Date: Tue, 25 May 2021 19:25:34 -0400 From: Justin Forfun Subject: New Reality 33 This story started out of boredom, and has now taken on a life of its own. I've gotten a lot of positive feedback, and some negative. I'm open to suggestions and feedback, but it is what it is. You can comment as you like at Jst4fun2nyt@gmail.com. The sex isn't a major part of it, nor is it going to be graphic. If you're looking for masturbation fodder, look elsewhere. There will be slow times in this story, just like there are in life. Other times, things will fly at you too fast. There will be boring days, and exciting days. It's just how it's flowing. With work, I'm getting about a chapter done a week. So I'll post twice a week, and see how that flows. Here is the house plan I used for inspiration for their new lake house. I've modified it to fit my dream, but this is what gave me the idea of the general layout. https://archivaldesigns.com/collections/castle-house-plans/products/balmoral-castle-house-plan DONATE to Nifty so you can continue to enjoy my story, and the thousands of others!!!! https://donate.nifty.org/ ************************************************************* Billy was sitting with Mom and Mary at the counter when we got to the kitchen. Mom looked at me and said "Billy says George called?" "Yes, it's official." "Should I call him? "I don't know, should you? Would you?" "I think I'll eat, then call him demanding information and Council justice." "I'm a Prince mom, I can do that." "In my grief, I've forgotten that." "I love you Mom." I said as I sat down with a fresh venison burger. "Scott, while you're up would you grab the mayonnaise?" "You're all in on this?" "In on what Todd? We got news, we're reacting appropriately. And you can say `they acted unusual', I think that fits, don't you Billy?" "We are unusual, that's for certain." "So you're telling me you want me to be a leak?" "You just joined the pack and got a high level posting, your youth makes you unstable. I'm not telling you to spread things. An offhand comment when you're in New York, a casual opinion in Boston. Someone will be pushing you for information within a week. It will put you in danger, I won't lie to you. Vampires have been known to drink to gain information. If that concerns you, don't do it. It'll get out somehow, I'm sure we can make it happen." "I would die for you Alpha." Todd said, looking straight into my eyes. "And I for you Todd, thank you." And I looked up to see Patrick and Amanda coming in. "Patrick, I owe you for the life of someone dear to me, ask anything you want, if I can do it, it's yours." "I know you're still busy but we'd like to finish what we started, when possible Greg." I nodded "As soon as one of us is able to devote a full night to it. Someone has to stay with her after the change." "Oh, I can do that Greg. Unless you don't want Amanda as your sister?" "Really Mom? Yeah, that would be fine. Patrick, do you mind waiting to learn to shift one more day? I need to take Joshua tonight. No offense, but I need him trained." "I'll take him tonight Greg, he is my son." "Interesting situation, Donna, we need your judgment, I drained him, Billy fed him. Who's his maker?" "And next you're going to ask me who's the oldest?" She laughed. "Does it matter Greg? You're mates, he's all four of yours." "She will never give us a straight answer on these things. Fine, he's your son Billy." "I was in a rush, but if Amanda's going to be changed tonight, can I wait until she goes as well?" "I don't know if that's wise Patrick, the scent of your mate in the woods while you're learning to control your beast might not be safe if Greg's not there to handle you." "Good point Mom. Sorry Patrick, I agree with her. And, with how things are moving, Billy might not be free for several days. Mom's going to be here planning a funeral." "Funeral? I thought you said...?" "Don't try to follow them Patrick, they're insane. I'm Todd by the way, nice to meet you." "You'll all hear it at the pack meeting at dinner. I don't want to have to repeat things." "Well, Patrick can fill me in then." "You're pack Amanda, you're human, but you're pack. Be there." She bowed her head to me, then ate her lunch. "Patrick, make sure you're having blood with one meal a day all week, please? And with dinner tonight as well, if we're going hunting, you'll want the energy." "I will Billy, er, dad?" "You might get used to that, you might not. It's fine, but to our pups I'm Papa, Greg's Dad." Billy laughed. "Edward, I haven't seen you in a couple days. What have you been up to?" "I have been working on those... on two projects Sire." "Well, I have a third, come to my office around 1:30 if you can?" "Of course. Did things work right with that install?" "Perfectly, you're a genius. Double your salary." Finally I got a smile out of him "So generous, double zero." "You're suddenly in a very good mood Dad, did Andrew spike your blood this morning?" "Not at all Joshua, but to quote an old TV show `I love it when a plan comes together'." "Oh? Has a plan come together?" "Not in the least. But when I can make you flinch, I've won. The game is over and they don't even know it." "I still think someone spiked his blood." "Maybe. Oh, Josh, you just called me `Dad', yes?" "Well, yeah. Did they spike your burger too?" "Do you