Chapter 12: At the Mansion
3rd July - 12:30,Boston Manor,London
Emily's PoV
Alfred has called me about a half an hour ago to tell me that tomorrow is his birthday,and that he would be more than happy if I visited his new home in Washington D.C. He also said that he doesn't want any presents. The mere presence of me is enough for him.
On the other hand,since that day in Kosovo,I've never felt so...livid,before. I've had a massive migraine for being ruined by the cri...no,GENOCIDAL brat (yeah,I'll going to name him like Alfred does for now on. I officially hate him),spilling me with worms and hair through Coca-cola,all the while Matthew giggled at me. How dare he?! And not only that,I lashed out at Athene for her receipt she made for that genocidal prick,and then she had a nerve to pretend she didn't knew it. I gave her a black eye for this,and for what she did to my tanks back in Macedonia in April.
I don't know what's worse,getting spilled with disgusting stuff at me or being betrayed by that slut Arisha? I've never done anything wrong to her,but since,apparently,I'm in NATO and I'm Alfred's older sister,I'm an enemy to her. What did she thought?! Demolishing my embassy in Russia and then saying "sorry"?! She can miss me all day long,but she got what she deserved. She lost her friend,and deservedly so (though deep down,actually,I think I overreacted. I still kinda feel sorry for her,for just a bit,hm?) Either way,these things made me slam my teacup at the desk,holding it with my fist,breaking it,and the tea spilled all over the floor,my fist and the desk. Grrr...
I was reading a poem,still incredibly frustrated from every thought I thought about and,after I released another loud growl,my father spoke up.
"Still pissed off about the "receipt",Em?" Arthur said,loudly.
I got up from my chair and cleaned up the water and collected the broken cup to throw it on the bin. Then,I closed the window from which the hot light came through it,fixed my hair and sighed,opening and closing the door behind me.
"Yes I am." I replied,in a tired tone,walking towards the sofa,and sat on it "You wouldn't know what bad days did I had."
"There,there,accidents always happen." he said,still covering his face with the newspaper,reading it "We always had many screw-ups throughout our history,especially during WW2. And speaking of WW2,do you know what happened today?"
"What happened?" I asked.
"On this day in 1940,Cardiff was bombed,or as the Germans would call it,"Blitzed",by the Luftwaffe." he informed me,moving his newspaper down,revealing his face "Your younger brother Dylan Hughes,like we and all the rest of our family,have suffered greatly,with dozens of illnesses and losses imposed on us...until we fought back."
Since early May,he always bothers me about the Blitz. Not that I like this period,far from it,but his constant talks about it makes me uneasy,particularly because I and NATO are on the mission to bomb the genocidal brat because of the genocide against Albanians.
"Dad,I know this might confuse you but,can you stop pestering me about that event,would you please?" I asked again,in an annoyed tone.
Everything was silent,except the fireplace burning the ashes,for a few seconds. After that,he spoke up again.
"Well...since you,your brother and NATO decided to bomb a country which happens to be our former ally,I always sensed that you'll slowly turn into a major hypocrite." he answered,in a serious tone.
"B-but...you don't know the reasons behind it." I tried to confess.
"More or less,yeah." Arthur continued "But what I do know is that little chap Alfred's known for being a pathological liar and a hypocrite. At least,that's what a friend of yours told me."
"Who,Arisha?!" I asked again,angrily.
"No,someone else." he said,smiling "Someone who's been a rival for centuries."
"You mean,Maria?" I said,shocked.
"Yep."
Maria...hypocrite...Blitz...Oh God,this reminds me of a short conversation I had with her when I was with her on Salamanca in Madrid,after we got out of the cafeteria.
11th May - 21:00,Salamanca,Madrid
The night was warm,and I and Maria enjoyed the nightlife. The people walked around the streets,the lampposts shining the district,and we felt a bit sick for drinking a bit too much than usual. We walked towards her house,three kilometers near the cafeteria.
"How's brother Andres?" I asked her.
"Solid as usual,but also annoyed." Maria replied,turning her head to me.
"Annoyed? I never saw him annoyed before."
"Of course you didn't,but the reason is the same as mine. You became..." she paused,then sighed heavily "...a great disappointment."
"How?"
"How...by doing something that you and I had felt against." she answered,apathetically "You're bombing someone weaker and..." she giggled "shorter,than your...urgh...brother."
"Yes but..."
"Don't "but" me when talking about something as serious and outrageous as this!" Maria snapped at me,as we bypassed a kilometer and a half "I was bombed,you were bombed after me and yet,you're doing what the fascists did to you. Killing innocent lives,under an invented pretext,I assume."
"You mean Nazis?"
