Chapter: Light morning

It was a quiet morning in the middle of May. The sun had just bobbed above the rim of the horizon and shone through a thin veil of clouds shrouding the green summer landscape surrounding the mansion. Though, no matter how much sunshine that illuminated the forest trees, no matter how warm it would be, how many of the flowers that greeted the sunrays with open petals, the place remained just as sinister as an abandoned castle.

Inside, the breakfast had just been served. Gabriel and Matthew descended the stairs, no words, just smiles and they were greeted as usual by the scent of newly made coffee and tea, orange juice, toast, bacon and eggs. Gabriel poured a cup of coffee for himself and a cup of tea for his father, careful not to spill as he knew that Matthew would unfold the newspaper beside the plate and start reading.

But he did not. Gabriel was so surprised that he almost tipped the tea pot, but he managed to control it. Matthew merely smiled at him before he glanced down the table. The others had noticed it too. The missing morning ritual that was one of the first things he always did when he sat down: Gabriel poured his tea while he read the paper. Now, today, he reached out for the tea and took it, the lips curled in a thin, amused smile.

"Matthew, what is today's agenda?" Isobel asked from further down the table, indirectly questioning the motifs for changing the morning routine.

"I'm glad you ask, dear sister. I have an announcement to make," he replied as the tea cup returned to its saucer. The entire table fell silent, not one moved or said anything; from behind him, the open door to the kitchen let the hum of a boiler slip into the silent breakfast hall and further into the entrance hall, where the sunlight danced down through the tall windows. They were not accustomed to this kind of unpredictability from him, the man known to decide the future of every member in his family, just to be sure no one betrayed him. Some exchanged glances. Patrick and Marek eyed each other out like hawks having a staring contest mid-air, presumably having made a bet on the issue of their uncle's intentions.

"Yes, father?" Gabriel said finally. "What is it?" He had felt about the same astonishment at his father's words, but his belly had dropped through the floor and his feet had lost their foothold. If he had decided to get married in public with some high-standing lady... he would destroy whoever was going to take his place in his father's bed.

"I will be attending a meeting at the EEC later today, to discuss the last details of a contract concerning the production of a reality show," Matthew said. The reaction was immediate. Some rose abruptly, demanding that it was the worst idea imaginable, while others - among them Patrick and Marek and Alexander - cheered joyfully. Matthew hushed them down again, glancing at each family member.

"It is not a matter of opinion here," he said. "The production will begin next week in all likelihood, and end the 21st of December. I therefore ask you -" he had to raise his voice to dampen their cheers or protests "- I ask it of you to still your craving for that period of time. The production is a part of a promotional of my re-promotional campaign." He threw an eloquent glance at them. "As you know, the accusations in the beginning of this month took a toll on my reputation, and seeing that I was contacted this Spring already about a show, I have now taken the opportunity to make the final arrangements."

"Excuse me, uncle, why wasn't I informed about this?" Zacharias asked, kindly uncomprehending and slightly taken aback that his supervisor had withheld such a secret from him.

"I had to be sure that the highest bidder would be the most sufficient and compliant to my terms of demand, Zacharias. I sincerely apologize, but this had to be my own decision," Matthew said. Zacharias bowed his head, accepting his lord's supremacy.

"But..." Gabriel's voice lowered the others' and they looked at him as he stood gazing absently at his father... "We have to stay clean for four months?"

"I can arrange a place out of reach from the crew, but that's not what I want this to be about, Gabriel," Matthew said. "Yes, there will be restrictions. Procedures will be different. Adoration, admiration, will be levelled. You understand?" his sharp gaze swept across them and they bowed their heads. "You are lucky that punishments and penalties will be reduced, as well, but do not think that I will forget when the cameras are not rolling anymore. And you will not commit crimes, not create disorder or chaos, and most importantly NOT kill anyone in the ball room or any other area of the mansion exposed to the public! Each of you will each receive a copy of terms of rules to be strictly followed during the production months, and if any of you step out of line in any other way than described in those papers, you will not only be ostracized but destroyed by myself. Have I made myself clear?" His voice rang out in the silence and the Darklighters nodded and replied with one voice: "Yes, my lord."

"Sit down." The words sliced the silence like a knife through whipped cream. They all moved, as if one thought guided their limbs, and sat down. Matthew remained standing for a while before he sat down again and they continued in silence.

