Black Roses

Chapter Two: Marcus

Katherine's mansion looks the same as it did the last time I was here, Marcus thinks to himself as he stands on the outskirts of the gate, waiting for his beaten and bruised brother to descend the concrete stairs. He stands with his hands in his navy blue suit pockets as he leans on the brick wall across the street, eyes firmly fixed on the wooden doors. The black structure of the mansion breathes power, Marcus can feel it from where he stands. Knowing the torment Nikolas is facing, the healing process won't be activated until he's far enough away, until there is significant distance between him and the torture house.

The wind bellows through the street, a thin layer of clouds litter the sky, leaving only just enough space for a selected number of stars to shine through. The wind travels passed Marcus, catching his hair. As he pushes a hand up to keep it tame, the doors to the house grind open and Nikolas stumbles down the stairs, barely making it to the gates without losing balance and falling to the ground.

Rushing across the road, Marcus pulls the gates open to help his injured brother. Once safely through and around the corner, out of sight from Katherine's guard hounds, the two stop, Nikolas to catch his bearings and Marcus to get much needed answers.

"I thought you said you had this under control."

Rubbing his still burning eyes, Nikolas wearily replies, "I thought I did. Turns out, I was sorely mistaken."

Marcus, noticing the blood dripping from Nikolas's face, reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a handkerchief and holds it to the gash. Flinching and not wanting to appear weakened and in need of assistance, Nikolas snatches the plain, cream coloured cloth and explains, "Rowan cornered me at Andy's. Brought in three hunters. They had infused weapons. I didn't have many options."

Marcus tips his head slightly and lifts an eyebrow, letting Nikolas know how disappointing the situation is.

"I know. I know. I said we'd get out and we will. When it's safe. Katherine blindsided me with this one. I have to finish this job and I'm sure that'll be the last of it. I'll figure it out."

"Nikolas, we've been through this before. You promised Samuel it would stop months ago."

"How about, you worry about your business affairs and I'll worry about mine."

Nikolas removes the handkerchief from his jaw and tucks it back into Marcus's jacket pocket. Tapping his chest twice, he begins walking away.

"Nikolas, please let me help you."

Turning to face Marcus, yet still taking steps away, Nikolas yells back, "Can't. Wouldn't want you to get blood on the business tie. Besides, don't you have work to get to?"

Using both hands, Nikolas points and winks before turning back around and disappearing into the night.

Under his breath, Marcus sighs, "Stubborn man…"

Rosenberg has only one club. The Lair. Every night it is full of people from around town. Human and every other variation. Marcus tries to make an appearance at least once a week. Having people know and see him makes it easier to create a reputation. Here, Marcus is the boss. A gentle one, with a cruel and manipulative side. Those who work for and with him, don't have any problems. Those who don't, don't generally remain alive.

Tonight the line of people waiting to get in flows out and around the entire brightly coloured building. Two men, one bald and the other with short, spiked-up, black hair – both big and sterner than Marcus – stand either side of the door. They check every person that passes them.

The moment the two men see Marcus, they hold the line, remove the rope and greet their boss with welcoming smiles, "Mr. Blackwood, pleasure to see you this evening."

Smiling back, Marcus remains silent and heads straight to the bar to the left of the entrance. This is the first step of his routine.

Upon entry, Marcus goes to the bar, to let the barman know that the boss is here and ready for his usual drink. Bourbon, neat. Next he takes a moment to look around the club, at the people occupying the floor. He watches the drunks dancing together. Now, using his other senses – the not so human ones – he sniffs out the kinds of people dancing and drinking, counting each different kind; not including those on his payroll. Tonight, he only has three hounds and seven nightwalkers, the rest are human. Walking over to the closest bouncer, Marcus lets him know the numbers and pointing out the known hounds, he tells him to let the others know. Being in charge means knowing everything about the people around you. Marcus doesn't like surprises and makes a point to find every piece of information out before moving forward.

After establishing the people surrounding him, Marcus makes his way through the crowd gracefully. In his neat, recently ironed suit, his clean hair and pensive face, Marcus looks out of place. In a room full of clumsy drunks, Marcus has an elegance about him that makes him stand out. Being in the middle of the noise and movement allows him to feel closer to the person he used to be. The one he was before the change.

