by Leji Albano
Excerpt from the diary of Alexander Matthews
April 2010, Alexander’s home
Alexander leaned back thoughtfully as he sat on the couch. He had just finished watching the first episode of Ancient Aliens, and while he was amused by some of what been presented, some of it matched his own research reasonably closely. It was somewhat refreshing to know that he wasn’t the only person on the planet to realize humanity had been meddled with long ago.
That being said, it wasn’t like he could just walk up to one of the hosts and say, “Hi. I’m a werewolf, and I can totally blow your mind with what I know.” His mouth quirked up at the corner as he contemplated what kind of reaction that would generate. Still, he suspected that he would be watching this series regularly, if for no other reason than to see if they had uncovered something he had missed over the years—the more eyes on a problem, the better.
Truthfully, these types of shows and the plethora of movies that were coming out regularly were probably a good thing. Alexander suspected that sooner, rather than later, people like him were going to be exposed. He already had his doubts as to whether the US government was still in the dark about the various races that shared the world with them. Maybe there would be less panic if the general populace were eased into the idea via shows like this. He snorted loudly and shook his head. Who was he kidding? The world was full of retards, and no amount of prep would keep them from freaking out….
The sounds of furtive footsteps woke him from a deep sleep. The HK was in his hands and leveled at the intruder even before he was fully awake.
“D-don’t shoot me, Signore.” It was one of the servants, hands high in the air.
Alexander’s eyes scanned the rooms for further threats, the barrel of the pistol never leaving its target. “Why are you in my room?”
“I am cleaning up, Sir. Replacing the towels, picking up the filthy clothes, cleaning, just the regular housekeeping tasks.” Fear-rounded eyes looked at the barrel of the HK. “If you prefer, I can come back later?”
The handgun disappeared almost as quickly as it had made its presence known.
“No, I’m awake now anyway. Would it be possible to have a meal for two served here? Say, in one hour?”
“That is easily arranged, Sir. Is there anything else?”
“Yes. Ask Enzo to join me here at the appointed time.” A small smile. “I apologize if I frightened you, but I’m under a bit of stress.”
“I quite understand, Sir. No apology is needed.”
“Are you nearly finished? I would like to get ready for the day.”
“I will begin out here. The bath can wait.”
“Excellent. I will let you get back to it then.” He paused at the threshold. “And thank you.”
Alexander poured coffee for his Beta, then settled back into the chair. “How is the Pack taking the change in management?”
“As you might expect, things are a bit unsettled at the moment.”
A chuckle followed a sip of his own coffee. “I suspect that may be a bit of an understatement.”
Enzo wore a wry smile as he tipped his cup. “As you say, Signore. Still, things could be much, much worse. I suspect that you may have put the fear of God into them.”
Alexander considered how to phrase his next question before taking the plunge. After all, while he was fairly certain he could trust Enzo, there was always the chance he was wrong.
“I’m just going to come straight out and ask, were you aware of the murders? Were they sanctioned kills? More importantly, was it just the previous Alpha’s son, or are more involved?”
His Beta stiffened in his seat momentarily, then relaxed. “I was not directly aware of the deaths, but I, as did many others, had my suspicions. Were they sanctioned kills? I don’t believe so, although his father and mother definitely looked the other way. As you may already have observed, leadership in this Pack was more about privileges for the few than addressing the needs of the many. My guess is that they knew about his activities but did nothing to discourage them.”
“So, you believe he acted alone? At least as far as Pack members are concerned.”
“Yes, Sir, I am unaware of anyone else who engaged in such hunts.”
Alexander squinted at him. “What role did you play in the Pack? You seem to be a capable sort.”
Enzo snorted, amused at his words. “To you, perhaps. I was considered a thorn in the leadership’s side. Questioning the status quo was highly discouraged, to say the least. Most of the malcontents gravitated to me, and I did what I could to keep a lid on things. It wasn’t always easy. As for my role? Whatever scut-work they could come up with to keep me out of the way.”
“I see. Their loss is my gain.”
The Alpha frowned slightly. “I have a problem, and by extension, that means ‘We’ have a problem. I don’t know who I can trust within the Pack.”
“Including me, I presume?”
“To a certain extent, perhaps, but I find that you are growing on me.” He grinned. “If I weren’t ninety-five percent sure of your loyalties, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.” Alexander leaned forward. “You know these people, and I do not. I anticipate problems moving forward, and well…. You’ve already seen my usual solution. It tends to be messy for all involved,” he stated unapologetically.
Enzo grinned wryly. “If nothing else it is certainly, hmmm, energetic, if I may say so.”
Alexander acknowledged this with a wave of one hand.
“I plan on shaking things up, introducing fundamental changes at every level. That will not go over well, especially with the previous power-players.” His eyes narrowed. “Tolerating dissent is not part of those plans.”
“Understood, Sir. Where do I come into this?”
