Meet the Friars
What an auspicious building to have a meeting in. I’ve seen plenty of horrible places to be in, but this takes the cake. The atmosphere is harrowing, the lighting flickers to the sound of flies. Erid doesn’t seem to be bothered by all the creepiness. The hallway is leading us to a room at the end. Tory is tied to a chair, blindfolded, mouth dripping with blood. Looking at the hands of Neil and Garmant, it seems they tried.
“C’mon, you bastards!” he shouts, “I ain’t telling you anything!”
Neil walks behind him and unties his blindfold. The light of the room interrupts his peripherals, as he squints all over the room to adjust his eyes. A moment later, he takes a look at me, a look of disgust.
“Who did you sell us to?”
Not answering the question, he instead spits his blood at me. In a flash, Garmant lets out a quick jab to his face and another to his gut. Neil pulls his hair to his back; the upright position lends him so he cannot unsee me. Erid hands me her handkerchief.
“Thanks,” I gave myself a quick wipe. “Where were we? Right-”
“You’re a mistake. Your old man was a better head of the family!” In Garmant’s previous place, Garmant punches his gut once again.
“Don’t interrupt our boss, buddy!” Neil remarked.
“Thanks for the effort, Garmant, but stop with the punches.”
“Yes, sir.” Garmant replied.
“Let’s cut a deal, Tory. I’ll let you go without any limbs missing. In return, I want you to tell me who you sold us to.”
Tory chuckles in pain, “You might… as well kill me now!”
“Tory. Truth be told, you’re a dead man the moment you sold us out. I can’t guarantee your safety after this but if I were you, I’d rather die later than now.”
Looking at his face, it doesn’t seem like he loves the idea. Waiting for him to respond, I told Neil to get the car. With no one to hold him upright, Tory avoids eye-contact with me.
“Why do you care…?” he whispered. “Not like you wanted… to be the head in the first place… why act like one?”
“Erid, Garmant, wait outside.”
“Sir, he might still-” Erid rejected.
“He’s tied up, isn’t he? I trust you guy’s knot job.”
Garmant let go of Tory’s hair, and with Erid, walked out the door with disapproval in their eyes. With the two of us alone, I take a chair and place it in front of Tory. It should help me see him eye to eye.
“I’ve checked your records. Your contributions to the family. I’d like to honor that. Which is why I’m handling your case myself. If I handed you to Penny… I think you know what she’d do to you. Still… It’s a shame. We need more people like you in the family.”
“Look at you… pardoning a mole…!” He grits his teeth “Your old man would’ve killed me without a second thought. Beat me up and leave me at the side of the road! Because of you, the family’s gone soft. We’re no longer the top of the food chain. The Gertas are gonna burn this family down, and the blood will be in your hands!”
“The Gertas… that makes sense,” With this ending, I get off my seat and untie him. “I suggest you run from the country. The Bahamas sounds nice. Tropical and sunny.”
Turning my back against him, I approach the door. From the glass, I could see Garmant’s sharp disapproving glare.
“You’re too kind for your own good…” Tory said behind my back, puffing some air. “...you won’t last.”
I give him one last look.
“That’s what I said to my old man as well.”
“Hey, boss! How did it go?” Neil greeted us as we walked back to the car, “Did Erid punch get to punch him?”
“No… I didn’t,” Erid remarked with a glint of irritation.
“It went quite well, actually!”
“Could’ve been better,” followed Garmant.
“Look, we get the intel, that’s what matters right?”
The two of my bodyguards seem like they disagree with me. I have a feeling they are itching to give me the ol’ one two…
Niel’s sudden clap lightens the atmosphere “WELP! We should go or else we’re gonna get stuck in traffic.”
Erid approaches the car, “We’re gonna talk about this… later…”
“Y-yes, ma’am!”
“Oof, even boss is scared of Erid,” Neil with a grimace on his face.
Streetlights under the dim moon, awfully calming. One of these days, I should’ve been in my office. Listening to the rain. Sipping tea. My phone in my pocket rings, only one person would call at this time.
“...so….?” a soft aloof voice comes out from its speaker.
“It’s the Gertas.” even people in the car don’t let out a gasp at the revelation.
“... I knew it…”
“Any attacks yet?”
“Should be soon… Don’t worry… All in all, it’s just a small hiccup.” she said followed with a small chuckle. The call cuts abruptly, as if she knew it’d be over by this hour… just how calculating is she?
After the call ends, Erid in her listlessness stares at me. “That was risky…”
“...and unnecessary,” followed Garmant riding shotgun.
“You two complete each other’s sentences now?”
“Tory is crafty. He could’ve made a shiv even with hands tied,” Erid irritatedly explained. “Besides, even with us in the room he’d still tell us.”