"Nazis,Fascists,Atlanticists,whatever you want to call them. They're the same mierdas. But that's beside the point!" she continued to explain,now annoyed "Because you're still doing what the Yankee orders you to do,you,like with Guernica,leave cities,towns and villages in ruin,and making the populace in need for help and basic needs,while you disgracefully imposing sanctions,enjoying your life and following the outdated "cause". In fact," Maria increased her volume "I once visited Serbia in April and I saw many friends like Arisha and Athene,and that kid who's getting bombs against him. I don't know his name,but shortly before I returned to my lands and letting them know that they have my support,a three-year-old baby died. THREE-YEAR-OLD...BEBÉ!"
I paused,thinking of something to keep the conversation up. I took a deep breath.
"Maria,do you know what's happening in Serbia? We have a moral obligation to stop him and his dictator from whipping out the Albanians and other minorities. The lives are at the stake. Remember the Racak Massacre?"
She turned to me again,stopping her steps,and raised her fist,trembling with visible anger,only to lower it back and sighed heavily through her nose.
"You're so lucky that you aren't Alfred Co'Jones." she seethed "You're keeping yourself taking the lies he always tells you through his sewage of a mouth and his media machinery. If you came to this ravaging land yourself,on foot or from the plane,you'll think twice and make Alfred stop doing this!"
"Indeed,wars are and have always been bad for humanity,but you must understand that sometimes,violence is the only remaining option." I tried to reason.
"No it isn't!" she shouted at me,stomping her sandaled foot,angrily,while we're almost reaching her house "You..." she placed her hands to cover her face,as if she's talking to a wall "You don't know what consequences will it bring if this pointless and bloody war isn't stopped immediately! To give you an example,Yeltsin could get impeached for his enormous unpopularity and no,I'm not a fan of him!"
"Are you sure? I don't know if this would alter the World. I hope it doesn't..."
"You tell me..." she rolled her eyes,growing frustrated "You have not one idea,Em! Nor fucking Alfred! The kid who's getting bombed just happens to be a younger brother of Arisha and Ivan Braginsky! It violates the Post-Cold War rules of leaving them alone,but we're fucking at it right now! It's not only disgraceful,but also cowardly!"
"How?"
"He leads the coalition of eighteen against one,which is more than unfair,but much less if compared to the war against Ikram,where he had to face 35 nations against him! As much as I despise the Beilschmidts during WW2,at least they waged war against less than one hundred! Alfred wouldn't have had the guts to fight anyone if he didn't brought up 50 nations against a victim nation. That's cowardice!"
Once we entered her home and removed our sandals,I asked her if she could allow me to pour two glasses of water for her and me. She agreed,and sat on out chairs.
"Either way,if this war keeps getting longer,it might bring dire consequences for the World and no one,except you and the Yankee,can stop them from happening. I'm saying this as an enemy of Alfred and NATO,much like my brother and my siblings."
"You're in NATO,Maria." I reminded her "I know it's a painful fact,but it would be a treason if your assumptions get in the NATO public. Do you know what'll happen to you if Javier Solana hears you about this?"
"I won't care. He may gave me the privileges,but I don't want that! I don't want to get stuck into this organization of useless idiots!" she answered,angrily. She paused for a few seconds "But,in the end,the World will never be the same if the bombings get longer or worse,reaching an even longer length than the Blitz against you. It lasted for eight months and five days. What'll happen if the bombings last for an entire YEAR?!"
"I'll make sure my brother gets informed about that,and to ensure that the bombings last as shorter as possible,with the enemy capitulating to us."
Maria rolled her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'm ashamed of you,Emily...I don't know if we could keep being friends anymore." she nodded her head left and right,tsking "You were once my ally against the fachas during my Civil War,but now...you're the facha yourself. At some point,you'd have to realize the harm you and Alfred are causing with your lies and wars."
I lowered my head as she made my brain getting clouded with thoughts and decisions,feeling a bit ashamed. Once she calmed down,she moved her head towards me,after finishing the drink "Do you want to play Monopoly?"
"Sure,I guess." I said,smiling.
After exactly seven minutes of silence and thoughts had ended,I finally asked him one more thing,before I'm about to pack my belongings up to visit Alfred.
"Father!" I exclaimed,making him reveal his face again "Can you go with me to Alfred's new house?"
"Nope." he answered,simply "He's known for making dogshit all around him and mess things up. Also,he doesn't care about me,does he?"
"I think he does." I answered,trying to cheer him up.
"I don't think so. When was the last time he invited me to his birthday?"
"In 1991?"
"That's right and afterwards? Not one letter was given to me by him!" Arthur protested,slamming his newspaper on his knees. "So,yeah,I won't come on this year too!"
"Understood..." I concluded,getting up and going back to my room to prepare myself for the travel to Washington D.C.,packing my stuff into the baggages,for departure. Arthur has,shortly afterwards,got up as well,and went out of the manor to take a walk.