“I’ll just cut to the chase. I don’t plan on staying in Naples any longer than I need to. You and Cat will need to work closely together to bind what I put into effect here into a cohesive whole. While I’m fairly certain that I have probably eliminated most of the problematical opposition from the vampire Coven, I was less comprehensive where the Pack is concerned.”
Enzo nodded.
“Let me be perfectly clear. You will be running this Pack in my absence, and I need to be confident that I am not leaving you holding a live hand grenade. I need you to help me put this house in order.”
The Beta thought for a moment about what Alexander had said. “I presume you want my assistance identifying whom we can trust, whom we should keep an eye on, and who the real vipers are in our midst?”
“Predominantly the lattermost, I should think,” Alexander replied. “Speaking of vipers, what about my unwanted roommate last night?”
“Ah, yes, Francesca. She will definitely bear watching. You may not be aware, but it was her son and husband you executed, and now that you have made it very clear that she will not be sharing your bed, her status is unclear.”
“No. It’s not unclear at all. I probably should have just killed her, but she gave me no reason to do so. At least not yet.” His brow furrowed thoughtfully. “Who else should I be worried about?”
“None from the lower ranks, but she has allies in the former Pack leadership. Francesca and her friends, along with the late Alpha, had a less than enlightened view on their place within the Pack hierarchy. In fact, there has been dissatisfaction within the rank and file for quite some time. However, open rebellion would not have been an option. Of course, now that you have assumed control….” He lifted one shoulder and waggled a hand back and forth.
Alexander tilted his head to one side. “And so, now they wait to see what I will do, whether I am an improvement. Understood.” He leaned back in the chair and crossed one leg over the other. “How do you feel, Enzo? If I may ask?”
“For my part, I feel like the change will be positive in the long run. Short-term, it will be difficult. You will need to win them over, show them what it means to be a member of your Pack.” The Beta tapped two fingertips on the surface
of the table, then continued. “Right now, they fear you, and to be honest, you frighten me as well.”
“Fear is healthy. It tends to keep one alive.”
“Agreed, but it is a temporary solution at best. You will need buy-in for this to work. Especially as you intend to force, for lack of a better term, a marriage with our historical rivals, the vampires.”
Alexander raised a palm to stop Enzo. “Will you be able to work with Cat and her people? Or is this going to be too large a hurdle for you personally?”
The beta inhaled sharply, then let it go. “For my part, I can see the advantages, and the rivalry has always seemed petty and old-fashioned to me. Our children go to the same schools, make friendships and get along, but when they come of age, they are expected to let all of that go. It has never made sense to me.”
He smiled. “Also, Signorina Caterina strikes me as a very capable sort.”
“That she is, Enzo, that she most certainly is.”
Pensively, Enzo asked, “Do you ever get used to the way she speaks?”
Alexander burst into laughter. “You’ll know she likes you when she drops the façade.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Let’s get back on track here for a minute.” Alexander ticked items off on his fingers. “The majority of the Pack were less than enthused with prior leadership, but have decided to see if I am any better before taking sides. Francesca and her faction might, and undoubtedly will, cause problems for us either overtly or covertly. And finally, merging the wolves and vampires into a cohesive organization will undoubtedly face opposition. Did I miss anything?”
“That about sums it up, Sir.”
“Sweet. There are some other items I want to discuss, but before we get into that, I left my car with the valet at the Museo last night when events transpired. Can you have someone pick it up for me?”
Enzo reached into his pocket and pulled a set of keys out. “I’ve already seen to it, Sir. One of the staff found the chit in a pocket on your suit. I don’t suppose you’d let me drive it?”
“Not today, I’m afraid,” Alexander laughed.
Alexander and Enzo talked for another half-hour, and plans were made to inventory the armory to determine what, if any, improvements were needed, what additional training and capabilities Enzo’s TAC (Tactical Action Command) team should receive, and various other concerns such as the Pack finances.
Alexander wandered the halls of the villa after his meal with Enzo. He observed the staff as they went about their activities. He noticed that while some of the furniture still showed signs of the conflict that took place, at least all the various body fluids had disappeared. His feet led him to the large kitchen and the wonderful aromas coming from that space. A rather short and loud man was directing the junior cooks much as a maestro led an orchestra.
Electing not to interrupt, Alexander made his way back to the front entrance, intending to check in on Tina. He was intercepted just short of the doors by a woman who asked to speak with him. She was dressed in a prim and proper fashion and had an air of authority about her. Everything from the auburn hair put up into a severe bun, to the matronly business suit that did nothing flattering for her, screamed efficiency.
“Excuse me, Signore. May I have a moment of your time?”
“Certainly. And you are?”
She inclined her head. “My name is Julia Acosta. I am the Majordomo for this household.”
“I see. What can I do for you today, Julia?”
