“Tell me Kenneth, why has your growth rate been so low over the past six months?”
A question he more than anticipated and had prepared for. “Alessandro, the market for growth in all areas is down. The private sector has not had any real growth in months. My labor division hasn’t received any bids of any kind for any new construction. And I am hesitant to take more from the public sector. My police funds are pulling as much as I dare take without drawing attention to us.” That earned him a laugh from his master.
Alessandro chuckled at his subordinate, “Kenneth this is the safest place for us on the continent. You could take another 10 % from the police budget alone and nobody would notice.” He chuckled again, deeper. “If you hadn’t noticed, Kenneth the one thing this state does really well is throw money at who knows what, and then claim total ignorance and no responsibility when it disappears.”
Kenneth regarded his master in an even gaze, holding the older man’s eyes. “Alessandro, times are changing. We walk a thin line and people are starting to question what their governments are doing. It’s not like in the old country when the peasants truly could be ignored. These people think they have choices and that mere thought of freedom makes them far more dangerous than you, or any other House Heads have ever given these Americans credit for.”
Alessandro leveled a deep stare at Kenneth. Kenneth knew he had overstepped his bounds. “Kenneth, I value you as a member of my House, and more importantly as my childe. I am your sire, and you are native to our beloved Italia.” Alessandro slowly rose out of his chair to loom tall over his subordinate, his voice growing like a storm rolling in from the sea. “But I will not allow such a one who is so low in the blood to dare speak to me of what I know and what the other House Heads know about these people or how we conduct our business.”
Kenneth sat perfectly still with his eyes lowered to the floor looking at the black rug that was there, tracing the red lines with his peripheral, shamed to even move his eyeballs.
Alessandro seemed to relax visibly and settle back into his chair. “Why are you so bold with your words. You know I respect you. I appreciate your opinions, and I am here to help you succeed at whatever you wish.” Alessandro heaved a sigh and placed his fingers to his nose massaging the bridge gently. “What else do you have?”
Kenneth spoke in a subdued voice. He respected his master. He would hold a cross to his skin and brand himself with it to say that it wasn’t true. But deep in his mind and whatever heart he had left, he did respect the man. The act of being chastised by him stung, much as a slap across the face from a father’s hand. It smarted bitterly.
Kenneth slowly looked up at his master and shook his head. Alessandro’s lips turned down in a frown. “I had expected much more from you, Kenneth.” He swiveled his chair to look out onto the city from his transparent walls. “You are a reflection of me, Kenneth. If you cannot produce more than what you have, how do you think that will look on me, on our House?” Alessandro turned back toward his subordinate. “You will have time to improve. But soon, even that time will run out and then I will be forced to act.” There was almost a pleading look to his eyes. “I would truly hate to act against you, Kenneth.”
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He sat in his chair deathly still unable to move. His gut felt empty and if he moved he knew that it would break apart from the rest of his body. His lips did eventually form words again, “I understand, Master Alessandro.”
The older man visibly lightened. “You have never disappointed me, much. And I know that you’ll find your way. You always have.” Alessandro got up from his desk and strolled to a bar that was nestled neatly into a corner of the office behind the desk. Done in the same fashion as the rest of the room the bar was very modern with clean hard lines and stark difference between glass, mirror, and chrome.
Alessandro produced an ancient bottle and two burgundy wine glasses. The viscous liquid that came from the bottle steamed just enough for him to see tendrils of vapor rising. The deep red of the substance caused a primal, almost animal lust for it to rise in Kenneth’s mind. He wanted that drink, wanted it more than anything else at that moment. He felt his lips pull back from his canine teeth which had involuntarily grown an inch, but he didn’t care. It was a marvel of self control that he was able to remain seated, when all he wanted to do was tackle his master for the bottle.
Alessandro set the bottle aside and took up the two glasses. They were made from the finest crystal that Kenneth had seen in a very long time. But the finery of the glass was completely lost on him as his blood lust was threatening to take complete control of him and he would have been so glad to give in to it. If he didn’t know that Alessandro would have killed him before he left his chair.
His master placed the glass in his hand and retook his place behind his desk. Kenneth tore his eyes away from the thick, red, life that he held and managed to level an even look at his master. One of his first lessons had been the gentleman’s impeccable self control. Right now he could kill his master for making him practice such techniques.
Alessandro held his glass at nose level. He swirled the viscous liquid against the sides of the glass, staining it red. Alessandro closed his eyes and inhaled deeply the warm aroma of the blood, as Kenneth had done many times, testing the character of one of his vintage wines. He opened his eyes with a smile and raised the glass no more than an inch higher into the air. Kenneth knew that permission had been given and had to fight himself to not throw the blood all over himself.
Instead, he lifted the glass to his lips and gently tilted the fine crystal to an acute angle, allowing the blood to flow through his lips. He needed only a taste and then his eyes closed and he lost himself in the instant torrent of pleasure. The blood didn’t burn like wine or alcohol. No, this was an experience that was never the same twice. The blood coursed through his throat leaving nothing but ecstasy in its wake. Where there should have been a burning need for more there was only contentment. A small, restrained, sigh escaped his stained lips and he relaxed back into his chair.