Knock! KNOCK! KNOCK!
The rasping at the door increased in intensity. Seraphina tried to call for Alexander or Quin, receiving no answer
The phones network never worked during stormy days. They had wrote to the city about the bad wiring through the neighborhood many times before to no effect.
Being in the city meant that most companies where closed till six.
Knock! KNOCK!
Seraphina held Grey close, crouched in the back of the house. The darkness only giving way to the flashes of lightning, frightening them both every so often as shadows came to life for short instances.
"Whos that, Sephy? Where are Quin and Lex?" Grey whispered, muffled by Seraphina's hand.
"I don't know. No one should be visiting this time of night. It's nearly eleven. Just stay quiet untill they leave."
"But, I have to pee, really badly." He squirmed.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Madame and Sir. I can hear you," A haunting melodic voice echoed through the house, clearly as if it was coming from inside the room. "I am an affiliate of the Circle, member of the Dead council. I have matters to discuss with a master Alexander Mortem."
"There's no way he could have heard us. Must be magic. Just stay quiet and wait for him to leave, alright Grey."
"Okay, Sephy."
Creek! BANG!
The front door was lifted off its hinges in one motion, tearing parts of the beams with it. The man held the door to the Mothers embrace and flung it into the yard walking in.
"Who says city folk aren't welcoming."
The man had an audacious air about him snd wore a red over coat with a simple black bowler hat. His eyes glowed red with the power of undeadth. His aura exuded supernatural death and smell of blood.
He walked silently towards the back room, through the kitchen. The man arrived at the door where Seraphina and Grey huddled opening it with a creak. The flash of lightning revealed his silhouette, a massive man wrappedin shadow towering over two children. Truly despicable.
"Fine, you brats. I have many appointments tonight and have little time to spare... Is it just you two? For deaths sake, were is master Alexander Mortem? This is his residence. "
"He's not here, you daft jerk! Leave us alone. When he gets back he's going to give you a beating, and I'll be likely to join him." Seraphina pushed Grey's small frame behind her and balled her fist up tight. Her rosy cheeks flared with her anger. Even her green-grey eyes flared with a slight glow of mana behind them.
"Spunky little twerp, I like you. Would you be so kind as to tell him I'll be back to collect the sum of his debt later, or I'll be forced to take other forms of payment."
The man struck Seraphina with a slap flinging her across the room. His hand felt like a brick wall and made her pass out almost immediately. Grey stared on in horror as a puddle spread across the wooded floor.
"Hilarious! Haha ha ha! I love this job. I'll be back kid, have the money."
With a flash of lightning the red coat man was gone.
Outside the Orphanage some time later.
"The sleek black vehicle parked in front of the Orphanage, arriving on time, thanks to the excellent driving of a great butler.
Geralt opened the backdoor of the luxury armored car and let Alexander out. "Sir, there seems to be a problem with your front door. I would suggest you stay in the car but I know better than to think you would. Take my lead and follow closely, there may be things you should not see."
Alexanders senses hightened and his eyes glowed green, scanning everything in his front yard and the doorway. He noticed the door in splinters in the yard, slight wispy trails of mana leading away and then dissipating. He didn't see blood or any signs of a body, which gave him some assurance, but his heart still thumped with anxiety.
They entered the Orphanage, nothing out of place except for the bits of door and banister on the floor. Alexander didn't see his family and his voice trembled slightly. "Quin! Seraphina! Grey!"
"Lex! Were upstairs," Quin responded, they all came running down to meet him halfway up the stairs in a worried embrace.
"What happened to the door? Who did this?" Alexander pulled away, scanning around for anything.
Seraphina explained and then Alexander noticed the bruise on his sister's cheek, turning blue on her once rosy face. Mana rose in response to his feelings, agitating the nanites within him, causing his eyes to tinge slightly silver.
"I know of these people, if one would call a cabal of selfish undead people. Have you taken money from them before?" Geralt asked stepping over some broken glass, getting off his phone.
"I dont remember ever taking a loan out with this Circle, but they hurt my family, so im going to get real familiar with them now. They will pay for this in the most excruciating way possible! Geralt, I need some weapons, do you have any swords I can borrow?"
"Master.. Alexander, you need not ask for support. Within this night, those who have threatened a charge of mine will cease to exists. Those under my protection, are even exempt from death in some instances."