23:10,flying towards Washington D.C.
I'm in a plane to fly at his new home,flying towards his new hometown. His previous hometown was in Philadelphia since 1776 up until 1994,in which he moved to Washington DC,for some reason.
I always knew him and his unfortunate path to corruption. He used to be kind and caring for not just me,Matthew and his siblings,but also towards the entire World. But,ever since the beginning of the Cold War and Vietnam War in particular,his attitude towards the World has changed for worse,along with his personality and sanity. He lost it once he signed the Paris Peace Accords on 1973,thus giving him Neurosis and Paranoia (he hates losing,more than anything else),and sometimes,Insomnia. The last thing is a thing I,Arisha,Liu,Adele,Ivan and all the rest of the Major Powers (sometimes) have due to the stress of international politics and tough risks and decisions.
As of now,he's still kind,but only limited to those who're relative to him,as well as his 50 brothers and sisters combined,and to the ones who are loyal to him. Otherwise,he's known to be an arrogant,volatile and cocky individual,and even mentally fragile every time he loses it,making him hard to control himself,especially if Maria records him. Also,his moral compass is broken into many pieces,but still intact,like a glue-plastered chair leg. It made me cry and weep,failing to contain my tears by blinking.
Alfie,you aren't the same as you used to be.
4th July - 07:30,Dulles International Airport,Washington D.C.
The airplane's doors got opened. I got out of the plane and went to the airport procedure. They scanned me and I gave them my passport to see that I came here legally. Then,I waited for my baggages to arrive,where many people are waiting for theirs. After half an hour have passed,the baggage rows came to me,and I took them. I made sure that I won't miss every single baggage.
Once everything was in place,I went to the exit to wait for a taxi driver. However,someone made me jump.
"Emily Kirkland!" someone had suddenly shouted,approaching me "You finally arrived! Pleasure to meet you!"
He shook my hand and I stood confused. How did he knew my name? Who is he?
"Uhm,sir,how do you know me?" I asked,looking at him with a suspicious look "Who sent you there? Who are you?"
"Michael Jefferson or better known by my nickname "Mick"." he answered,in a happy tone. He's in early 30s,has short brown hair with his top being semi bald,a moustache,a summer outfit,and a tall stature. "I'm sorry for not introducing myself to you,Mrs. Kirkland. And as for your other question,the one who sent me is my boss,Alfred Frederick Jones."
My brother sent him there? So that's why this Mick guy knew my name immediately.
"And you're his employee?"
"Yes,I've been employed since last year. He's a great young man and he's mostly nice. Mostly." he replied "His mansion called Fessenden House has an abandoned winery beneath the cellar. I wanted to have a job to provide for my family,and so he turned me into his own personal barman,since he also has a bar at the ground level. Most of the guests he and I know of are visiting there for a drink,even some of his friends come here too."
"That's interesting to hear." I said,also smiling "Can you send me to his house?"
"Of course,that's the whole reason why I'm here,Emily!" he exclaimed "It's his birthday,after all!"
After that,he helped me send the baggages into his car's trunk,where it lied on the garage near the airport. The day was immensely hot,with everyone minding their businesses,and the lush forests refreshed the air around us. When we entered the car and fastened out belts,I turned to him.
"How far is his mansion from here?"
"Not that far,at least by the American standards." Mick explained "It's less than forty minutes from here. His mansion is located in the Forest Hills."
"Got it."
Afterwards,he started the car.
09:00
We arrived and got out of the car,after entering the gates of what appears to be a solid home,with a small garden full of grass and pink flowers,laying beside the fences,and parked the car near the main door of his new house.
"Here you go,Em,you can now enter." Mick said,his left arm moving down to the door,pointing the door for me. "Don't be afraid,he's currently at his best mood,unlike some days I could name. See you soon!"
I thanked him and went to the door,knocking it by using the eagle door handle,three times,while he went to the bar to continue his job. I waited for some seconds and after they passed,the door got unlocked and opened a bit. I saw Alfred peeking through the slightly opened door,checking if it's me.
"Emily? Is that you?" Alfred asked,slowly opening the door.
"Well,obviously." I said,in a sweet tone.
When he finally opened the door to the full,he looked at me for a second and then smiled. No,it wasn't a smirk this time,but a genuine smile.
"Emmie!"
"Alfie!"
We hugged one another for some time and released each other. Alfred wore his usual outfit.
"It's good to see you again." Alfred said,in a friendly tone. "Come in,Em,you don't need to take off your shoes or anything."
"Happy Birthday!" I exclaimed,after entering his house. He winked at me.
I was...astonished,by the ambient and interior of his house. The interior was Neoclassical,with many stairs and rooms and many other things I can now explore with him.
"It looks beautiful and...elegant." I said,amazed.
