you. It’s-it’s like a fire that consumes you but doesn’t burn. It feels so wonderful.” Alexander shamelessly guffawed in Maya’s face.

He gently pushed the woman off him. “I don’t even love my own mother.” His guffawing continued.

Alexander found love an impractical emotion, which he had spurned along with monogamy, before he reached adolescence. The very idea of being tied to one person for the rest of his life made his skin crawl. That type of life seemed bleak, miserable, and unappealing to him. Alexander had no desire to experience it. Ever. After Josie’s death, Alexander closely observed Solomon and how he grieved his wife in her absence. He swore against taking another wife. He wouldn’t even take a lover which Alexander thought would have been reasonable. Solomon, severely heartbroken, nearly bankrupted the Silver Hightowers constructing his wife an expensive (and unnecessary) mausoleum. Alexander found everything about Solomon’s extreme behavior absurd. He regarded his counterpart as an even more pathetic man than he already was. However, Alexander found humor in Solomon’s loss, pain, and suffering. It was entertaining to watch.

Love was a weakness. An Achilles Heel. Love sometimes made people irritational in the face of heartbreak, tragedy, betrayal, or desire. It was a liability more than it served as a benefit. Love could cripple and manipulate a person to someone else’s power. Being crippled and manipulated by love? Absolutely not! The very thought repulsed Alexander. Fear was the only emotion he held in high regard. Fear trumped all else, specifically being feared by others. Because to be feared was to be in control. And that was what Alexander hungered for: absolute control.

“Mr. Hightower?” His personal butler stepped into the bedroom. The man averted his eyes when he came upon Alexander and Maya nude in bed. “My apologies, sir, but your guest has arrived.” Maya was mystified when she heard the word guest leave the butler’s mouth. It was around four-thirty in the morning, way too early for visiting hours to begin. She reached down and picked up her bathrobe. Maya wondered who the visitor was and what was so important it couldn’t wait until later.

“Go ahead-” Alexander’s sentence was cut off.

“No need.” Maya recognized the woman by her asymmetrical bob. She had seen Alexander’s guest coming and going from his office on several occasions while at work. “Good morning, Alexander.” She greeted casually. The woman’s name was Hilda. She was a stunningly attractive woman with glowing bronze skin, almond shaped eyes, and a voluptuous, pear-shaped body with wide hips and thighs. Every time Maya caught a glance of Hilda in passing, she was overtaken by waves of intense jealousy.

This is supposed to be our time! Why did he have to invite her of all women? Maya was livid. She wringed the bed sheets roughly.

“Oh! Am I interrupting?” Hilda asked, noticing Maya’s animosity. “My bad! I should have expected as much, given that he and I used to roll around in the sheets around this time.” She winked flirtatiously at the younger woman. “Where are my manners? Good morning, little kitten.” The innocent pet name only upset her further.

Maya viciously snapped at Hilda who found her angry response adorable. “Don’t call me that!” Hilda wasn’t intimidated in the slightest.

“Don’t mind her, Hilda.” Alexander addressed the woman. Maya was deeply upset and bothered by his statement. “It’s been too long. Thought something terrible happened to you.” His choice of words and sweet tone with Hilda pushed Maya from jealousy to envy. Alexander never spoke to her in that way. His manner of communication with Maya was transactional. As Maya watched their interaction from the sideline, she surmised that Hilda was special to Alexander in some way. It explained why she was able to visit him at such an inconvenient hour. And while the mayor claimed there were no favorites, Hilda was the only sexual partner that hadn’t been cast aside. “We’ll move our conversation into the living area.”

Maya interjected into their moment. “Don’t bother accommodating yourselves because of me.” She said, pushing off the bed. The irritated woman announced to an unbothered Alexander that she was showering and headed out for the morning. Alexander wished Maya a safe journey home and informed her that James could give her a ride if she wanted it.

Alexander slid over to Maya’s abandoned side of the bed. “Come here.” He called seductively to Hilda, patting the warm, empty space beside him.

“Your little kitten is mad, Alexander.” Hilda commented. She walked up to the bed while keeping her eyes on the bathroom door.

“She’ll get the hell over it.” He replied with irritation, dismissively waving his hand. Alexander had already forgotten about Maya until Hilda brought her up again. “I make a lot of people mad. It comes with the territory.” The man chuckled. Right as Hilda sat down, Alexander pulled her into him. “I’ve missed you, Hilda. Where have you been?” He asked affectionately, groping her all over. Alexander buried his face into her breasts. “Why have you been ignoring my phone calls?” The mayor sounded…almost hurt by Hilda’s ghosting of him, though he could have been messing around.

Maya eavesdropped from the door. She slumped down, buried her face, and cried. “I should have known better. Alexander told me who he was from the beginning. I’m stupid…” The despondent woman had hoped that Alexander would see her as more than a sexual object. Many “Mayas” before her had thought the same thing. However, Alexander reminded them of who he was every time by shattering their delusions. “I’m done.” She said with renewed determination. Her sexual relationship with Alexander was over. Once Maya left, she would never return to Old Cahawba or Alexander’s bed. Not that he would have ever begged or convinced her to stay. Another “Maya” would have been in Alexander’s bed before she made it to her door.

Hilda was unable to hide her discomfort towards Alexander’s sudden affection because she wasn’t used to him behaving that way. It was an odd feeling and uncomfortable situation. Alexander would never tell her or admit the thought aloud, but he did favor Hilda to an extent, even though it went against his personal code. Of all his sexual partners, past, and present, Hilda was the only woman whose presence he truly enjoyed, which explained why he kept her by his side for so long and gave her pretty much anything she wanted compared to Maya and others. Hilda was an alluring woman by nature. Her shrouded background drew Alexander to her like a magnet. 

She claimed she was born and raised in Wych Elm, but Alexander couldn’t find any information or dirt on her at all. It was as if she had appeared out of nowhere. Hilda was feisty and quick with her remarks much like Alexander was. She was shameless about using men to her benefit, especially when it came to powerful men like the mayor of Wych Elm. Her high level of intelligence enticed Alexander the most. Women whom he found stupid or dull never stayed long in his bed. When Alexander told her not to fall in love with him, she replied that she had no intention of doing so. She couldn’t be manipulated or charmed like Maya and his other lovers. Instead, she did the manipulating, charming, and sweet talking.

“I’ve…been getting some affairs in order.” Hilda broke free of Alexander’s hold and slid away, which annoyed him. Given that he never showed any woman that side of him before, he became mildly offended by her rebuffing of him.

Alexander reclined on his elbow. “What kind of affairs?” The mayor was curious. What was more important than time with him?