Now, Marcus has reached the three steps leading to his VIP platform. It's a small area, only enough room for a single table and a black leather couch. On the table, is his usual drink, waiting for him. Taking his seat in the middle of the couch, Marcus takes the drink in his hand and lets himself sink into the atmosphere. Lets himself be absorbed by the sight of his empire. From here, he can see everyone, everything.

From the outside looking in, Marcus remembers the days where he once stood in the centre of the fun while the rest of the working world moved on around him. He remembers the way his impulsive and conceited behaviour was frowned upon by Nikolas. Back then, Marcus never imagined the tables turned, that he would have to watch over Nikolas and be the serious brother. No one else imagined Marcus like that either, except Nikolas. He always hoped his brother would grow into a respectable, hardworking man. Marcus wonders if in their younger days, Nikolas ever imagined that their lives would manifest into this.

***

The year is 1134, Nikolas has agreed to take over his father's work, and has started running errands for Alcide. Trying to prove that he is a worthy son, Nikolas has abandoned all other aspects of life, wanting to do nothing else but make his father proud. At the beginning, it worked out alright. He worked alone, helped with the towns people, acted in his father's name, and was respected. He was managing perfectly fine on his own. But Marcus loved his brother too much to allow him to continue on his journey this way. Thinking he was helping, Marcus started to join the family business – not to partake in any actual business, but solely to add fun in the seemingly boring and adventure-less role.

Nikolas waited patiently for Marcus to ready himself for departure to the town across the river. But the twenty-year-old was tardy and had no regard for others. Rather than be in the manor, as he led his family to believe he was, Marcus emerged from the neighbours door, with the man's young daughter. Nikolas saw the interaction, lips locked, hands travelling inappropriately, and rolled his eyes. This is the fourth time he's caught Marcus in this position, each time with a different maiden.

Marcus finally struts over to Nikolas, finished in his own affairs, grinning smugly. Nikolas stared at him with disgust and shame. A look Marcus was extremely familiar with.

"Don't look at me like that, brother. I was just having a little fun."

"I'm surprised you can convince these women to go along with it. If anyone found out, it would ruin their chances at marrying a decent man."

The two began walking down the dirt road, open, green meadows on either side of them.

"Look, I too, am surprised an angry father hasn't stoned me in the streets yet. Appears, I am just lucky."

"Do you even remember that poor girls name?"

"Celeste…or was she the one before?"

"Bathsheba. Daughter of Gabriel." Marcus stopped walking, Nikolas followed suit. For a moment, it appeared that Marcus was pondering the girl and her status. Her father was a very respected ally of their father’s. Nikolas thought there was hope for Marcus still, until he spoke and walked ahead, "No wonder I forgot it. What a hideous name."

Shaking his head, Nikolas caught up and walked beside him again.

They reached the river, dividing the land of the two towns. Alcide wished to make friends with this town, knowing how useful they would be on their side opposed to against them. There was no crossing, so the brothers had to walk through the water and hope the current wasn't strong enough to wash them away.

"Are you ever going to grow up?"

Marcus laughed, and pretended to be offended, "Nik, I'm a man now. Maybe you should redirect your question to little Will."

"William is a child, I do not expect for him to act as a man. He has four brothers before him, the responsibility to run this family should never fall on his shoulders. You however, may have to step up one day."

"Just don't mess up, and I'll be fine." Marcus said dismissing Nikolas's concern.

Nikolas was focused on trying to turn his brother into an honourable man when he missed a stone beneath the water and slipped. Falling down, he was about to smack his head on a rock. He placed his hands out in front of him but it wasn't going to catch his fall enough to prevent the collision with the rough stone. Luckily, Marcus's reflexes were quick. Without thinking, he flung his arms out, his hands placed just below Nikolas, catching him and preventing his untimely demise.

Mockingly, Marcus said, "What did I just say about messing up?"

Pulling him to his feet, Marcus kept one hand on his brother's shoulder until he was safely on land again. Feeling the shock of the near death experience, Nikolas sat on the grass, soaking wet with the freezing cold water, just to the edge of the river and tried to even his breath.

