Chapter: Reality

The black car sped up in front of the TV-station. It was a large typical glass building designed to look futuristic but failing miserably at it. He stood out as Nathaniel opened the door to the back seat and was met by a small delegation of five suit-clad people. Shade and Nathaniel flanked him as they walked up the broad steps towards the entrance and stopped half-way up as the director met them. They shook hands firmly.

"Mr. Darklighter, how good of you to join us," the director Meurdock greeted them with a cautious glance from Shade to Nathaniel before looking as straight as possible at Matthew, who merely replied with his trademark: the smirk.

"I couldn't miss the discussion of how a show produced in my own estate, is going to be, Mr. Meurdock," Matthew said and nodded at the director's retinue before they entered the building and ascended the stairs to the administration floor where they were led into a large conference office. Matthew sat down, not at the end of the table, but to the right of Meurdock. He folded his hands as the suit-clad humans took out files, pens and looked patiently at their director. Shade and Nathaniel remained standing behind their master, hands folded behind their backs, eyes shielded by sunglasses. The sound of the beating hearts was a little louder than usually. Anxiety.

"So, Meurdock, have you taken time to look at my proposal for the production?" Matthew asked. He sat calmly in the chair, slightly leaned back without slumping, hands folded in front of him and his eyes locked firmly on Meurdock, knowing that the others were not important enough to address. Their job was to obey their director, who in turn would obey Matthew's terms of agreement. It was that simple.

"I have reviewed your list of terms," Meurdock drew out a copy of the document that Matthew had emailed him earlier that week. The remaining 4 assistants of different departments drew out one copy each as well while Matthew remained silent and immovable. He had no need for paper and pen, not yet. The pen was inside his jacket pocket, the paper would be brought to him from the briefcase that Shade carried, if necessary.

"And?" Matthew inquired softly and slightly provocative; a hint to his voice demanded speed and precision from his surroundings.

"Well, I suggest we have a look at them," Meurdock leaned forward as if he wanted to share his copy with Matthew, who did not bother to move.

"I know what it says, Mr.Meurdock, I wrote it myself, thank you," he replied gently. Meurdock nodded with no further word and retracted the document.

"It says here that, the period of time is from the 1st of September till the 23rd of December. You have no mind on perhaps prolonging the series with another season if it becomes a success?"

"No, my family is not the spring type. We indulge in activities mostly during autumn and winter."

"One episode a week, as we agreed, one every Saturday evening republished from the previous Thursday's episode, a Halloween Special edition as well as a Christmas Special Edition. Why a Christmas Special Edition?"

"My family celebrates Christmas the 21st of December. It has always and will always be our tradition and a very good opportunity for your crew to document our celebration."

"Right. Also, you say that some parts of the mansion will be available at all times for the crew and some won't?" Meurdock looked up. "If this is going to be reality, it's necessary for us to document every -"

"Who invites who, Mr. Meurdock?" Matthew leaned forward, his question resounded politely degrading. "I present to you the possibility of entering my family's house for four months. Don't you think that a little privacy at times, has to be conducted? I understand such... fancy reality-shows are at large in the ether, I will still ask that there must be places that are not filmed."

"But we will still have one camera mounted in the corner of every bedroom, right?"

"That is correct."

"Right. So, the procedure follows your daily pattern. I understand that every morning your family meets for breakfast?"

"That's true, yes."

"And the agenda for the day is something that only you know?"

"Depending on intelligence from my company employees, my private lawyer and such, yes."

"And my camera crew is allowed to walk about as they like and follow those of the family that have both normal chores and special duties to perform?"

"Unless the other people who are involved in the chores or duties, have not given their consent to be recorded, then yes."

"Then there is this one... Each and every edited episode must be shown to you before airing it. Isn't this some type of censorship?"

"That is essentially for the sake of my company, Mr. Meurdock, and the risk of exposure. And besides, the producer is invited to join me for the review."

"I see..." Meurdock glanced down at the paper again. The assistants were scribbling down and beside them an office apprentice transcribed everything but having a hard time not letting himself get too distracted by Matthew's presence. "And you say that the three main persons that we are going to display will be yourself, your sister Isobel Stella Darklighter and your son and heir, Gabriel Jacques Darklighter?"

"We are, after all, those with daily agendas already scheduled for weeks and weeks, you'll have better chances of planning ahead," Matthew said.

"And you will make sure to inform my crew?" Meurdock asked.

"Of course, I'm their host, am I not?" Matthew smirked. "I have a few regulations for them to keep in mind while at the premises concerning the daily routines of my family, dinner time, breakfast, cleaning, and if any furniture is damaged, your cooperation will be held responsible for replacement."

"Of course, Mr. Darklighter."