Hilda reached into her pocket and removed a pregnancy test; it was positive. “Don’t be alarmed, Alexander.” She chuckled, wiggling the device in her fingers. “It’s not yours.” Alexander knew that much. He wasn’t frantic when she showed him because he had a vasectomy a decade prior. Alexander hated children and had no desire for any of his own.

“Congratulations… I guess?” He stared quizzically at the woman. “You’re getting rid of it, yes?” Hilda scowled at the question, insulted he would ask her that. She was keeping the baby. The news earned a grimace from Alexander. Her decision was troublesome for him. “I’m not going to lie to you, Hilda. I’m not happy to hear that.” He said in a low voice.

Hilda merely shrugged shamelessly. “We’ve had a good run, Alexander, but I’m moving on.” Rather, she had to move on for her unborn child’s sake. “I’m engaged to my child’s father. I’m leaving Wych Elm and settling down somewhere else.” She looked down at the pregnancy test and smiled. Hilda was excited about the change.

Alexander fell back and cackled when Hilda revealed her plans. “Your future husband sure is a lucky man.” He told her jeeringly. “If a woman of your quality can get married, then there’s hope for even the most bottom of the barrel individual.” The civil conversation and mood took a sinister turn with Alexander demeaning Hilda because she no longer wanted to be involved with him. “I give your marriage a year tops before you come crawling back to Wych Elm and me, begging for help.” Alexander wanted an apology from Hilda for her wasting his time. He gave her an ultimatum too. “If you terminate that pregnancy, maybe I’ll raise your allowance or something.” He dangled the offer in her face like she was a dog and it was a treat.

Hilda wasn’t swayed, however, and stood tall against the mayor’s wrath. Alexander had forgotten how much Hilda’s level of self-respect for herself was on par with his ego. He could offer Hilda a million dollars and she still wouldn’t take his money. No matter his wealth, social status, power, and prestige, Alexander wasn’t a man worth giving up her future over. Hilda knew his type. Had she accepted his terms, Alexander would have humiliated her out of spite and then threw her away. “You have a lot of nerve, Alexander Hightower, degrading me then turning around and begging me to stay.” The cognitive dissonance made Hilda shake her head.

Alexander rose up and crawled towards Hilda with a glaring expression. He snatched the pregnancy test from her hand, snapped it in half, and threw it on the floor. “Let me correct you on one thing, Hilda. I don’t beg.” Alexander reached for her neck but stopped himself. He decided to give her one last chance to change her mind since he enjoyed her company.

“Goodbye, Alexander.” Hilda told the man, kissing his nose like he was a puppy. She was unfazed by his fiery temper and didn’t shrink back in fear like others usually did. Hilda knew Alexander’s hostility towards her was nothing more than a tantrum. The entire performance had been entertaining. Hilda stood. “I think I’ve figured out why you’re so mad about my decision.” Hilda tapped her chin, an amused smile on her face. “No one else can get rid of you like you do others.” Alexander’s vision became blinded by a red veil. He lashed out and became belligerent, snatching Hilda by the hair and yanking her to the floor.

 “You’re not going anywhere…” Alexander hovered over the woman like a man possessed by a spirit. She almost saw steam escaping his mouth every time he exhaled.

Instinctively, Hilda protected her stomach. “Don’t hurt my baby!” She hysterically cried out. Alexander momentarily snapped out of his rage when he saw Hilda shielding her stomach. His mind returned to the previous night when he visited his mother’s suite, and Saraphina touched her stomach when she brought up Virgil.

“I miss him…” He remembered what she had said and the longing expression on her face.

Hilda used the opportunity to her advantage and kicked Alexander in the testicles hard as she could. He toppled onto the bed, stifling his howls of anguish in the mattress. Last thing Alexander wanted was Maya walking into their scuffle. The panicked woman hurried to her feet and bolted for the door. Alexander, enraged, recovered and was on Hilda’s heels, cursing her. “Let me go-!” He slapped his hand over her mouth. Hilda bit down hard.

“Witch!” Alexander snarled as he shoved Hilda forward. She fell through the glass coffee table as a result. “Damn you!” He looked down at the nasty injury. Her bite went deep into his skin, enough to draw a good amount of blood. “You worthless woman.” Alexander looked over and saw Hilda lying still on top of the broken table. “Playing unconscious won’t get you out of trouble with me.” He angrily told her. Alexander approached the woman and turned her over. “Well…shit…” She had a large shard of glass embedded deep within her neck. Holding her neck with one hand, Hilda grabbed onto Alexander’s wrist.

“Help…me… Help…me… Please… Please…” Hilda pleaded in between her labored breaths. “Don’t…let me…die… I don’t…want to die…” Alexander did nothing which came as no surprise. Hilda had pushed him to that point. She was to blame for her own suffering and fate. The only "help" Alexander gave the struggling woman was the comfort of his presence as she laid dying. At least, she wouldn’t die alone. Poor Hilda began tearing up realizing Alexander was going to let her die on that floor. “Please… M-my baby…” Hilda let go of Alexander’s wrist and reached for her stomach one last time.  “My…baby… My…ba…by…”

Alexander worriedly rubbed his face. He released a loud and heavy frustrated groan. “This isn’t how I expected my morning to go…” He looked down at Hilda; Alexander closed her eyes.

Maya, turning off the water, had caught the tail end of the commotion. “Al-Alexander? Is… Is everything okay?” She discovered the bathroom door was budged when she turned the knob. “H-hey! What’s wrong with the door? It’s not opening.” Maya threw her small frame against the door while jiggling the knob. She yelled for Alexander and told him she was stuck in the bathroom.

Alexander told Maya that Hilda was having a medical emergency and that she needed to stay in the bathroom. Maya tried offering her help, only to be snapped at with cruel hostility. “I said stay put! Don’t argue back with me about this!” Maya, upset, slid down to the floor. Her own father never spoke to her in the way Alexander did. She regretted not leaving his estate sooner. “You’ll just get in the way!” He would let Maya know when the emergency was resolved.

“Su-sure…” Maya wrapped herself in one of Alexander’s crimson bathrobes. As Maya waited, she hoped Hilda was all right. The situation made Maya feel a little guilty over the way she came at Hilda earlier.

Maya waited in the bathroom for a little over an hour. She was cold and she became bored. Her shift at work started in two hours and she couldn’t be late because she was on her last occurrence. Even though Maya had been sexually involved with the mayor for several months, she wasn’t allowed to disclose their relationship to anyone, or Alexander would have fired her and her mother. “Alexander…?” She tapped on the door. Maya heard men talking in low voices, but no one responded. “Alex-” The door swung open, just enough for Maya to peek through. She was disturbed and horrified by what she saw. Hilda’s body was being rolled up in plastic by several men while Alexander casually supervised. That sight rattled her more than the dead body.

