ALEXANDER
Alexander Kane let out a loud groan at the sound of the alarm, wanting to smash the goddamn thing against the wall. The fourteen-year-old hated his life, but that day it was even worse: a new school, new annoying teachers, new classmates to insistently stare at him and whisper behind his back. But it won’t be long, the teen evilly smiled, and they would eat out of his hand, one way or another.
It happened the same at his old school, Alexander thought, hopping into the shower, the smile turning into a grin of satisfaction. Those little morons must be relieved that he left, although the boy was sure at least some of them would regret his absence. They will show up on his doorstep, eventually, to get what he hooked them up to.
His little independent operation produced more money than he ever expected, and, ifthings continued to go in the same direction, the kid would soon have enough to live the life of luxury he dreamed about ever since he could remember. His mother was in charge of a prestigious financial institution, so she could afford the best for her only son: a reputable private school, vacations in exotic places, designer clothes and the finest food.
However, for the ambitious teenager, it was not enough, as he dreamed of a luxurious life, million-dollar bank accounts, sumptuously decorated villas and mansions, shiny, expensive, fast cars, a limo with a chauffeur for him to be driven to and from school. Alexander wanted no more, no less than to be a billionaire, the richest of the rich, just like the bastard who put him in his mother’s womb.
Derek Bloom. The boy hated that name with a burning passion, the name of a coward, who got a woman pregnant and then turned his back on her, not wanting to acknowledge his own child. As the boy heard from a discussion between his mother and grandmother, when he was six years old, the bastard was married and had three sons from his wife, the second-born, Benjamin, born around the same time as Alexander.
A few years later, by intently eavesdropping on his grandmother talking with someone else from the family, the boy found out he was the product of an incestuous relationship. The old lady had sworn that person into secrecy, as the information was unknown to her daughter. According to her, a similar case happened a long time before, his daughter being the last descendent of the Bloom family branch that appeared as a result.
“Alex, time for breakfast, darling, are you going to be late on your first day at the new school?” his mother’s loving, worried voice put an end to the teen’s trail of thoughts.
“Good morning, mother,” he answered, coming downstairs, “as you see, I’m already showered and dressed in my uniform. And I’ve told you a thousand times, my name’s Alexander,” the teen huffed.
“Sorry, honey, this mother of yours is getting old and keeps forgetting things,” the woman playfully smiled, smoothing a rebellious strand that fell on her son’s forehead.
“Someday I’ll be a very important person, possibly the most important in the world,” the boy raised his head from the bowl of cereal, giving his mother a very serious look, “andpeople of great importance are called on their full name.”
”Aye-aye, captain,” the woman mocked the military salute, “it will be only Alexander from now on. You are already the most important person on the planet for me, and nothing can’t possibly change that.”
“I know, and I thank you for your love, mother, but I really mean it. One day, I will be so powerful, I will walk all over those who hurt you, grandmother and all the others from our family. I will take back everything that should be ours by right, you’ll see!”
“My dear, beautiful, brilliant, handsome Alexander,”the kid’s mother smiled, picking up an invisible lint from his uniform coat, “you should stop watching those Japanese cartoons, you are starting to sound like an evil character in one of them. Come on, we are getting late”, she checked her watch while washing the empty bowl.
The two were silent all the way to the school, but the woman couldn’t stop thinking about her son’s words. He was surprisingly mature for his age and extremely intelligent, two very dangerous qualities for a fourteen-year-old, that could make him the favorite target of bullies at his new school. Rich kids could be very ruthless, especially with someone so intelligent and vulnerable like Alexander.
The woman let out a sigh, hoping that the boy didn’t hear it. At times, she really wanted him to be a little meaner, to unleash himself, to get angry and throw tantrums, instead of spending hours locked in his room, crying his heart out. Her poor son was blaming himself for Derek leaving her and going back to his adorable, rich and pregnant wife. For making the poor kid suffer, she wanted him to pay dearly, to witness his sons suffer as Alexander did.
“Here we are,” the woman pushed the thoughts into the furthest corner of her mind, getting out of the car. “I bet you’ll make quite an impression on that stiff principal,” she smoothened an invisible wrinkle on the boy’s coat.
“The only one I want to impress is you,” the fourteen-year-old smiled innocently. “I don’t give a flying fuck about the others,” he finished the phrase mentally.
