CHAPTER SEVEN
THIRD PERSON'S POV
SAFE HOUSE NUMBER FOUR, ELDREADA STATE
Only the old wall clock ticked; everything else seemed to be holding its breath.
Alexander sat motionless, fingers drumming the table- tap, tap, tap- a sign of his growing impatience.
From down the narrow corridor came the faint echo of footsteps, a scuffle, a low groan and then silence.
A gentle knock followed.
"Enter," Alexander said. His voice was calm. Too calm.
Sebastian stepped in and closed the door behind him. His posture was straight, hands clasped neatly, but his eyes betrayed caution.
"Master, your orders?"
Alexander rested his chin on one hand, the other still tapping. Without looking up, he said quietly,
"Let him in."
Sebastian bowed and disappeared again.
Moments later, the door creaked open. Two guards dragged in Mr White, wrists bound, shirt torn, face marked with bruises, too fresh to be old. They dropped him to the floor and waited.
Alexander lifted his eyes slowly, his expression unreadable. A small wave of his hand dismissed them. The guards hesitated, then obeyed. The door clicked shut behind them.
Mr White lay still for a moment, breathing hard, then tilted his head up and smiled- a cracked grin that didn't reach his eyes.
"Ahah, we meet again, Master Alex," he said, voice almost cheerful. "But this isn't exactly the most fashionable way for two old acquaintances to meet, wouldn't you say?"
Alexander stopped tapping. His gaze sharpened, though his voice stayed measured.
"I'd say fashion pertains to clothing," he murmured. "Do you agree, Mr White?"
"Ha!" Mr White gave a weak laugh. "Your sense of humor, as dark as ever. But this..."
"I'll ask once," Alexander cut in, the air around him tightening. "Did you sell our information?"
Mr White blinked, then gave a small shrug. "That depends, Master Alex. There's a lot of information floating around these days. I need to know which one you mean."
Alexander's stare deepened. For a long moment, nothing moved except the faint hum of electricity in the walls. Then he leaned forward until their faces were a breath apart.
"What did your mother call you when you were little?"
The question sliced through the air like a blade.
Mr White froze. His lips parted, confusion flashing across his eyes, then fear, then something raw.
"What… what did you just say?"
Alexander's tone softened, the softness more unnerving than anger.
"What was your birth name? The one she gave you?"
Mr White's throat worked. His eyes shone suddenly. "She… she named me Williams. But she called me Willy."
The word cracked on his lips. He blinked fast, as if ashamed of the wetness in his eyes. Then, almost pleadingly:
"What did your mummy call you, Master Alex?"
Alexander's eyes softened. For the first time, the mask slipped. His voice came quiet, almost tender.
"She called me Little Alex. Sometimes… 'my only happiness in this world.'"
Mr White's face crumpled. A sob tore through him. He dropped to his knees, shaking.
Alexander hesitated for half a second, then reached out- a gesture so gentle it seemed foreign to him- and patted Willy's back.
"I'm sorry, Willy," he said quietly. "For treating you this way. I should've known better."
He said the words and meant them. At least, part of him did.
Mr White cried harder, the sound echoing against the bare walls.
"They said they'd kill me, Alex," he choked out between sobs. "I just wanted to live… I promised Mama I'd be a good boybefore she died."
Alexander's voice turned to ice.
"Not if I kill them first."
He leaned closer, every word precise. "I just need a description."
Mr White hesitated, then wiped his tears. Slowly, he straightened and bowed until his forehead touched the floor.
"Master Alexander Blackwood," he said shakily, "promise me you won't hand me over."
Alexander's eyes, soft moments ago, hardened again.
"I swear on my life, Willy. No harm will come to you… from me."
Mr White's face lit through his tears. "Okayyyy!" he cried, voice breaking into something childlike, relieved and broken.
*
Later that night, Sebastian stood stiffly beside his master.
"Master," he said, uncertain, "are you sure we can trust… Willy?"
Alexander chuckled quietly, leaning back in his chair, chin resting against his hand.
"Sebastian."
"Master."
"Trust me," Alexander said softly, "not Willy."
Sebastian swallowed hard. He had been with Alexander since the day the boy lost his mother. He had seen him laugh before, but what he'd just witnessed wasn't laughter. It was something else. Something colder. Something that scared him more than Alexander's ruthlessness ever had.
The landline buzzed red.
Alexander picked up instantly. "Hm… Two of the Five Foes are missing?"
His tone dropped, sharp and dangerous.
Sebastian turned sharply, pulse quickening. Two missing meant danger, possibly a trap. Yet his master's lips curved slightly, as though amused.
*****
The Next Day
Alexander's voice was lower, almost affectionate, as he spoke on the phone.
"All right, Grandmother. Please take care of yourself. I'd love to meet this… consultant who's been taking such good care of you."
He paused, his tone thoughtful. "Yes, yes… to offer my gratitude, of course."
A faint smile touched his lips. "Goodbye."
When the call ended, he remained still for a long moment. The faint smile lingered. It was thoughtful, wary, almost sad. The silhouette of a woman appeared faintly in his memory. It was the same woman that had pulled him out of blood and smoke months ago. The one he never forgot.
"Sebastian," he said quietly. "I need every detail about this 'genius consultant' my grandmother mentioned. There's every possibility she's linked to the Five Foes."
"Yes, Master."
"What of Damien? Any news about her?" His voice softened again, barely audible.
"Not yet, Master."
Alexander sighed, weariness briefly shadowing his face.
"Lock up the members of the Five Foes we captured," he said. Then, after a pause:
"And Sebastian…"
"Yes, Master?"
"Don't forget to look into that consultant."
Sebastian nodded once. "I won't forget."
Alexander closed his eyes. The blurred face of his savior appeared in his memory and then it faded into darkness, causing him to sigh deeply.