Hilda’s dead? Oh God! What the hell happened? Maya noticed Alexander’s bandaged hand and a pile of glass shards near his feet. The nature of Hilda’s death unsettled her. Maya tried carefully pulling the door close, but the hinges squeaked, alerting everyone to her presence. They all turned and looked at her. She was caught like a deer in headlights.

“Damn it…” Alexander sighed frustratedly when he spied Maya in the doorway. “No one listens like they should.” He motioned to the man with the buzz cut.

“Yes, sir.” The man stalked menacingly towards Maya. She slammed the door shut and locked it. He kicked in the door and sent Maya flying backwards.

She cried hysterically as she scurried away, begging for her life. “I-I-I-I won’t t-t-tell anyone. I d-didn’t… I didn’t see anything! Al-Alexander! Alexander, I won’t say anything.” Alexander turned away and ignored the terrified woman. Maya was overcome with despair. She realized how little her existence meant to Alexander in her final moments. “Pl-please! Please, don’t let him kill me Alexander. I-I won’t sa-say anything! I’ll-I’ll go right now. I’ll leave Wych Elm and never c-come back. Please.” Maya’s head bounced painfully off the marble floor when the man shoved her down. He wound his massive hands around her small neck. Maya fought back against him as best she could, clawing at and digging into his face. He used so much ferocious strength to strangle Maya his hands crushed her windpipe and left indentions on her skin.

“She’s dead, Mr. Hightower.” He announced, wiping his hands on his pants. The man with the Buzz Cut moved out of the way.

Alexander strolled nonchalantly into the bathroom. He looked over Maya’s corpse as if she were a trinket in the store. “Tell Hector he can dispose of the first body as he sees fit.” Alexander needed a moment to think about Maya. He truly didn’t want her killed, but he couldn’t trust her words. Alexander was certain she would have told someone about Hilda’s death and what she had seen that night. Letting Maya go wasn’t worth the risk. Unfortunately, with her being his secretary’ s daughter, Maya’s sudden death posed a troublesome dilemma for him. Alexander tapped the closest man’s shoulder. “What’s the name of that Silver Hightower fellow with the lazy eye and God-awful drinking problem? He doesn’t have his left pinky.” He snapped his fingers incessantly trying to recall the man’s name.  

 “Edgar, Mayor Hightower.”

 Alexander clapped excitedly. “Yes! That’s his name! Edgar!” He moved off to the side and allowed the other men through to gather the body. “Put Maya’s death on him.” The men all nodded at the order.

Edgar was an infamous Silver Hightower, an absolute embarrassment and disgrace to the family surname. The man was always in the hot seat with Solomon because of his problematic behaviors caused by his rampant alcoholism. Edgar was a handsome man and had no issues when it came to charming women. However, he had a foul running streak when it came to domestic violence which made him the ideal fall guy. Alexander knew for certain Solomon would not have cared less about what happened to him. He would happily allow Edgar to rot in jail.

“We’ll get it done, Mayor Hightower.” Replied the man with the dragon tattoo down his neck.

The cleaning crew made haste; they collected the two bodies and dipped out. Alexander climbed back into his bed and relaxed. He had another hour and a half before work. “What?” He threw back his head groaning when he saw his butler again. “I’m in a foul mood right now. Leave me alone.” Alexander pulled the blanket over his head.

The butler apologized for interrupting and promised it would be quick. “Mr. Hightower, I’m afraid I have some unfortunate news to share.”

 

A crimson shroud adorned with the golden lion of Hightower was draped over Saraphina’s body. She had been lying there dead for close to five hours before some poor soul stumbled upon her corpse while out exercising. Alexander asked for the body not to be moved; he wanted to lay eyes on her. He wanted to humiliate her and degrade his mother one last time. “Move!” Security barked, coming up the pathway with Alexander behind them. “Move out of the damn way! Mayor Hightower is coming. Clear a damn path! Now!” A Hightower man, severely hard of hearing, was shoved out of the way by estate security. “Move! Now!” He wouldn’t repeat himself again. The onlookers made some space for Alexander to come through while remaining at an observable distance.

Warren came up from behind and whispered into Alexander’s ear. “Do you want us to clear the crowd?”

“No.” He answered, patting the man on his shoulder. “Let the sheep have something to baa about for the week. It’ll do them some excitement.” To Alexander, Saraphina didn’t deserve an ounce of privacy or honor in her death and wouldn’t receive it regardless of the circumstance. Alexander kept the crowd around because he wanted everyone to bask in his mother’s pitiful and unsightly end. “The center of attention as always huh, Saraphina?” He craned his neck as he looked down at her shrouded corpse, taking everything in. Saraphina’s death didn’t bring Alexander the perverted happiness he thought it would, sadly. He had been wanting her to die for the longest but was ironically angered by her suicide. He chastised his dead mother for taking the easy way out. Alexander kneeled down and lifted the shroud. “Ooof! No amount of high end makeup will fix this scrambled face.” The fallen matriarch’s face was disfigured beyond reconstruction. “I truly wish I could find it in my heart to tell you, ‘Rest in Peace,’ but I can’t. There will be no peace where you’re headed.” He sang the words. His reaction towards his mother’s death both shocked and repulsed the crowd.

Mario, a lowborn, stepped forward. “How-how would you like us to proceed now that you’ve viewed your mother’s body?”

Saraphina’s youngest son grinned wickedly, wriggling his fingers as he came up with an answer. “Go bury her outside of town in an unmarked grave.” Mario’s jaw dropped. He asked about the Old Cahawba crypt and High Gardens cemetery where deceased Crimson Hightowers were usually interred. Alexander sneered at Mario for even making those suggestions.

“Saraphina doesn’t deserve to be buried in the crypt or the High Gardens.” He wanted his mother buried as instructed.

Mario swallowed a large gulp. Our patriarch is a deranged man. No. He’s so much worse. He’s a psychopath! He kept his mother prisoner in her suite for years and isn’t bothered that she killed herself. Saraphina may not have been a good person, but she at least deserves a dignified burial. Alexander is terrifying as he is cruel. Alexander squinted at Mario with a hostile expression. The frightened man backed away, wondering if the mayor had read his mind somehow. Alexander couldn’t read minds, but he could read someone’s body language and facial expressions very well. It was a refined skill of his.  

