61. Lazarus
It’s been weeks of meetings, weeks with a nonstop parade of ambassadors, diplomats, and world leaders.
Each demanding my attention, my reassurance, my lies.
I sit behind the grand oak desk in what is now very much my office.
The air is thick with the scent of polished wood and the faint tang of ink from the documents scattered across the desk.
I’ve spent hours playing the part of my brother to perfection. It’s a delicate dance, one that requires precision and control. Every word, every gesture, must be calculated to maintain the illusion.
The man seated across from me, a representative from one of the European powers, drones on about trade agreements and alliances.
I nod along, my mind only half-present. My thoughts drift to Leandra, to the fragile trust I’ve been trying to build with her.
She’s been resting up, recovering her strength, and I’ve given her space, hoping she’ll come to see that I’m not the monster she believes me to be.
Luckily for her, patience is one of my best attributes. I am nothing if not patient. Afterall, it has taken me how many years to finally get my revenge on both Konstantine and Ines?
The man’s voice fades into the background as I think of Antonio.
He’s in Scotland now with his wife, Grace, and their newborn son.
I’ve given him leave to stay there after we talked on the phone.
It’s useful to have him out of the way, to focus on his family while I am busy consolidating power here.
The man across from me clears his throat, pulling me back to the present. I offer him a polite smile, nodding as if I’ve been listening intently when really, I don’t give a fuck.
It helps that a few errant countries have been at war with one another, it’s helped cover the chaos of the last few weeks.
No one has noticed the changing of the guard; no one has noticed our fuckups when it feels like war is brewing.
And it helps grease the wheels now for my coup, because they’re so busy focusing on that they don’t bother to look closer at what the inner workings of Brethren are like.
“Of course,” I say, my tone smooth and diplomatic. “We’ll ensure trade routes remain open. Stability is our priority.”
He nods, satisfied, and rises from his chair. I stand as well, extending my hand.
“Thank you for your time,” I say.
He shakes my hand firmly, his grip confident. “Thank you, Grand Master. Your leadership is a beacon of hope in these uncertain times.”
I smile, though the words taste bitter on my tongue. Leadership. Hope. It’s lies, all of it. And unlike my brother, I’m not so stupid as to fall for all this false flattery.
As I see him out, another man enters. A high-ranking Lord from the U.S, his expression grave. We exchange pleasantries before settling back into the chairs.
“The situation with Charles,” he begins, his voice low. “It’s causing unrest among the lower ranks.”
I nod, my expression serious. “Charles’s betrayal was a blow,” I say.
The senator leans forward, his gaze intense. “And what of the Esau? Are they still a threat?”
I hesitate, choosing my words carefully. “The Esau are a persistent enemy,” I say. “But we’re rooting them out, one by one.”
It’s the same thing I’ve repeated over and over today. The same exact words, but I can see it has the required effect. He nods, as though that is all he needed to hear.
Before he can speak further, a scream pierces the air, sharp and panicked.
I freeze at the sound. I know that sound so well; Leandra.
The Lord’s eyes widen, and we both rise from our chairs. “What was that?” he asks, his voice tense.
I don’t respond, I’m already moving toward the door. He follows after me, his footsteps echoing behind as we hurry down the corridor.
The scene that greets us is chaos.
Leandra stands in the centre of the room, her body trembling, her hands slick with blood. At her feet lies the man I just met with, his lifeless body sprawled on the floor while a steady pool of blood develops around him.
The guards stand frozen, unsure of what to do. I’ve given them strict instructions to protect her, to follow her, but to treat her with respect. I don’t want her to feel a prisoner in this place, though in truth, if that’s how I have to keep her, then I will.
Leandra’s eyes are wild, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She clutches a dagger, her knuckles white, as if she’s ready to strike again.
I step forward quickly, trying to diffuse the situation. “Leandra,” I say, my voice calm but firm.
She doesn’t respond, her gaze is fixed on the dead man at her feet. “It’s him,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “It’s him.”
I move closer, my hands raised in a gesture of peace. “Who?” I ask, my tone gentle.
She blinks, her eyes finally meeting mine. “He was there,” she says, her voice breaking. “He, he was one of them.… who tried to, who hurt me...”
I glance down at the man, his lifeless eyes staring up at the ceiling. He was one of them? One of the men who hurt her, who broke her?
My anger is quickly tempered by the realization of the consequences. This man was powerful enough that his disappearance will not go unnoticed.
The Lord steps forward, his expression a mix of shock and confusion. “What’s going on?” he demands, his voice sharp.
I turn to him, my mind racing as I try to come up with a solution to this new problem.
He’s seen too much. He knows too much.
I jerk my head toward the guards, a silent command. They move quickly, grabbing the man by the arms.
“What are you doing?” he protests, his voice rising. “You can’t…”
“Silence him,” I say, my tone cold.
The guards drag him away, his protests fading into the distance. I turn back to Leandra. She’s shaking, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.
I step closer, reaching out to take the dagger from her hand. She doesn’t resist, her fingers loosening as I gently pry it from her grip. I pass it to one of the guards, then pull her into my arms.
She stiffens at first, her body tense but then she collapses against me, her tears soaking into my shirt.
“It’s okay,” I murmur, my voice soft. “You’re safe now.”
She shakes her head, her voice barely audible. “I don’t feel safe.”
I hold her tighter, my mind racing. This is a problem, a complication I hadn’t anticipated, but I’ll deal with it. I’ll silence anyone who threatens her, who threatens us.
If necessary, I’ll butcher the entire world to make her fall in love with me, to make her trust me.
Because she’s mine, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her.