“You already won my heart,” his mother replied, walking down the long hall leading to the principal’s office, “I will always be proud of you, no matter what.”
“Come in,” a woman’s stern voice answered from inside the office, after Alexander’s mother softly knocked on the door. “Do sit down,” the principal pointed to the two chairs across the desk. “Welcome to Pembroke Academy, I am principal Sterling,” she extended her hand in the other woman’s direction.
“Lorna Kane,” the other one accepted the courtesy gesture, “and this is my son, Alexander...”
“Yes,” Principal Sterling pressed her lips together, a shadow of discontent over her face. “I see the name on the boy’s birth certificate is also Kane, and the situation is a bit embarrassing, to say the least. You see, we are a very reputable institution, and admitting a student with this situation would create an unwanted precedent,” she gave the boy a pointed look.
“But my son’s grades are excellent, and so is his behavior. Unlike other children from bi-parental families, Alexander is not a troublemaker, always respectful with the teachers, and interested in extra-curricular activities... Please, give him a chance to demonstrate what he can do.”
“Very well,” the principal halfheartedly agreed, “but if his grades drop, or he misbehaves, there won’t be a second chance, did I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Principal Sterling,” Alexander spoke in a clear, firm, voice. “Thank you for the opportunity, I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
“That was all, then,” the older woman sternly spoke, leaving her chair to show the mother and son out of the office. “A counselor will give you the complete tour of the school and will give the young man all the information he may need about classes and activities.”
During the tour, Alexander acted cool, pretending he was not impressed by what the guide showed and told him and his mother. In fact, he was awe-struck by the multitude of labs, classes, school clubs, and last, but not least, by the huge library and all the books waiting to be read. There was no time to lose, if he wanted to get revenge on those who humiliated his mother.
He was going to strip the Blooms down of everything that made them believe they were invincible, that they could do anything and get away with it: money, power, influence. And when they will be left out in the cold, he, the neglected, unacknowledged, illegitimate son, is going to serve father dearest and his precious sons a taste of their own medicine.
“I should be going, otherwise I’ll be late and the boss is not going to be very happy,” Alexander’s mother said, lightly kissing his cheek.
“Alright, mother, have a nice day, see you later at home,” the fourteen-year-old warmly smiled in the woman’s direction. “I love you,” he whispered once she was far enough not to hear him.
“Here’s your classroom,” the counselor indicated a door on their left, “let’s get you inside, the class only started two minutes earlier.” Then, he peeked inside,discreetly waving to the teacher. “Hello, Mrs. Chapman, here’s the new student, Alexander Kane.”
“Hello, mister Kane,” the woman in her mid-forties spoke, “Welcome to Pembroke. Please, take a seat over there, next to Benjamin Bloom, the best student in the whole school. I hope the two of you will become good friends.”
“Nothing would make me happier,” Alexander said, and he meant it, because the seeds of an evil plan started to germinate inside his head.
“Come on, take a seat,” the raven-haired boy, with intense, sapphire-blue eyes, the spitting image of the other, patted the chair next to him, a bright smile on his rosy lips.
“It’s going to be easier than I thought,” Alexander gave his classmate a sidelong glance. “I wouldn’t even have to wait until I grow up.” Then, he focused on the lesson, pushing all the other thoughts in the back of his mind.
The “new kid”, as he was labeled on the spot, impressed Mrs. Chapman, the history teacher, right from the start, earning praises for his answers, always on point or detailed, as the situation required, but also attracting the envy of some of his new classmates. They can all go to hell, Alexander thought, as long as he would have the teachers on his side, he wouldn’t have to worry about being bullied.
Time went by fast, and the class ended, too soon for the boy’s liking, who found History and the teacher’s style fascinating. Also, he noticed the curiosity-filled glances Benjamin threw in his direction, when he thought no one was noticing him. Good, so the obscenely rich, over-spoiled brat wanted to befriend him, Alexander maliciously smiled against the textbook.
“Hello again, let me properly introduce myself,” he heard the voice of his future target, “I’m Benjamin Bloom, but you can call me Ben, if you want to, Sebbie and Bayan do, and they are my favorites for ever and ever,” the boy smiled. “Of course, the Duke, my uncle and Mister-Know-It-All call me by my full name,” the kid sighed.