"Indeed,I bought this mansion in 1994,which costed for 22 million dollars." he said,moving his head around. Then,he turned his head towards me "I moved there because my previous home was too...modest for my taste. You would do it the same if you were me,wouldn't you?"
I haven't answered,and I won't. Me being silent to his words is enough. I saw an eagle standing on a stand,looking at me and moving its head around. It barked,and I slowly moved towards the eagle.
"Oh,that eagle's name is Griff. I've nurtured him since my childhood." he said,caressing the eagle's head. "Come on,don't be too shy. He won't bite,I think."
I tried to caress his head,but he dodged my hand whenever I tried to touch him.
"It's ok,he haven't got used to you,but I'm sure you too would get along eventually." Alfred said,calmly.
"And you hid this fact for so long?" I asked him. I really didn't knew he had a pet "Why?"
"Because I don't want my pet to get involved in NATO and the UN meetings." he explained "If I did,everyone would take pictures of him,and ask me if I could let him stay there. Besides,he doesn't know,nor he shouldn't know,about politics. Also,little fun fact,whenever he gets shocked,afraid or frightened,he'll imitate the voices and moves of different birds like rooster or woodpecker."
"He's so talented!" I praised his pet.
Alfred nodded his head. He then helped me to move my baggages to my room he selected for me. He told me that his mansion has many rooms and baths. Once we went from the stairs into the different part of the interior on the upper floor,he unlocked my room and handed the keys to me.
"Here's your room,Em!" he exclaimed "Now,go unpack yourself,and enjoy."
Before he left me,he said that he'll wait for me downstairs,to show me the rest of his mansion,so that,afterwards,go to his swimming pool outside,were we can swim whenever we want. I can only wish for me to buy everything he has to offer.
14:45
I'm taking a walk with my brother around the mansion,and I saw many things that I didn't have: Too many rooms,baths,a billiard room,his office and many more.
"Emily,you're still silent?" Alfred asked "Are you ok?"
I'm incredibly shy. I wanted to tell him many things about what had happened over the last months,about the Second Cold War,incidents,problems,the conversation between me and Maria...everything. But then I realized that if I did that,he'll have his mood ruined and/or damaged,and it'll be my fault,because most of the things I was about to tell him would piss him off,especially the last one. So I instead wanted to tell these things for tomorrow.
"Oh,n-n-nothing,nothing at all!" I exclaimed "It's just that I like solitude,you know."
"I see. Hmm,wanna go to the pool?" Alfred suggested.
"Of course!"
Later on,we got to our rooms and removed our clothes and shoes,took our towels,and put our trunks. In his case,he also put his contacts for his eyes,since his eyesight is heavily damaged (and grew over the course of decades) since his war against Edu in mid-19th century. When we exited his mansion to go outside,went downstairs into the pool,we jumped at it and the water splashed around the field.
As we spattered and laughed at each other for a while,Mick intervened.
"COWABUNGA!" he shouted,jumping at us and having the pool explode again. When everything calmed down,he joined in to play with us.
Two hours later,we exited the pool and I went to my new room,resting,while Alfred and Mick got back to work. Alfred to his office and Mick to the pub.
5th July - 01:00
I'm inside my bed,sleeping,after I turned off the lamp. Before that,I enjoyed the midnight fireworks Alfred and Mick have arranged to fire upon the sky. The sky exploded by the sheer amount of explosions. His neighborhood,and the American people,generally,did the same. The room was warm and comfy,like this bed. That bloody Neoclassical Architecture,I love it.
After twenty minutes,I heard someone's footsteps and the door creak. I opened my eye,
"If you need anything,if you have any problem,you can always tell me." Alfred said,in a sweet and senile tone,winking at me again.
"Thank you,my dear bro." I said,in a silent and sleepy tone.
"You too. Sleep tight,Em." he left me alone,closing the door.
He's such a great brother one can have. Yes,he's really annoying and unbearable at times,but,despite his moral compass and record,he's great.
15:00
"Niksic's Eparchy destroyed by NATO bombs"
That was the first thing I read from a newspaper which Mick bought for me,after he got back from his bar,ten minutes ago,for a pause. 10 people got murdered. We sat on our seats in the dining room,waiting for,as Mick had told me,Alfred to buy the lunch for us.
"How's your bombings campaign going?" he asked me,reading the newspaper "I've heard your mission was intended to stop the supposed "genocide" taking place in Kosovo."
"Yes it is. The campaign,as of now,is going good." I told him,sitting firmly and looking at him "100 days have passed and we won't stop,yet."
"Perhaps." he said "Speaking of which,did you know that the Second Cold War begun on 25th May? I don't know why,though. We haven't screwed up something,did we?"
With his words,it brought me flashbacks of that disgusting and,sadly,memorable day. From having my (and Alfred's and German's) embassy demolished to ending the Pax Americana. I got betrayed on this day.
