"Don't talk to me!" "Why?" Rainer genuinely asked, "Because you're annoying and I don't want to talk to you." Michael felt exasperated despite ignoring him throughout Rainer didn't seem to get it in his head that they were not friends "How could I not talk to my savior?" Rainer spoke as if such a thing was completely unheard of preposterous even.
Children filed out all around them as it was at the end of the day for school, Rainer trailed behind Michael smiling Michael regretted the day more and more as he remembered the embarrassing lunch scene.
By 15:00 school came to an end for the day, he went down the steps in the midst of children excited at the idea of leaving the monotony that is a classroom, the sun further in the west descending slowly yet still light enough to be a bother an assortment of black SUVs swarmed all over the paved area around the building each waiting for the young elite children most of whom have rich backgrounds.
Michael didn't bother much with them and continued to walk head down feeling stronger "My body feels light faster, stronger whenever I circulate the celestial energy but its only temporary and gets weaker the more it spreads all over and stronger if I concentrate on a single body part." His right arm glowed faint golden for a bit disappearing before anyone noticed "Michael!" A childish voice called "Michael!"
"I wonder if it will go away." Michael grumbled suddenly feeling tired "Michael!" Rainer ran towards him at breakneck speed "Couldn't you hear me? I was looking for you since school ended" he said huffing a bit striding beside Michael.
"Oh, I heard," Michael glared at him "I hoped if I ignored you long enough, you'd disappear." "Hahaha…" Rainer laughed showing no displeasure at Michael's words "You are so funny, friend."
Michael groaned "Stay away kid!"
"Who are you calling kid? We are the same age you know!"
Michael wondered if throwing the kid into the moving cars was a viable option "He'd probably keep that annoying expression still ugh!" He thought staring at Rainer smiling at him "can I carry your bag pack?"
"No!"
"Come on it's the least I can do for my friend who saved me."
"I didn't save you; I was in the way, and you fell onto me the stairs were simply behind me it was just a coincidence!"
"What's that word?" Rainer asked staring blankly "Coincidence? It merely means…." Michael stopped staring at his still dumbfounded expression "Never mind" thinking back to during lunch hours when the kid had abruptly fallen onto him out of nowhere spilling a box of strawberry flavored cream milk and an egg sandwich and sausages his mother had packed. If Michael had been any other ordinary boy, they would have tumbled down a flight of stairs. Instead, he caught Rainer ruining his lunch and mood eating cafeteria food, which wasn't bad but only Michael knew how good Alyssa's food tasted it's one of the few silver linings of being reborn.
"Mr. Michael Bailon" It took Michael a few seconds to understand he was the one being referred to, "Avion Lancaster" A man in a black suit introduced himself "I will be your…"
"Take me to the car!" "What?!" the black-haired man seemingly in his mid-thirties stared in confusion. "You're here to take me home, right?" Michael exclaimed staring into the man's dark green eerie eyes "Yes but…." Michael was gone in seconds heading towards a white sedan Mercedes a few paces behind Avion on the paved surface at the foot of the concentric stairs "Bye!" Rainer screamed wildly waving at Michael then ran towards a yellow large school bus used mostly by kids without personal drivers.
Avion entered the driver's seat coolly "Was it grandfather who did this?" Michael asked without looking at the driver "Yes, It is at Mr. Bailon's behest that I bring you from school to your lodgings." The car became quiet after that. From his memories, it was normal for him to take the school bus home as his mother firmly disapproved of all the privileges that came with the Bailon name, so she or Liam couldn't have done this at least under normal circumstances his grandfather on the other hand this was right up his alley done probably without Alyssa's consent or knowledge.
This became further affirmed as he glimpsed the Giant gold B embedded in the black gate beyond which stood the Bailon manor, an extensively large building resembling a 1600s European-era Abbey with a two-story main building with six pillars at its front-colored cream that shone in the evening light, it had an East and west wing on either side not as large but just as exquisite. Green open field extended all around the manor with trees expertly planted some distance away to resemble a forest giving the place a slight wind and fresh air at all times of the day.
Michael felt a little nostalgic remembering his time during that era only to be veiled by memories of his death at the hands of those he was supposed to protect. He shook his head at the murderous thoughts noticing the car had stopped, Avion waited with an opened door for Michael "Mr. Bailon wishes to see you." he added mistaking the frown on Michael's face for confusion.