“Whoa, take it easy, buddy,” the other teen made the time-out sign, “some explanations are in order. I’m Alexander Kane, and I insist on being called by my full name, there's nothing wrong with that. I don’t come from a big family, it’s only me, mother and grandmother. Now who are all those people you mentioned?”
“Sorry for being so chatty, it’s not my usual self, but you seem like a cool kid, who doesn’t tiptoe around me, intimidated by my family’s status and money. So, Sebbie is in fact Sebastian, my younger brother, Bayan is one of my Stark cousins, the cutest little boy ever, my uncle’s favorite. Mister-Know-It-All is my older brother, Fabian, who’s in the special team. My Uncle Alastair Stark is our guardian, and the Duke is his husband.”
“Where are your parents?” Alexander frowned, “You mentioned an uncle who acts as guardian for the three of you, what happened to them? And is the guy really married to a Duke?”
“Let’s go to the cafeteria, I’ll tell you more on the way over there,” Benjamin replied, his face clouded by sadness. “It’s a long, complicated story, I don’t want you to get starved because you stay there listening to it instead of having your lunch,” he tentatively smiled. As the other nodded in approval, the black-haired kid started to talk again, “My mother died in childbirth and my father killed himself a year later, and this is how the three of us ended up in Uncle Alastair’s care.”
“What kind of man is your uncle? How about the Duke? Sorry about my curiosity, but you seem like a nice, friendly kid, and it’s good to have that kind of friend in a place like this,” Alexander lowered his gaze. “My family isn’t wealthy or influential, my intelligence is all I have, and I don’t think it would bring me friends in a place like this,” he gestured around.
“Yeah, you’re right, most of our classmates are rich, brainless morons, who don’t stand those who steal their spotlight,” Benjamin pressed his lips together. “Uncle Alastair is a really young guy, twenty-seven, twenty-eight, I don’t know for sure, he never celebrates his birthday, the Duke doesn’t allow him to. He’s really mean to my uncle, and he would also be with us, but... I don’t know, there is something here I don’t get it.”
For Alexander, the sadness in the other kid’s voice was like a glass of cool water on a hot day. He decided to side with the aristocratic husband, as the uncle seemed to be a pathetic nobody, without too much authority, there was no point in considering him worthy of attention. Also, he had to find out more about the other two brothers and the “cute cousin”, who seemed to be an important element in the equation.
There were other things he should ask about, Alexander made mental notes, and he would also start to feed Benjamin details about himself, his mother, grandmother and everything in between. The thought of that little brat living in his house, eating his food and using his stuff made the fourteen-year-old sick to his stomach.
However, the perspective of living in a luxurious residence and using the Bloom kid’s expensive things made the pill easier to swallow. After he would find out all the relevant information, all Alexander had to do was to set the trap Benjamin would fall headfirst. But before that, the boy had to make sure all his traces were covered, in the eventuality things would go down the drain.
“Listen, I’ve been thinking about what you said about your uncle’s husband,” he said after finishing his lunch, “and it would be better if we keep our friendship secret, at least for the time being. I mean, the guy it’s not going to be thrilled to find out that you prefer the company of someone like me, without wealth or connections in high society.”
“Yes, you are right,” Benjamin nodded in approval, a little smile lightening his face. “I wish I was in your place, even for one day, or a couple of hours, to get away from that poisoned atmosphere, to feel free, just for once. I often think about running away, but they would find me and drag me back to that prison. And even if they don’t, what’s going to happen with Sebbie and Bayan in my absence?”
“Stupid fool, I own you,” Alexander thought, rubbing his hands in satisfaction, “you’re mine.” But nothing gave away the satisfaction the boy felt when he spoke. “What if you could have both? What if you could enjoy some freedom, while your beloved younger brother and sweet little cousin are safe?” he said in a flat voice.
“That’s impossible,” Benjamin shook his head, sadness overcoming him. “Uncle Alastair would understand, when the Duke goes to England he’s more affectionate around us, but that bastard would sense right away something is wrong. Wait a minute,” he exclaimed, looking at the other kid, a reflection of himself, “are you trying to say we could trade places, and no one would realize?”
“Exactly,” Alexander slowly nodded. “You would have a little bit more freedom, and I would have a little brother and young cousin to love and play with. What do you think? However, if we are going to do this, no one should realize we are not acting like ourselves, do you get what I mean?”