Some of them spoke about the chores of the day, but each and every one of them was insanely conscious about the discussion that had just passed. A reality show?! For real?? It had been an issue a month ago at the dinner, late at night, after some wine. Patrick and Marek had suggested that to conduct a reality show involving the Darklighter family would be a huge promotion stunt for Matthew and the family business. And now, in the wake of the accusations and Matthew's release, it would surely hit the roof. It would not be a matter of financial interest of any kind, just that as many commercial channels as possible were offered the rights to produce the show, and the highest bidder would win. The bidding had seemingly taken place quite secretly behind everyone's back and only amongst the directors of the commercial channels until, seemingly, EEC had won in the end.

Finally they began breaking up. Most of them went to greet their lord as usual but others went further than the customary kiss on the forehead. This would be one out of few last mornings that they could have their morning routine at peace. They shuddered and left, thinking how weird it would be suddenly not to follow the customs and rules that their lord and master had taught them. They would have to appear human, ordinary and dull. No sexual tensions or lustful craving. No nothing.

When they came to their rooms, they each found a file with their name on, presumably handed out during their breakfast, by the servants. In it, they read exactly their worst fears confirmed. Fortunately, there was some sport in it as well. Each of them were given a description on how to act when the cameras were rolling. Some only smiled and dropped the file into the drawer, others grinned and started pondering how to carry out this request in the best and most excruciatingly annoying and dramatic fashion they could possibly imagine, to please their lord the most. Some darted out and got hold of the others and started plotting. A thoroughly planned role-playing game would begin.

At the table sat Matthew, Isobel and Gabriel as the remaining ones. Vladimir had just left, saying that he wanted to check on the library and get access cards prepared for the production crew members. Matthew looked at Isobel, who stared absently into her tea.

"How much did they offer?" she asked and glanced at Matthew; she was slightly taken aback when she met his gaze. He took the newspaper and unfolding it, he took a sip of his tea.

"£100.000 for one episode each week composed of one week's recordings. £50.000 for republication every weekend and £500.000 for a Halloween Special and a Christmas Special each," Matthew replied. Gabriel's jaw dropped.

"WHAT?! But, that's insane!!" he exclaimed. Matthew smiled thinly and glanced at his son.

"Nothing is as insane as you make it," he said. "And besides, who wouldn't pay every penny they had to get this outstanding, once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity to get half a year behind the walls of the Darklighter mansion and into the core of the patriarchal family of Darklighters?"

"Darkness be blessed!" Gabriel rose, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He glanced shortly at Isobel, who pretended to study the surface of her tea, before leaning down and kissing his father's lips lightly. He was about to leave when Matthew called him to a halt by the stairs. Isobel had risen as well. There was a distant clattering of plates against plates from the kitchen.

"I'd like to see the two of you in the hollow tonight, after dinner," Matthew said darkly. Gabriel glanced at Isobel who smiled despondently.

"You have no need to order us to do that, Matthew, you must know that," she said as she advanced him slowly and placed a hand on his arm. Gabriel left cautiously up the stairs not making a sound as he still kept an eye on them. Matthew closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair as Isobel slipped her hands over his shoulders, sliding her arms around his neck, resting her chin on his head, and looked across the table from behind him.

"There can be none of this when they are here."

"Which is a shame." She pouted and looked down at him before kissing his lips ever so lightly, like Gabriel had just done. It was both a sign that she had seen it, but also a sign that she knew she could not interfere. They had their intimacy, she and Matthew had theirs.

"I'll be in my office." She let go of him slowly and ascended the stairs where Gabriel remained at the banister, looking down at Matthew, who just remained in his seat. There was nothing Gabriel could do either. Something struck him when he watched his father from afar, this small, black figure down there, usually tall and strong, sat hunched somewhat in the chair. Troubles. Sadness.

"Father?" Gabriel called out. Matthew turned around in the seat.

"Yes?"

"C'mon. There's still an hour until you have to leave."

He could almost feel the pillars tremble with Matthew's sigh before he rose from the table. He ascended up the stairs and as if washed away, the image that Gabriel had just had of his father, a weak and feeble frame, was gone. Their lips sealed one kiss after another as they walked down the hall towards Matthew's chambers.