by J. Hickey
Chapter 19
The New Beginning
Hunter awoke early the next morning in a stark white hospital room. For a moment, he forgot how he had gotten there. He sat up quickly, and the sudden dull pain from his shoulder sent a flood of memories from the night before back into his head. It took him a second to catch his bearings, and he realized there was a bed alongside his. There, Uncle Joe lay motionless on an all-white sheet. His skin was pale, so pale that it took a second for Hunter to even recognize his uncle. He was hooked up to many different machines, all beeping and blinking to the point that it made Hunter's head hurt.
"You're awake?" Margot smiled.
"Margot," Hunter asked, "did you stay the night with me?"
"I spent my night moving from this room to the one across the hall where Sebastian is. He's recovering very well."
"Oh," Hunter replied. "That's good." Hunter found himself staring at his uncle.
"I want you to know I have spent every night up here next to your uncle since he got hurt."
"Oh," Hunter replied. "Is he doing any better?"
"He's stable, which is good news." She stood up and stretched. "How's your shoulder?"
"It's sore"
"Feel good enough to make it down to the auditorium? Professor Calenstine wants to address the mansion about the current state of affairs. A lot of craziness has happened in the last few days."
Hunter nodded; he wanted to be anywhere other than staring at his uncle. The two quickly made their way down to the auditorium, where they met up with Patricia and Elly. The room was once again filled with people sitting and waiting patiently for Professor Calenstine to appear on stage.
"Patricia is really mad at us," Elly whispered.
"I saw Uncle Joe," Hunter answered, still a bit stricken by the sight of his uncle in the hospital.
"Is he better yet?" Elly asked.
Hunter shook his head.
"Have you heard from Alistair or Liv?" he asked.
"There's Alistair with his dad." She pointed out Alistair and Ben across the room. Alistair had already spotted Hunter and was waving with a smile. This made Hunter feel better. He was glad to see Alistair hadn't gotten into too much trouble and seemed to be fairly happy. It was a good feeling to know that he had made a friend in the mansion already.
"Look, there's Liv." Elly spotted her a few rows behind Alistair. She sat as still as a stone next to her father.
"She doesn't look too happy," Hunter noted.
Elly waved to her from across the room. Liv looked up briefly and smiled. She went to wave, but her father, Abram, said something with a very stern look on his face and she quickly put her head back down.
"I don't think her dad likes us much." Elly frowned.
"Children, take your seats," Patricia ordered. The usual friendliness of voice was drawn out with her frustration from the children's recent behavior. They dared not defy her and quickly took their seats.
"Excuse me," Professor Calenstine had rolled his wheelchair onto the large stage, "can everyone hear me all right? I'm afraid we have had some acoustic issues in the auditorium ever since the last incident." He waited to see the audience nod their heads. The attack had left the room quite destroyed. They had done a decent job cleaning the place up, but the damage was still quite evident. "Wonderful," he added with a bright smile.
"Hey," Hunter whispered. "Did you get into a lot of trouble last night?"
"Ms. Ellingbee didn't say a word to me, not even good night," she added.
"I must apologize," the professor went on. "Never before in our estate's history has anything like this happened. It is with great sadness that we had to endure such tragedies in the last week. Even more troubling that it so happened to fall upon the sacred celebration of our new generation's Enlightenment," despite everything, Professor Calenstine's voice was still as youthful and as jubilant as ever.
"The last time we were here, we welcomed our next bloodline on to this very stage-the future Seekers. I understand how scary and confusing this may seem to our new guests. I assure you, however, that the Beast has been eliminated and the grounds are once again safe. Starting tomorrow, we will continue with the ceremonies. Ms. Ellingbee and our lovely young Margot will start the morning off with a tour of the mansion and a meet and greet with some of our professors."
"I hope not out into the forest," Elly whispered.
Patricia shot her a dirty look.
"I would just like to remind our parents in the auditorium that both scholastic studies and the ‘Enlightenment' winter courses begin the first of November-less than a month away. Take this time to prepare your children and familiarize them with our wonderful estate. School uniforms have been dropped off to each family's lodgings along with guidelines on proper dress codes for your children during their stay here at the Belmonte Estate. As usual, colors are khaki pants, white button-down shirt, and our royal blue vests for our regular students. Those of you who follow in your parents' footsteps and are enrolled into the Enlightenment courses will each have a similar wardrobe with our society's crest stitched onto the left breast. Girls as always have the options to where royal blue skirts as well." Professor Calenstine took a second and took a sip of water.
