Ceremonial Rites

Thirteen - Golden Casket

"Great Gatsby"

20:30

He is a bit skeptical to this idea but he needs to try. Alderige is the only lifeline left for him. More than half of his private armies perished in a snap and his last site pressured to produce twice its capacity is now taking the entire weight. Head held high, Don Juan entered without a single hint of anxiety. If he can't put a good facade, everything will crumble on him.

The place was packed with locals which made Don Juan suspicious. He was not stupid enough to go to the same place as Vincent. He knew how vicious the doctor was, but he had no choice. Great Gatsby is known for its visitors both local and foreign tourists. Tonight was different. A band started singing from a dim lit stage. Lady in red started singing his last draw.

Baby, this is what you came for

Lightning strikes everytime she moves

And everybody's watching her

But she's looking at you

You oh, You oh, You oh,

You oh, You oh, You oh

Don Juan was taken aback by the magnificent beauty seductively singing to everyone inside the bar, but she's looking at him in particular. He almost forgot why he was there. A waiter approached him and guided him to his desired table. Frontrow table almost reaching the stage. The lady smiled sweetly the moment he took his seat.

Baby, this is what you came for

Lightning strikes everytime she moves

And everybody's watching her

But she's looking at you

You oh, You oh, You oh,

You oh, You oh, You oh

Alejandro came in following his boss. Bright colorful lights started illuminating the place. Gorgeous women roaming around. Flirting, seducing, and draining every gentleman in the room. He found Don Juan sitting comfortably in front of the stage. Gawking to a pretty lady singing. Even Alejandro was enchanted for a moment but found himself back after a series of reminders that he's married.

He took a seat in front of Don Juan who is still oblivious to his surroundings. It was in that moment where he watched his long time boss, he felt a genuine concern and pity for him. Consumed by all his desires that led to his own demise. He emptied his beer and enjoy the free entertainment before the judgement will be dropped to Don Juan.

                                                                     ****

Few meters from Great Gatsby

20:45

Music blared from the establishment. For some reason, the party has begun early. They were here just last night and the party started almost midnight. The three men with binoculars glanced at each other in confusion. Ian positioned himself. He watched the place using his sniper scope.

"Target on site." He muttered.

Don Juan is currently enjoying himself with pretty ladies. Grinding on his crotch like some thirsty hyenas. Ian smiled in mixture of amusement and a bit of jealousy wishing himself as the one sitting on Don Juan's place. Gavin kicked his side to get his attention.

"What?" Completely annoyed to the interruption of his entertainment.

"Don't you think it's odd?" Gavin glanced to him for a bit and watched the place again.

"What's odd about it?"

"Stop watching those girls grinding on Don Juan and you'll see." Damon intervened while motioning his hand to his crotch to demonstrate some s****l innuendo to Ian.

Ian gave Damon a finger and focus his eyes back to the scope. Damon received a nudge from Gavin to shut him up.

"Oh right. Not a single foreign tourist is here tonight." Ian finally connected the dots.

"So you've told us." Damon responded in sarcasm.

Gavin called for instructions. They were instantly instructed not to engage yet. To their surprise, a person they were trying to track for days arrived in front. He got out from a shiny black rolls royce. Another familiar person greeted the man to the entrance. They both exchanged strange whispers. Their curiosity spiked when Vincent Alderige, the one who got out of the car, smiled devilishly as he walked inside.

"God! The music's too loud! I didn't hear what they were talking about." Damon uttered in disappointment.

                                                                  ****

The night is still young and yet Don Juan has completely finished half his pocket for his own harem. Alejandro politely declined every woman dared seducing him and offered to him by Don Juan. For all he knew, this entire party is part of the plan.

Baby, this is what you came for

Lightning strikes everytime she moves

And everybody's watching her

But she's looking at you

You oh, You oh, You oh,

You oh, You oh, You oh

The gorgeous woman who for a reason no one can afford to dine in with performed her number again with the same song. When the woman glanced seductively at Alejandro, not a single nerve on him detected lust on that. That smile was intended for something. Something that was meant to happen tonight. Something he conspired to happen.

Everyone started dancing in the middle including the intoxicated Don Juan together with his expensive prostitutes. Alejandro was asked to join the mayhem but he declined. Blood escape his face when he saw the one person he wished he would not see tonight. Vincent Alderige is also dancing with his harem few feet from Don Juan. Alejandro swallowed hard, Vincent's conniving smile freezes his entire system. Flushing all the alcohol he had taken tonight.

Don Juan's thirst could not be undone. All he wanted from the very moment he took a step inside Great Gatsby was the lady in red singing seductively on the stage. He waved his finger to the woman. The woman smirked and winked at Don Juan making him giggle  drowning on his libido.

We go fast with the game we play

Who knows why it's gotta be this way

We say nothing more than we need

I say "your place" when we leave

Excitement filled Don Juan when the woman descended from high to mingle with them. With full of lust he pushed towards the woman nudging every person in his path. The woman gladly meet him halfway. Hugged him tightly as they dance to the rhythm. Grinding their private parts to their satisfactions.

But tonight was not meant for entertainment. Don Juan was completely oblivious to what's going to happen. The woman he enjoyed his groins reached deep in her thighs. Don Juan swallowed in anticipation. She pulled a sharp material. Hid it behind her dress. She continued dancing wildly to Don Juan dragging him to the stage. She took the mic and sing his death sentence.

Baby, this is what you came for

Lightning strikes everytime she moves

And everybody's watching her

But she's looking at you

You oh, You oh, You oh,

You oh, You oh, You oh

Alejandro stood agape watching Don Juan being stabbed to death. He looked around but everyone was not bothered by the scenery on the stage. Blood flowed out of Don Juan's mouth.

Gasping for air, he held the woman's arm tight, looked deep into her eyes as he received another stab. Weakened by the alcohol and his deep wounds. He kneeled down in pain. Holding his wounded stomach trying to stop the bleeding. With one last stab to his back, the woman held the microphone again.

Baby, this is what you came for

Lightning strikes everytime she moves

And everybody's watching her

But she's looking at you

You oh, You oh, You oh,

You oh, You oh, You oh

He wanted to help. He wanted to run to the stage and drag Don Juan out. Bring him to the hospital to survive. But tonight was not meant for Don Juan to survive. Although all of his senses were telling him to rush towards the dying man beside the pretty lady singing seductively again, he did what everybody was doing from the start, nothing.

As he accepted his fate, the one person he intended to see appeared in front of him. Stood proudly as he breath his last breaths. He tried to reach him but he can barely move a muscle in his status. Vincent Alderige bent down to his level one last time.

"Adios, compadre."

                                                                 ****

Ian dropped his gun in horror. The party was still in a full blast ignoring Don Juan who is bleeding to death. Gavin and Damon swallowed hard. Dying while everyone's having the time of their lives is a different kind of wickedness. They saw everything that happened. They may not heard what Vincent said to Don Juan but they knew he taunted him to his last breath.

Gavin held his radio. He needs to report their mission.

"Target neutralized. I repeat, target neutralized."

"Did you engage, commander?" Nottingham asked furiously.

"No. Someone else did."

They all stopped fixing their things, Vincent got out of the bar unscathed. They all paled when Doctor Vincent Alderige glanced to their position. With a conniving smile he saluted to them like he knew where they were hiding. Rolls royce went out of the gravelled ground then.

Tonight was both an assassination and a warning. The three gentlemen left the area anxiously. Meanwhile, the Great Gatsby is still blasting its speakers hiding tonight's most elaborated assassination.