The whispers say he died, came to life a different being, those far away witnessed the destruction he left in his wake, those near never lived to tell the tale, they turned to dust.

I am not even sure I exist in this world, what I do know is that as long as I smile, I am alive.

Lael.

Lael Mercia.

Having been through what he'd gone through, made him a different person, ofcourse he'd healed past most of his trauma but some of it lingered, you could never truly understand him though, even to himself, —he was a mystery, yet there was a certain luster to him an undeniable need to be good to him even if everything told you otherwise. WestEnd mornings in Orris city were some of the best, the people were always lively and every one regarded each other with respect, and animosity towards those who weren't part of their large neighborhood. "Good morning Lael, come back from your run alright?" The baker greeted happily as Lael walked into his shop just as he opened. "Morning Con, yeah, it was good, what do you have for me today?" Lael asked as he tightened the scrunchie holding his lower shoulder raven hair in a pony tail. "Your special as always, I have a bit of news for ya', the Morrisons are opening a pub down the next block, hoping to grab some of your clientele, most folks down 're told 'em it's a bad idea, but they seem adamant." Con explained as he came over to the counter and handed Lael his packages.

The news of the Morrisons had caused a stir in him, he wondered why they would even try open a pub so close to the stag, it was a foolish idea. "Thanks Con, and no worries, I'm pretty sure they'll learn their lesson on their own." Lael replied as he patted the chubby baker on the shoulder before turning to leave. "Oh, —I'll send Rod with the cover for my tab and the payment for our previous order." Lael added and Con waved him off. "It's okay Lael, you'd never cheat me on cash, have a good one!" Con replied happily as more customers walked into the bakery, most if not all of them waving at Lael. "Morning Lael, radiant as always." That would be one of the deputies who worked at the local police station in WestEnd. "Good morning officer Dale, that uniform looking good on you, you left your ring at the stag last night, come pick it up later." Lael replied causing the tall officer's cheeks to flush.

"Uh —yeah, you found it." He stuttered and Lael chuckled. "Don't worry Dale, I won't tell if you buy me a drink." He smoothly replied with a wink and Dale seemed to brighten up, his poker face coming on with a charming smile on his lips. "Definitely, for you, — I'll even make it a double." Dale exclaimed as Lael smiled and waved the officer goodbye. The secret to running a great business, satisfy your clientele and they'll keep coming back, Lael knew that rule by heart as did all his workers. "Hey Lael!" Dale called out as he jogged over to him since he'd walked away. "Yeah—?" The raven head turned to face the human officer. "I heard a rumour floating around at the station, there's a new mafia don coming into city, he's living in the north, already established his territory and a connection with the police, the other two dons don't seem frazzled or anything but they are tightening their leashes, so if you notice new faces at the stag it's 'em." Dale explained in a hushed voice and Lael couldn't help wonder what another mafia would do to the city, keeping the peace with just two of them plus the mob was hard enough.

"Thanks Dale, I'll look into it and will keep my staff informed, thanks for the tip." Lael replied genuinely, it's information like this that kept his business on the safe side. Orris city had the modern suburbia look, the city, the many different people, it was a good place, a mixture of all that was mystic creatures such as Lael and all his staff at the stag, and humans some aware and others who weren't, they lived in harmony, as crimes committed by mystic kind were taken care off by mystic kind and those human were taken care of by humans, at times or most of the times, they were a joint force, keeping Orris city safe for those blissfully unaware. Lael and a lot of the people in WestEnd knew better, the dark side existed and not only in WestEnd but the city itself, it was kill or be killed and since WestEnd was in the middle of neutral territory, turf wars, mystic killings, occult killings, dark deaths and deals, it all happened here, until Lael arrived, so many years back and bought the building which was now his home and also called The Stag.