“Well… I guess but-”
“Not only that, but you also turned your back on him. You exposed yourself to the mole,” Garmant firmly followed. “He could’ve taken the chance and the result would be fatal.”
“...You guys act more like my parents than my actual parents.”
Erid lets out a sigh, “just let us do our job, sir.”
“Okay… sorry…”
Arriving at the mansion just half an hour later, I long for a bath and dinner. Both my mind and body are not cooperating. Footsteps from the door, hard clacks to the floor. Beyond the door, I hear people scrambling about.
“WELCOME HOME, MASTER!” my men stand straight in lines as I walk through the door.
“Welcome home, Master! You look… worse for wear…” Aria with a towel on her arms and a smile across her cheeks.
I wiped my sweat with the towel she prepared. “I got yelled at…” glancing at Erid and Garmant behind me, “Can you please put my belongings in my office?”
“Certainly, sir! Dinner will be ready soon!” Her sweet smile warms my heart.
“Thank you. I look forward to it.”
Dipping my body in warm water is never not soothing. All of my weariness melts away as I focus on the good part of today. I fed a cat this afternoon whilst waiting for Neil. The purrs of the cat still exist in my mind, I doubt it’ll leave anytime soon.
Drying my body with a towel and dressing myself in my home shirt, I walk out of the bathroom feeling invigorated. My dinner is laid out before my chair at the dinner table. Gravy mashed potatoes and roast chicken. I remember Aria has always wanted to try making roast chicken. Seems like she got her wish. I was too focused on my dinner to notice Aria filled my glass with tea.
“P-please slow down, Master. You don’t want to choke on them…” She said shyly.
I cleaned my mouth of the gravy clinging to my lips. “Yeah, I should savor these as much as I can. Can’t believe this is your first time making them.”
“I-I-I think there’s still some room for improvement, Master…”
Aria stands right beside me as I chow down my dinner, slowly this time. I do not want to upset her.
“Master?”
“Yes, Aria?”
“I-I just want to let you know that… If you have things in your mind, I’m more than willing to lend you my ear. M-m-mind you, I’m not good with business and stuff. I might not be able to give any advice…” she followed with a small chuckle. “But I know how it feels when your mind is heavy with no one to tell…”
“Hm... I see… I’ll keep that in mind, Aria.”
I set my eyes onto the smiling Aria who just fixed her glasses. My focus on her disappears as Penny sneaks up behind her and grasps her slender waist. She forces herself onto the velvet-haired maid as if Aria is her plaything.
“Aria…” Her aloof voice strikes once more. Her aquamarine eyes meet mine “Oh, goodness me, did I interrupt your moment, Aria?”
“M-m-miss Penny! M-moment? What moment?!” Aria with a red blush on her cheeks. “I-I’m merely accompanying Master Friar for his dinner.”
“Hmm…” Despite not showing her emotion, I can tell she is not buying Aria’s gentle lie. Soon after, Penny releases her arms from our maid. “Aria, I’d love some tea. Please brew one for me.”
“Right away, Miss Penny.” Before she left, Aria turned to me and bowed, “have a wonderful dinner, Master.”
We watched Aria walk away for a moment. I’m not looking forward to what she has to say.
“Truth be told, I’m exhausted. Can whatever you have to say hold off till tomorrow?”
Penny flatly gazes at me, “I heard from Garmant and Erid.”
“Ah…”
She pulls the chair to my right and places her elbow on the table. Resting her face on her hand, the deadpan stare is what she’s giving “Despite what he had done to the family, he’s now a mole. You should never trust one.”
“I know… but still…”
“‘He deserves a second chance!’ was what you’re going to say, right?” Penny lets out a sigh, “No moles deserve a second chance, Liam. Once they betray their people, they’ll continue betraying others. It’s his life now. You better off making an example out of him; As a warning for the others and for the sake of others.”
Slamming my hand against the table, “You know I can’t do that! To my own family… even if they are a mole!”
The room becomes silent. I feel like I lost my appetite. It’s a shame, Aria’s roast chicken is phenomenal. I take a look at Penny and her distant eyes, waiting for her response. She crosses her arms “Never get too attached to others, Liam. You’re a Friar, act like one.” in her aloof voice.
“You know I can’t do that…”
I wake up feeling somewhat refreshed. The meeting from yesterday still leaves me exhausted. Though I suppose I can have it easy today. The advantage of being in a rich family… I don’t need to care for anything. Everywhere I walk in this mansion, my men would bow out or at least stand straight before me. Even though I told them not too. Ever since my old man gave me the reign over the family, suddenly I’m a boss… a mafia boss.
