SWNOVELS Chapter 6: Uniting the Dark Houses, Part 2:
After Damien joined us, we teleported from the Manticore Estate. We appeared at another large manor, olive green with black shutters. The manor seems to have been neglected with worn out roof titles, chipping paint upon the house, and a basilisk fountain was in the center of the front yard with a waterfall pouring grimy water from the serpent’s mouth.
We walked up to the front door and with the wave of my wand the doorbell sounded. Shortly after, a tall,slender, middle aged witch answered the door. She wore a black dress, holding a wine glass in her right hand. She had long dark hair, like pools of obsidian, and her eyes were like two Sapphire gems.
She sipped on her wine before speaking. “I think you have the wrong house,” She spoke with a hint of rudeness.
“Actually, we are here for Benjamin,” I claimed. “Is he home Baroness?”
“Yeah...” She sighed as she turned and disappeared back into the mansion. “Ben! Door!” A few minutes had passed in silence, when they door finally opened up again. This time were were greeted by a young wizard, who I assumed was Benjamin.
He wore a black suit, with a green undershirt, and a matching top hat. His hair was dark like his mother’s but shorter, only coming down to his shoulders. He didn’t have much facial hair, just a thin, neatly trimmed, mustache.
He stood in the doorway, surprised to see us. He instantly recognized my two royal blood companions. “Micah Manticore...Damien Drake?” he asked confused. “I haven’t seen you two since we graduated from Spellbound’s Academy of Magic, eight years ago.”
“They are with me,” I spoke up.
“And you are?”
“The wizard who is going to bring your family back to glory.”
“‘Back to glory’?”
“I could not help but to notice your mother is drinking, yet it is only noon. Why?”
“She always has a bit to drink around this time.”
“Yes...” I said stepping closer. “But I asked, ‘why?’”
“He-Her and my father...” he stuttered in fear that I may hurt him. “They argue a lot. They always have argued since the day I could remember. But it has gotten worse over the last year as our family’s fortune dwindles...”
“Micah’s father informed me your family is one of the three mob families. He also shared that you all have had everything taken from you by the council. And now you all only run petty, small, businesses out of the back’s of shops, making pocket change...”
“Yes, our monthly expenses cost more than we make from the few businesses we have left. My father started dipping into the family fortune when I was a child. Twenty years of taking from it has finally added up. We are are on the verge of being completely broke, destitute...”
“Well allow me to reiterate...I am ‘the wizard who is going to bring your family back to glory.’”
“How?” he questioned with curiosity now. “You would have to be willing to...”
“Take on the council? I am...”
“East Wich Valley...” he whispered. “You are Corvin Phoenix. I heard them talk about you on the radio this morning. You have the council quite rattled.”
“Being ‘rattled’ is the least of their worries...” I presented him my wand. “This is one of the most powerful wands in existence, which I intend to use against them. Join me...help me end their reign. And I promise your family riches that can never deplete and the freedom to sustain them however you so wish.”
“Did you say ‘riches’?” asked his mother, whom none of us knew was listening to our conversation. She came into view beside Benjamin. She glanced at my wand and her eyes filled with surprise. But her attention refocused on me. “Why don’t you all come inside? I am sure my husband, and myself included, would like to be a part of this conversation.”
“Very well Baroness...”
We all entered the Basilisk mansion. We followed Baroness Basilisk down the hall, to a corner room on the right. We walked into what seemed to be a study. An older wizard, dressed similar to Benjamin, was sitting at the desk in the middle of the room. His hair was dark, slightly longer than Ben’s, and he had a mountainous beard hanging from his face.
“As fun as it would be to argue again with you, my love, I am afraid I do not have the time,” said the Baron, not looking up from his work.
“I did not come to argue with you, Bryan. We have guests...”
He looked up from his desk, gazing upon us. He instantly seemed to recognize me, peering back down. He fumbled through the papers on his messy desk until he stumbled upon the newspaper he was looking for.
He stared, frozen, at the newspaper for a moment before looking up at me once more. He stood up with the newspaper still in hand. “You are him...” he stated. “The one who is fighting the council. Corvin Phoenix...”
“I am Baron Basilisk. You may call me by my title though.”
“Yes, of course. Why have you come to Basilisk manner Dark Lord?”
“I have come to ask for your son’s aid. Master Manticore has lent me dear Micah, in hopes that together we can end the tyranny of the Council of Magic. Which, in return, means the freedom to profit how we see fit.
Your son has told us the financial strain the council has brought to you, with their rules and regulations. If your son joins me, your family’s name will rise again to riches and glory. This is can promise.”
The baron and baroness looked upon their son. “Have you an answer for him Ben?” asked the baron.
“Yes, it is rude to keep him waiting,” chimed in the baroness.
“Calm down...” commanded Benjamin. “I already was planning to say ‘yes’. Besides, I could use a break from the constant bickering being heard around here.”
“Excellent, then it is settled,” stated the baron.
“So it would seem...” I agreed. “But a favor I must ask of you, too, baron...”
“Anything...”
“May we stay until tomorrow. We have traveled enough for one day and it is best we keep a low profile.”
“Of course, we should have enough spare rooms.”
“Thank you baron. And, I must thank you as well Benjamin. With you added to our ranks, we become one step closer to our goal. If only I could truly reward all of you, for your loyalty.”
“It will be an honor to serve you, Dark Lord,” Ben claimed. “Your promises of a freer tomorrow is sufficient payment enough.” The others agreed with Ben’s statement.
“I can show you to our guest quarters,” volunteered the baroness.
“That would be very much appreciated...”
We all followed the baroness to the eastern wing of the manor, having four guest rooms. The baroness left us to get settled in. We entered one room, together, for a brief meeting.
“There is but one name left on our list of recruitment, Hector Hydra. We will collect our brother in the morning. Then you, the royal house members, will become the commanders of my army.”
“Army?” asked Ben.
“Yes, every army has leaders and those to be led...the common foot soldiers.”
“How?” asked Damien. “Lots of people won’t just join...not without compensation or by force.”
“If we have to chose, we will buy their loyalty,” I said.
“We do not have the funds.”
“Rob a bank...” chimed in Micah nonchalantly.
“That-that could work...” replied Damien in surprise. “There is a dwarven bank in Wicked City, called Hammer Vault. My father banked there and would talk about how their security was a joke.”
“Then we hit Hammer Vault, after we get Hector tomorrow. I want you, royal house members, to go to Wicked City today though. You will, stealthily, case Hammer Vault, while you keep an ear to the ground for any news.”
“As you wish Dark Lord,” smiled Micah. The other two agreed with her.
They left, teleporting to Wicked City. As nightfall approached, they returned. They came back to the room, knocking at the door. “Enter,” I commanded.
“We have news Dark Lord,” stated Micah in concern.
“Has something happened?”
“In a way...while we were in Wicked, we heard mention of William Griffin.”
“What of him?”
“He has recruited a noble house member, Peter Pegasus, for his task force.”
“Then...we have no time to waste, it would seem. What is the security like at Hammer Vault?”
“Minimal,” spoke Damien. “Several guards, no one special that we can’t handle. We just don’t know what the vaults are like.”
“We will get in the vaults, I can assure you. You did well my friends. Relax yourselves for the remainder of the night for we all will need our rest for tomorrow...”
They all spoke their farewells before leaving to their own rooms. I saw none of them the rest of the night. I, no longer needing the requirement of sleep, stayed up all night meditating. I enjoyed the peace of silence night brought.