Virgil, distraught, came barreling down the breezeway, screaming, bawling, and crying out for his mother. News of Saraphina’s death had somehow reached the twins’ ears despite the fact Alexander withheld telling them. Virgil was desperate to see his mother’s body with his own eyes just like Alexander wanted to. He refused to believe she was gone. Godfrey, who never liked Saraphina and was unaffected by her death, followed behind Virgil and Victor closely. “Hmm…how unfortunate…” Godfrey remarked when the shrouded corpse came into his view. He turned to the man beside him. “Suicide?” A nod confirmed his question. Godfrey’s eyes returned to the corpse. “I’m mildly surprised. You mean to tell me it wasn’t Alexander who killed her?” He had to resist chuckling at the surprising twist. Given his youngest brother’s violent nature, Godfrey assumed Saraphina would have been killed by Alexander someday.

Victor’s head snapped in Godfrey’s direction. The insensitive remark had him livid. “Not the time to be thinking out loud.” He elbowed Godfrey in the arm.

Virgil collapsed beside Saraphina’s corpse and bawled hysterically. “Mama! Mama!” He cried until he was nearly hoarse. “No! No! No!” The reason behind his mother’s suicide was obvious: Alexander. The distressed son turned his grief and ire on Alexander. The two brothers were at each other’s throats again about Saraphina. “This is your fault, Alexander!” He proclaimed boldly in front of the astounded crowd. They watched, quieter than church mice, as the scene unfolded. “You pushed her to this point! She may have taken her own life, but you’re still responsible. You kept our mother caged up like a rabid animal for so long that she had no other choice but to kill herself to escape!” His screams of hatred and contempt for Alexander echoed across the courtyard of the early morning. Saraphina’s death destroyed Virgil; it changed him entirely. And for that, he would never forgive Alexander for her death.

 “Virgil…” Godfrey shockingly stepped in as mediator. Alexander was intrigued by his intervention. He highly expected Godfrey to watch in the background with everyone else as he and Virgil came to blows.  “Let’s take this-” Godfrey jumped back when Virgil hissed at him.

“Oh, you can fuck right off, Godfrey!” Spit flew from the hysterical man’s mouth. The progression of his emotional and mental decline was witnessed in real time by everyone. “Why are you even here?” Virgil skeptically narrowed his eyes at him. “You hated my mother!” The crowd felt Virgil’s wrath next. “All of you need to get the fuck out of here!” He picked up a loose stone and threw it recklessly. It didn’t hit anyone, not that Virgil would have cared if it had.

“Let him go ahead and get it all out.” Alexander blocked Warren. He would let them intervene once Virgil was done making an ass out of himself in front of the entire clan.

“None of you gave a shit about her! When she was locked away by your patriarch! Matter of fact, none of you even liked her! I heard what some of you used to say about her!” He pointed to several people in the crowd. The ousted people looked away or lowered their heads in embarrassment. “You all let this happen by turning the other way! No one cared about Saraphina but me! I was the only one who cared about her. I was the only son who loved her!” Virgil became so worked up he hyperventilated and sweated. The crowd found themselves split about the issue. Some of them felt genuine sympathy towards Virgil. He wasn’t as bad a person compared to his three brothers, and it was clear he suffered over how Alexander treated her. Even so, Saraphina and her sons had always been detestable people who treated others poorly, so the other side felt indifference about the tragedy.

Alexander approached Virgil calmly and without caution. The crowd saw the sinister expression on his face. They felt his dangerous energy and feared for Virgil’s safety. “I think…it would be in your best interest…to go lie down now, Virgil.” He stressed the words through clenched teeth. Alexander grabbed onto his brother, but Virgil slapped him away. Everyone held their breath.

 “Fuck…” Victor said on edge.

 “That idiot.” Godfrey looked over at Victor who looked back at him.

 Virgil chuckled dryly. He swayed back and forth, exhausted from his crash out or perhaps winding up for the next one. “Did you know that when we were kids, people around the estate used to say all kinds of horrible things about you? ‘There’s something off about that patriarch’s youngest son.’ ‘That child isn’t normal at all. He makes me uncomfortable.’ ‘He’s a psychopath in the making. I’m calling it now!’ ‘Saraphina should have aborted him.’ ‘There’s something inherently evil about that boy.’” He began chortling like a madman with nothing more to lose. “Every time I heard someone speak poorly about you, I ran and told our father what was said and who said it. You were his favorite son after all so, he never tolerated any slander towards you. He punished everyone severely who raised their tongue against you.” Virgil pointed to himself. “I always thought I was being a good older brother by doing that. ‘How dare they speak ill of the patriarch’s son.’ ‘How dare they speak ill of my brother!’” Virgil told Alexander everyone that spoke negatively about him all those years ago ended up being right. He became and was everything they said he would be. Virgil finally saw Alexander for who he truly was and felt anguished guilt towards the family members his father unjustly persecuted in defense of Alexander.

 Victor hemmed Virgil up by his collar. “Are you out of your damn mind?” He asked with fearful eyes. “Shut…up…” Victor whispered harshly to him. “Alexander-”

“Alexander can go to Hell, Victor!” He screamed the words loud enough for everyone to hear. A chorus of gasps trailed behind the statement. Virgil didn’t care anymore. He didn’t care about what would happen to him next either. Virgil was done. He was done being intimidated by Alexander. He was done being submissive to Alexander. He was done following blindly in his brother’s shadow. All Virgil wanted was to be free of his brother’s influence and tyranny. Sadly, it only took Alexander’s treatment of their mother and her subsequent suicide for Virgil to realize he had been walking down the wrong path for so many years.

“That’s enough, Virgil!” Victor screamed, holding back tears in his eyes. “You’ve said enough for today. “We’re going back to our suite. Now. I don’t care if you don’t want to. This is over…” Virgil fought back, however. He wasn’t leaving. Instead, he condemned his twin brother right alongside Alexander.

“You had the nerve to talk about Dorian being Solomon’s lapdog.” Virgil tripped over his feet, nearly falling into the crowd trying to get away from Victor. “Keep kissing Alexander’s ass all you want, Victor. Just stay the hell away from me!” Virgil meant every word too. Victor and Saraphina were the two people he loved the most. One was dead and the other one slowly became a stranger to him. Unfortunately, Victor was just as horrible a person as Alexander. His complicity in their younger brother’s behaviors and the subsequent justifications of those behaviors had turned Virgil off from him for a while. Virgil knew he had to distance himself, even if that meant cutting off his relationship with his twin.

Victor begged Virgil one last time to leave with him. “Virgil…Please…” Alexander’s going to lock you away too just like her. He reached for Virgil’s hand but was rebuffed a second time. Victor was tormented over what to do. His relationship with Virgil meant more to him than his own life. They were twins. Their existence was forever tied to one another. On the other hand, Alexander was the head of the family. Who was he to challenge or criticize Alexander’s authority? Thaddeus made them promise as children to always protect and support Alexander. They had given their father their word. “Please… Virgil…. Let’s go back to our room and talk about this.” Virgil had said all he needed to and was done talking.

