Page 19 of Semblance

And then they all broke out into laughter.

I was baffled.

“Oh dear,” Abraham said. “I always said that communication amongst our group needs to be better. I believe you misunderstood our intentions for you Aria.”

“You guys kidnapped me,” I cried. “And now you won’t let me go home. What the hell am I supposed to think?”

“I assure you, what we want is not sinister in nature,” Abraham said. “Just like I promised you in the car, you will not be physically harmed.”

“You know, if the roles were reversed, I could understand why our little Golden Virgin would be so anxious,” Mr. Fox said. “Perhaps if we showed her ours, she’d be more inclined to show us hers.”

“I don’t want to see anything from you sick perverts,” I retaliated. I heard a sigh come from Mr. Fox, and then he slowly removed his mask to reveal a handsome young man in his mid-twenties. He had sparkling emerald eyes and a bright smile that complimented his sun-kissed hair and fair skin. His grin displayed a boyish charm that could melt hearts.

“Lincoln Richards,” he introduced himself, “Owner of First Light Media Corporation. I’m sure you watched a movie or twenty produced by my company.”

“You’ve seen me without my mask on already,” Calisto said from behind me. Instinctively I turned around. Her mask was now removed and resting in her hand. “Hopefully I don’t look a day older since we last met.”

Abraham was the next to remove his mask and he smiled at me. “Cheers,” he said.

Sitting next to him was a thin, grey-haired man wearing a red and black kabuki mask. He removed it, revealing a sophisticated looking Asian man in his early fifties. Despite his age, he was still very attractive with a mature and distinguished look about him.

“James Takeshi,” he said. “As my name suggests, I own Takeshi Technology.”

I was astounded. Takeshiwasthe top brand in entertainment technology, taking the world by storm and driving down the market shares of all its competitors in only five years.

To Takeshi’s right was a large man wearing the mask of a golden lion. He removed it, revealing the proud and strong chiseled face of an African American man. He looked at me with intense fire in his dark brown eyes.

“I am Brevin West,” he said, with a slight yet traceable island accent, “Owner of the Majestic Glory Corporation, the largest Christian multimedia and business enterprise in North America.” He spoke with reluctance in his voice, like his words were being yanked out of his throat. I could sense the distrust he had for me.

The next person to introduce himself was a hefty man in a tight fitting suit, the buttons on his one-size-too-small dress shirt threatening to bust off. He removed his white eagle mask revealing his pear-shaped face and a white, neatly trimmed beard. He was someone who I’ve seen a couple of times before on television and in the newspapers.

“I’m Senator Donald Huff,” he said cheerfully. “It’s always a pleasure to see someone ascend through the ranks of the Midnight Society, especially at such a young age.”

“A United States Senator?” I asked, astounded.

“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that discretion is extremely important as to who I associate with in my spare time,” he said. “Curiosity didn’t kill the cat; her purring did, if you know what I mean.”

I nodded my head in agreement.

The man in the Scorpion mask was the last of the introductions.

“I’m not taking off my mask until she does,” he said in a distinguished British accent.

“Lucien, must you always be so difficult?” Abraham sighed. “We’ve all removed our masks for our esteemed guest.”

“This is all bullshit,” Lucien replied. “Shadow is once again playing us all for fools, but you folks are so in love with our fearless leader that you’re ignoring this simple fact; the Tremaine’s are broken. I’ve been saying it since the start; we need new blood in the commander’s chair.”

“One more word out of that shameful abyss you call a mouth, and I’ll drive my foot so far up your ass that you’ll be shitting out my four inch heel for a week,” Calisto threatened. “Nobody insults the Tremaine name.”

“Shadow does just by having it,” Lucien laughed.

“Respect who you’re with and where you are,” Brevin said, though it seemed like he spoke more out of duty than belief.

“We’ve all been thinking it,” Lucien said. “But I’m afraid none have the bollocks to bring the matter to the table. Well, after tonight’s bloody embarrassment, let me reiterate. The Midnight Society needs new leadership. The Tremaine’s are broken. The death of Tristan Tremaine marked the end of the family’s power.”

Calisto began to rise from her seat, but it was Shadow’s thunderous voice that made her sit back down. The beast had woken up.

“Take off your mask,” he ordered, as he stood behind Lucien’s seat. However Lucien pretended not to notice, and continued his rant.

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