know everyone at this table? Do you know you can trust them with our lives?" He looked confused, then looked around. "Well, let me do this. That's Donna, Mary, Charlie, Davie, Scott, Billy, Bea, Patrick, Amanda, Edward, Amie, Andrew, and Todd. Oh, and you. I know everyone in this room, yes." "Ok. Next time, do that in your head before you use anything that identifies you as my son. If you don't know everyone, use Sire, Sir, or Greg. Are you still confused?" "I um..." He looked around and I noticed Tommy coming in. Then it hit him "Got it, sorry Dad." "Nothing but a learning experience, but remember it. Come on Billy, it's almost one, back to the grind. You too Joshua." I said as I got up and headed towards the office. I stopped and grabbed a wine bottle from the cooler and a handful of glasses, then left. "The wine's spiked." I heard Mom telling Mary as Tommy whispered in my ear. "Oh shoot, sorry Tommy." And I concentrated and dropped the illusion on the door "Try now." He looked at me and shook his head as he walked back towards Dad's hidden room. "Greg?" I stopped and turned to look at Todd "Do you want me in on this?" "You can, but you don't have to. Do you have something to do?" "No Sir, I just didn't want to follow and you have to ask me to leave." "Fair enough. We're going to meet with Leonard, Craig, and Johnny. Our... construction group, I guess? I will ask you to leave at some point, but there will be a few leaving at that point. Come see your new office." "Do you want us there babe?" "If you want to see it, sure. If not, you are busy already." "I'm with Josh, you're awful cheerful after the morning you had." "I am, and I honestly don't know why. Maybe it's because I was told I am loved, by those I love the most in the world?" "Aww, that's sweet." "Or Josh is right and the blood's spiked." I said as I ran away from my mates. We were all laughing as we walked in and I sat at my desk. "Billy, if you miss this it won't hurt, and I'm guessing my phone is going to start ringing like crazy in about three minutes." "Eight minutes, they'll wait a few after the hour, but yeah, I'll take the calls and pass on your thanks for the thoughts. Any that you want put through?" "Any direct from the 9? Or should you say I'm too upset and I'll call back?" "Depends on which one? Ignore Markov and Yuan for sure. Probably Hiroki, in case they're listening somehow. You've never met Dimas Herrera, so taking his call would seem odd. But Sam, Hasim, and George were at your wedding. And George is the one that gave you the news, his call might be an update." "Actually Billy, give me Hiroki's call as well. Anyone else? Mike and David are the only ones I can think of." "Oh, someone needs to get to Matt before he has a meltdown!" "Sympathy calls might start going to him any minute. Call David, tell him to get Matt and Liz out of there. Send a car from Regent and get them home, bring them in here the second they're home." "On it Greg." Billy was on his phone with Mike as he left the office and met Leonard, Craig and Johnny at the door. He waved them to come on in, and shut the door as he left. "Is it true Greg? Do you want to delay this a while?" "I'll fill you in at dinner. Craig and Johnny, be here for dinner as well. Let's do what we're here for. Scott? Are you and Bea interested in seeing this or are you going to do that other thing?" "I'd like to see it at least Greg." "Ok, let's see these plans." I said then I realized the problem. "Or, let's move to the conference room where we have a table big enough to see these plans." I said as several of them laughed. After we had moved, Johnny laid the plans on the table and stood there, waiting for Leonard to explain. After the silence became awkward, I said "Your plans Johnny, you tell us." "Oh, sorry Greg. Ok, so with the central elevator I have a reception and waiting area. Then we have an office in this corner for you with an outer office for Billy, or an assistant. Mike told me your businesses are divided into three major groups, so we put an office on each of the remaining corners, one for each of those. Between yours, and this one, is a conference room that can handle 30 comfortably, and 50 in a pinch. We put it there because of the river view. The other three sides are smaller offices for other managers under each group." "Seems simple enough. I said we should have a fitness center?" "Tied in with the school. A separate area the students won't use, along with separate locker rooms and showers." "Someone mentioned a helipad?" "The engineers approved us for 100,000 lbs spread across the entire roof. We'll use supports on each exterior wall, as well as the elevator shaft, so you can land up to 5 of the Bell you have now. That's just considering the weight. Realistically, you have room to have 4 at one time. I got this guidance from Mickey." "Let's keep it at 4. If we need to move one for someone to come in, we can do that. There's the private pad by the river in a pinch. I doubt we'll ever need to do that, but I'm also the one that thought this house was too big before we rebuilt, so what do I know? Anyone see anything I'm missing?" "Helipad access? It sounds like you're building the pad above the roof?" "Yes um...Sorry I don't know your name, I'm Johnny." "Did I really do that, I'm sorry everyone. This is Joshua, my