I think it's about time that I start introducing the ladies of the story.  We'll see them more in the next few chapters. Pic of Loki on the side. 

::CHAPTER 4::

Two weeks had passed and things were just the same as always. Contrary to what my psychiatrist hoped, I still felt nothing. Contrary to what my advisor wanted, I refused to marry. Contrary to the internet reviews, my medication didn’t work and it was no surprise that I still killed. More or less things went on as usual.

There was yet another heart in my collection and I was proud of it. Unfortunately for me Samuel wasn’t. As a result, here I sat…in a pew…in church. A Catholic church. Devout people everywhere. Up front was Samuel Di Lorient, the most well loved priest of Trinity Church. He brought me here because he thought he could ‘help me’.

I think it goes without saying that I felt uneasy in here. My mind and body knew I didn’t belong in this place. My stomach turned, my head ached and I wanted nothing more than to get out. I had been warned about bursting into flames by a teasing Sam earlier. He made me promise to run outside first since the building was forty percent wood. It seemed like a joke at the time but an hour and a half later, I was beginning to wonder if I really would burst into flames. It had nothing to do with being immortal. There were dozens of immortals kneeling around me. It probably had more to do with my sin-grounded soul that caused my unease.

When it was over – after a ridiculously long service – I was outside before anyone else. Samuel took his sweet time to come meet me. Hopping into the car I was silent for the entire ride. We went straight to my office when we got home.

“You still pissed?”

“Let’s get one thing straight,” I glared, “What happened this evening…never happening again. This was the first and last time. Understood?”

“If you would go more often you—.”

“Understood?”

“Yes. Fine. I thought if medication and counseling didn’t help, we could try a spiritual approach.”

“Last…time…”

I walked away. He would be better off not to so much as suggest that I try that again. It was long. It was tiring. It was painful. I wasn’t spiritual in any way so I had no idea what Samuel was trying to accomplish by dragging me there. The only impact it had was to make me irritated enough to want to strangle him.

A quick shower and a change of clothes later and I was back in the office. Sam was waiting there in the same seat I’d left him in. He glanced up as I sat across from him. My eyes rested on him. A calm stare, long and unblinking. He met my gaze.

“Alright alright. I thought it over and I’m sorry. I won’t make you go again.”

“You’d be an idiot to think that you could get me to.”

“I’m guessing that I’m not forgiven?”

“I do not forgive,” I murmured, “But I’ll forget it this time.”

“Good. On to business. Where are we on this so-called take over plan of yours?”

“One down, four to go.”

“Wait. What do you mean one down? I thought we were still in the planning stages,” he sat up straighter, “How did you manage that so quickly? You didn’t consult with me about anything.”

“I don’t tell you everything, Samuel. I didn’t need your help. Father always left me to oversee everything to do with military and combat. I have a strong group of men and women at hand. Plus I have the ability to conduct the kind of military operations that would make Russia moan and Germany’s toes curl.”

“So you used your own guys to do this? Who did you attack?”

“El Kentji. Their army is small enough for my men to overthrow, but powerful enough to be an asset. They have been more useful than I imagined. Their style of fighting is barbaric in the most practiced of ways.”

“Can they be controlled?”

I laughed, “Like an arcade video game.”

“So what now?”

“Now that we have more manpower, we can aim for slightly bigger fish. But first I want to have the guys trained. A few sparring sessions between them should give me an idea for better training for my own men. I’m looking at conquering Torien when they are ready to work together.”

“Torien? That’s a big move. I heard that their President is ruthless.”

“And what am I? A Disney princess?” I raised a brow, “I can be ruthless when I put my mind to it. Give my guys some months of training and we’ll have Torien. And when I have all five immortal armies added to mine, I can go for Loki’s city…Bvendini. Humans have no idea how to kill an immortal without using sunlight. With the seven strongest immortal armies in the world banded together we can very well do this.”

“You may be twisted, but no one can say you lack ambition,” Sam shook his head, “This may actually work.”

“It will. First, I have to meet with Loki today.”

“For what?”

“A little chat about what happened in the castle two weeks ago,” I fixed my belt and stood up, “He can get away with what happened because I was not there and it was my father’s house. Now that I’m back and the castle is mine, we need to talk. That stunt he played isn’t going to be repeated. I’ll be back later.”

“Stunt? Killing seven members of your family isn’t a stunt. It’s a tragedy.”

“Not unless I was one of those seven members and I wasn’t. I’m going to make sure he doesn’t get any bright eyes about returning to finish the job.”