"We are a large family here at the mansion. Many people have many different roles, and together we all work as a machine to make the world a better place to live. We have our Seekers, who everyone in these walls have been sworn to secrecy to protect. We have our professors, who keep us healthy and safe when injured. We have our scientists, who study and research the findings that the Seekers learn in the field. And of course, we have our house staff, who keep the whole thing running smoothly. We welcome our families here with open arms, and I expect that we all treat one another with respect and dignity."
"Respect?" a loud voice interjected. The auditorium door flew open, causing a loud thud as it hit the side of the wall. There stood a smirking Dominick. "That's a joke; we all know you love your Seekers far more than anyone else in this joke of a place." He stood alongside a very well-dressed man who leaned on a glossy black cane. The man had wavy, shoulder-length black hair with just a hint of grey at its roots. The very sight of the man sent shivers down Elly's spine. He stood a few inches taller than Dominick and appeared to be in quite good shape for his middle-aged appearance. He stood silently, staring down at Professor Calenstine.
"Dominick," Professor Calenstine replied, unaffected by his sudden appearance. "I was under the impression you made off with the Beast of Bladenboro and had no interest in returning to our humble home." The professor tipped his glasses down his nose. "I see you've brought a friend."
"You have not aged well," the mysterious man stated. "If I knew better, I would say you were knocking on death's door."
"I see you have not lost your sly humor," Calenstine shot back.
Abram shot up from his seat and pulled a small silver pistol from underneath his jacket, pointing it at the middle-aged man. "You have ten seconds to leave," he yelled at the mysterious man.
The audience gasped at the sight of the firearm.
"Now, now, Abram, please take a seat. After all, Dominick is family, no need for such drastic measures. Am I right, Professor Aten?"
"As for now, yes," the middle-aged man replied with a cocky smile.
"I heard rumors that Dominick here had found support for his Monsters and Fiends Protection Agency under the mysterious Aten Corporation."
"And yet you still hired him to clean up your mess?" Professor Aten replied.
"I was hoping to talk my friend out of such stupidity. Unfortunately, I was unable too."
"I see," Aten added with a cocky smile. "I find it strange standing here looking at the weathered and brittle man you've become. It's hard not to think that without my ambition, I would be staring into my own mirrored image."
"You call it ambition now?" Calenstine laughed at the thought. "I call it a rather large God complex issue. I do not know how it is you defy our natural progression, my old friend,
but I know the evil that flows through your veins. I am sure it is something dark-something inconceivable to most men's standards."
"There is the difference, is it not, Claud, old pal?" the man mocked.
"I'm sorry, I guess I don't follow," Calenstine answered.
"Well, I am not most men. I have reached vastly greater heights than most men could even dream of."
"Oh, Deckie." Now the professor mocked the man in return. "As cocky and self-indulged as ever I see."
"You know I hate that name, old man," Professor Aten's fists clenched tightly.
"What's going on?" Hunter whispered to Patricia, who had turned as pale as a ghost.
"Who's that creepy man with Dominick?" Elly asked.
"Quiet, children," Patricia whispered. "He is a very cruel man."
"Enough with such witty banter," Aten replied. "I am not here to rekindle our old friendship. I came here for business."
"And what business do you have with me?" Calenstine added.
"Now who's the cocky one? My business is not with a stupid old fool, but rather with your people. You see I spent a lifetime trying to locate your precious little estate. Trying to hunt you down so I could finish the job I started oh so many years ago."
"Is that so?" Professor Calenstine's cool demeanor wasn't fading.
"Please, old man, do not interrupt me." Aten smiled with an evil grin; it was evident he was enjoying the exchange between the two. "It wasn't until I found Dominick here, who had been shunned and shamed out of living his dream. He was more than eager to share your little society's secrets with me, including the location of this lovely little place.
"Dominick, you bastard!" Abram yelled.
"Abram I presume?" Aten replied. "I would also ask that you refrain from such rude interruptions while a man of my stature is speaking."
"Are you kidding me?" Abram blurted out.
"Abram!" Calenstine yelled. "Now is not the time."
"Yes, foolish brute, sit down and show some respect to your elders," Aten barked. "I come with nothing more than an opportunity. I offer my hand in a mutual partnership for anyone who finds themselves employed here under Claudio's care. I offer so much more than the professor here can give you-wealth, fortune, fame, you name it, the Aten Corporation makes dreams come true. Isn't that right, Professor?"