son, and head of our automotive group. This is Todd, head of our real estate division. Hmm, should be automotive division huh? Do that Josh... anyone else... Ok, this young man is Johnny, our head of...give me some help here someone?" "Planning and design?" "I like it, Johnny is head of planning and design. I think you know Leonard, head of our construction division, and his senior supervisor there is Craig." "Did I just get a promotion?" Craig said to Leonard in a stage whisper. "Hey, I got a whole group, so hush, I'm not done." Johnny said with a smile "Have I told you all how much I love you yet today?" And everyone said "Yes Alpha." "Just checking, sorry Johnny, helipad access." "Yeah, right, ok, um, helipad access. We have two options, depending on what you want. We can remove the existing elevator and extend it up through the helipad, giving the entire building access to it. Or we can install a secondary elevator that only serves the pad and specific floors. If we do that, we can put it off to a side and not have a box in the middle of the pad. And also, if we do that, I would think we only run it to the top two floors, giving access to Warnick Industries and Mike's law office. But um,..." "What's wrong Johnny?" "I was told you have three groups, er divisions now I guess. Anyway, you rattled off five. Real estate, automotive, fast food, construction, and design." "Would you be upset at getting one of the smaller center offices with a nice river view Johnny?" "Oh no Sir, I didn't expect one at all. I mean, I'd do this from a broom closet." "Might be hard to do the drawings Johnny, but I understand. Before I share my thoughts, anything from anyone else? "Before your questions, I'll add some things that might answer some before they're asked. When we did the school, we did the building. Mike uses one corner, or 25%, of the 7th floor. The school is on 4, 5, and 6. We have a Real Estate agency that leases 2 and 3. We redid the plumbing and wiring trunks from the ground up, as well as new windows everywhere. We discounted the rents during the work, and they're very happy. We installed card readers in the elevators, to restrict access to approved floors, and added a security desk on the ground. The roof was redone, and we put new HVAC in. I could have said all that by saying it's all new. Oh, and there's parking for 80 vehicles underground. 10 per floor, Mike needs 2, the school has averaged 26 so far. Does that answer most of your concerns?" "We're Mike's only client?" "Yes Josh, we are." "I don't want to just take over, so does anyone have suggestions?" And when no one spoke up, Josh went on "Take the rest of 7, use Mike's reception, waiting area, and conference rooms, put Dad, and three other groups on 8, with associates and assistants. That gives us the other three corners of 7 for three other groups, or a group and assistants, or however it falls. We don't have a fast food head, so that can wait and be designed to fit, put Todd, Dad, Me, and Leonard on 8. Take a corner of 7 for Johnny. He's going to need larger side offices, to view plans, room for the plan printers and such." "You forgot the helipad access." "Oh, thanks Johnny, use the existing elevator, since it has the ability to limit access. With it being central, you can land one on each corner, putting us at 4 at any time." We all tried to imagine the changes then Johnny said "That solves everything. Greg?" "Draw it up final and get it to Todd. If we're being proper about it, it's his call. This is real estate, right? But I'm happy with what I see, so unless there are major changes, how soon can we be in Leonard?" "Craig says 3 weeks, I say 2. He likes to plan for problems. The part that will take the time is the helipad. If that goes smooth it's 12 days. If it hits snags, we'll be lucky to make 3 weeks." "Permits?" "Done." "Well then, we're done with this? I need Leonard and Edward in my office. Joshua, you're like Billy, assume you're included unless I exclude you, ok?" "Yes Sir." And I headed back to my office, as the others went their separate ways. I assumed they'd all stay close, as we only had a few hours. Edward was waiting outside my office and we went in and I laid out what I wanted. It was to be kept as quiet as possible, and only the four of us could discuss the details. I also told Leonard to get with Ted about a landing strip here at the house. Leonard and Ted headed out, leaving just Joshua and me in the office. As we expected, Billy got calls from Igor Markov and Chao Fen Yuan while we were in the conference room. He thanked them for their concern, and hoped they'd understand that I was comforting my grieving mother. He said the same thing to Frank, Henry, Bruce, and all of the other Serving Alphas at some point over the next three hours. Sam Houston called my secure cell, so I answered. "Good afternoon Sam." "Is it true Greg?" "Yes Sam, but call me back on the house line, unsecure. If they're listening, your lack of a call will seem odd." "I planned on it, but I wanted to mention something to you on this line first. With Kevin's death, there's an opening on the Council of 27." "Yeah, George said that." "Did he point out that you have no one on the Council yet?" "What do you mean?" "We're allowed to appoint one member each, directly to the Council. You're the new