Chapter Ten
William straightened in his tuxedo, fumbling to adjust the black bowtie that clung to his neck. Grumbling as the article of clothing did not go the way he was attempting, the man was just about to give up when an extra pair of hands moved in from around his waist. A soft, female voice caressed his ear, immediately calming the frustrated male. "Would you like some help with that, honey?" Looking over his shoulder, Birkin smiled warmly at his wife. Despite the fact she was eight and a half months pregnant, she was stunning. Her body was hugged by a silver evening gown, her belly bump wrapped tightly in the secure fabric. Letting his eyes wander to her cleavage, the approving husband got a wicked grin. "Oh, you already have, Annette. You sure you don't just want to …stay here? "Annette came around to the front, her arms folded in playful disapproval. "Eyes up here, lover boy. And yes, since when have you heard of a pregnant woman giving up the chance for free dessert?" Smirking at his wife, William pulled her closer to his body. He closed his eyes, her smell comforting his stained soul. Well, it wasn't stained…quite yet. After tonight, he prayed that he could still be the man she loved and held at night. Brushing his lips to hers, the husband decided to steal what was already his. Returning the affection, Annette wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips pressing back with equal vigor. Slowly, they dwindled down, gentle pecks stifling the passionate press. Breathing out in a sigh, Annette kept her eyes shut as she leaned her head upon his chest. "I love you, Will." Smiling to himself, the happiness faded as darker thoughts invaded his mind. Birkin placed his chin upon her head, his arms loosely wrapped about his wife's bare shoulders. "I love you too, Annette, no matter what happens."
Looking up at her husband, Annette's eyebrows scrunched together. "What do you mean, 'whatever happens.'?" Shaking his head, Birkin placed a thumb over her frowning lips. "I mean….whatever life throws at us, I'll always love my lady. We are going to be parents soon…and that's going to change everything. Such little things can change everything…..just know that I love you, ok?" Annette nodded as she fixed her spouse's tie, her deft fingers smoothing down the collar. "Of course, William. I always will love you…no matter what…."
Nodding as he moved from her side, William Birkin painted a reassuring smile upon his mouth. Nudging her shoulder with his hands, the patient husband steered Annette towards the door. "Why don't you go on out to the car, Dear? I have a few things to gather in my office before we leave."
As soon as she was out of sight, Birkin moved from the bedroom into the adjacent room. Their house was spacious, and Annette had insisted that when they moved in, he was to take the study for a personal, home office. It was small, but efficient, and held all the work he needed extra attention to. Moving to the opposite side and underneath his steel plated desk, William bent on one knee to reach a small, square safe that was tucked beneath the file drawer. Flicking the combination lock, he sighed as the door finally clicked, signaling that is was free to open. Swinging the heavy, but small door ajar, he reached inside. The glinting steel of a 9mm Beretta sparkled into view, feeling dead and cold in his palm. Staring at the weapon briefly, William took a deep breath, recalling the conversation that he had held seconds ago. Annette's voice rang out in his head, echoing within the confused passages of his mind. 'Of course, William. I always love you…no matter what…' Whispering the words back to himself as he tucked the weapon safely within his coat pocket, William Birkin leveled his eyes towards the front doorway. Grimly he growled beneath his own breath, trying to convince he psyche of his sin being a saintly deed.
"You'll always love me, Annette…no matter what…"
…
Christmas Eve….it was supposed to be a time of holiday and relaxation with family. But not a time for bloodshed…
Wesker slicked back his hair in the musty mirror, wiping his hand free of the extra style gel with a hand towel that lay on the sink. Tonight would change everything…on this Christmas Eve…
Hunching over the warm water that ran steadily, the tormented male breathed in the vaporous steam. It calmed…it was simple…. Why couldn't life be simple? Why couldn't everything be normal… Complacent in violence, comfortable with murder, that was his view of 'normal'. Despite his comfortable nature about taking a life, this one in particular caused him to hesitate…to pause. And he hated himself for it…he hated his weakness…
Looking upwards at the mirror once more, Albert Wesker bite down upon his teeth. Sapphire eyes stared back at him, cold, unfeeling. He wanted more out of life…he wanted to be everything that he could, and obstacles of the doldrums constantly were in the way. But did he consider James to be one of them? Was James Marcus an enemy to be eliminated and forgotten? Closing his eyes as he remembered the snarling voice, Wesker could feel the silence answering his inner question. '. I loved you like a father, and now, you are dead to me. You all are.'