"Possibly?" I replied,in an uneasy tone "I'm not sure,but I prefer not to talk about that topic,at all. It ruined your boss (Alfred) very badly."
"Yes,the day the headlines about it came to the various news headlines and all the rest of the media,I was shocked to the core." he started explaining,also feeling uneasy "And,when Alfred entered his home after he got from a meeting,he was shaking and slowly walking towards me,telling me not to touch him and leave him alone. When I asked him why,he yelled at me and slammed the newspaper at my face. That's why I said that he's mostly nice,because each time he has a bad day,if not week,I always get lashed out by him. It's his own apparent way of venting his emotions."
"That's true,my brother's been neurotic and mentally fragile from the Vietnam War and when his Nighthawk was shot down by that genocidal brat." I explained,severely "It was also his personal jet,before he bought a helicopter,I assume."
"Alfred told me about it when he got back from the NATO meeting in March. I got punched in the jaw for asking what had happened,cutting me off in the mid-sentence. Such a young man with a small temper is risky to handle,but I'll get used to it in time." he finished his explanation.
Then,we went to play cards to kill our boredom. We both beat each other at it. After several minutes,I felt my patience running out.
"Mick,when will Alfred come back?" I asked him,annoyed.
"He'll return shortly." he answered "I asked him through my phone and he said he'll come back at any moment."
Two minutes later of continued card plays and Alfred had arrived,finally.
"Who's for Chicken McNuggets?!" Alfred shouted,,approaching towards us,and making us jump from our chairs for his sudden voice.
He sat on a chair and Alfred and us have started opening the food boxes he bought,eating and enjoying the lunch,with fries too.
18:30
Alfred just came back from workout at his private gym,showering himself afterwards. I sat on a sofa in the main hall,waiting for him to arrive. It was the right time for me to tell him the things which happened during the last 100 days of this year since the beginning of our campaign. Once he saw me,he walked near me.
"Hey,Em,why are you sitting there?" Alfred asked me.
I was silent for five seconds,unsure of what to say next. But I did it anyway.
"Would you mind to have an...important talk between one another? Brother and sister?" I suggested,connecting my index fingers repeatedly,out of being shy as I was.
"Of course!" he said,closing his eyes for two seconds "What worries you,sweetie?"
I don't know where should I start. My mind is full of topics I want to say. Should I begin with the bombings or with the Kosovo incident I got into in June,and with it,about Dhimiter. He has been acting incredibly strange over the last two weeks,shouting these twat's viewpoints at me and even came to the so-called 610th Anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo,violating the rules that his government implemented on him.
In the end,I choose to talk about Dhimiter.
"Do you know what happened to Dhimiter?"
"You mean,the kid we're protecting?" Alfred said.
"Yes,I don't know what has gotten into him recently. He acted completely differently when I was in Kosovo,the last time."
"Explain."
"He was with our main enemy,confronting us in a village. He ranted at me about how we,somehow,"betrayed" him for attacking his people while not knowing that they were just collateral damages. The genocidal brat occasionally interfered,with me threatening them both." I said,in a stern tone.
"What an idiot." Alfred said,annoyed "I've had a conversation with him five days ago in the UN Hall,telling me he wouldn't care less if he starts to get bombed by us for defying me,and that I had no bravery,honor and dignity. Because he was so impulsive and demanding,I ordered the UN guards to beat him up and kick him out of the building,leading him to gain bruises on his arms and legs." he grinned "It shoved him a lesson or two. He should think twice before siding with that savage brat."
I nodded my head. I'm glad Dhimiter got what he deserved.
"And do you know what happened to me shortly after I went back to Britain on that day?"
He was silent,looking around with his eyes,searching for an answer. Once he did,he snickered,turning into an outright laughter. It was heard from the distance.
"Y-y-you'll have to admit that it was a bit funny!" he was barely able to form a clear sentence due to his laughter.
Is he screwing with me right now?!
"Would you say the same for Macedonia incident?" I snapped at him,in a low but angry voice.
He slowed down his laughter by my question,slowly ending it. He made an uncomfortable grimace and blushed.
"I-I'm...I'm sorry for not noticing." he apologized "I thought it was someone else. Fucking tribal protesters in an otherwise civilized country..."
I rolled my eyes,and we stood silent for some seconds,calming ourselves down. The room around us was darkened,with the light from the windows spreading the spots.
"Alfred,do you know that I was bombed during WW2?" I asked my most riskiest question. He'll get pissed off when the conversation goes deeper by this.
"Yes I do. Why?"
"Well...I-I had a conversation with Maria back in May when I was hanging out with Maria." I explained "We talked about the bombing you and me are initiating,and she got very angry about it."