Alexander was unsure of what the old man could do, but the armor he wore under his suit gave him some confidence.
'I believe Max called them an elite strike force? Any help is better than none.' Alexander thought.
Geralt went over the plan with detail, even calling in some assistance from the estate. By the time the night was near daybreak the door had been fixed, formations of runes had been placed, and several Akamis elites had been tasked with guarding the house.
A knock tapped on the door in an eerie rhythm.
"Master Mortem, I am with the Circle. We have some business to discuss. How on earth did you get a new door in such a short period of time? This means you have the resources to pay back your debt," the man gripped, shoving at the new door.
The door came open as the vampire rushed forward with his shoulder, hitting Geralts chest with a metalic "Chiik". He had used a lot of his strength, but the two meter tall armored man stood firm and unbothered by his supernatural strength.
"You are expected. Sir..?" Geralt gestured before letting him in with a firm grip.
This was the first time Lazzio had been thwarted by a client but something was off about the man. 'That felt like running into a mountain, but there's not an ounce of mana coming off of him. Unless a new exosuit came out without my knowledge...'
"Lazzio Eldermain, at your service, Sir. I have come to see.."
"We were expecting you, Mr.Lazzio. Please come in. Master Mortem is waiting in the library, this way."
The library had many books donated and bought by Alexanders parents, they always wanted their kids to have all the knowledge possible.
The Mortem foundation was pridefull of the fact its Orphans read almost religiously.
The library was the third largest room in the house with plenty of room for the meeting. Every wall had a pletra of bookshelves filled with books of every kind.
The chairs that Alexander stood by where comfortable with red cushions and pillows. A hard red lether backing made it a mix of buissnes and fashion.
"I introduce Lazzio the vampire, on behalf of the Circle, to Master Alexander Mortem, master of house Mortem. You may sit there."
Geralt sat everyone and walked to Alexander's side. "As Master Alexander is my ward, I shall be aid in this conversation. What is the subject of this alleged loan that he has taken out?" Geralts tone was as steeled as a blade, leaving no room for falsehoods.
"There is nothing alleged about it, master Geralt. He owes the Circle 50,000 gold. This contract was submitted three years ago. The principal has, as of yet, garnered astounding interest in the last year. Hence my urgent tone and behavior. The loan defaults tonight and with a rather dire deadline."
The packet of papers was handed to Geralt, reading it at extremely high speeds. He closed the thick booklet and handed it to Alexander.
"This is outrageous and a shame beyond belief!" Alexander proclaimed after reading much of the contract. "These are obviously forged from the loan I took out to go to school. If you believe I'll pay you anymore, you're insane."
Lazzio's demeanor turned sour as a thought ran across his mind that this kid wasn't another fool like the rest.
"That may be true, but if you decided to dispute this, then that would take countless hours in court, with which we have some manner of control. The time and money would cost you well over the amount stated in the contract. I am no expert in the matter, but the Circle has a large sum of money, more so than an orphan. Can you afford to fight it?"
Alexanders palms smashed against his armrest, furious at this creeps words.
"I believe you have made a grave error, Lazzio. This young man is under the protection of the Akamai clan. The patrons of this island. His funds are endless, his accessibility is without question. The only reason you were not killed immediately and without question, was that you made a folly and waltz into the lions den like a fawn."
"The Akamai might have certain people in their pockets, but they dare not mess with the Council. We are active members of this branch. They would look into any atrocities with missing or assaulted members." Lazzio stood from his seat, his posture slightly nervous from the sudden army of people that suddenly appeared around the room his vampire senses couldn't pick up till now..
Geralt appeared in front of the vampire, in a flash his sword was drawn, a silver blade with the hilt in the shape of a wolf, eyes a blaze with golden aura.
"Are those your final words you despicable filth? You hurt my pups and expect what? Fear? Intimidation? Hilarious and disgusting, two traits that should not coincide together. You are nothing, your place of operations will be razed to the ground and anyone associated with you or the circle in Hawaii will be buried with it."
"You over estimate yourselves, flesh bags! We are the Circle, blooded vampires and near rank C undead. There is nothing you can do to stop us, no matter how many weak humans you have, you will pay in gold or in blood."
Lazzio's aura blazed red, swirling around him like a whirlwind of blood. "I'll show you why we are the apex predators of this world!"