Ceremonial Rites

Eighteen - Reincarnation

Thunder is threatening outside. It synchronizes to the heated argument growing loud inside a very old and elegant mansion. An argument that started when a master plan is about to be executed. People have started suspecting their participation to some events that has been happening for quite some time.

She sat on a couch covered in animal fur with a visible disapproval to who she's arguing with. A man in his early thirties was more furious than she is. Staring at her with fiery eyes.

"You have grown fond of your husband. He can no longer be controlled, Catherine!"

"Even if I am, he is still not the High Lord. He doesn't need to die like Vincent!" Catherine scoffed.

"And what do you suggest we do? Spare him? He will succeed his father, that's the law!"

"You will not lay a hand on my husband, do you understand me, Hector?!" Catherine shouted to the top of her lungs making the housemaids passing by the drawing room jolted in shock hearing the sudden outburst. In which she did not receive any answer in particular from the man shouted upon.

"Am I understood?" She repeated herself but with much more conviction this time.

"And how do you intend to remove the powerful High Tables? If all else fail, the line of succession will continue. I'm not even sure if Vincent really died to that explosion."

"Are you hearing yourself, Hector? You framed Vincent and what cost that? A lot of people has been a collateral damage to your own ambition to control one clan!" Catherine stood her ground.

"If we cannot control this one, a lot more will start to stand up against us."

Catherine turned away from the man determined to accomplish his self imposed duty to their clan. She will no longer hear any of the discussion brought to her by her uncle. She may have grown up with the dark but that doesn't mean she has to stay there. Having no responds to his incisive demands, Hector decided to leave her be.

The man hiding inside the walk in closet has been listening to the heightened arguments between the two heirs. He leaned to the door frame and smiled wickedly to Catherine. It wasn't the argument that triggered his interest but with something else. Something Catherine has been hiding.

"Don't let your emotion reveal your secrets." He advised.

"Shut up, Vincent."

"Come on! A little respect to the dead," Vincent chirped and jumped to the bed.

"How's death treating you?" Catherine faced the bored looking man currently scrolling through the internet, reading articles about his death.

"Can you believe this conspiracy theorist? Apparently, Vincent Alderige was allegedly intoxicated with illegal drugs before the explosion happened. How on earth did they come up with that?" With an utter disbelief in his tone.

"Oh, so famous." Catherine checked her own social media.

"By the way, are you going to kill my parents? They are the real rank holders not me. I'm just a young boy waiting in line." Vincent said mimicking a little boy who was about to cry.

"Oh, please! Of course not. We are only eliminating the waiting in lines so no one will succeed their seats."

"So you agree? You're also behind this mayhem?" Vincent raised an eyebrow at her.

"Unfortunately, I was the one who suggested the idea. I'm sorry." Catherine said unapologetically.

"How can you stand being what you are?" He asked, full of disgust and displeasure.

"It's the only choice."

                                                                        ***

On the heights of the recent events regarding the death of an heir to a billion dollar company, Alderige international has managed to stay in the shadows. Releasing short but concise statements avoiding any prying issues. The other families in ties with the Alderige have started watching their backs for possible attacks. Attacks that may remove them from certain positions. Powerful positions.

Catherine paced back and fort inside the room. Trying to form another plans to secure their safety. If this conspiracy explodes, she will get caught in the blast.

"Can you sit down for like a minute? You're making me feel dizzy!" Vincent complained.

"Then start sharing some ideas, i***t! I've been saving your ass for a couple of weeks now and here you are complaining that I'm making you dizzy." Catherine countered.

Vincent instantly raised his eyebrow to her unladylike outburst.

"Chill. Where's the poised?" He mocked as he continue scrolling through his social media, reading another conspiracy theories regarding his death.

"A lot of people will be dead because of my brilliant idea and you want me to chill? Do you have any idea how much I want to choke you right now?" Then she sat on her bed in frustration.

"Let's start with the basics, okay? All you guys wanted is to control Samira. Why don't you replace the High Lord not the entire hierarchy? That's a lot of work and.. killing. Or murder to be precised."

Vincent contemplated his statement because Catherine stared at him for a minute and smiled. Shivers run down his spine but he subtly brush it off. Catherine's smile became a smirk.

"That's better. If we remove Renard's father from the throne and replace him with a puppet, the entire clan will be on our palms." And she continue smiling giving him the creeps.

"Remove him in power, permanently?" Vincent inquired making sure Catherine understood his point.

"Depends on how hard he is to remove."

"You have to remember that he is, after all, your husband's father. Your father in law." Vincent firmly reminded.

"I need no reminder of who he is, Vincent." Catherine countered and walked towards the window.

"Then surely you know the weight of these, actions. If your husband shall find out----"

"He won't. Never. Not ever. I will bring those secrets to my grave." Catherine cut in.

"That would take a very long time. Devils don't die often." And Vincent walked to the door.

"Where do you think you're going? Someone might see you, stupid! Or worst, Renard!"

"You're making it sound like an affair. I'm open to any possibilities." Vincent then smirked and left.

On the empty halls, Vincent walked arrogantly as he can. Pictures of the Drax bloodline were hang on the walls. From the first to establish the families' aristocracy to the current ones keeping that aristocracy.

Oblivious to Vincent's knowledge, Renard was on his way to their room when he passed by to some sort of paranormal entity. A man he just saw on the news. A man reported dead in an explosion to Rio de Janeiro happens to be standing in their carpeted hallway.

"Good God!" Renard muttered in disbelief as he halted his tracks.

Vincent turned around to see Renard dumbfounded.

"Oh, there you are. I thought you won't be coming home." Vincent answered then returned his gaze to the portrait of the third generation grandfather of Catherine.

"You're supposed to be dead! How on earth are you alive? They found a body!" Renard exclaimed, still not processing the current situation.

"That's because a lot of you does not believe in reincarnation. I just got back like twenty minutes ago." Vincent responded with full of sarcasm.

"Nonsense! So you staged your own death? Why would you do that?"

"Someone wanted me dead. I just did him a favor." Vincent was tempted to share vital informations but there are some realities that Renard hasn't grasp yet.

"I still can't believe I'm seeing you right now. Alive!" Renard sounded happy this time.

"Yeah, me too. But of course, I want you to keep this between us two. That also includes your wife."

Renard's mood shifted the moment he heard about his wife. Vincent and Catherine were rumored to be in a secret relationship.

"Okay. I know that look, Samira. If I'm gonna be the other lover, do you think I'm stupid enough to confidently walk these halls with a high chance of bumping into you? I didn't know you're the jealous type." With a slight duh in his tone.

"I heard rumors. Very disturbing rumors." Renard defended.

"That's why they are called rumors. Now, before we continue our reunion, I need to go somewhere else. Good day, my lord." Vincent faked a curtsy.

"I prefer you dead. I changed my mind." Renard stated and left the halls.

                                                                      ***

Thick steel gates, concrete with live wires on top fences and 24 hours surveillance cameras rotating in each post. A man with a dark purpose stood outside. Waiting for the darkness to welcome him. After a buzzing sound, the gate widely open.

The pathway has some dim lights making it look like a runway towards an old gothic mansion. This is it. There is no turning back for when you submit yourself to the devil, redemption will never be found even in your death. But his heart can only accept the soothing sensation of the dark. A woman in all black approached him at the gate. Without a doubt, he took a step and he knew he would never look back.

"Doctor Nirvana. We've been expecting you."