"Ngh...That's nothing new from that simian flamenca." Alfred retorted with disgust. Then,he turned to me "And...what's so problematic about it?"
"She claimed that our war would bring dire consequences if we don't stop the bombings immediately,and that the World will never be the same if it keeps on going. She mentioned Yeltsin." I answered.
After my words,he started to shake with anger,lowering his head to the floor.
"And who does she think she is...a philosopher?!" he retorted again,angrily. His shaking is now visible "Maria has found many methods to humiliate me and ruin my days,and my life in general,and then to get away scoff free. From the slaps in public,making scandals to the downright recordings of me! The latter is the worst!"
One of the reasons why he's absolutely paranoid is because Maria knowingly records him whenever he loses it. According to Maria herself,the reasons behind this is due to his support for Franco during the Cold War. Though I can't blame her,it's also the main reason why he fails to control himself.
"I understand,and we'll get to the bottom of this for later." I assured him "But really,I've got a feeling that,because of her words,and summed up to Yeltsin's unexpected murder and the incidents against you before it like Macedonia and the downed Nighthawk,I think it might be risky for your sanity and rep..."
"ARISHA!" he suddenly screamed,taking a vase from the column and threw it violently at the wall,breaking it into many pieces. His scream echoed the hall.
I was dead silent. He lost it again. I tried to move towards him but he just raised his palm at me,telling me that he'll clean up the pieces into the bin,after he walked near the shattered vase and crouched to clean it up.
"It's all her fault..." he said,in a tired tone,after he cleaned up. His shaking is calming down.
A short pause came after his cleanup,and he took a deep breath.
"Being a superpower is a hard job. It may look easy,but it isn't. It's not just about doing the papers and attending meetings." he ranted,in a grudged tone,placing his hand on his hair,moving through it "The amount of stress and pressures I've received on just this year alone are reducing my mental health,and even worse so with the start of the Second Cold War. I own this World with full responsibility because I earned it with my hard work,but the Russkie scum of Arisha and Ivan came and ruined it. How am I suppose to return the Pax Americana for the World?!"
He raised the look at me.
"But ever since this new Cold War started,I feel like I'm...slipping. I don't want to snap. Anything...but not this..." Alfred said,with a trembling voice.
I placed my hand on his shoulder.
"In time,everything will get back to normal." I assured him again,trying to calm him down more,even though the mere presence of me does it "Once we finish the war in the Balkans,we'll focus on Russia."
"T-t-thank you..." Alfred smiled at me.
Another pause came in,but this time,it was eerie. I don't want my brother to have another mental breakdown.
"Now,what should you do with Maria? If she bothers you that much,why are you keeping her in NATO?" I asked him once again.
He lowered his head down,remaining silent for a few seconds.
"Because it's tricky." Alfred answered,in a serious tone "Even if I do kick her out for good,I can't,it's forbidden by NATO rules. Especially when Javier Solana,a Spaniard,is the current Secretary-General. It was a huge mistake to accept her entry to this organization."
"And do you have any solution to deal with her?"
"I know one thing that could help." he said,in a confident tone "You should tell her to no longer attend any meetings,and that she's forbidden to enter the building ever again."
"Without kicking her outright?"
"Yes,and that's the point." he smirked "She may be forbidden to attend the meetings and elsewhere,but in the end,once she realized she's still in NATO,her joy would evaporate and she'll get mentally stuck. Therefore," he stopped smirking "can you tell her what I've said right now?"
"I will,but under one condition." I replied,sternly.
"Which is?"
"You must learn to control yourself,for once."
"I'm always try to do so,but it often fails because of you-know-which reasons. Medications usually help me." he answered.
"Not good enough! The medications and injections won't help you when I'm gone or when you're alone." I countered "You know that you always resort to violence and rampage if you lose it and/or get a mental breakdown,as seen with that meeting during the time when your former personal jet got downed in late March? We literally had to knock you down and drag you out of the hallway!"
27th March - 15:50,NATO Headquarters,Brussels
I and Adele are in the basement,placing the knocked out Alfred on the standing position near the wall,after we dragged him out of the hallway. Adele slapped the back of his head,waking him up.
"Aahh!" he shouted,shocked "W-w-where am I?"
"We're at the basement,cheval." Adele said,in an annoyed tone,crossing her arms "You attempted to create another rampage against three of your members by trying to slap them and then beat them up collectively. With it,you ended the meeting."
"And looks who's calling,the Pamperer-in-Chief has spoke out!" Alfred turned to her,smirking angrily. "You really hate when I try to retaliate. Huh,Adele?"
"Yes,so that you can assault everyone else in the process?" Adele guessed.
"And Maria can do all of this with zero consequences,unlike me?" Alfred started to tremble.
"And do you want me to leave this organisation,Alfred?"
"You already said it yesterday and here you are,still standing,you meddling whore!" he snapped at her,angrily.