“It’s more what I, and the staff, can do for you. Are there any particular provisions we need to have delivered? Perhaps changes to your chambers? I shall ensure that we accommodate all of your needs.” She crossed her hands behind her back and stood waiting.
“How many staff do you have?”
“Twelve altogether. That includes kitchen, domestics, and a few who perform several different tasks, including groundskeeping.”
Alexander rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Is that number sufficient? This is a large house and grounds.”
Julia stiffened slightly. “Has Sir noticed a deficiency?”
Hands patting the air placatingly, he said, “No, not at all. My concern is the wellbeing of your team. I don’t want to overwork them if a few new hires will make everyone’s lives easier. From what I have observed, they are a very efficient and well-organized group.”
She relaxed and nodded once. “Thank you. We are a little lean, and on occasion, over-extended, which means long shifts, but please don’t infer that I am complaining.”
“Understood. How many additional staff would mitigate this?”
Julia thought about it for a moment. “Three should resolve the issue.”
“Make it so. For further reference, please don’t hesitate to come to me with these types of concerns. Is there anything else I should be made aware of?”
“Not at this time, Signore.”
“Good, good. As to your initial questions, I do have a couple of small requests.” He paused. “Please remove all of the previous occupants’ belongings from my quarters, both his…and hers.”
“At once,” Julia said, signaling one of the domestics hovering close by, and barely hiding a small smile of satisfaction.
Alexander smiled. “Additionally, I would like a new mattress and pillows for the bed. Extra-firm, please.”
She nodded.
“As for provisions? Other than a good American bourbon, or decent Islay single-malt whisky, I will eat what everyone else in this house partakes in.”
A scandalized look passed over her face. “Excuse me, Sir, but did you say you would be eating….”
A smirking Alexander said, “You heard correctly. Not only will I be eating what you all eat, but I will also be eating with everyone. Please ensure that there are enough seats in the dining room to accommodate family-style meals. My expectations are that the Pack will feed as a whole, at least as much as possible. This includes you, Julia.”
She quickly suppressed a grin, then replied, “As you wish, Sir.”
“Do families live here as well? I assume not, but I haven’t been here long enough to know. Regardless, please make sure they are invited as well…including children. It’s not required, but I want them to know they are welcome.” He smiled. “Especially the children.
“Oh. You may want to warn Chef that I have occasionally been known to actually cook my own food when the mood strikes. An appalling thought, I know.” He sniffed. “And yet, it cannot be helped. One would hate to be chased around the kitchen by an irate cook with a cleaver. I’m sure you understand.”
Julia completely failed to contain the laugh that escaped her lips at his final words, then she bowed slightly and walked away.
The Acura was parked where Enzo had said it would be, and it was apparent that someone had detailed it while he slept. Avenged Sevenfold’s Hail to the King was blasting from the speakers as he drove to his rental property. He was practically vibrating due to the nervous tension that thrummed throughout his body. Alexander was afraid of what he would discover when he got there. After all, the last time he had seen Tina, she had been seconds away from death. Sure, he knew intellectually that if the virus and the nanites had done their jobs, she would be alive and relatively healthy, but her psychological state was the unknown.
It was doubtful that she would have awakened yet—it hadn’t even been a full day since the attack—but she was no doubt vividly sharing in the same recorded memories that he had received during his transformation. It was a lot to absorb. Granted, people of this era should be more open to the very idea given the sheer number of books, movies, and tv shows that postulated similar scenarios, but still….
He found parking and slowly made his way up the stairs to the entrance. He knocked since his key had gone to Caterina the night before. Her assistant answered the door and let him in, closing it once he was past.
“How is she?”
“She yet sleeps, but her recovery looks promising.”
&nb
sp; “Thank you,” he whispered. “I’m sorry I never got your name.”
A smile greeted his words. “Bettina. My name is Bettina.”
“I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Bettina, and thank you for watching over her for me.”
“Go to her. Who knows, she may sense you are with her?” She walked to the sofa and sat, picked up a magazine and started reading.
Alexander opened the door and peeked inside the room. Tina lay in the bed, whimpering almost sub-audibly. The door shut softly behind him as he strode to the side of the bed, where he pulled the chair from in front of the vanity so he could sit next to where her head lay on the pillow. Sunlight dappled the room and he could see that the linens were sweat-stained and covered in dried blood. Her blood. There was a large dressing that covered the wound in her neck, and he noticed that the ruined dress she had worn to the gala had been removed. The pinpricks from his medallion had vanished, but the bite he had given her arm still showed, healed, but inflamed. He knew that it would leave no scar, but for now it was an unwelcome reminder of what he had done. A hand to her forehead revealed that she was running a fever, something not entirely unexpected with the changes happening to her body. Tina’s hair was matted and filthy with the sweat from the fever combined with the blood from the attack. He slowly, carefully, peeled the dressing from her neck and saw that the gaping hole had closed, even though there was still more healing to come.
