The Primus Daughter

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

“Hurry up, Vance. We are going to be late.” His father called, from how loud he sounded Vance could tell he was just outside his room. Vance rolled his eyes and didn't reply. There was no need to and from the sounds of his footsteps his father was already walking away.

He had asked for more time with Selene but his father was not having it, none of them were and for the first time since he was a kid Vance felt genuine fear. A part of him prayed she would be too stubborn and not show up to the meeting but he knew that was not possible.

From what he had heard from his father, she was bound to show up, her Primus would make sure she did. It was funny when his father had addressed Selene's father as her Primus, instead of her father and it made Vance realize just how much of a big deal this was.

Vance closed his eyes tightly as he faced the mirror, he opened his eyes to find himself staring back and he knew he would rather not do this. He rather took off the hideous clothing he was wearing and laid back on his bed but his father had asked him to dress as formal as possible and from the instant they had set the meeting, he always knew he had to attend.

He was the Primus son, the one who would take over should his father succumb to old age or otherwise. He had been shown the ropes since he was born and could understand the simplest of sentences.

His mother was not someone he had known personally and the last time he had seen her he was three. She was not dead that he was sure of but she wanted nothing to do with neither him nor his father. Four years was all she had been willing to give, nothing more.

He sighed, now was not the time to think of or wish for a life he never had, there was a pressing matter at hand, one that the chance of him being victorious at the end was completely hopeless.

He could lose everything, he chuckled. How bold of him to assume he had anything. He pulled at the tie, loosening it. He wanted to leave it on but the choking sensation made him very uncomfortable.

He pulled it completely off then unbuttoned one and then two buttons. Satisfied with the look, he took a step back. It was a white buttoned shirt with long sleeves. He had on boots and pants. He knew his father would not approve of the boots but there was no way he would wear suede shoes. They made him queasy.

This belt was new and his father had handed it to him a couple of hours back with just words, "Wear it!" It was an order.

He had accepted the belt a little too forcefully, it was the only thing he could do, so he had done it. Every Blackwoods in attendance would have the black belt with their insignia on. He did not take a look at it to know. His father was petty like that.

He took a hanger, it held his favorite jacket, he didn't care if it matched the rest of his outfit but he needed something familiar, something he could hold on to as he got ready for what was to come.

Thankfully, the jacket was a dark color and it went pretty well with the dark blue pants he had chosen. He didn't bother looking at the mirror again as he walked out. He had left his wristwatch on the table, the last thing he needed to be aware of was the time.

"I am ready," he announced as he appeared in the living room where his father was spread on one of the sofas like a cloth you hang out to dry and when it doesn't you spread it inside with the hopes that the heat would do better justice than the cold of the night.

His father didn't say anything or even make a move to get off the sofa rather he slowly turned his head to study Vance. He raised a brow and Vance braced himself for a few criticisms, his father never ran out of those.

His father raised his brow, looked at his son from head to toe, and sighed, "I guess this would have to do." He then slowly rose from the couch but Vance knew there was nothing slow about his father, he was old but Vance knew he could never win against his father in a fight that was how tough the old man was.

It was also one of the reasons he was still feared by many, however, his age was a factor in the many disputes that were arising that was why this meeting, union whatever it was called was pretty important.