Benjamin nodded in approval, appreciating Alexander’s flawless logic. That boy, he thought, was a gift sent by gods, and he would be a fool to reject it. If the plan worked, he could finally be free of the Duke’s tyranny, of that suffocating atmosphere, of the guilt that gnawed at him every time he looked at his uncle’s tired eyes and pale face.
There were moments when he was feeling the urge to go and hug Alastair, asking him to take them away from that house and go someplace where no one could find them, far away from the Duke’s abuse. But, knowing the young man like he did, Benjamin knew he wouldn’t agree, afraid of the consequences.
With a soft sigh, he started to give Alexander all the information the boy needed forconvincingly impersonating him. The other kid reciprocated, and, the more they found out about each other, the more confident they became in the success of the plan. So confident, that the two decided to test the waters over the weekend, in just three days.
“Hey, Bayan, why are you so restless, like you would have a whole nest of ants in your pants?” Benjamin picked up the five-year-old, Eurasian little boy who greeted him enthusiastically.”
“Don’t be a meanie, Benny, I don’t have antsies in my panties,” he said in a sing-song voice, “big boys have, when they see girls.”
“Okay, wise guy, I get it, I should’ve learned by now not to mess with you,” Benjamin put the young boy down. “Is Sebbie home?”
“Yes, he’s in his room, crying,” Bayan’s voice became saddened, “the bad man yelled at him and said mean things.”
“Oh, no, what did my poor brother do to get him angry?” The older boy’s intense blue eyes became almost black with anger. “This man really doesn’t have a soul,” he bitterly thought. “I’m going to talk to him, you stay here and play, ok?”
“Yes,” the small boy nodded, “you better kick the bad man’s ass for making cousin Sebbie cry,”he added, but Benjamin was too far to hear him.
“Hi, champ, what’s wrong?” Young Bloom’s heart wrenched in pain at the sight of his brother’s fragile form, curled on the bed, crying his heart out. “Who made you cry and why?”
“Everybody’s right, I’m a complete failure, I can’t do anything right, I...I deserve everything that has happened to me...” Sebastian managed to articulate through the sobs racking his body.
“Who told you that? The Duke? Uncle Alastair?” Benjamin couldn’t control any longer the anger bubbling inside him. “Damn them! Two grown-up men picking on a twelve-year-old! Some brave men they are!”
“The bus was late, I ran as fast as I could once I got down, but I was still two minutes late, and His Grace started to yell at Fabian and Uncle Alastair, saying they failed miserably in educating me. Then, our uncle told me he was very disappointed in me, and Fabian said I’m overly spoiled and irresponsible.”
Benjamin took Sebastian in his arms, lightly cradling him, until the younger boy started to relax. Meanwhile, his heart was wrenching in pain, while he was thinking about their older brother’s betrayal, about how he abandoned them to save his own sorry ass, siding with the Duke of Sandrigham.
Suddenly, he wanted to call Alexander and cancel the plans for the weekend, but instead, sent him a long, detailed text explaining the whole situation, warning him about possible tensions and incidents over the weekend. The next couple of days, Benjamin said, were going to be hellish in terms of school, and they had only very little time to chat.
Reading the text, Alexander sent a wave of heat descending into his groin, doing things to that part of his anatomy. At fourteen, he wasn’t an innocent child anymore, understanding the reactions of his body and accepting them as part of who he was. When the first signs of puberty hit him, almost two years earlier, the boy was too embarrassed to ask his mother, so he went to the next source of information: the internet.
What he found out there helped the boy to also understand and accept other things about himself and, one year earlier, after his thirteenth birthday, he outed himself to his mother as gay. As expected, the woman reacted in a supportive, understanding manner, hugging her son and wishing him happiness.
And now, that idiotic boy was offering the key to his revenge on a silver platter, Alexander thought, huffing in contempt, and this was none other than the little drama queen, the younger brother, Sebastian. He would reduce the whiner to nothing, would create a rift between him and the other two brothers, especially Benjamin, would make him appear in an even worse light in front of his uncle and the Duke.
The Eurasian was really cute, Alexander ran a finger over the picture his classmate sent him, he had great plans for the little boy. One day, the fourteen-year-old smiled sinisterly, the two of them will rule the world together, stepping over all those who offended or humiliated them.
As for Benjamin, the dumbhead will have a seat in the first row, watching how his loved ones fall prey to Alexander’s wrath, falling one after another. The bullet was released from the gun, it was only a question of time until it would hit the first victim.