Knock! KNOCK! KNOCK!
The rasping at the door increased in intensity as Seraphina tried to call Alexander or Quin, receiving no tone from the reciever. The phone lines never worked during stormy days and the power was out. They had wrote to the city about the bad wiring in the house and through the neighborhood many times before to no effect.
Being in the city meant that most companies where closed till six in the morning and no one would be out till later. The house was atleast twenty years old, far behind the modernization of the city around it.
Knock! KNOCK!
She held Grey close to her, 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.
"Who that, Sephy? Where are Quin and Lex?" Grey whispered, hushed by Seraphina's hand.
"I don't know. No one should be visiting this time of night. It's nearly eleven o'clock on Friday. Just stay quiet untill they leave."
"But, I have to peee, really badly." He squirmed.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Madame and Sir. I can hear you in there," A haunting 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 an Alexander Mortem."
"There's no way he could have heard us. Must be a trick or magic. Just stay quiet and wait for him to leave, alright Grey."
"Okay, Sephy."
Creek! BANG!
The door was lifted off its hinges in one motion, tearing parts of the beams with it as the man flung it into the yard and walked in.
"Who says Vampires aren't welcome."
The man wore a red over coat with a simple black bowler hat. His red eyes glowed with the power only undeadth and so did his aura, exuding supernatural death and smelling of blood.
He walked silently towards the back room, step after step through the kitchen and arriving at the back. The door where Seraphina and Grey huddled creaked open and revealed his silhouette with a flash of lightning.
"Fine, you brats. I have many appointments tonight and have little... Is it just you two? For deaths sake, were is 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. Her rosy cheeks flaring with anger in her small frame. Even her green Grey eyes flared with a slight glow of mana.
"Spunky little twerp, I like you. Well tell him I'll be back to collect later. I suggest you get him here before sunrise, or I'll be forced to take other forms of payment. Let this be a lesson to you not to take loans. There are reall criminals out here."
The man struck Seraphina with a slap, flinging her across the room. His hand felt like a brick wall and made her pass out. Grey starred 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. Leaving the two children in pure fright.
Outside the Orphanage, some minutes later.
"The sleek black vehicle parked in front of the Orphanage, arriving on time, thanks to the excellent driving of Geralt. He opened the back door 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 of the youth today. Take my lead and follow closely. There may be things you should not see."
Alexanders sight hightened, glowing light green, scanning everything in his front yard and the doorway. His eyes 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 anticipation.
They entered the Orphanage, nothing out of place except for the bits of door and banister on the floor. Alexander didn't see 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, within this night those who have threatened a charge of mine will cease to exists. Those under my protection, are even exempt from death, by my word. If you will."
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.'
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.
"PMaster Mortem, I am with the Circle. We have some business to discuss. How on earth you got a new door in such a short time must mean you have the gold to pay for your debt, the vampire said, shoving at the new door, which was much stronger than the last.
The door came open as the vampire rushed at it with his shoulde, hitting the metallic surface of Geralts chest. He had used a lot of his strength, but the two meter tall armored man stood firm and unbothered.
"You are expected. Sir..?" Geralt asked before letting him in with a firm gesture. This was the first time Lazio 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...'
"The names Lazio Eldermain, at your service, sir. I have come to see.."
"We were expecting you, Lazio, was it. 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, even the adopted ones, read almost religiously. It was the third largest room in the house with plenty of room for the meeting. Every wall had plenty of bookshelves filled with books of every kind. The chairs that Alexander stood by where comfortable with red cusi9ns and pillows for snuggling.
"Introducing, Lazio the vampire. You may sit there, and I shall be the young masters aid in this conversation. What is the subject of this alleged loan that he has never taken out?"
There is nothing alleged about it, master Geralt, are you his lawyer or something? It doesn't matter, he owes the Circle 50,000 gold pieces. This contract was submitted three years ago, and has as of yet garnered astounding interest in the last year."
The packet of papers was handed to Geralt, reading it at extremely high speed. He closed the thick amount of papers and handed it to Alexander.
"This is outrageous and a shame beyond belief! These are obviously forged from the loan I took out from the place you must have took over. If you believe I'll pay a copper of this crap, you're insane. This is a scam."
Lazio's demeanor turned sour as he thought 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, and would coast 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?"
Slam!
Alexanders palms smashed against his armrest, furious at this creeps words.
"I believe you have made a grave error, Lazio. This young man is under the protection of the Akamai clan. The patrons of this island and of Hawaii in some modest sense of the word. 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 beyond your measure."
"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." Lazio 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.
"Not mess...? Are those your final words you despicable filth? You hilariously walked into the lions den, hurt my pups, and spew insults and expect what? Fear? Intimidation? Hilarious and disgusting, two traits that should not coincide. You are nothing, your place of operations will be razed to the ground and anyone associated with you or the circle 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."
"Lzios'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!"