"The dreams of few I'm sure," Calenstine replied hotly. "I implore that you do not listen to the venom that pours from this man's mouth. He is deceitful, evil, and as vile as any wicked cryptid we have ever caught."
"Is that so?" Aten smirked. "Dominick here was told he wasn't welcome in this little secret society. He wasn't good enough, not of pure enough blood to be welcomed as a member. Instead, he was told he could sit back and take orders from his cousin, Abram, only because he was born first. Is this fair? No, I think not. Instead, I took Dominick's shattered dreams, gave him complete control of his own team, funded his goals, and now he stands leader of the MFPA. Isn't that right, Dominick?"
"It's true. Professor Aten believed in me when Professor Calenstine pushed me aside like trash. I know a lot of you, called you friends at one time. I was nothing here, a lackey to a stubborn fool. Now I am living my dream, I have my own team, and I paid nothing for it. Don't let Calenstine make this decision for you; make up your own minds. It's true, the Aten Corporation and the Belmonte Estate have vastly different ideas on just about everything. Most importantly, you are not a prisoner with Aten like you are here in the mansion. We hide nothing. I don't go home to a stale old apartment in a dusty old mansion, I have my own mansion. I live in luxury. Aten gave this to me."
"You see?" Aten smiled. "Aten Corporation is a business model, and a rather wealthy one at that. I invest in my people and their happiness. I have at my disposal the top science labs and medical stations in the world. I can offer you everything this pathetic palace can and much more. I need the greatest minds in order to pursue my own goals, and in exchange for those talents, I can offer you anything your heart desires."
"Spoken like the devil himself," Calenstine interrupted. "You expect to waltz into our home and recruit the very people who have dedicated their lives to our cause? I'm sorry, but I am confident in my people to know a false prophet when they see one. I would suggest if you're done slandering my good name that you leave before I do allow my team to forcefully remove you from the premises."
"Is that a threat, old man?" Aten exposed a crooked smile.
"No, just a promise to an old friend."
"I see," Aten replied. "Do not worry about contacting us. I promise I shall be in contact with you about any potential recruitment processes."
"Deckie," Calenstine said hotly as Aten and Dominick turned.
"That's ‘Professor' to you, old fool."
"Neither you or Dominick are welcome back to this estate. If you ever set foot on our grounds again, there will be repercussions."
"No need, Claud, old pal." Aten laughed. "I have a feeling your people will seek me out." Aten turned back to Professor Calenstine and bowed down to him in one final mocking gesture. "The next time we meet, Claudio, you will be dead at my feet. Let's go, Dominick. We have work to do."
The two men left the auditorium of their own free will, leaving behind in their wake murmurs and whispers of curiosity.
"What just happened?" Hunter asked.
"That man," Patricia whispered, "has haunted Professor Calenstine for many years. I fear we are heading into dark times."
"Do you really think people will leave and go work for him? He seems so scary," Elly put in.
"I hope not. We have many dedicated people who have been with us for years, who have family ties with us dating back generations. I fear that Professor Aten strikes at a greedier chord though. What he says is true, as he can give anyone just about anything they desire."
"Who is this guy?" Hunter wondered aloud.
"To be blunt," Patricia added, "he is the exact opposite of Professor Calenstine. All that man cares about is money and power."
"People, people, please calm down," Professor Calenstine attempted to regain control. "I do apologize-such an interruption is very uncalled for. I ask anyone who may have been poisoned by this man words, please, before you do anything rash, speak to me in private. Let us not dwell on this subject though. Let us rejoice and relax. Children, remember tomorrow is an early day with a tour and meet and greet. Thank you all once again. You have the rest of the night off to mingle and get to know one another."
"Children," Patricia noted bluntly. "I am acting guardian until further notice. I don't have time to sit here and mingle with the others. I will be seeing you off to your rooms for the rest of the night."
"What?" Elly and Hunter protested.
"Children!" Patricia barked. "You do realize that last night you snuck out of the mansion."
The children fell silent.
"This is only part of your punishment. To your room, now!"
Defeated, Hunter and Elly made it quickly up to their room, where their good friend Trayer waited patiently for their return. A lot had happened in the last twenty-four hours, and they both had plenty to think about. Surprisingly, they were much more tired than they had even realized. It didn't take long for them to doze off into a peaceful sleep.
