Chapter 2: Alexander

The lights went out but I didn't move immediately, panic was a luxury I'd stopped affording myself years ago.

I remained exactly where I was, one hand resting against edge of my desk and my eyes adjusting to the darkness all around.

The room was to silent to say. A mansion this large was never truly quiet. There was always the hum of ventilation or even the faint movement of guards changing positions outside and now there was absolutely nothing.

I still remained calm and I counted. One. Two . Three. Four. Five but still nothing.

My right hand slowly slipped beneath my jacket, and the concealed weapon was exactly where I'd left it.

"Good!" I thought to myself. But I didn't draw the gun. Drawing a weapon in the dark without knowing what I was facing was how amateurs got themselves killed.

I listened again and this time I heard a knock, my eyes narrowed trying to place where it was coming from then I heard it again. This time, I knew exactly where it came from.

And shockingly it was coming from my door nor the window, but right from the wall behind my bed. I turned my head towards the sound and for several seconds, I simply stared into the darkness.

"Interesting." I whispered.

My fingers tightened around the weapon beneath my jacket as I took two silent steps backwards. Just then, the emergency lights flickered on.

Dim red illumination washed over the room and I immediately looked at the door, it was still locked. I crossed the room and checked the handle shut tight. The window, locked. Nothing had been disturbed the room looked exactly as it had thirty seconds ago but then I reached into my pockets and my fingers found nothing.

I froze and slowly checked the other pocket and it was empty as well, the phone was gone. Not my personal phone, the other one I use to communicate with VANITAGE.

I stepped away from the door confused. Someone had been inside my room while I was standing in it and I hadn't even noticed. I turned towards my desk and the drawer was open.

I know I'd closed it, because I always did. I approached it slowly and my hand remained near my weapon.

The drawer contained nothing unusual, just documents a spare charger and some pen. I moved each item aside, th n my fingers touched something cold..

I pulled it out, it was a black envelope. It had no name, no seal, no handwriting. I opened it and inside was a single white card with seven words

YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED WHO ATTACKED ALEXANDER.

I read it three times trying to understand what the hell was happening. I'd spent less than a day inside the Blackwood Manor and I'd mentioned the assassination attempt to no one except Alexander and VANTAGE.

"The message couldn't have come from Alexander now, could it?" I thought to myself.

I looked towards the wall where the three knocks had come from. "Who are you?" I murmured.

But there was no answer. Of course what was I even expecting.

I slipped the card into my pocket, just then I heard footsteps outside, someone was coming. I moved away from the desk and the footsteps stopped directly outside my door and I waited.

A knock sounded once and normal this time .

"Mr. Vey?" The voice called. It was Alexander..

I opened the door and he was standing alone in the hallway, dressed in a very dark slicky night pajamas and he was looking calm as always.

I on the other hand appeared completely out of place. His eyes moved over me, then into my room. "Did you lose power," he asked in a cold yet caring tune.

I studied him for a second before responding. "No!"

His eyebrow lifted slightly. "Then why did the lights go out?" He asked against staring straight into my eyes.

I don't know why but for some reason, seeing him in those night pajamas sent my thoughts deep into it's most unholy of places but I still managed to control myself.

"They didn't I replied. And silent followed for about 5 extra seconds before he stepped past me and I just watch him enter the room.

"Explain." He said..

"I don't have an explanation," I replied.

"The entire house has power."

"I noticed Mr. Blackwood 

He glanced towards the ceiling and then at my desk, his eyes stopped briefly on the drawer. "This man noticed everything." I thought...

"You heard something," he said. And it was clearly not a question.

I crossed my arms. "What makes you think that?" I asked.

"Well, you opened your door holding your right shoulder differently." I just stood there looking at him as he continued. "You do that when your prepared for a threat."

I lowered my shoulder and replied. "Occupational habit."

"That's twice you've used that excuse Mr.Vey." 

"And it still true." 

His gaze remained on me for a second, then he asked. "Did someone enter your room?

"No!" I replied and it came easily.

"You're sure?" His eyes narrowed. 

"If someone had entered, I'd know," I replied.

"Would you now?" He asked. And there was something irritating about the way he said it. Maybe the way he sounded simply certain.

I stepped even closer to

him. "Are you suggesting someone entered my room without me noticing? Mr. Blackwood."