Eight stories high, able to accomdate everything and everyone that was close to him. Lael used the main double doors, which were made of bulletproof glass like all the windows of the stag, reinforced with his magic, no mystic could break in, tested and proven so many times when idiotic rogues tried to barge in and steal whatever they could. The ground floor was a bar with a grey steel minimalist feel to it, the seats and bar stools with the colour black and silver to keep with the theme  even the neon light above the bar, it was a large area since most patrons got roudy during football season. The first floor was the lounge, two separate sets of spiral stairs took you up there, it was an exclusive area for the businessmen who preferred to stay away from the local rug rats as most of them referred to the locals or the lower class people who came to the bar, the rustic feel combined with sophisticated mordern design made the lounge seem as if it were a five star hotel, from the comfortable water proof couches, to the fully stocked heavily expensive bar, plus the open balcony with its bean cushions for the party girls or college students who wanted a fun night with their sugar daddies, Lael offered it and didn't discriminate, everyone lived their lives how they wanted.

Third floor was where the overnight stay rooms were, they were great according to his patrons, expensive, so that not just anyone could book a room, they accommodated the men and women who wanted to avoid scandals, or the little boys trying to seem good to their families so they can inherit the business, their dirty deeds were done in there, and the secrets were kept in there. Fourth floor was the offices, fifth were the guest rooms for his secondary staff and Lael's children, not biologically but they always showed up. Sixth was the gym, seventh was the kitchen, lounge, basically the house and some of the bedrooms for his family, eight floor was his space along with Rod, his right hand, the man who chose to stay with him till he died, not a romantic gesture but one to keep him company, over the years many had worked at the stag and they had gone to be great people in Orris city, but Rod never left, he was Lael's constant, always.

As Lael walked past the second floor lounge, he noticed someone was there, it was too early to be drinking and he knew they were closed, so who could it be. "He's here." He heard Rod announce as he placed his package on a nearby table and walked into the very spacious lounge. Lael was apprehensive, it seems Dale's information was correct and thankfully Dale had given him the heads up in time, these men were new in the city, a demon and a human, unlikely travelling companions. "Gentlemen, how can we help you?" Lael questioned as the shorter of the two, the human, turned to face Lael and gasp just as the demon. "Uh —yes, uh, we—." The human male stuttered amusing Rod the ancient predator who walked to stand by Lael, he was a giant of a man almost seven foot tall. "Yes." Lael mumbled and the demon cleared his throat.  "Master Kybern Marc sent us here, he wanted a tab opened in his name and for us to inquire who the owner of the business was, he had an offer for you aswell." The demon exclaimed and Lael hummed, ofcourse their boss wanted to scope out the place, it was no surprise that they had come to the stag, it was famous in the city, but there were other famous bars and lounges he could've gone to, why the stag.

"A tab will be opened when he makes a purchase and we have all his proper information, and as for whatever his offer is, we aren't interested, if there's anything else, good morning gentlemen." Lael replied as the two stood shocked, it seemed they had expected Lael to do as they asked but Lael had gone past bending over to powerful men just because they could assert their dominance a certain way. "You're just as they said, Lael." The human muttered lowly as he nodded to his companion. "Have a good morning, mistress." The demon added as he grabbed the drink Rod had obviously offered him and gulped it down. "That's some really good stuff." He mumbled before lumbering out of the lounge. "We may have trouble with this one." Rod mumbled as he looked to Lael who concurred, there was definitely something up with this new arrival.

"We'll deal with it as it comes, come I brought goodies from Con, he also told me the Morrisons are opening a pub, I wonder how foolish they could be, they don't have enough security or capital to ensure they stay afloat, the rogues will ransack them before they've even made a proper profit." Lael told Rod who released a rumble from his chest letting Lael know he was listening and that he agreed with his assessment. "I feel sorry for them Rod, maybe it won't be so horrible." Lael concluded as they reached the spacious kitchen upstairs where two of his staff were making breakfast. "Good morning Lael." Sal, a vampire with long curly brown hair, golden skin and a mixed accent due to his heritage greeted him, he was unnaturally beautiful in his masculinity with piercing obsidian eyes. "Morning boys, sleep alright?" Lael asked as he placed his two boxes on the counter. "I didn't sleep a wink, I had to study for an end semester exam." Daniel, the mischievous fae replied as he yawned, he wasn't exactly short but also couldn't be deemed tall with what was currently ash grey hair matching his ash grey eyes, he was the definition of a filled out twink but that was clearly going away, with Rod's help he'd been packing more muscle like Sal.