“I’m sorry, but no.” Virgil told Victor with tears dripping down his face. “I’m not leaving.” He threw himself on top of Saraphina. “I’m not going to leave her here like this! I won’t leave my mother!” Fed up with Virgil and his dramatics, Alexander locked eyes with Warren and signaled for him to proceed with a nod. Warren removed a syringe, which contained a powerful sedative, from his pocket. Security swarmed on Virgil and held him down while Warren injected the sedative into his neck. “You…son of a…b…” His eyelids and limbs became heavy like anchors. Virgil felt his restless mind drifting off.

“Take him back to his suite and keep him there until otherwise notified.” Warren directed. One man grabbed Virgil’s upper body while the other carried his lower half.

Victor went into a panic. He knew Alexander would punish Virgil as he did their mother. His twin had already crossed Alexander once before but was given grace since he was his brother. Alexander never gave anyone a second chance, no matter who they were to him. His biggest concern was Alexander not allowing him to visit Virgil. Victor begged for mercy on Virgil’s behalf only to be shut down. “We’ll discuss the matter at the end of the week. Until then, our dear brother will stay in his suite under heavy supervision.” Alexander rubbed Victor’s back in a circular motion. “Grief is such a terrible thing, no?” He read between the lines of Alexander’s words. Either he fell in line, or he would suffer too.

“I…see… Th-thank you…” Victor was hounded by a burgeoning weight of guilt. He looked at his mother’s body one last time. Saraphina and Victor had never been close, but he grieved her passing with the same intensity as his younger twin. Not making amends with Saraphina before her death became his greatest regret. He also secretly agreed with Virgil about Alexander being the cause of their mother’s suicide.

Alexander wrapped his arms around Victor’s torso. “Don’t worry, brother. It’s all going to be all right.” He resisted the urge to push Alexander away. There was no kindness, love, or empathy in his brother’s warped act of comfort.

“I’ll be going now.” Victor informed Alexander and Godfrey. His eyes became red from the tears forming.

Godfrey embraced Victor and told him he would check in later. “I’m deeply sorry for your loss, Victor.” Alexander spun around hiding his smug smile. Godfrey acting as a caring elder brother? Hilarious. He never cared for, liked, or loved his younger half-siblings and often bullied them as children out of jealousy.

What a buffoon. Alexander thought. Victor hugged him tightly, grateful to Godfrey and thankful for his condolences. He then left to follow after Virgil.

Godfrey kneeled beside Saraphina’s body. You won, Saraphina. Finally free of his cage. Even in death, you managed to outsmart Alexander. He made the Sign of the Cross over the woman’s body and prayed she was at rest. Alexander’s spirit was disturbed by the sight. He rolled his eyes.

“Save your prayers, Godfrey. She doesn’t deserve them.” Alexander paced back and forth in front of the body. “It’s probably loud where she’s going. Saraphina won’t be able to hear them anyways.” When Godfrey inquired about the woman’s funeral, Alexander scoffed and chortled. “An unmarked grave outside of town will do just fine for Saraphina.” The answer infuriated him.

“Alexander…what’s wrong with you?” Godfrey stood up and came at Alexander strongly. “She was your mother! Why are you allowing your hatred of Saraphina to dictate her end?” He requested a proper funeral for the woman.

Alexander’s eyes became slits. “Why are you going so hard for Saraphina of all people?” His neck craned sideways. The energy between the eldest brother and the youngest brother clashed turbulently.

“I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing this for Virgil, our brother. You know how much she meant to him. I mean, we just watched it play out for nearly thirty-something minutes before you had your bodyguard drug him like a dog.” Godfrey motioned around them with his arms. “Alexander, if you go this route, you’ll be digging another grave right beside your mother.” Godfrey did his best appealing to his brother’s humanity.

Alexander gawked cynically at the man. “Don’t play ‘Morality Cop’ with me, Godfrey.” He replied. His anger intensified. “You know, I agree with Virgil on one thing. Why are you even here? You hated us. Thaddeus had to threaten you with boarding school to make you stop tormenting us when we were barely old enough to tie our shoes.” Alexander asked what made Godfrey become so brotherly all of a sudden. Was it a near death experience or something? “You must have seen a ghost in your mirror last night-”

“Enough, Alexander!” He raised his voice to Alexander, pulling the eldest brother rank on him. Many people observing their exchange commented about how Godfrey reminded them of Thaddeus when he was alive. “This,” he pointed to Saraphina’s corpse, “isn’t about you. It’s not about me or father or anyone else. Whatever wrong Saraphina did to you, lay it to rest with her. Just do this for Virgil. You owe him that much. All these years he’s blindly followed and supported you despite not agreeing with your actions.” An astonished Alexander was rendered speechless. He saw Godfrey fighting back a horde of overwhelming emotions. His brother was actually acting on selflessness for once.

 “Mario.” Alexander summoned him forward.

 “Yes, Mr. Hightower.”

“Change of plans. Have them cremate Saraphina. Give her ashes to Virgil.” It wasn’t a burial, which most Hightowers received, but it was better than the original decision. Saraphina’s body was finally collected by Mario and some men.

Godfrey heaved a relieved sigh. “Thank you, Alexander.” He expressed genuine gratitude towards Alexander for changing his mind.

“Warren, clear out the courtyard.” It was time for a private conversation between the brothers.

“As you wish.” Warren and security ushered everyone out of the area.

Alexander, crossing his arms, leaned against a nearby column. He and Godfrey stared each other down for several minutes before starting their conversation up again. “Did you know that Saraphina killed Genevieve? Why would you plead mercy on her behalf because of Virgil?” Secondly, Saraphina treated Godfrey abysmally after she married Thaddeus. Alexander still didn’t understand why Godfrey went so hard about him wanting Saraphina buried outside town in an unmarked grave. His eldest brother should have been on his side.

Godfrey just smirked at the question. “How long have you been sitting on that information, Alexander? And are you telling me that now?” He already knew about Saraphina’s involvement in his mother’s death. “It doesn’t matter.” He raised his hand. “Find someone else to toy with, Alexander. Don’t act like you care.” He turned his head, looking down at the spot where Saraphina’s body had been.

Alexander’s eye twitched from aggravation. He strode to the other side where Godfrey was and closed the distance. He wrapped his arm around Godfrey’s shoulder. “Don’t ever presume that I care about someone as irrelevant as you, Godfrey.” Alexander told Godfrey he was merely tying up a loose end.