"Who are you calling a "whore"?" Adele retorted,also angrily,pushing him "Tell me,who are you calling a "whore"?!"
"Can you guess who,bi..."
"Stop it,Alfred!" I intervened,cutting him off,yelling "You need to stop overREACTING TO EVERYTHING!"
Everything went silent afterwards,with Alfred still trembling with anger,and Adele rolled her eyes.
"B-but,it was my jet..." he said,shyly.
I took a deep breath and placed my hand on his shoulder.
"You'll buy another one." I said,in a serious and sad tone "Now,let's return to your room. You had two bad days and I want you to rest. Let's go."
I and Alfred walked out of the basement,but not after Alfred gave Adele a death glare for five seconds.
"The fuck are you looking at?" Adele snapped at him,moving her head up.
I placed my hand at his head and moved it away from her,forcing him to stop starring at her with fury.
"Yes,I remembered perfectly. They literally laughed at me and humiliated me to death! It was a nightmare!" his fist was shaking.
"And let's not forget what you did after we got to the airplane after the Macedonia incident the next day? You ate the newspaper after you seen yourself on it!"
29th April - 12:00,heading towards London
We're inside a plane after we got stuck in the outdoor market in Thessaloniki. We had to take another train to the Thessaloniki Airport to escape it. Alfred got another mental breakdown yesterday.
""Angry Greeks hit NATO supplies" is the most softest headline you ever wrote,Emily." he complained,frustrated "Why haven't you came out with a better headline?"
"I didn't wanted to demonize them." I answered.
"The "people" who followed the illiterate Athene and cut the railroad are NEANDERTHALS!" he yelled,suddenly and enraged,slamming his newspaper at his knees "We should've simply squashed them with tanks and trains when we had the chance,painting the railroad red and black!"
Calm down,Alfred,calm down. You don't want to embarrass yourself again.
Everyone were silent for half a minute,until he saw himself getting pelted with rotten tomato as the headline picture. He took off his glasses,slowly crumbled the newspaper and then he started screaming and biting and eating the newspaper,wildly. Everyone turned at him and watched him eat the newspaper.
I blushed and placed my hands on my face. He embarrassed both himself,and me. When will he ever control himself?
"I know. These people who did so belong to a Zoo!" he complained again,angrily.
"Yes." I said,dismissively "So that's why you need to control yourself and practice the control."
"I'll try,I promise." he concluded,shyly.
"Good,I'll tell Maria about your complaints as soon as I see her again." I assured him "Now,I'll head up to my room to give you something to calm you down in future. Can you wait for five or so minutes?"
"Sure."
Five minutes later...
I returned to him,bringing a box full of things my fiends gave me for Alfred to take,at one point,for calm him.
"Here you go,Alfie." I said,smiling "These things could help you out."
He opened the box and started examining each and every thing from the box. The first was a sealed Tilia box.
"What's this?" he asked.
"It's an infusion for relaxation." I explained "It was given to me by Dalmaine Ayushe because,and I quote her "You clearly need it,let's see if like this you can stop solving everything with bombs and wars.". I'm sure you know her when the last UNSC meeting was held."
"Yes I do. Dalmaine and her Tilia." Alfred moved his eye pupils up.
Once he took a teabag and smelled it,he was astonished.
"I'm going to keep it. It's quite great." he smiled.
The next was a pack of cigars given by Chris Hlakanyana,Dalmanine's former caretaker. I gave him the pack,but he denied.
"Thanks,but I'm not a smoker." he said,calmly.
"But I am!" Mick intervened,unexpectedly,taking the pack from my hands and went back to the pub,away from us.
Then,there was a noose given by Natalia Arlovskaya. I don't know why did she picked a noose as a choice,but oh well,that's what she picked. It also had a short letter which read "For the Imperialist to be silent. Read: Forever."
"Arisha's sibling,of course." Alfred retorted "She acts like Arisha's younger clone. I'll use the noose to strangle her to death once I find her.
I put my hand on my forehead,moving my head left and right,because of Alfred's way of thinking.
The final one was a pacifier,given by Adele Bonnefoy.
"Is this a joke?" Alfred said,angrily and shaking once more.
"I don't know,that's what Adele picked for you.
He threw it violently on the floor and stomped it,crushing it with rage.
"Tell her to suck it and eat her "present"!" Alfred ordered,still angrily.
I nodded my head. After the ten second pause,I ended the one and a half hour talk,or less.
"We made a deal. I'll tell Maria about our conversation while you'll learn how to control yourself,ok?" I concluded.
"Understood." Alfred concluded too "Everything for my best sis."
I winked and hugged him. He returned me a hug. Afterwards,he went back to work.
6th July - 10:30,Bryce Park,Washington D.C.
