Volatile Shadow

15. Interlude.

SERAPH POV:

"Nepotism at its finest..."

"Not surprising at this point?"

"Not even close." Takeda gently holds a lighter in his hand. His thumb presses on the sparkwheel, slowly rotating it. It's a sound that lightly echoes inside the main hall; Audible, even through the rain and thunder.

"I'm surprised he gave me the promotion so quickly." I gaze at the howling storm outside, droplets of rainwater stream down the large arch-windows placed on each opposite side of the room. Everyone here got where they are because they knew someone. Guess I'm no different...

"Don't be. His daughter got the same treatment." He doesn't look at me as he says it, only continuing to fiddle with the lighter in his hand, "The only surprise here is that he didn't give his son the same treatment. I guess having the charismatic pretty boy as the face of the business wasn't to his liking..."

Compared to Cassandra, Galan hasn't participated much in his family's business ventures, at least to Davian's opinion. He doesn't see a modelling career as 'sufficiently viable for a Vetrova.'

"He hasn't expressed much interest in that side of the business either."

Takeda chuckles to himself, "He must be so annoyed by that. No wonder Davian forced Cassie to pick up his slack..."

I notice Takeda's use of Cassandra's nickname. It's not something that everyone knows about either...

"I didn't know you were close to Cassandra."

Takeda suddenly stops his motion with the sparkwheel, obviously surprised by my sudden words.

"I... guess you can say that." His eyes weren't focused on me before, but now he's definitely trying to avoid me.

"Guess? That doesn't sound like an assured answer."

"Yeah..." Takeda chuckles again, a more resigned one than before, "That is true." His eyes focuses back to the lighter on the palm, I only now notice its cursive engravings.

"Were you two...?" The word refuses to leave my tongue. Something is tugging my hesitation.

Takeda takes this opportunity to answer for me, a question he knows is clearly lingering between us.

"A year back, yeah. We were a thing." Takeda softly gazes at the cursive writings of the silver lighter. I can see the etchings has been well-crafted, definitely custom made.

Takeda and Cassandra, huh?
That would've made front page. Must have been kept secret.

Secret to the public, but knowing Vetrova and Takemura, secrets don't last forever to them. They would've found out eventually.

"Takemura didn't approve of it?" I ask him, curious on what was his father's opinion on their relationship.

"He was fine with Cassandra herself. Just not the obvious baggage she always brought."

Baggage?

Oh.

"Davian."

"Jackpot." Takeda grimly chuckles. "Takemura never trusted Vetrova. As soon as he knew about us, he suspected that Davian was just trailing close behind."

"You really think he'd do such a thing?"

He clutches the lighter tighter as the vexation rises in his voice, "He doesn't care how his own daughter will feel about it, as long as he gets what he wants... he doesn't care."

"He'd use his own children as tools?" I ask him, curious of his answer.

"Don't be surprised when you see it with your own eyes, Seraph." His eyes finally meet mine, laced with ire, "He will do it, trust me."

"I... I see." It is my turn to look away from Takeda now. Looking back to the windows of the hall. "I'll take your advice."

"I hope you do. For all our sakes."

Silence returns to the room once again. We both return to our prior actions, still waiting for this damn service to end.

Why isn't it over yet...?

I continue to watch the storm's looming presence. Its rage soon become nothing but a background noise to my thoughts.

Thoughts about today... and the possible future.

Use them as tools...

Those words repeat in my head, again and again.

He might have manipulated Cassandra already before when she was with Takeda.

I think about asking Takeda on the reason for their breakup but that wouldn't be a good idea, would it?

And what about Cassandra? What would her side of the story be like?

If all of this is true, there's no doubt in my mind that he might do it again to Cassandra.

and Galan...

Shit.

If he finds out his relationship to Mary...

The sudden flash of lightning take me out of my thoughts, its bright light illuminates the main hall, giving a sudden reprieve from the darkness.

"What's taking them so long?" Takeda speaks up, clearly annoyed from the funeral's extended length.

I check the time on my wristwatch, "It's been long enough, it'll be anytime now."

"I'm glad I'm in there. I would've fallen asleep." Takeda looks to the towards the double doors leading to the gathering. "I bet Galan is already asleep."

"He's definitely hibernating." I roll my eyes at the thought of what Galan is doing right now.

Takeda chuckles at my comment, "Oh definitely. Getting slapped awake by Cassandra as we speak."

I return the chuckle as we both wait for all of this to end. Watching the doors, waiting for them to finally open.

Waiting for this damn thing to be finally over.

Waiting for the true event to begin.