The man in the black suit and the red tie sat in the lobby, waiting patiently. The secretary at the desk didn't know why he unnerved her. He seemed very young, 19 or twenty, yet he walked like he was military all his life, carried himself with a air of superiority, but at the same time a heavy weight seemed to be upon his shoulders. The secretary, Stacy, had even gone so far as to call down an extra security guard.
"He scares me for some reason." Stacy said.
"He's a kid. Weighs 160 soaking wet. Besides, he's in a government building. Probably some military brat who's here on some business for his rich, congressional daddy. He came in on a red Harley. Nothing to worry about." the security guard said.
Stacy thought Bill was a nice man, he was around 55, with a bit more gray hair than brown. He was an Army veteran of 25 years and proud of it, and was the head security guard here at the H&H Corporation, which had ties to some very powerful senators, representatives and powerful firms overseas.
"Hang on..." Bill squinted.
"What?" Stacy looked up at Bill.
"That pin on his lapel...it's a sword."
"So...?" Stacy looked at him incredulously.
"Sword as in Special Forces symbol." Bill raised an eyebrow. "Something's different, ah...maybe I'm just thinking too much about it, it probably means nothing. Grandpa or something was probably a Spec Ops man."
They both looked up, the man was now standing, checking his watch, growing impatient. He started to tap his foot, clearing his throat. Bill and Stacy couldn't tell where he was looking since he wore dark tinted sunglasses with circular lenses. Stacy thought they were a bit too Elton John for her taste. The man started to pace, repeatedly looking at the clock.
Finally, the man suddenly stopped pacing, and a wide smile broke out on his face. Stacy looked to the doors, watching another man, dressed similarly in so far as the suit, but wearing a black tie. On his lapel he wore a pin in the shape of scales. Stacy rolled her eyes.
Lawyers. she thought. Now she knew why the Red Tie was so happy to see him. The Black Tie chowed down on a greasy burger from some greasy burger joint.
"Sir, you can't eat that in here." Stacy said.
Black Tie completely ignored her, walking straight to Red Tie and embraced him. They seemed genuinely happy to see eachother. A few seconds later, a third man walked into the building, wearing the same style suit but wearing a green tie. He wore a snake pin on his lapel. Red Tie and Black Tie greeted Green Tie enthusiastically. They all got quiet, and Red Tie immediately ran over to the doors, embracing the fourth and last man who came into the building, who wore a pale white tie and a bow and arrow pin on his lapel. Red Tie calmly walked over to the front desk, leaving the three to talk.
Stacy looked up. "May I help you, sir?"
Red Tie took off his sunglasses, and Stacy had to gasp, his eyes were an emerald green, so bright they were more than beautiful. She was mesmerized by them and suddenly lost all train of thought.
"Bill, take Stacy home, then go and spend time with your family, all of them. Time is of the essence." Red Tie smiled, and Stacy swooned, he really was attractive for such a young man. His eyes spoke of a wisdom that vastly outnumbered his years, Stacy and Bill nodded, then left the building.
The light in his green eyes hardened, and he slipped his sunglasses back on. He walked over to the three men.
"Brothers...I apologize for calling you all here today. But we have a problem that needs to be handled now. Follow me."
He led them to the elevator, pressing the up button. All four of them walked into the elevator.
"Famine." Black Tie said.
"Pestilence." Green Tie said.
"War." said Red Tie.
"Death." said White Tie.
"The Call has not been given." Famine said, "Why have you summoned us?"
"What? I can't ask my brothers to come for a visit? Do not worry. The balance WILL be maintained. No greater enforcer has there been but me. You all know this. I've asked you here precisely because we have a problem that will tip the scales ahead of schedule. Death? You've heard whispers of an organization that actively seeks the Beastchild?" War said.
Death glanced over. "Throughout my travels, I have heard of such a group, especially in Europe, specifically in Eastern Europe."
"Now we all know, their exists a certain element of the third kingdom that awaits his coming and the triggering of the Tribulation. I've called you here because there are a radical element of these people that are actively seeking to engineer the child. They are tired of waiting and seek to start the End on their own. We need a show of force to prove that the Horsemen are not to be trifled with. Using my arts of...intelligence gathering, we find out who is responsible for this rogue element and eliminate them. We all must participate in the purge or they will try again. We were charged with maintaining the balance even from the third kingdom, not just from our fellow and fallen brothers and sisters." War relaxed, leaning against the rail, feeling the elevator shift up and down.
"I have been working on something new." Pestilence smiled slowly.
Famine opened a candy bar, snacking away. "You've reassured me. Whoever is leading this effort will suffer."
Death looked at War and smiled. "You do have your moments, brother."
"I know, I know." War smiled. The third kingdom would learn. The Four took this as a personal affront. And personal affronts to the Four never ended without blood, sorrow, and despair.
War smiled. Of the Four he was most likened to the humans, he had an affinity for them that none of the other three shared. But when it came time to do his job, he was ruthless. He breathed deeply,closing his eyes, waiting to reach the top floor.
Come and See.