We're taking a walk on a park,after we finished the breakfast in his mansion,which Alfred usually takes a walk for every free time,if he doesn't want to do a workout.
We sat in a bench,and the trees bloomed the park,with some children playing hide and seek and other assorted games. Alfred wore a completely different clothing,a clothing which he regards as a non-work clothing.
"Emily,do you like nature?" Alfred asked,in a senile tone. His right arm hugged my shoulders.
"Of course. It's always been beautiful to see and hear the summer ambient." I answered.
"Glad to hear it." he smiled "If only we could hang out like this everyday,without minding our international duties. You know,it's my own way to relax."
"And I also hope you can do the same in my lands,Alfie." I said,also smiling. He merely said "Yes".
"Hmm,I need to inform you about something." Alfred said,growing serious.
"About what?" I asked.
"About Athene."
"What's so informative?"
"Well,ever since I decided to unilaterally build the Camp Bondsteel and up until now,Athene always starred at me whenever I go,angrily." he informed me "When I try to make her snap out of her starring,she either ignores me or,sometimes,just slaps my hand. She's been acting so weird nowadays."
"You've already told me about her,three months ago." I alleged.
"Indeed but,unlike her antics of the past,she did nothing but stare,stare,and maybe just saying "Piss off",in an emotionless voice. As such,her people have always been,with the exception of her president and his police and military,against the bombings against the genocidal brat." Alfred finished explaining. Then,he announced "And so,tomorrow morning,I'll fly to Greece to...finish the unfinished business with her."
"Why do you telling me all of this?"
"To tell you that I won't be in my mansion,nor in the NATO hall,tomorrow." he explained again "I've always had a feeling that Greece would explode in riots because of the unpopularity between her and Stephanopoulos,and I'll go there to support him and stop Athene for achieving her goal of dragging herself from NATO. It may seem like a plot or a conspiracy,but it's extremely possible."
"I see. But," I exclaimed "before we go,can I see your face without your glasses."
"Ok,sure."
He took of his glasses and revealed his bare blue eyes. He used the concealer for his otherwise dark and heavy eyebags,this time.
"You look so beautiful!"
"And you look blurry." he replied,jokingly.
We both giggled and talked for half an hour. After that,we went back to his mansion to make a lunch.
7th July - 17:00
Mick and I are at the hanger,wishing Alfred good luck and farewell for his mission to stop Athene. My father has informed me that the revolts against the Greek President got started since today. Alfred got inside his Apache helicopter.
"Everything is ready for your voyage,Master Jones,including the food and money." Mick said,bringing a backpack full of Alfred's packed stuff "Oh,and I almost forgot."
Mick went to take something for a full minute,coming back to us and holding Griff by his hands.
"Thanks,Mick!" Alfred said "It's always appreciated."
"Wait a sec,you also bringing your eagle pet with you?" I asked,not knowing that he wants to commit his mission with his pet.
"Yes. He'll have the role of a scout." Alfred said,placing the video camera on eagle's back,as well as petting the eagle's head "With this,Griff will scout the major Greek areas and find Athene. That way,I'll confront her easily,and if the place of my confrontation is desolate,the better."
"I hope you come back unscratched." I said.
"I will,hopefully." he assured me. Then,he proclaimed,but only after he started the helicopter. It's rotors started to roll around "In the meantime,you'll hang out with Mick until you think it's enough for you to go back to your manor. I hope you two are going to get along."
"Yes we will." Mick said,smiling.
Alfred went up in the sky,waving at us. We waved him back.
Once the sight of Alfred's helicopter was gone,Mick turned to me.
"Emily,now that Mr. Jones' gone,do you want to swim in his pool and show you some other secrets of the mansion?" he proposed.
"Yes I do. I won't tell anyone about Alfred's secrets." I said.
"Great,Emily." he said,smiling. Then,he moved his moustache with his fingers "But,if you have time,you could be my colleague at the bar. You know,to be a bartender while I pour drinks,or vice versa."
"I will. When will be start?"
"After we finish playing in the pool." he answered.
We went back from the hangar to the pool from the outside,making the swimming competitions and other stuff. After that,when I go to his bar,I'll call Maria to visit there. I'm obliged to have a conversation with her. She would like staying there,wouldn't she?
Here's the Twelfth Chapter. When England got reminded by father Britain about her conversation with Spain over her Blitz,she decided to come to America's mansion for his birthday,meeting his two companions: Michael "Mick" Jefferson and Griff the Eagle.
This chapter can also be labeled as a Villain-perspective chapter,since America and England are the main villains here,along with Germany. It also show's America's friendly and mentally unstable side,which he hides it in private for the World not to see. For the context,just check my sixth chapter and/or fifth and ninth chapter of my friends's 1999 Fanfic,which is the fanfic I based my own Alt-History one.
Thanks for reading.