Ceremonial Rites

Seventeen - The Chess Players

Armageddon

In the midst of a very delightful dinner, two gentlemen exchanging knowing looks to each other were standing a bit far from the busy crowd. Far enough from the curious ears. Rodney begged for Lord Viktor to listen to his explanations regarding the recent mishaps that happened in Rio de Janeiro. The look of utter contempt and displeasure were written on Viktor. Slowly, his patience to his subordinate is fading.

"Bold of you to show up here, Doctor." The old man stated with a very clear warning in his tone.

"There's nothing I can do, my lord. I needed that project." Nirvana defended, trying to calm his shaky ground.

"You needed that project to rank up but it doesn't require you to eliminate a pure member to achieve such ranks. You know the rules. You don't have the family nor the affiliation to protect you. Watch your back." Viktor warned.

"According to the decree, my lord. If a member has fallen, a certain person can replace his position. I believe I have a place to that race." Rodney stood his ground. He wanted to elivate his rank.

Viktor laughed at his asinine response. The decree only applies to the lowest house of the clan. In order to rank up, Rodney needs to climb certain places. The lowest house of the Samira Clan replaces its members if no certain family is going to inherit such positions. Vincent Alderige is the son of one of the person sitting on the highest house of the clan.

"How foolish of you. Vincent was a pure blood. In order for you to have his place, you have to remove the entire lineage of the Alderige family. Pathetic." Viktor turned his heels out but Rodney was determined to maintain his position or he will be in trial sooner than later.

Regret instantly crawled inside Nirvana as he saw how displeased Viktor to his actions. He dared grabbed his arm. A pure Samira who sits on the High Table was deliberately disrespected by a lowest person in the clan. Death will be too kind for Rodney.

"Apologies, my lord. Forgive my actions." He bent down the lowest he can get.

A huge crowd gasped to what happened next. Rodney held his right cheek the moment it stung from a quick slap. Viktor will not accept such indecency towards him. Everyone started chatting casually avoiding to add up the commotion. After all, they cannot do a thing if something beyond that might occur. Most of the people inside that hall were just pretending they belong to this hierarchy. Hierarchy that's lower than the man who is visibly unimpressed.

The four gentlemen from few tables away witnessed how scared Rodney after that slap. Not a single hint of rage on his eyes. Only pure terror. They watched how Viktor stood in front of the doctor. Another slap landed on Rodney's cheek. Everyone retreated back to their table.

"Careful not to choke in your own aspiration, doctor. Remember your place. Remember. The next time you disrespect me will be the last time you will be disrespecting me. You are no longer immune to the rank purge. Good luck, doctor."

Rodney is back to his place. The darkest place of the clan. A place where everyone is killing anyone to gain immunity and be placed for certain missions to add to their power. If they accomplish their mission, they will be put in line to the next lord who will abdicate his position. Now, all his efforts were gone. He needs to watch his back from now on.

Group of people from different tables near him look at him in malice. Full of curiousity and interests. If they manage to take him out tonight, it will gain them the next in line to the House of Lords. Rodney gripped his gun from his back. The atmosphere went back to normal the moment Viktor stepped back inside the hall. Nirvana blow a breath of relief. Fate has smiled at him.

Just when he was about to celebrate his delayed judgement, an unfamiliar person approached him. The man is wearing a complete formal suit. Behind him were two mysterious men and a  woman wearing the same black suits.

"Doctor Rodney Nirvana?" The tall well toned man in front of him spoke, confirming his identity. He wanted to lie but it's no use. They're on a ship.

"May I help you?" Rodney asked.

"Lord Viktor informed us about the recent changes in your status." The man countered with mockery.

"Until a confirmation is send to me, yes, changes might occur." He answered safely.

The man on his late thirties chuckled in amusement. He even glanced to his colleagues behind him who smirked hearing his answer.

"We are the Orions, doctor. It came to our attention that you murdered a pure blood that belongs to a respectable house. That is a serious offense to our law. As consequences, aside from the lost of immunity, you will be given three days to prepare until your judgement will be laid upon you. Good day, doctor."

"What kind of judgement?"

"Depending on the offenses you have made."

The woman handed a book to the man. He scanned through the pages and find the specific explanation.

"Yes. There it is. An offense towards a great house will be asked the person who made the offenses in trial. If someone from one of the great houses was murdered, the punishment to this would be regrettably also death, if the family does not demand the culprit to their custody. If the family requested the culprit to be in their custody, the punishment will no longer apply and the family will take such actions in their own liking."

For a moment, Rodney thought of everything he sacrificed to reach this far. He stood his ground. A man with no power, no family, nor any affiliation to support him has to stand up for himself, and himself alone for no one will.

"I demand a trial." He insisted like a real heir to the clan.

Eric, the head of the investigation team of Samira was impressed by the doctor's determination to stay in power. Power that he thought he had. But the truth is, he never got any power at all. He's been leeching to Vincent all this time.

"There is one offer, though." Eric stated.