"Especially seeing that the most of my property's content is of historical value, some are native to English history, others come from abroad."

"Nothing will be touched, you have my word, Mr. Darklighter," Meurdock answered.

"So, everything is agreed upon?" Matthew tapped the table top lightly with his forefinger. "Where is the contract?"

•

The candles burned brightly at the top of the stairs leading down to the hollow. Isobel lay at the bottom, wrapped in a beautiful, long, dark red gown, displaying her soft, rounded features. She held a glass of wine in her hand, her head gently pressed against one of the cushions as her eyelids fluttered closed while she listened to the soft, classical music sounding from the speakers somewhere above. Gabriel slowly descended the stairs, also carrying a glass of wine - white that was - and dressed in white; a loose shirt displaying his bare chest, and trousers of a soft cotton-like fabric. He greeted her and sat down beside her, planting a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Hey," he said. "Have you heard anything from Matthew?"

"I did," she answered, sipping her wine. "He was just about to finish in the office. Have the others gone to town like he told them?"

"Yes, they have," Gabriel nodded. He leaned back as well and closed his eyes too. For a moment the world stood still, the light from the outside flickered on the inside of his eyelids, a red hue mingled with sparks of light, while the music floated softly towards him from above. This was like heaven, or at least he would recommend it to those who believed it could not be a place on earth.

"So, what do you think about it?" he heard Isobel's voice from afar and regained consciousness slowly after having drifted into the memory of unknown realms and worlds. He looked at her and smiled half-heartedly.

"I'm not really sure, I have to hear what he has to say to know what I think," he replied with a sigh. "Depending on the restrictions that the crew will have, I'm in for four, long months."

"I understand," Isobel said. "And I know how you feel. It's going to be a loooong way until Christmas."

"So much more to look forward to."

"Yeah, maybe."

He closed his eyes again as she slid a hand underneath his shirt and massaged his stomach and chest. Her red finger nails pinched his nipples lightly and he sighed lightly as a little giggle escaped his lips and she bent down to kiss his neck. Her lips nibbled the protruding veins and her hand caressed his skin gently. He did not even care to say anything as he sighed and let a hand flow through her rippling hair, the curls entangling his fingers in it, like wines trapping each other. The tip of her tongue traced a line down to his chest and teased the sensitive skin playfully. He ran a hand down her back, his fingers creating light friction in her clothing.

Something moved out of the corner of his eye and he saw his father descend into the hollow, dressed only in his black robe bound lightly by the golden strings. His bare feet made no sound and they barely pressed down the softness of the bottom in the hollow when he reached them. In his hand he held a goblet. His hair swayed lightly by his elbows and a solemn smile lingered on his lips as he approached them and they parted to let him settle down between them, Gabriel to his left and Isobel to his right; they cuddled up to him and caressed him affectionately under the robe.

Matthew wrapped his arms around their shoulders and leaned back into the cushions. It had been a long day. He had returned home after signing the contract with Meurdock's men and getting an exact date for the arrival of the crew. They had agreed upon one day ahead of production, because the team would need to get accustomed to navigating in the mansion and to the customs of the family. As Matthew put it, a family as influential as the Darklighters had to have slightly different manners and habits than ordinary wealthy families.

When he had finished bargaining, it was time to head on, but not directly home, not yet. He had to stop by Parliament and sign three different agreements on taxation, importation and regulations of industrial pollution. After that he left for a conference in Camden and in the afternoon, he had to attend a formal gathering in Westminister, before he finally could go on home where Zacharias waited for him at the entrance. They discussed whom they should invite during the time of the production of the show. According to Matthew's intelligence, it would be highly profitable; a lot of his ordinary, not usually well-to-do partners, would believe they could exploit the situation to nail a contract or two to their own benefit, because they would have cameras running when contracts were signed. Matthew knew that what was said was not necessarily what the contract said, and that would be his prime argument when the complaints started rolling in - if they lived to complain.

They also lined up several events that would involve business partners. All supernatural creatures were reminded that this was a production for the human world, and therefore otherworldly activities would only be communicated through a special codex that the humans would not be able to understand. A list was made of persons who were to be informed about this procedure and mails sent out before dinner.

Now as he leaned back into the embrace of both Isobel and Gabriel, he pondered how this would affect the structure of the family. As the shepherd, he had developed his methods to control, to manipulate and to restrict. Now his family would have to live for four months under new circumstances. Was it doable? Creatures like his family members were not easily controlled. Could he handle a situation if they went out of line? He had to. He simply had to. And then he had to trust his family members. Trust. That was the worst thing. Trust that they would not commit crimes or show off the family in a wrong perspective.

He resigned from the thoughts of troubles and came to the conclusion that things would eventually be fine, as he sank into the depths of passion with Isobel and Gabriel.