The reasoning made no sense to Godfrey. “What solace is that supposed to bring me in this moment?” Alexander shamelessly replied that it was up for Godfrey to decide. “You should really take up comedy once your term as mayor is over with. I think it would be a good hobby for you to retire into.” He replied, mocking Alexander further. The man bared his teeth at Godfrey out of disdain. Alexander’s sharp, manicured nails dug into the skin of Godfrey’s neck. He winced but ultimately ignored the pain because the patriarch’s vexation brought him happiness. Alexander deserved it. “You know,” Godfrey responded, twisting Alexander’s wrist, “I do owe you some kind of thanks. I mean, Saraphina was inadvertently punished. I guess my mother’s death was avenged in that aspect.” Godfrey said they could argue semantics another time. “But given that you and I despise one another, I’ll save my thanks. You don’t deserve it.” His last eight words parroted what Alexander had said to him earlier. Godfrey gave his brother a cheeky grin.

“You’ve really changed, Godfrey…” Alexander told his brother as he dusted and neatened his blazer. “There’s something different about you.” He thumped the eagle sigil on his lapel. Alexander gave him a light slap on the cheek. Godfrey replied that he had been losing weight. “No…” Alexander popped his tongue. He looked his brother over several times. “It’s not that… It’s something else.” Alexander couldn’t put his finger on it at that moment but promised he would figure it out one way or another. “Now that Saraphina’s gone, don’t get too comfortable.” Alexander warned his brother, hinting that misfortune could befall him next.

Godfrey grabbed the wrist of Alexander’s injured hand. He pressed his thumb deep into the palm causing Alexander to grit his teeth. Godfrey yanked him closer and gazed madly into his eyes. “The same can be said for you too, patriarch.”

 

Priscilla snapped her fingers in Orion’s face, stirring the man from his stupor. She hadn’t anticipated her words having such an effect on him. “Orion? Orion, do you hear me?” Orion swatted her hand out of his face.

“Yeah… I heard you loud and clear…” He grumbled. Disgruntled by the news, Orion fell back and covered his face with a pillow. “What a fucking absolute week this has been.” It had been bad news after the other. Orion was desperate to take his rage and frustration out on something or someone.

Priscilla joined Orion on the sofa and tried comforting him to no avail. “It’s been a nice ride, Orion, but I’m ready to get off now. I’m not getting any younger. I want so much more out of life and I won’t experience it here.” She was exhausted. Exhausted with being a sexual object pulled between two men. “I really, really want to get married at some point, babe and have children. I want… I’ve been wanting to leave Wych Elm so badly and experience a different life beyond this prison of a town.” Priscilla had accomplished one of the tasks she told Orion about. She had recently accepted a job position in the large city of Marindale and was relocating at the end of the month. Once Priscilla settled in nicely, she intended to enroll in college. “Orion look at me, please.” Priscilla tore the pillow from his face. She asked Orion a tough question. “Orion, do you…love me?” Priscilla revealed to Orion that she was in love with him and had been so for a while. He made her feel special in a way the Red Hound had never.

The question blindsided Orion and sent him spiraling into a full blown panic. He stammered over his words, trying to come up with the answer. “I-I-I… I don’t… I’m not- I don’t know. I honestly don’t know…” Flustered and embarrassed, Orion covered his face again. He wasn’t prepared for such a challenging question.

“I…figured as much.” Priscilla sighed disappointingly. His answer deeply saddened her, although she wasn’t at all shocked by it. “Exactly why it’s come to this.” Priscilla, hurt, reiterated her words from earlier. The words that had stunned Orion. “Our sexual relationship is over with now. Please don’t-don’t come back here anymore.” Even if Orion did, Priscilla would be long gone.

Orion removed the pillow from his face. He sat up and looked around the living room taking in the scenery. Several boxes of Priscilla’s belongings had already been packed and taped closed. There were some clothes, shoes, makeup, and other things chaotically scattered around the room waiting to be packed next. The dishes, from the meal they ate yesterday evening, were waiting to be washed. It was over. Priscila was really leaving.

“This isn’t because of the Red Hound, is it?” Priscilla struck Orion with the pillow, furious. Of course, he assumed the end of their relationship had something to do with Ishmael and not about what Priscilla wanted for herself. The question was insulting.

“This stupid beef you and Ishmael have with one another will be the death of you both, if neither of you don’t stop.” Priscilla honestly didn’t care about Ishmael and what happened to him. She didn’t love him. She loved Orion and feared for his wellbeing every time he came to her apartment complaining about the sheriff. Ishmael was far more dangerous than Orion realized. She prayed over the hard-headed man every time he walked out of her door.

Orion threw the pillow across the room. “You sound exactly like my irritating sister.” He groaned frustratedly, punching the back cushions.

“Good! You need to keep hearing it. I’m glad one of you turned out to be the intelligent one.” Priscilla literally got down on her knees and begged Orion to come with her to Marindale. She wanted him to abandon his suicide mission. She knew, just like Roxanne, that he would never succeed and it would only prolong his personal misery. “Bring your sister and cousin too! They can come with. I’m sure they want to leave this place as badly as I do.” Priscilla said with an anxious smile, hoping the suggestion was enough to sway him.

“No…” Orion’s firm answer only further upset Priscilla, and she demanded an explanation. “Because there’s no turning back now for me. The bridge is already burning.” The cryptic response made her scratch her head. “Look, Priscilla.” Orion took her hand and kissed it. Priscilla’s stomach churned. She knew she wasn’t going to like what Orion said next. “Go and live your life. I wish you well on the next chapter.” His voice began cracking. Orion was torn up about their breakup too, though he tried to hide it for Priscilla’s sake. He didn’t want her to leave, honestly, but knew keeping her there in that cage with him was selfish. She would have grown to hate him just like Roxanne had. Orion didn’t want that. “I really envy the man who makes you his wife. I know he’s going to love you like I couldn’t and give you everything you need and want.” Lastly, Orion leaned in and kissed Priscilla tenderly. That was the last kiss they shared.

Orion’s kind words didn’t move Priscilla, however. She beat angrily against his chest out of frustration. Her eyes swelled with tears heavier than stones. “I hate you so much Orion…” She said contradicting her earlier words. Priscilla didn’t mean what she said though. She only wanted Orion to hurt like she was hurting. The conversation was over just like their relationship. Neither side would budge or change their minds. They had no choice but to go their separate ways. Priscilla popped up, ran into her bedroom and slammed the door close. He listened to her painfully sobbing on the other side. Orion’s heart began aching terribly. He placed his hand to his chest, wishing he could comfort Priscilla. It was for the best he left her alone. He saw himself out, locking the door behind him.