"I don't know why you're worried. I was the one who caught you. You're heavy. I could have broken my hand." Marcus continues to joke, downplaying the situation.

Marcus threw himself down on the ground beside Nikolas. Listening to all the jokes and Marcus's lack of responsibility made him furious, to the point that his raging red emotions almost warmed his body up. He pushed himself up again, stood above Marcus and huffed.

Feeling Nikolas's fury, Marcus drops the humour and asks, "What's the matter now?"

"You. And your complete disregard for serious matters. I will die one day, and if that's soon then you will take over. Just as I will do for father. You cannot run from this. It's destined to be." Finally being fed up with the immaturity of his little brother, Nikolas turned his back and walked away.

Marcus sighed, already feeling tired from the lecture, got to his feet and plodded down to Nikolas as he continued his journey to the town. Paces behind, Marcus thought about the speech and wondered about the truth in it.

The thought of Nikolas dying, pained Marcus. The loss alone would kill him, there was no doubt, but then to have to take on all his responsibilities, Marcus knew he simply couldn't live up to the reputation Nikolas had built for himself. Life without his best friend wasn't something Marcus enjoyed to think about. So he would continue to misbehave and pretend he had no cares in the world until the day came and he must say goodbye to his big brother.

Racing beside Nikolas, Marcus nudged his shoulder into Nikolas's, "Lighten up, brother. Nothing is going to happen to you. You shall live forever, I'll make sure of it."

"We all have a time to die. You cannot cheat the universe." Fierce eyes poured over only the road ahead and his own journey, Nikolas had no time for Marcus's childish games.

"Well, that may be true. But I'll make sure you'll die an old, grey-haired man. You'll have children and then they shall run the town."

Nikolas slowly peeled his eyes away to look at Marcus, the two brothers smiled to each other, "And not a day sooner?"

"Not a day sooner." Marcus nudged his shoulder into Nikolas again, trying to soften how much he meant the words he spoke.

They continued onto the town and made peace with the townsmen, together. Always remembering the promise to one another. Nikolas stopped hassling Marcus about growing up and in return, Marcus followed Nikolas everywhere, protecting him through everything. Almost everything.

***

Marcus is shaken back to his reality, back to the black, leather couch, the cold drink in his hand, the flashing lights of his club, and by a distressed woman trying to get passed the bouncer to the VIP platform. The woman is sweating and looking behind her every couple of seconds, appearing to be running from something or someone. She calls out to Marcus, but he cannot hear her over the oomph of the music. The man guarding Marcus steps up to him, leans down and whispers the words the woman is crying out, "She claims you can help her with something. Something… shifter related."

With a wave of Marcus's hand, the bouncer allows the woman entry to the platform and she stumbles up the stairs and stands before Marcus, shaking.

"Please, tell me your name."

"Jane."

"How do you suppose I help you?"

"I've heard things. I've asked questions around town. They say you're the one to see. About the transformation."

Having this conversation in the club is dangerous. While some human associates are informed about the more-than-human beings in town, a large majority of Rosenberg is oblivious and must stay that way if the supernatural community wish to remain out of trouble. Marcus fears that some of the lesser beings could overhear the interaction and thinks of a solution quickly.

"Chris," he speaks loudly to the bouncer, "please escort the intoxicated woman from the premises."

Jane struggles, her dark red hair flailing around in the air, as Chris grabs hold of her arms and begins dragging her out. Knowing she'll create a scene, Marcus places his glass on the table, stands and walks over to the woman. He leans down and whispers, "Look for the youngest Blackwood. William. He should be in the garage. He can help you."

Nodding along with Marcus's words, Jane allows the bouncer to take her out and makes her way to the garage to ask the same question, to a different Blackwood brother.

"Have someone follow her. I don't want her spreading rumours about the club."

Chris nods and after kicking the human out, finds someone to follow her. Marcus straightens his tie, gazes down at his people and returns to his spot. With an arm resting on the top of the couch, firmly sitting in the centre and his drink in his hand, Marcus guards over the club like a hawk. He remains in this exact place, having his routine three drinks, before making the journey home in the early hours of the morning, always before sunrise.