“Speaking of job, when you have all of these militants to finish off this plan where are you going to keep them?”

“On the outskirts of the castle. I have a place being set up for more of them.”

“They may start warring with each other if you aren’t careful.”

That wasn’t going to be a problem. I had a better handle on this than he thought. Taking the jet, I was able to fly south. I preferred to fly than to sail when travelling to Bvendini. It was faster and I didn’t have to endure the smell of salt water. The plane landed a little over an hour later. From there I went to the gateway and entered the underground city of Bvendini. Loki had converted the city to a Below Society so that people would be able to leave their homes at any hour of the day. If things went as planned, the entrance tunnels would be their downfall in time.

The tunnels were lined with lanterns embedded into the roughness of the dirt walls. With every few steps I went sloping downwards more. I walked down for a half an hour before it expanded into a large city. The sudden brightness made me blink a few times. Faux solar light acted as their sun and NextGEN skies stretched on overhead. If I didn’t know better I would think that I was above ground again. Large buildings and houses lined obsessively clean streets. Cars and buses swerved around. It was hard to see where the city started and ended. I was able to get a taxi to take me to the closest street to Loki’s mansion.

Immortals and humans passed me on the streets. None of them paid me any attention. I went to the front entrance and as I reached out to touch the twin, ten foot tall gates they swung open. Security persons searched me before I was able to step any further. I wasn’t stupid enough to come in armed. Bvendini was one of the largest and strongest cities in the world. Loki’s security would be the cream of the crop.

When I was released, one of the officers radioed Loki to warn him of a visitor. I walked up the winding, pebbled walkway and brushed my hand over the NextGEN Fauna 1.0 trees. They were designed to flourish underground. It grew without water or sunlight and only needed soil and NextGEN artificial light.

NextGEN was Loki’s multibillion dollar company. It made artificial nature by altering and manipulating existing nature. Everything from sunlight and skies to trees and oxygen. He was able to harness and maneuver science in the more innovative ways. His work belonged farther in the future but had found its haven in 2045. Underground cities invested a lot of money in NextGEN and it generated hundreds by the second. Even my psychiatrist had his ‘outdoor’ room decorated with NextGEN products.

I crossed the bridge, walked over the river and into the mansion. Another four guards. Loki was waiting in the hallway. His lips smiled but his eyes were marking my every twitch. The bastard is wary. Good.

“Hello Loki.”

“Good day, Alejo. Walking into the lion’s den aren’t we?”

“More like the cub’s den. The lion is dead.”

“So I’ve heard. How sad.”

“Yes. Sad. Killed by his cub too,” I took a seat in the living room.

The room was a splurging display of wealth in white and silver, expensive decorations and an aquatic theme. There was water everywhere; crystal vases with water and lilies, waterfall ornaments and an enormous, floor-to-ceiling aquarium that lined most of the living room. Fishes of all sizes and species swam to their heart’s content. The tank made the room glow blue.

He sat opposite me. “Well the lion had it coming. If his homicidal son didn’t kill him, one of the others surely would have. Which one was it? You?”

“We both know that it was you. Cut the crap.”

“Me? Murder my father? My father by blood not venom? Alejo, dear brother, you slit the throat of my pride.”

“Ironic choice of words. That’s how he died. A slitting of the throat.”

“You hurt my feelings. I’m weeping on the inside. It wasn’t me.”

“Oh really? Who else in the world has the manpower to overthrow my Guard. And why was the weapon left behind? Most murderers cover their tracks…except you. It’s a tactic you love to use.”

“Is it?” Loki smiled.

“Aside from that, I know your weaponry signature. It was you,” I crossed my legs.

“Fine. Since you won’t let it go, let us pretend that it was me. For a few minutes let us say that I did take the final swipe at daddy dearest. Why would you come here knowing that I killed your entire family? What would stop me from beheading you right now?”

“Because you wanted them out of the way. As much as you hate me, you won’t hurt me. Not yet at least.”

He scoffed, almost choking on a glass of water. “Where did you get that stupid idea? No offence.”

“Common sense.”

“You used common sense and got that answer? Well that explains so much,” he muttered.

“You are an innovator, an inventor, a man with a mind that runs on creativity. Men like you can’t stand to be stagnant in life. Not going anywhere. Stuck in a place where nothing happens. No one challenges you, competes with you, tests your wit. No one but me. Even your inventions are made to rival my own.”

“And? What’s your point?”