 Goosebumps formed all over Orion’s skin the moment he stepped out into the cool, misty breeze of the early morning. He had forgotten to bring a light jacket with him when he stormed from the house.  “Fucking Roxanne.” The blame for Orion’s lack of planning fell on his sister. “I hope Lyra cooked breakfast this morning.” He rubbed his arms, trying to warm up a little. His trek home would take about thirty-something minutes. Orion hoped he wouldn’t freeze to death before then. The conversation between him and Priscilla haunted Orion like a vengeful ghost. He tried and failed to push their earlier sentimental moment to the back of his mind. However, it wouldn’t go away. The bothered man stopped by a nearby pond to skip rocks as a distraction from his thoughts. But it only forced him to reflect on and confront them.

His sexual relationship with Priscilla was supposed to be a means to an end. He charmed and seduced her, hoping she would share secrets about Ishmael to him. Orion had no intention of making Priscilla fall in love with him. He had no idea how he even made that happen either. Her romantic feelings for Orion left him baffled when he had nothing to his name. No family. No money. No status. Not even a decent house. Why would Priscilla fall in love with someone like him? “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you to your face, Priscilla. Just know that I’ll regret my decision until my last breath.” Orion was madly in love with Priscilla too but only the wind and God would know his secret. Whenever he was with her, she eased his restless mind and troubled soul. They shared many a happy moments and laughs together. It was never his intention to fall in love with her either. 

Had the trajectory of his life turned out differently, Orion would have married Priscilla without hesitation. He would have happily made her a lady of the Morgenstern family. “Royal purple would have looked gorgeous on you.” Orion didn’t believe he was good enough for Priscilla and that she deserved someone a lot better than him. He felt like he would have only held her back from her full potential, like a cage. “I was cursed to be my father’s son, Priscilla. It’s why I’m the way I am. It’s why I do the things I do.” The somber man looked down at his reflection. “We always have something to prove, even if it destroys us.” Orion looked towards the sky. “The brightest stars always burnout the fastest.” He skipped one last rock then resumed his walk back to the house.

As Orion rounded the corner, he collided violently with a young boy who was running. “What the fuck?” Their collision knocked the wind out of Orion. He angrily shoved the boy to the ground and scolded him.

“Oh! Sorry...” The boy replied in an unapologetic tone. His dark, lifeless eyes reminded Orion of dark caves. Weirded out, he avoided the boy’s gaze during their interaction. Orion wondered where he knew the dead-eyed boy from. The youth looked awfully familiar.

 “Yeah, well… Just watch where you’re go-” The boy jumped up and started running again. “What…the hell?” He took off like the devil was on his heels. The entire incident was strange to Orion. “Weird ass kid…” He checked his pockets, making sure the kid hadn’t pickpocketed him when they collided. “What’s this?” Orion removed a crimson envelope stamped with a golden lion. The color and sigil of the Crimson Hightowers. He turned around but the boy was long gone. Orion decided to open the letter; he pulled out four sheets of paper folded within each other. His eyes got bigger and bigger as he absorbed the information. “There’s… There’s no way…! I… I can’t believe what I’m seeing.” Orion had to brace himself against the fence. The information contained in those papers stole his breath away, harder than when he collided with the boy. All he could only cackle from the happiness. His bad luck did a one-eighty. Orion finally had the leverage needed to humble Alexander. His family’s seat among the High Families would become his in the end after all.

 

Upon Alexander’s return to his suite, he put on his favorite record and poured himself a well-deserved glass of wine. It had been quite an overwhelming morning for him. He was approached by his butler once again. The man held up two different red suits and asked which one Alexander preferred to wear for work. “Go ahead and put them away for today.” The mayor decided to take bereavement for the entire week. “Make sure my office is informed, please.”

 The butler bowed. “As you wish, Mayor Hightower. Again, I offer my condolences.” Alexander thanked him then turned around and gave his butler the day off. Before the he departed, Alexander told him to let everyone know he wasn’t to be disturbed until after noon. He needed time to grieve his mother’s tragic and untimely death. “I’ll get on it.”

 Alexander settled into his armchair. Some minutes later, he found himself unable to get comfortable due to a nagging feeling. He got up, walked over to his desk, reached into a drawer, and pulled out a family photo they took many years ago. Alexander had recently turned three, the twins were five, and Godfrey was thirteen. Saraphina had him seated in her lap with her other arm wrapped around Virgil who was latched onto her tightly. Victor was in a high-top chair behind them with Thaddeus in the middle and Godfrey on the left.  “No one could have anticipated how dysfunctional our family would have turned out after looking at this photo.” He ran his thumb over the glass. “Hmm…” Alexander studied the photo before he ultimately tossed it into the trash bin.

“How does it feel, Mayor Hightower?” Orion paused the music. “Losing both of your parents now?” There was a dark scowl on his face.

Alexander perched on his desk and eyed Orion. He wondered how the weasel managed to trespass into his suite, let alone onto his estate. His morning, which had started off horrendously and turned good, went back to being horrendous again. Alexander had hoped giving the Rosenheims membership into the High Families would have forced Orion out of Wych Elm for good. The mayor realized he had severely underestimated Orion’s annoying nature. “We all have to die at some point.” He shrugged. “I enjoyed the years I had with them. More than you ever did with your parents.” Orion grabbed the record and snapped it. The record was Alexander’s favorite; it’s destruction pissed him off several degrees. “You came here for something, and it wasn’t to offer your condolences.” He picked up the paper weight and tossed it up and down in his hand. Orion braced himself in case Alexander planned to throw it at him.

“You’re right. I did.” Orion told him they were long overdue for a specific conversation. Alexander decided to humor him and motioned to one of the empty chairs in front of his desk. “I’ll stand.” He didn’t plan on being there long so there was no point in him getting comfortable. “Can you put some clothes on though? I would appreciate that.” Orion covered his eyes with his hand. Alexander still wore his bathrobe with nothing underneath. He had been in such a hurry to see Saraphina’s body that he never bothered to change.

Finding the request silly, Alexander giggled and told Orion to deal with it. “You invaded my space. Your discomfort isn’t my problem or my concern.” Alexander toyed with Orion, undoing the belt from his robe. “Better hurry if you don’t want a strip tease.” His taunting and laughter stroked the flames of Orion’s irritation. “Speak.” Alexander ordered.

“I’m owed what I’m due for my loyalty, Alexander.” The mayor howled shamelessly with laughter harder than earlier. His stomach began to cramp up.