Prince, so you would have had to wait until one either stepped down or died, but you have the right to name yours now. No one can refuse your choice, and there's no vote. The other 18 are voted on, and they can't be in our pack, or a pack we're directly tied to, but each of us has one seat that is ours to control." "George failed to mention that, interesting. Are there any limits on the choice? I mean, could I appoint my son? One of my mates?" "Anyone you see fit Greg." "Thank you Sam, very much. And I'm guessing George didn't mention it because he had just given me the news and didn't want to be so cold as to plan while I was still in shock." "I met you Greg, you can separate things when you need to, and I'll save the sympathy for my next call so it doesn't seem staged. But my heart really does go out to you son, you've lost both fathers in less than a year." "Thanks Sam, Billy is taking the other calls, so he'll put you through. Talk to you in a minute." And a minute later, Billy walked in to hand me the phone so Sam could extend his condolences for my loss. He said he would wait a day, but he knew Donna from the 1800's, and would call her personally. I thanked him, and told him she'd like that. I had just disconnected Sam's call when Hiroki called, so I answered. "Good afternoon Prince Honda." "I wish I was calling for a pleasant talk about our legends like we had yesterday. You have my deepest condolences, Greg." "Thank you Sir, I was just getting to know him." "I suppose you'll be busy with this and I won't get to introduce you to my lovely wife and son?" "Actually Sir, my newest son wants to do his mating bond on the beach and we've already made plans. My mother will be a week or more making arrangements, and insists that I accompany my son. We've promised to be home, so our trip will be a short one, but I would be honored to meet your mate. If I may, I will bring mine, all three of them. That is new since our dinner in Russia." "Three mates? Oh, I'm intrigued. I look forward to meeting them, as well as your son. I will let you go as I'm sure your mother has need of you today." With those calls done, I handed the phone back to Billy and he turned to Joshua. "What was that about calling him `dad' at lunch?" Joshua looked at me before he answered. I nodded, so he said "I said `Dad' when he was talking to his Dad. I didn't know who he was, so it wasn't smart. I'll know better now." Billy turned to me "I never thought about things like that, but you're right. If that was some kind of enemy and he escaped, it would get out that you have a new son, making him a target." "I'm not sure yet, but I think he's going to become a big target soon enough. I want to talk to Hiroki first. Josh and Samantha, us four, and Dad, are going to Hawaii. We leave in the morning, let Ted know please. We'll land before noon, stay one night, and be home by the next evening. Our body clocks will be messed up, so we'll be tired early there, and we can leave at 4 or 5 in the morning." "You're taking your Dad? How...oh, I get it. As long as your spell holds, he doesn't look like himself. No one on that plane would breathe a word if he did. So he's going to hide in Hawaii?" "Not sure yet Billy, I think I might try to hide him right under Igor's nose." The phone rang and it was Hasim offering his condolences, followed shortly by Reinhardt. Both of them on the house phone, so they were short and simple. After I talked to Reinhardt, Joshua looked at me and said. "You're going to put me on the Council, aren't you?" "Is this an observation, educated guess, or are you reading me?" "You said I was going to be a big target, and that would do it. You asked Prince Houston if you could appoint a son or mate. I don't see you putting Bea and the pup in danger needlessly, you might risk Scott if you had no other choice, and you need Billy at your side. That leaves me, unless you're going to blow their minds and use Charlie?" I laughed "That's a tempting thought, but no, you are one of my choices. I have another, I'm still thinking about it, trying to figure what cards I want to play, and when. One issue I'm dealing with is that the Council of 27 serve until death, or they step down. One of the Nine can't come from the 27." "You're taking `Crown Prince' literally, aren't you? You want to abolish the Council?" "The Council was set up by the most powerful Alphas of the time, at the suggestion of Igor. They were spread around the world, and each handled a territory. They met every few years to discuss things. Igor was threatened by magic users, and convinced enough of the others to go along with him. With modern communication and jet travel, there's no need for territorial leaders, as you see, there are three in the US now. If I'm this supposed King, my leadership worldwide will be exactly how it is here, doing everything I can to improve the lives of vampires, not ruling over their lives." "Can't this be done diplomatically?" "Until last night, that was my plan, but the one fact I didn't tell anyone, I'll trust to you. Igor directly instructed Kevin to get information from Dad, then kill him. If Dad had cooperated, he was still going to die in that alley. Igor is a dead man, he just doesn't know it yet. I'll try diplomacy with Yuan, the other Princes are on our side, so now we play it