“If you kill me, what will be your position? What would you do all day? What will be your motivation? Who will relieve you from an eternity hounded by routine, schedules and pre-planning? Without me, you have nothing new to look forward to,” I dipped my fingers into the tiny crystal pool beside me, “You would go insane.”  

“In other words you think I need you.”

“Other less arrogant words. Yes.”

“I see,” he locked eyes with me.

“Let’s face it, you hate me the most and yet you waited until I was gone to strike. I bet this mansion has a stash of your little immortal-killing-daggers all over and yet I’m alone in your house with you and I’m still breathing. There’s nothing stopping you from outing my lights right now. We who live forever rarely come across anything or anyone that interests us. Nothing new or exciting. You are the last person in the world able to do that for me and vice versa.”

“So you need me around as much as I need you?”

“For now.”

Loki finished the glass of water and placed it on the table top. He gazed into the aquarium. “What do we do now, brother?” he murmured, “I plan to have that inheritance of yours eventually. But what am I going to do with the world of power and money and nothing to push me? I am afraid of a life of routine.”

“I know you are. I hate routine as much as you do. It’s why you’re still alive right now,” I smiled.

“Is that why?” he chuckled, “I wondered.”

“While we’re on the topic of your life…I would really appreciate it if you would keep your distance from my castle and my own life. What happened to my family is not going to happen to me. I may not want to harm you but mark my words Loki, if you try to take my life I will retaliate. Are we clear?”

He stared at me for a long moment. I thought he wasn’t going to respond until… “Let’s go for a swim, little brother,” he stood up and led the way to an outdoor pool. Opening a gliding, glass door he went out. Light breeze blew and the sunlight was warm on our skin. His inventions surrounded us. I spotted the panel that controlled the NextGEN Br-Ease IV.

We stripped and a maid was waiting with hangers to take the clothes. She handed us trunks and I joined Loki in the water moments after he stepped in. The change of attire and setting would lull most people into relaxing around him but I kept a constant eye on the other man. I wasn’t stupid enough to forget that just because he wouldn’t kill me didn’t mean he wouldn’t injure me. He had a strange idea of play.

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{Third Person POV}

Loki and Alejo spoke as they cooled off in the pool. They were used to talking in double meanings to each other. Alejo had come expecting his half brother to deny everything and he wasn’t disappointed. In denying though, Loki had acknowledged doing the deed in a way only his rival would get. Their loathing was equal and mutual but there was a strange relationship between the two that no one could quite put their finger on.

It was odd when Alejo and Loki, who were the youngest and the eldest siblings in the family, formed their bond. They were born and raised in two different times. Alejo was born in the 1800s while Loki had been alive countless centuries before that in an era of pyramids and tombs and pharaohs. Both picked up on language as time went on but Loki preferred the language ‘of gentlemen and ladies’ and not the ‘common garbage of today’. Alejo liked a healthy mixture of the two. Both men talked for hours as they milled in the water.

Ana looked through the glass doors at the pair. She stood behind the pillar near the kitchen, trying to figure out who the new vampire was. She could only see the back of the man’s head but there was a rumor circulating the mansion and she hoped it was true. She had only lived under Loki’s roof for three months. It was about the same time when Alejo had left for his trip to Rome. There was no way for her to know what exactly happened between the brothers for sure.

She tucked a lock of red behind her ear. It was impossible to hear the conversation at this distance, but she strained her ear. For once she wished that she had the hearing of a vampire. She suspected who the stranger might be but she wasn’t sure from this distance. From the whispers that she had heard around the mansion, Loki had organized a wipeout of his own family with the exception of one. The wipeout was planned to take place before this brother returned home. If the stranger was who she thought he was, she was looking at Alejo Mercutio Veracci; the last surviving member of Loki’s family next to Loki himself. She owned a replica painting of his from his 1957 collection.

She was a big fan of his work but she wasn’t too sure about the person. There were a lot of shady rumors surrounding the dark haired, blue eyed ex-Militant. His fan sites could never keep up with his personal life as he stayed out of sight most times. There weren’t many pictures of him online. She craned her neck a little more and peered at her Master. It was hard to read his lips from this distance. Loki turned his head at that moment and spotted her. Before she could duck behind the pillar, he caught her eye. A two-finger beckon from him and she swallowed her nerves.

“Yes, can you bring us something to drink?” Loki asked when she came to him, “Thank you.”

“An A Negative for me, please. Bring the bottle unopened with no straw.”

“You think I’d have her poison you?” he scoffed, “I have more finesse.”

“Which is exactly why I wouldn’t ordinarily see it coming. You can easily use that against me.”