“You are owed nothing. And you are in no position to make demands of me.” Alexander cautioned Orion. The man picked a very bad day to incite his rage. “Go and ask your father what happens when you cross a Hightower or the High Families.” Alexander approached Orion, closing in on him like he was helpless prey. He still threw and caught the paper weight. “You wouldn’t be in this situation right now had your father’s hubris not blinded him.” Orion, furious, clenched his teeth and fists. “Oh? Is my little puppy angry with his master? You want me to rub your belly? Would that make you feel better?” The patronizing questions were the final straw for Orion.

But remembering what he came there for, Orion calmed his temper and took several deep breaths. “These are my demands.” He proceeded, disregarding everything Alexander had said up until that point. “You will call a meeting with all the High Families, the Rosenheims are excluded.” He paused then changed his mind. “Scratch that, include the Rosenheims as well.” Orion told Alexander they would reinstate his family’s seat but excommunicate the DeSanguis in turn. The Rosenheims could remain in their [DeSanguis] place.

 Alexander lost his amusement. His laughing ceased and his smile vanished. All that remained was a dark expression of hatred. He threw the paper weight at Orion’s feet. The man was surprised Alexander didn’t aim for his head. “Orion, oh, Orion… Ishmael was right; you are a stupid child in a man’s world.” Alexander pinned Orion against the wall by his neck. “And what will you do, should I not meet your demands?” He sinisterly asked. His hold on the other man’s neck tightened. “You don’t want to trifle with me. I can and I will become something worse than a nightmare.” Alexander grimaced, but it wasn’t towards Orion and his audacious nonsense. It was his chest; his chest began to burn and hurt excruciatingly which made Alexander release Orion’s neck. The intense pain had him hunched over on his knees before Orion. The flare up had forced Alexander into a position of weakness and that was unacceptable. What rotten timing.

Orion basked in Alexander’s suffering, taunting and berating him as he did others. He could have killed Alexander had he wanted to, but that wasn’t his nature. Alexander was a killer, not Orion. Alexander could have wronged him in a thousand other ways and Orion wouldn’t have been able to find the strength or anger inside him to kill Alexander or even Ishmael.

If you take someone’s life, Orion. Be ready to deal with the storm of consequences and emotions that will follow. His father had said to him. The deceased man had been the same way. He wasn’t a cold-hearted killer like the rest of the High Families and refused to be, even though his family were no better than them. While Orion admired that aspect about his father, he couldn’t help but wonder if that mentality played a part in his father’s end along with his family.

“What’s wrong, Mayor Hightower? You wouldn’t happen to have some kind of heart condition, would you?” As Orion circled around Alexander, the pain worsened to the point where he became lightheaded. He was determined to remain conscious. When the pain brought on lightheadedness, he often passed out. “The other heads don’t know about it, do they? You’re afraid of them finding out. Never thought the Great Alexander could feel fear.” He mocked the man up and down. But Orion flew a little too close to the sun. He slipped up and hinted to Alexander the information he read in the envelope. That slip up solidified Orion’s downfall.

“Fine…” Alexander winced struggling back to his feet. The sensation in his chest made it difficult for him to talk. Orion was compassionate enough to help him into a chair. “I’ll call the meeting…” He loudly groaned, throwing his head back.

 “I’m glad we’ve come to an agreement.” Orion made a promise to Alexander. The next generation of the Morgenstern family would pledge their undying support and loyalty to the Crimson Hightowers. “We will be your right hand and your left.” They would enforce Alexander’s rules and punish those who challenged him. Lastly, Orion gave Alexander his word he would never betray him so long as Alexander never backstabbed him.

Alexander seemingly accepted the naïve man’s terms. “Give me the week to speak with the others. Solomon aside, the other three family heads will back me without question.” Having heard what he needed to hear, Orion excused himself, leaving Alexander in agony.

“That bastard of a quack lied to me!” Alexander yelled as he stumbled drunkenly into the bathroom. “It’s not fucking working like he said it would! I knew it wouldn’t!” He searched for his heart medication. In a fit of blind rage, Alexander knocked everything off the counter onto the floor. When he found his medication bottle, he fell out on the cold tile floor. The previous heart medication Alexander took was discontinued. The new one was supposed to work more efficiently than the predecessor. It wasn’t, however, because Alexander still experienced breakthrough episodes and excruciating pain associated with his heart condition. He popped two more capsules when he found the strength to get off the floor and chased them with his wine, even though it wasn’t recommended. “Ishmael…” He phoned the Red Hound. “You can have the star’s head.” It was time for Orion to die. He had uncovered damning information about Alexander. How did someone as stupid as him get that information? He trembled from the anger.

Ishmael told Alexander how much he had been waiting for that phone call. He was so excited he was almost howling like an actual dog. “Guessing that little asshole took it a little too far this time.” It didn’t matter. Orion would be dead before the week was out, per Ishmael.

Alexander limped back into his bed. The pain and burning began to subside but they never went away completely. In a few hours or so, the flare up would start again. He gave Orion credit when it came to his brazen stupidity. In the face of a monster greater than him, Orion didn’t back down. He charged, without fear or concern for his own survival, straight into its maw knowing there was no way out. “You can’t win against me, Orion. No one can. No one has beat me at this game.” Alexander believed he was untouchable because so many people had tried to destroy him before. None of them succeeded. It made him cocky as a result. “Do you hear me, demon? You’re there outside my window again, aren’t you?” Alexander raised up, clutching his chest, and looked out the window where the Bound Man swung back and forth in the tree. “You tried using the Morgensterns as your pawns and look how that ended for them?” He sneered with disgust at the entity. Alexander told the Bound Man they had failed before, and it would happen again. Wych Elm was his domain, and the Bound Man was powerless against him.

 

Author's Note:  This series...will unfortunately be going on another hiatus sooner than anticipated. Mild spoiler (can you really call it a spoiler though?): The next chapter will shift to Lucia's character and her story/role in the overall plot. Out of all my characters, I've been struggling with Lucia's arc and direction the most. And given that I've been experiencing writer's fatigue with this series (this always happens when I focus on one series for a while instead of alternating between my other stories), I don't want the next chapter to suffer. I can always see the difference in my quality of writing when I'm inspired and into a chapter vs when I'm becoming fatigued with it. And while I'm content with this chapter right now, I feel like it could have been written better (I may come back and edit it later. We'll see).

I won't be taking an extended hiatus from my overall writing, however. I'm going to work on some other stories and then come back to this one when I feel up to it. I will though be taking a break from writing these next few days. I'm taking some online course modules so I can possibly move into a different career field. I've only completed 2 modules so far. I still have 13 more to complete. I tried finding a balance between these two tasks, but it's not working out like I wanted. So, I'm going to get the modules done while I'm off from work these next 4 days. Stay tune!