Cerulean fury flashed open, the newly brewed anger streaking across his agonized features. Stalking from the bathroom where he had been preparing for the evening, Wesker crossed to his bed and to the clothes that laid out, already hand picked. Ebony slacks, dress shirt and silver tie, paired with a heavy trench coat that would surely keep out the winter's bite. The garments were swiftly used, their owner clad now in the evening attire. Pausing before the full length mirror that was fixed on the opposite wall, Wesker frowned. It was a shame to have to get blood on his new coat… Crossing to his nightstand before exiting the room, a gloved hand opened the drawer with deft flick. A twin copy of Birkin's Berretta shone on the lamplight, lying cold in the palm of its owner. Spinning the tool of death around his finder, Wesker watched the shining piece of metal disappear into the right pocket of his leather coat. Setting his jaw as he flicked off the light, Wesker's dark silhouette vanished into the shadows. Tonight everything was going to change. Tonight a prince of Umbrella would take his rightful throne from the king…..
…
Looking around the corner of the room, Lisa swallowed hard. This was too much…
The ballroom was brilliantly lit, many mirrors around its circular walls. People were talking and laughing, the bright colors blindingly gorgeous against the superior white wash of the walls. Chandeliers hung from every dip in the ceiling, their crystal glory sending sparks and patterns of light dancing across the room. This was the newly refurbished Arklay Mountains Estate, and this was the new facility. It had taken Lisa almost five minutes to catch her breath when the limo had pulled up to the very front, the four terrace stone staircase winding up the front and into the giant double doors. Guests from several of the other facilities had shown, project managers, district heads, and even Edward Ashford and Ozwell Spencer himself. The two men had been the center of attention of their guests, mingling in with the crowd and disappearing out of sight. Lisa had been curious about the under ground panel that was supposed to be shown later that night. She stood gaping at the fifty foot projection screen, finally dragging herself away in search of Trent and Angelica.
Now lingering at the doorway corner, Trevor stood close to the wall. She felt silly as the men gave her smiles, being as half of the people that she worked with never had seen her out of pants. An emerald dress hugged her plumpish figure nicely, a droop of frills swooping around her shoulders and mingling in with her hair. Over the last couple months she had let her auburn locks freely grow, and now they just tumbled past her white shoulders in a thick curl. Looking back and forth, the young woman nervously chewed her lip, praying that the plan they had hashed out would work… If it didn't all three of their jobs would be on the line….
A strong hand fell to her shoulder, causing the already flighty woman to nearly squeal. Turning around, Lisa smiled as she recognized the person, finally thankful for some company. "You have to stop sneaking up on me, Trent…Or one of these days I'll have to hurt you!" Charles grinned, his brown eyes looking wide and with feigned fear. Putting his hands up on a defensive gesture, the man chuckled. "Hey, I had to make sure that you were Lisa. I mean..the Lisa I know won't wear a dress if her life depends on it." Trevor hands went to her hips, a finger held up in a warning, scolding manner. Trent himself was dressed in a rather suave suit, his light brown hair combed to the side and slicked down. Lisa's face was red, slightly embarrassed by the stab at her attire. Lowering her voice as she sidled next to him, her tone was that of hushed anxiety. "We have to blend. That's what Angel said… and our lives very well might depend on it. Have you seen her arrive yet?"
Shaking his head, Trent sucked in a deep breath. Last night's plans had been laid out step by step, but he was still nervous. Something didn't feel right about the whole thing, and he prayed to God that Angelica knew exactly what she was doing.