“Hmm. That was clever of me.”

Ana darted back to the kitchen and grabbed two bottles from the mini warmer. In the other hand she brought two glasses. Outside, the men were laughing about something.

“Thank you, darling. You saved a life here,” Alejo said with a smile that had the effect of a wink.

“Keep your eyes to yourself,” Loki smiled.

“If you would introduce me to some of your friends sometimes then I wouldn’t have to introduce myself. Are you that embarrassed of me, brother?”

“Oh no the shame is much worse than I let on, but I hold back so you won’t feel bad. I don’t introduce you to anyone because I happen to like my live-in humans alive.”

“In that case I’ll make my own introductions. Hello I am Alejo, Loki’s brother. And you are?”

Ana shook the hand but didn’t reply. She couldn’t reply. “She was born a mute. I could translate if you like,” Loki said.

“No need. Do you sign?” he asked her.

She nodded.

“Then talk to me, darling,” Alejo said tone gentle, “What’s your name?”

“Ana,” she signed, “I’m Ana.”

“I hope we get a chance to talk again soon, Ana.”

His words were harmless but his voice spoke of far more sinful pleasures than simple conversation. The response he invoked wasn’t wavering; a pink flush over freckled cheeks. “You can go now, Ana,” Loki said voice hard. She looked away and slipped out of the outdoor room.

“Blushes easily I see.”

“She’s very shy,” Loki said.

“I see that. I also saw how you got her away pretty quickly. Are you shielding your maid from me for some reason?”

“Yes. The last thing I need is to have you talking to my staff or anyone else living here. You are only pleasant when there’s a motive and I know fully well that you don’t want her. You’re not truly interested in any woman. You want any information that she might have on me. Well I’ll make sure that your flirting will go unnoticed next time.”

“Hostile are we?” I opened the bottle and took a sip after a precautionary sniff.

“You’re one to talk.”

While the two men had lunch, Ana had disappeared to the laundry room downstairs. Her sister was busy separating the darks and whites. “You wouldn’t believe who’s upstairs. Who was just flirting with me,” she signed. The other, slightly younger, girl looked at an absolutely bouncing Ana.

“Who?”

“Let me give you a hint. He’s tall with dark hair and blue eyes, he’s my favorite artist of all time and he’s Loki’s brother!”

“And you wonder why people ask if I’m older. Calm down. His flirting was probably nothing. Sorry to break it to you sis, but I hear Alejo Veracci’s a psycho. Not just crazy psycho. Like completely disturbed, needs professional help kind of psycho.”

“It’s all a part of his allure.”

“Allure? Being a murderer is alluring?”

“I just meant that’s what makes his work so alluring. The paintings and sketches. It’s amazing and dark and raw and gosh if you saw him,” she signed in reply, “Like someone from a different century. His face looks like one of the actors from those old movies.”

“Is he handsome?”

“Does it matter? Alejo Veracci is in this house. I mean he’s got something about him, sure,” she signed, “A sort of…I can’t explain it. It’s his charm I think. It’s dangerous and kind of arrogant but it’s so apart of him that it works.”

“Oh. He’s the charm his way into your pants type. The bad boy. Sounds like a waste-of-time excuse for a guy if you ask me, but if that’s what you’re into.”

“Oh hush. I’ve been a fan of his work since I first started art classes. You know that.”

“Yeah, but now you sound as though you’re more interested in checking out his ass than his art,” her sister teased.

Ana stuck out her tongue and hopped onto the washing machine. She adored her sister, but it was no secret that the other girl didn’t like Loki. Alejo, by default, was hated for being worse than his brother. It didn’t matter to Ana. She was star struck. This was like an art student being introduced to a young Picasso in his prime. As much as she knew her Master despised his brother, she couldn’t help but fall under the spell of the vamp that was now soaking half naked in the pool above.

He was notoriously reckless and yet so very controlled. He was raw talent and yet was known for much more. His work had the world of passion and spoke of the dark and tortured scenes from the victim’s point of view and yet he was incapable of empathizing with such emotions. Alejo killed humans for food and yet his name ironically meant ‘protector of mankind’. With centuries of blood on his hands and a smile to charm a king cobra, the man was a contradiction. An enigma. A reason to make someone who was a enthusiast even more entranced.

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Man it's been a while since I've last uploaded. Now that exams are over and I'm on vacation I'm trying to catch up with all the writing. And I know I've only been uploading 1 story but I'm really working on 3 stories at the same time so things will be a bit hectic before it calms down again.