"Endure my love, that's the only way to reach your goals." Lael encouraged as he set a plate for Rod and the rest of his family. "How did you do it though, juggle running this place and getting not one but three degrees and then going on to get a masters in business then a PhD." Dan questioned earning a chuckle from Lael. "I had help, lots of it, plus knowing my end goal and here I am." Lael replied as he looked at Rod fondly, during the first years of the stag, things weren't easy, they did things they would never speak of just to get food and make sure the business stayed afloat, now it was a whole different story, they were happy. "You have us to help you firecracker." Sal offered and Dan glared at him. "Says the man whose a full time employee, and has graduated with a masters in psychology." Dan grumbled making everyone laugh.

Lael loved this about his family, if you had a goal he helped in any way he could to make sure that goal was achieved, despite being large and extremely terrifying, yet very alluring in his beastly ways, Rod actually had his own degree in architecture, he could also speak several languages thanks to Lael encouraging him to learn. Often Rod was taken as the large and stupid type of guy but he actually had a good head on his shoulders and his reasoning plus deduction skills were way past on point, he often surprised people who didn't know him with how intelligent he was. "Good morning everyone." Monica greeted as she came out of her room wearing a sheer lace night gown, all the necessary parts of her body were covered though, with waist length cherry red hair, and sparkling green eyes, it matched her feisty personality. "Morning love, how did you sleep?" Lael asked as Sal used his speed to plate up for her. "I slept alright, had a late night though, Barnes didn't want to leave, said he had a fight with his wife over Con—.'' Monica explained and all of them sighed or groaned. Rod released a guttural growl and rumble which somehow they all understood as an equivalent of again.

"Yeah, apparently Barnes still has feelings for Con, even though he married the girl supposedly of his dreams and they are expecting a baby, he still hasn't gotten over our chubby sweet baker." Monica finished as she bit down into her sausage, she was a banshee who often entertained the lounge patrons a few nights in the week, it got her several tips, and it also helped with her producing career, Monica was studying to become a music producer and Lael had used the connections he had to get her into the local school in the city, he knew she was taking her studies seriously since she'd already gotten offers from several companies in and out of the city.  Lael expected his other family member to join them at the table, but she didn't show, Rod having sensed his slight sadness, rubbed his back.

"She's gone to fulfill her dreams, I'm sure one day she'll come back and tell us of her success in Europe, she'd worked hard to get into med school, it's only fair we let her soar and fulfil her dreams." This time Rod had actually spoken, his words were comforting and since the man barely spoke, Lael knew he meant those words, each and every one. "Thanks love, now everyone finish up, you all have busy days, Rod I have things I need you to do, Sal I need you to go to the bank." Lael felt better, as he spoke to his family, each one of the individuals at the table except Rod were his children, they had been thrown away and discarded by society, yet to him, they were gems hidden in dirt and capable of changing the world.

Everyone separated after breakfast, as Dan helped Lael clear up after breakfast, kissed his cheek and went to get ready. A little bit later after he had gotten ready for his day in black combat boots, grey ripped jeans and a sheer black top with grey flowers, he heard them yell. "Come on Monica, we'll be late!" Dan yelled as he dragged Monica downstairs. "I'll drop you off along the way." Sal told Rod as they left too, after he'd given them their tasks and everything necessary for it, all morning till late afternoon the bar and lounge were closed, it gave Lael time to go over his books and see how the business was doing, with success came investments and Lael had shares in several companies across the city, connections had gotten him where he is, either on the dark side or the none bloody side of things.

Time ticked by slowly as he finished most of his orders, a crash echoed in the bar below, he heard it because of his sensitive hearing, so he went down to investigate. "Break everything!" A wolf hissed as he ordered his companions to break the furniture and the bottles past the bar. Lael wondered how they had gotten in, only he got in, —in the morning because he had a master key. "Boys, I'd advise you to stop." Lael spoke looking at the wolves who snickered looking at him. "What will you do pretty thing, look at you, so tiny and frail." The one who was seemingly the head of the operation taunted as Lael sighed, what was this new kind of trouble, no one dared to even attack the stag, they all knew the consequences, so why were they doing this. "I will simply ask you to stand down and stop, I don't want this to get messy." Lael calmly replied as he noticed that the lock pad had been hit pretty badly, and for these men to even dare do this, they must have noticed the others leaving.

