The Condesce, though her house had burnt down just hours earlier, raised a hand to ring the doorbell to a door that wasn't her own. He had called for a personal business meeting, and she was determined to be there so she knew he wasn't making any decisions when she was in charge.
The door, was oddly shaped, just as the house was. One side was brick. Its ceilings were high and its chimney puffed out a smoke that blended in with the unsettled ashen fog. The door was enormous and triangular, its wood painted charcoal black.
The other side, however, as a bright purple. It's ceilings stood lower, and it had a circular white door. The man claimed the door just led to a spare room, but walls inside seems much smaller than what they should be. She was certain he had an entire second house, hidden within the first.
The bell chimes echoed through the many halls of the mansion.
It wasn't long, as the wind scratched her unprotected cheeks, that the door opened to a tall figure with long, messy black hair. His smile was too large for his face, unnatural, for it was painted on. His eyes were crazy. It was the only word she could think to describe them. Completely insane. He wore a suit of black, and his slick dress shoes were covered in paint.
"Come in." He said, stepping away from the door. The Condesce raised her chin, and stepped inside the warm room. Instantly, she could see the fireplace stretching from one side of the room to the other. A fire burned, and she wanted to put it out, fearing this mansion too would be set ablaze.
The man shut the door and locked it, his breaths so still, he appeared to not be breathing.
"Let's go to the kitchen to discuss the plan." He said, turning around and gesturing to a golden arch that led to another room. His shadow on the cramped brick walls looked inhuman. It was a different him, a darker him. The Condesce, though seeing this, didn't mind. He was wrapped around her finger.
"Certainly." She said, following him through the arch and into a grand dining area. The kitchen was triangular, alike the door. The table was set so that it was diagonal, and every circus portrait on the wall was purposely hung crooked. A single flower was set on the light oak surface, its vase too large and detailed for its simple existence. She pulled out a chair, and sat down, smoothing her cardigan. The man in front of her did as she did, and sat in front of her. His eyes met hers, and they remained there the entire time he spoke.
"It's been difficult finding people in this town for the company." He said. Not a single muscle twitched in his face, which was dangerous. His confidence was too high, and she was going to have to find the right time to strike and destroy it. "It's going to take some time before I can find anyone. In the meantime, I have someone who can possibly help us find the kids."
Her eyes flashed.
"Your sons are missing as well?"
He nodded.
"Yes, and I don't think it's a coincidence all of them went missing together."
She paused for a second, then raised her eyebrows. "Meenah likely convinced her friends to leave with her so she didn't have to acquire my company." She said. She knew it was the truth. Meenah had been complaining about it nonstop for three years straight. This course of action wasn't out of character for her.
"I've talked to some of the parents. Everyone who is missing are directly tied to the kids at the camp."
The man's gaze finally broke, and he turned his head down so that his eyes followed his hands into the pocket of his suit. He pulled out a card.
"His name is Cal. He was one of the Minute Men. He knows how to track people."
The Condesce took the card.
"I was half expecting you to pull out Jack's card." She said, pocketing it.
"His and I's alliance is over." The man said. "If you would like, I will make something to eat."
She nodded.
"That would be great."
The man got up, exiting to the kitchen. As soon as his shadow left the room, she stood up. She couldn't shake Jack off her mind, since the night he had betrayed her. It was the last straw with him. According to the man whose house she was now in, he had killed him. She only hoped that it was true. If it wasn't, she would take care of him herself. She walked over to the arch, attempting to leave the room.
"Would you like a coffee?"
She jumped at the voice behind her. The voice that had oddly been very calm through the entire meeting.
"That would be great, Makara."