out." "They are still spread out around the world, so there are territories." "But if it were balanced in some way, there would be more in China, India, and where's the African Prince? No, it's all about gaining and keeping power. It sounds twisted that I want to take all the power and I'm complaining about them keeping power, but you do see the difference in approach?" "I do, but you'd still need people under you. You got mad about car dealerships bothering you with small issues, you can't handle the whole world alone." "I won't, I have you!" I said with a smile. "But you're right, that's why I don't know if I want you on the Council of 27. If you are, and I try to move you into Igor's spot when he accidentally dies in my hands, they might argue. If I put Joan on the 27, he can act for me, while talking bad about me and gaining insight." "Well if you want to keep both Councils, when you step up as King, you can name me in your spot on the Nine, as Crown Prince." "They can still argue you can't come from the 27 if they want to be touchy about it. And I can't start off claiming I'm not an overbearing ruler by being overbearing, can I?" My secure cell rang so I answered without looking "Hello?" "I just got information that Kevin was seen with Igor last week. That alone isn't odd, he was on the Council, but it just bothers me. Too much of a coincidence." "Can I ask where you got it George?" "One of my pack was in New York and saw Igor, so he followed him." "You think he had Kevin killed? And Dad was just unlucky?" "I think he told Kevin to kill your dad, and Igor didn't want to leave him alive." "Thanks George. Sam called too, why didn't you tell me I could pick Kevin's replacement?" "Honestly Greg it slipped my mind, I was still in shock when I called. Now that the shock is gone, and I've got this news I have a hunch, but I don't want the answer." "Tell me George." "James isn't dead. You're too calm." "Sam mentioned that I can compartmentalize, and if you remember, we were talking business the day after my real father died. I've only known James a few months." "Good answers, but I'd bet everything I own that I'm right. I don't know your game, and I'm the one that told you to never divulge, so I will just play my part Sire." "What do you see as an end game? Joshua thinks I want to dissolve the Council." "Rule it, not dissolve it. Too much to deal with on your own." "When that time comes, do you still want to retire?" "From all my business dealings, yes. I will serve elsewhere if you ask me to." "How close is Igor to Yuan and Honda? Do they follow him in everything?" "They're all very private so I can't say. They've always been close at meetings, always seem to agree on most issues. Honda and Yuan are the stereotypical Asians, tradition above all else, so I don't think you can win them over. And I know you can't win Igor over. Can I ask what you're thinking?" "No, not yet. But I'll give you a hint by asking, if I put Joshua in Kevin's spot, would I be able to move him to the Nine later?" "Might be a tough sell, tradition, like I said." That's what I thought. "Thanks George, and your information still says James is dead, right?" "I have nothing to prove otherwise." "Then we understand each other. I have to go, my pack is waiting." "Understood Sire." I sent a mental message and Billy came in showing me the list of everyone that had called. Everyone wanted to come to the funeral and I wondered if my deceiving them all was the right thing to do. I couldn't lie to my pack and expect their loyalty, how was lying to my trusted Serving Alphas any different? They're my pack as well, in fact, if I am to be King, everyone's my pack. I'd have to talk to Hiroki about this as well, if it only goes on a few days, we can suddenly `find' Dad. If I put him in hiding, well, I'll think about that one later. "Billy, I need your honest answer, not your `I will do as you wish' one, ok?" "You know I will always give you the first, and still do as you say Greg, what's up?" "I don't know how to place Joshua in the pack. Both your beasts seem to consider you equals, because you're exactly the same height. How do you see it?" "I'm not threatened by him, but I don't feel like I am above or below him Greg. My beast does see him as my equal, I see us as different but the same? Sorry, I can't explain it." "You just did. Josh? Same question." "I'm too new at this to be sure, but like Billy said, I'm not threatened by him or his beast. I see him as my equal, both of us serving you. I feel my beast knows that if you're gone, Billy will support me, but that's not now." "Great. That's no help. Well, sorry, it makes me feel good that there's no conflict between you, but it doesn't help me organize the pack. I can't have two Betas." "You don't, you have Billy, and you have me. Billy is second in command, and your right hand. I am your son, and your heir. I'm trying to think of a good analogy, but the best I can do is Queen Elizabeth has Prince Charles, and England has a Prime Minister. The PM runs the country, but Charles will be King, they're separate." "I see what you're saying, but Charles will never run the country, the Government and the Crown are totally separate." "Just know that we both serve you, and we are fine with each other." "Ok, well, let's go to dinner, the pack is waiting."