"No can do gorgeous, boss wants the place trashed." The wolf replied and Lael sighed, he needed to find who this boss was and deal with him. "Whose your boss then?" Lael questioned as more of the furniture was destroyed. "What do I get giving you that information, he'd crush you if you tried anything." The response wasn't exactly pleasing, and ruining his clothes wasn't on the table for Lael today, it was a lazy monday, plus he had work to do, dealing with the cronies wasn't the right thing to do, dealing with their boss, that worked. So he snapped his fingers and the necks of all the wolves in the bar snapped to the side, instant death, the one who was replying him growled and lunged for him, but fear, —it was evident in his eyes even as he lunged for Lael.

Lael dodged a clawed hand to his abdomen and landed an uppercut to the larger man, dropped to the ground and swiped him off his feet, the loud thud of the large wolf had a few of the wolves left outside run to the entrance, but Lael looked to the double doors and by will they closed. The wolf he had flipped to the ground flipped to his feet and lunged for Lael but he ducked down and punched right into his ribs breaking them, then using speed the wolf barely kept up with, he was behind him, kicked the knee joint of the wolf forcing him to one knee, Lael grabbed the nearest broken bottle and impaled the wolf's shoulder with it. "Fuck, —you bitch!" The wolf screamed in agony as Lael pushed the bottle deeper earning more screams. "Alright I need you to tell me who sent you." Lael muttered as the wolf growled a never.

"Never, really." Lael asserted as he released currents of deadly lightning into the wolf until his skin was dry and he was twitching, "Ready to talk?" He demanded and the wolf choked. "McCormick." He whispered before dropping to the ground. Lael sighed as he turned to the doors, his power over them faded as he opened one and an all too familiar sight greeted him. The wolves who had been trying to get in were on the ground bloody and groaning. "We got 'em for you Lael." His neighbor Terry and the others who had businesses opposite him and down the street all stood there proud of their work. "Thank you everyone, has anyone informed the police?" Lael questioned and his other neighbor walked toward him. "Already on their way." He stated and Lael nodded gratefully, never mess with WestEnders, when it came to situations like these, you could always count on them to defend you and leave the offenders broken and bleeding.

Everyone dispersed as Lael was sure he'd be okay and the police came. "Wow, this is the first time in what, six, ten years, no one breaks into this place." Dale mumbled next to Lael and an angry Rod who had come back to see the destruction. "Did they say who sent them or why they even did this." The lead detective asked Lael who nodded and nodded him and Dale aside, but without question Rod followed them too. Once they were clear of the forensics team carrying the dead bodies away Lael looked to the detective. "I got a name, McCormick." Lael replied and Dale along with the detective seemed to be surprised as did Rod. "Why would an underboss to Cagli attack this place, he would know Cagli loves this place." The detective mumbled in his shock, it was the same question Lael had, why would he attack the stag.

"I don't know, but when we find out, we'll let you know." Lael replied as he nodded to the two officers. The detective seemed suspicious of Lael but nodded and left as for Dale he remained with them. "I think this is connected to the new boss, it doesn't make sense, Cagli wouldn't attack the stag, he knows it would have heavy backlash on his product sale too, but anyway, stay safe you two, and if I get any more information I'll forward it to you." Dale stated as he nodded to Rod and Lael. "Thanks Dale, and here." Lael replied as he moved to the bar area and checked the lower drawers, grabbed the officers wedding ring and a ward of cash, put it in a bag and slipped it to the police officer." Dale nodded before leaving aswell, Dale deserved that compensation, he'd been very useful in one day.

"Come, let's visit Cagli." Lael told Rod after the last police vehicle left and he texted Sal to get the cleaners at the bar.

Cagliro Mencini.

The new arrival wasn't as dangerous as he thought he'd be, going over his information, the little his team had gathered in less than an hour, it seemed he was looking to expand since his last city had too many rivals and not much breathing room to push his sales, he was an accomplished businessman but not much after, so it would make sense he'd come to Orris, the city was bigger, had more people and much more activity also was still expanding, demand was high. "He's impressive, but not that impressive." Cagli told his right hand, the vampire nodded as his slender fingers took the file away. "So you don't think he'll be a problem." The vampire mumbled looking outside of the very decorated room, it didn't scream money, but was clean, a couch to the far wall with its plain silver wallpaper, lights attached to the white ceiling making it glow, the dark mahogany desk pristine and shining. "Yes, have you made our reservation at the stag tonight, we're meeting there with our new supplier." Cagli stated as he stood from his desk and walked to stand by his right hand, the two of them ruled the EastEnd, and in it's name, it was in the east.