"What kind of offer?" A bit skeptical to the spark of hope flickering in front of him.

A familiar envelope was handed to Rodney. There's a famous sigil at the back. A sigil so familiar that it sent shivers to his spine. For all it's worth, he shouldn't be receiving this. The envelope has shaped a lot of important events in history.

"The prince wants your response before you get off this ship in Miami." And Eric left without a glance, joining the rest of the feast.

Like a lifeless doll, Rodney Nirvana walked through the crowd drowning in his own thoughts. People dropped judging looks as he passed by them oblivious to who he might encounter. As he reached the port side of the ship, a gust wind brushed through his face. A sensation he finds very relaxing. He watched how the waves crashed by the ship. Music echoed from the inside. A continuous party will soon start.

"God damn it!" He shouted to the thin air.

-So, Don't swear to God

He never asked you

It's not his heart

You drove a knife to

It's not his world

You turned upside down

Not his tears

Still rolling down

Jesus Christ

You're so damn cold

Don't you know

You've lost control?

A humourless laugh escaped his mouth. Rodney was contemplating the envelope on his hand. This is his last straw of hope. He tore the side of it and withdrew the paper inside.

Offer me that dauntless gift. You don't need to find the light, succumb to the darkness yourself.

-Hades

The darkness has spoken to him. It wanted him to join them. He knew to himself that by the time he will turn himself fully, he might not able to return. He smiled to himself. What's keeping him from submitting to the darkness when he's already there?

I'm not looking for salvation

Just a little faith

In anyone or anything

I'm not looking for salvation

Just a little faith

In anyone or anything

I'm not looking for salvation

Just a little faith

In anyone or anything

                                                                                  ***

In the absence of light, darkness prevail. But in a spark of light, there's hope. Four gentlemen who were in their way to their suite were blocked by unfamiliar men. Men who were armed enough to take them down in their any violent resistance.

"Woah! We're not looking for a fight, bro." Newland quickly raised his arms in surrender avoiding any conflict.

The leader of the men in black c****d his head motioning them to follow their lead after he made sure the four soldiers noticed his ominous shotgun on his arms. The walk to the corridor was chilly. It's like entering another dimension. It's grand and elegant. They stopped at a well carved gold plated door. It pushed open.

Viktor Samira is sitting proudly inside the room. Holding a glass of wine with his emerald ring sparkling with the liquid. He swiftly waved off the uncanny men that accompanied the four curious men who are now roaming their eyes to the very expensive interior of the room. Everything inside the room screams money. But there's one thing that is very obvious aside from wealth, power.

"Gentlemen, please." Viktor motioned the four to take a seat in front of him.

All of them immediately obeyed and bowed slightly as respect to their host. Newland was in awe. Marco was anxious. Deigo was curious. Derrick was interested.

"To what do we owe this pleasure, sir?" Marco tried to sound formal.

"How's working in the army?" Viktor suddenly asked.

The four soldiers quickly straightened in defense. Trying to put a facade. Trying to deny their obvious identities.

"Please. How do you think you managed to get in this ship?" Viktor continued.

"I'm sorry, sir? Is there something we should know?" Marco asked boldly.

"It's not something you should know, son, but something you can do." Viktor countered.

"Can we get straight to the point because we don't really get why we were blocked in the hallway." Derrick intervened with such attitude in his tone which Viktor did not seem to mind.

"I'm offering you four an extra curricular activities."

"Which is?" Diego asked quickly.

"You will be working for me."

"You didn't answer the question." Derrick said boldly.

Although a bit intimidated, Derrick find the smile that form on Viktor's face after his remark very much warming. There's nothing more noble than voicing your own thoughts. Thoughts that may lead to certain possibilities, positive and negative alike. With Viktor Samira in front, any possibilities can be offered to them. Possibilities that may cause them their lives.

"But are you interested, gentlemen?"

"Depends on your offer?"

Impressed by the integrity of the four men in front, Viktor leaned on to his chair. Carefully contemplating every word he will able to deliver. One wrong impression and he will not get a yes to anyone of these soldiers.

"Well, to be frank, what I'm about to offer is quite unbecoming. You may find it very complicated at first."

"We're listening." Marco replied.

"You may not know this, but there are some certain people that control the government. People that has some malicious intent."

"You mean THE government?" Diego curiously asked which Viktor clearly understood.

"Indeed."

"How do you know all of this?" Newland joined the conversation, completely intrigued with the current topic.

"I'm one of the people that pulls the strings to control the puppet in the office." Then Viktor smirked.

All four of them did not know how to react. To that sudden idealism of someone controls the government, much more to the highest office. But by the looks of their host, this might be an awful truth.

"Let's just say we accepted your offer. What do you want us to do?" Marco put a situational question, considering any outcome to this.

"I want you to be my eyes and ears to the government, specifically the pentagon and the white house."

"Why would you want to spy in the government? We could be court martial for God's sake." Derrick suddenly out bursted.

"By whom, if I may ask? By the people we control?"