…
Silver tipped heels clicked in anxious waiting, a silken clad body constantly shifting to get in a more comfortable position. Angelica hated big parties, and wanted the evening to hurry along to the real event she had planned. The only problem was… she was late. The chauffeur had apologized multiple times, and she did feel sorry for the boy. A young man who was barely eighteen had been hired to drive the spacious limo, and he himself had been late to his shift because…oh what was it? Something he had rambled on about class taking forever. The youth had immediately rambled on about taking a crass course piloting class, and that graduation was only a week away. Angelica had merely nodded and fidgeted as the young man chattily talked, occasionally answering a few questions. Now pulling up the Mansion, even the talkative teen seemed hushed. The limo slowly banked around to the front, pulling up feet away from the staircased entrance.
The engine hushed as the young driver exited, shuffling around to open the door courteously for his female passenger. Tipping his hat as she exited the vehicle, the man blushed lightly. "Thank you for being so understanding ma'am. It's not everyday that folk like you don't take offense to a motor mouth like me. Would that be all, Miss?" Smiling as she moved from her seat, Angelica shook her head slowly. When she fully stood, she leaned over with a hand extended outwards to hand the young man something. Tucked between her concealed fingers was a small wad of some rather large denominated bills. The chauffeur's eyes became large, his lips stuttering as she spoke to him. "Actually, Bradley, I need you to stay around a bit. I'm going to need you to take me somewhere else this evening before the final trip home. Now, I'm aware that the company has only paid you for two trips, one here and back, but this will be for two extra… And keep it confidential. I've included and extra five hundred for your time. Could you do that for me?" The toe headed teen nodded vigorously, slipping the extra cash into his pocket. Stuttering as he gave the lovely woman before him a mock salute, Bradley slowly slipped back into his driver's seat. "Yes, Ma'am. I'll be waiting at the end row. Just signal me when you are ready for your ride!"
Chuckling under her breath as the excited adolescent pulled off, Angelica shook her head. Despite she had seemed inattentive; she had listened to his aspirations of piloting. Hopefully this would help the young man along as well as help her with her own plans. There would be something special about Bradley Vickers…she just knew it…
Turning her head up to the staircase, azure eyes strayed to the double doors that lay at the base. They were barred off for some odd reason, forcing the guests to travel up the stairs to gain entrance. Scrunching her brow together as she thought, Angelica realized that the Arklay Facility was not actually in the Mansion Estate. It was under it…. Hiking up her skirts to step up the staircase, Burrows took a deep breath. What kind of a company that mean no harm….hid a facility from the world? There was only one way to find out…
…..
His brain ached. No, it burned, but even then he pushed on. It had been almost forty eight hours since the incident with Skeets and his siblings, and just now the secret of the DNA was revealing itself. James Marcus was hunched over a microscope, screaming in absolute joy at the information he had discovered. The T cell virus was mutatable, conjoining and resurfacing dead DNA into live tissue. It was a spawn from the T, but not that strain completely. The environment had forced it to change, forced it to grow into something far more powerful. It would become the world's greatest BIO-weapon, and he would rule with the iron fist of industrious knowledge. James Marcus finally had discovered his G-virus.
The paperwork had to be sent; the leeches had to be contained. So many things that he had held no joy or love for now had new interest. Life was exciting again. He could live without Umbrella….and he would be the successor of the world. His precious 'children' had taken well to the new strain the night he had decided to share it with them. Their bodies had grown larger, and their minds forming intelligence beyond just some sluglike creature. His babies were alive and bonding….they loved their creator and God, James Marcus.
Running his hands through his hair as he set to work on boxing up his work, Marcus giggled like a maniac with a bad joke. But the only bad joke was now Umbrella….and Spencer. He had outwitted them all….and now he was going to build a new empire, one that would dwarf Umbrella in all its shining splendor. Spindly fingers began to type, the connection to the BIOHAZ server established. A video feed moved through as an Asian oriented male's face began to focus into view. "Marcus, do you realize what time it is over here? Why are you bothering me…" James' face split into a fanatical grin, his eyes shining with a sleep deprived madness. "I've done it, Mr. Okani. I've finally done it. And you shall have all the revenge that your heart craves on Umbrella after what they did to your father. I've finally discovered your G-virus….."