It’s been a year since I became one, I don’t think I should be… I hate violence. When it comes to mafia dealings, they are dime a dozen. I don’t know, I just… hate to see anyone getting hurt. Of all people that should be the boss… Penny should’ve been. Growing up together, she is the more logical one out of the two of us. Thankfully she’s not bitter about our dad’s decision; Decided to handle the business side of things… actually she has more work than me. I’m like the figurehead that keeps people in line. Although as it stands, she still needs my approval for things that may affect the family.
“Good morning, Liam. Had a good rest?” she said as I was walking in our garden.
“You look terrible,” she continued.
“Har har… It’s my usual morning face. You’ve seen it plenty of times.”
“True…” she sips her tea, “Still entertaining to look at, over the years.”
“Oh, please.” I take a seat beside her, taking in the flowers neatly arranged by the maids. In my view, some are watering them diligently. Roses, Lavenders, Tulips, mom’s choices.
“Liam, why don’t you take a walk in the city?” Penny in her aloof voice.
“You don’t want me around, do you?”
She lets out a chortle. “I enjoy your company, you know that. Since the mole sold us out, we’re laying low. No work for me to be doing and you can hold off from being chased for approval. Besides, being in one place for a long time weighs someone’s mind. At least, that’s what I think.”
“Then why don’t YOU take a walk in town?”
Her aquamarine eyes meet mine, “Please… I don’t like walking, you know that.”
It doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Beats lying around in the mansion or looking at flowers. As much as I love those flowers, it gets boring as time goes. Besides, how long have I not walked in town on my own?
“Take Erid with you. At least we won’t have to worry you’ll get kidnapped,” Penny remarked.
I changed my clothes to casual attire. It feels out of place to wear a suit for a walk. Like Penny suggests, I have Erid with me. She’s in charge of my protection. On top of being highly capable, her long black hair and resting casual face makes her unassuming. Plus, having 3 to 5 people ensuring my safety feels like an overkill.
“Erid, is there any place you want to visit?”
“I’ll go anywhere you want, sir,” Erid in her listless morning self.
“Well… I currently have no aim for this walk. Maybe you have a suggestion?”
A silent stare from her, we usually keep things in a professional way. That’s how she prefers it. “There’s… a desert place that I’d like to try.”
That comes off as a surprise. Not exactly sure why I think she’d prefer booze over some cakes or ice creams but here we are. Rothsburg street, one of the busiest streets here in the city of Velion. Shops and shops make a stand on both sides of the street, bakeries, restaurants, hobby shops. Name one and one might be there. While we walk amongst the busy crowds, I can’t help but notice a stare or two. Even after carefully dressing myself in a relaxed and non-exposing manner, I guess people still notice a Friar when they see one.
Eventually we settled down in a busy dessert shop. Odd. It’s a business day in the morning. There are lines and lines of people trying to get into this shop. The assorted sponges and muffins are delightful to look at, moreover they taste pretty nice. For 10 euros a pop I couldn’t ask for more… although…
“Be honest, you brought me here so I can pay for you… didn’t you, Erid?”
“No…” she said with at least 10 kinds of dessert on her side. “I think these will lighten your mood, sir.”
“You think?”
She listlessly nods, “a sugar rush can help anybody, sir.”
“Still… I can’t help but think Penny set me up on this…”
“Oops…” she let out. “You saw right through me, sir.”
I knew it... Still no harm done, spoiling a family member isn’t such a bad thing.
“Say… Erid, be honest.”
Her brown eyes meet mine as she puts down her fork. “Will I survive the next day, sir?”
“Don’t say that! Not in public!” quietly yelled.
“Will I?” It feels like she didn’t listen to what I say.
“No, you won’t… You know how I do things. How would you rate me compared to your previous bosses?”
She listlessly tilts her head to one side, “...Excuse me?”
“You’ve been with me for quite some time. You’ve been with a lot of bosses, right? How do I compare to them? Am I on top of the list of good bosses? Or bad bosses? Be honest, Erid.”
The busy shop’s crowds make thinking harder. Erid takes her time to ponder her answer. We’ve never talked in a casual manner before. If I know her well, she’ll give me an objective view…
“You’re an idiot boss.”
…and blunt…
“Making an example out of Tory is simple and effective.” She continued. “In this line of work, it’s better if we keep moles to bare minimum. The more people fear you, the less likely they do things against you…. And less likely for you to get called an idiot.”
…very blunt.
Her listless eyes stare at me. “Even after working with you for months on end, I still don’t understand you. You can just go with the flow; follow the rulebook of being a Friar. No need to put effort. To be a billionaire without thinking must be nice,” She digs her spoon on a strawberry shortcake and begins to munch it. “But my job isn’t about keeping an opinion, my job is to keep you safe. That’s all I care about.”
“Thanks, Erid. I appreciate the honesty.”
“So… will I be breathing tomorrow?” her mouth filled with cakes.
“Didn’t I make myself clear…?”