"Yes, but it's yet to be confirmed, apparently there was a skirmish there in the morning." The vampire informed surprising Cagli, a skirmish, the stag was in neutral territory, henceforth the whole of WestEnd was neutral territory, you didn't attack WestEnd, you never did stupid things in WestEnd, that sole peace had been acquired through bloodshed and death, the leader being the hauntingly beautiful Lael Mercia. He's tried for so long to court the creature and has gotten shot down every time. Cagli went to ask but his right hand was quicker. "Lael and his family weren't hurt." Just as those words left his lips the door to his office burst off its hinges. "Sir, I'm sorry I tried—." The assistant he hired tried to explain but he nodded toward him and he left. "Rodriguez Mercia." The vampire next to Cagli mumbled as he looked at the giant of a man, his presence alone shook many into submission, as he walked forward with Cagli's underboss in his claws them threw him over his desk which shattered on impact.

"What is the meaning of this." Cagli hissed as his eyes turned a blood red, this was blatant disrespect. Just as he asked, Lael walked into the room, an unnatural glow over his features causing the two vampires to inhale sharply, how could one being be their undoing. "The meaning of this, —is so that you know that your little underling over there sent wolves to trash the stag." Lael spoke, his words like knives cut through the tension making the vampires turn and face McCormick who was choking under Rod's boot. The giant man moved his foot and stood by Lael once more. "What, that's ridiculous, he'd never." Cagli's right hand replied as Cagli himself grabbed the wolf on the ground and bit his arm, and sure enough he saw all that he needed through his blood, he'd been betrayed.

"It's true." He confirmed as he looked to the two forces that stood in his presence. "He betrayed me, I'm sure you've heard that there is a new Don in the city aside from myself and the other, he was paid to attack the stag in my name, so that our goodwilled relationship would be damaged and from the looks of it, it worked." Cagli explained as his right hand stood down. "Nomatter Cagli, you should have a better hand and control over your men, they should know not to betray you, and it seems you failed." Lael spoke again, his words were bitter and if it were anyone else spitting his failure in his face, he would've ripped their head off but this, —this was Lael Mercia, you didn't attack him, to even get near him you had to go past his guard, and he could break his right hand man like a toothpick, it wasn't something he wanted, so he took the disrespect and the facts as is, he had failed and he'd make sure he'd never fail again.

"Fix this." Lael hissed as he pointed to the groaning man who was bleeding on the ground. "Ofcourse, we will pay for all the damages on your property along with any subsidiaries." Cagli offered and Rodriguez nodded slowly as he offered him a brown manilla envelope, it was a suspension of his tab and his presence at the stag for two weeks. "Wow, your punishments are fitting." Cagli chuckled lowly but the suspension wasn't something he took well, the stag was his regular spot, Lael was his everyday obsession, now that rival of his would have time alone with him, he couldn't let that happen. "Would you prefer I increased it?" Lael questioned as his right hand was stunned. "No ofcourse not darling, I'll take my punishment like a good boy." Cagli replied as Lael nodded with a smile, it was so beautiful. "I want the repairs done by the weekend, you'll get the bill for everything else tonight." Lael added before turning and leaving the two vampires.

As Lael left, Cagli slammed his fist into the wall nearest to him, how dare they even betray him. "Get up McCormick, you're going to wish what Rod did to you killed you, you and your precious men will beg for death after this, and hope your little family can endure what I'm about to put them through." Cagli slowly spoke as he cupped McCormicks face with one hand. "Don, what about Kybern?" His right hand asked. "Oh I have a plan for him, he thinks he can cause a rift between us and the west, he'll learn the rules of the city soon, after all the east isn't drenched in blood for nothing." Cagli replied as he walked out of his office already implementing his plans.

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Welcome to Orris city. thoughts.

This book is not edited, any errors, grammatical or otherwise will be fixed in due course.

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Saint Jay.