"So, he wants to talk to me, wonder what this is about?" Michael thought as they headed up the concentric rectangular stairs leading to large double doors of the main building. Memories of his grandfather Simon Bailon the infamous businessman well known all over the country were increasingly vague to him except for some time during the holidays when he'd send a postcard from wherever he'd traveled to. "Summoning me like this is out of character for him yet still what I'd expect from a man of his nature, taking No for an answer is probably a foreign notion for him." Alyssa had tried her best to keep Michael out of the Bailon family world and all the issues that come with it so interactions between him and her father's family members were very little to none.
Avion pushed the doors they opened without a sound except a click and gestured for Michael to enter closing it and himself out once Michael was inside. Inside the mansion was even grander than its exterior counterpart, with porcelain floors alabaster white scrubbed clean and bright, a large crystal chandelier hanging at the center of the ceiling right between curving staircases that led to the upper floor their polished dark brown surfaces almost reflecting light from the windows lining the walls draped in lacey light white curtains behind heavier creamy white ones shaped like a question mark.
Music emanated throughout the house "Beethoven" Michael realized finding its source: a grand large piano stood at the top of an elevated platform having three small stairs in what appeared to be the great room its expanse large enough to house their bungalow, the black surface of the piano raised up behind it a man in an expensive suit sat on small, padded chair playing.
Michael recognized him immediately from a few memories of the man; Simon Bailon played for a few more minutes before stopping his gaze from landing on Michael. He stood up "Hello Michael "he spoke in a clear baseline voice.
The leader of the Bailon family had a body most men dreamed of, but few achieved; being 6 Feet tall with a wiry body frame, lean and muscular build that fit perfectly in a pitch-black three-piece business suit even his stance reminded Michael of a domineering monarch. His face despite his apparent elder age perfectly chiseled with a hard jaw line with silvery white hair that aligned with similar white beard that fit his heart shaped face. But his eyes were the most striking thing about him; dark brown round things that seemed to see right through any one unlikely enough to be under the piercing gaze intelligence oozed from them, Powerful is what he had 'No he is Power' Michael felt uncomfortable his every move was being monitored, "think you can intimidate me human!" he stared back defiantly meeting his grandfather with the same soul gazing expression "Hello grandfather" Michael replied calmly seemingly unfazed.
"hahaha…" Simon laughed not so heartily keeping a stone-like gaze "Please follow me to the study." The study Michael saw put his father's small library/office to shame being probably seven times larger lined with hundreds of books arranged high up enough to require a ladder to reach the highest shelf all the books were hard cover, at the center them all stood a large office desk in front of a at least Michael assumed leather comfortable black chair, behind the chair a towering long glass window went up the length of the room dimmed he thought not to be too bright.
Simon didn't miss the look of utter curiosity on Michael browsing each book. "You can read them if you like" He sat on the comfortably padded chair placing his arms expertly on the arm rests and then crossing his legs. 'That feels like a trap' Michael thought standing he couldn't help staring at the large collection, he wanted it. "Sit" he ordered more than requested despite all his defiance felt small like an ant before a giant the small not so comfortable chair didn't help much. "So what do you think?" Mr. Bailon asked, every word phrased seemed like a test Michael did not want to fail "Of the books" he added his monotonous voice seemed devour the space around him
"Its…vast" Michael replied carefully returning a calm aloof expression "but I much more prefer smaller books, I like it when authors get to the point." Mr. Bailon if at all didn't show displeasure at the not so veiled remark "is that so?" he smiled broadly amusement dancing in his dark brown eyes "this Friday I will be holding a small reception here and I would like it if you came."
Another order
"Yes grandfather if that is your wish I will come." Michael felt confused at the sudden invitation that needed an entire car ride "Is that all?"
"No but…" Michael could faintly hear a car swerve wondering if he'd imagined it "your mother is here." his tone still calm and controlled, "your attire will be sent to you before then."
"Um thank you." Michael spoke gingerly wondering if humans over the ages have developed heightened hearing "You're welcome, hope we can talk more then." He paused "You are a very interesting boy, Michael." Just then footsteps echoed from beyond the hallway.
The door to the study flung open, Alyssa looked at Michael and then threw the most soul-chilling glare he had ever seen at her father who replied to it with a smile
"Hi, Alyssa, it's been ages…."
"F*ck you!" she spat angrily
"Michael go wait in the car" she said in a calm dangerous tone,
Michael could feel the shouts reverberate through the entire manor before he closed the giant double doors to the main house.