Insanity (Sequel To Madness)

Promises

~*Shane's POV*~

I take in a deep breath as I leave the house and begin walking towards Allan's. With ease, I go down each step on the porch and begin casually walling down the sidewalk to Allan's home. I suddenly hear my com begin ringing loudly and I answer it, not paying attention to who it comes from.
"Hello, this is Shane Lancaster." I say, clicking down he button as I do.

"I know, it's nice talking to you, Shane.  From what I've heard about you so far, we seem really similar, and I'd love to get to know you better." The com responds. I glance at the com and see a large 'M' glowing on the scream, showing that this call is from the Main District that I own.
"Well, perhaps we could know one another better if I actually knew who you are." I respond with my mouth closely next to the com so that little people around would be able to hear.
"Oh, but it isn't time for you to get that leverage on me yet. It's far too soon for that to happen, it's only our second time chatting." He says in a business tone that seems close to my own.
"Well, then it seems like we have nothing else to talk about." I mutter to the com while I continue walking, but at a faster pace now.
"Oh, no, we have a lot to talk about." He says. I sigh heavily and hang up the com as I shove it back into my pocket. I jump up the steps to Allan's door and knock on the door with the back of my wrist. The maid from the night before opens the door and gives me a confused look.
"Master King, you have a visitor." She calls to the inside of the home. I see Allan go down the steps and walk into the greeting room and see me.
"Shane, I didn't expect to see you." Allan states as he motions his maid away and replaces her in front of the door. I nod and look him over, he obviously hasn't had much time to get dressed or ready for his day. His jet black tie is loosely tied and his vest isn't even buttoned entirely. His hair, however, is neatly combed as it normally is.
"Well, I wanted to apologize for last night. We have all been a bit shaken recently, and as you know, I don't take kindly to insults." I state as I cross my arms and lock eyes with his to show my dominance.
"Yes, I know. My family has also been shaken, since my district hasn't been very... Stable." Allan tells me as he crosses his arms as well.
"And I will help you with that... However, you know of my current situation, and why I can't do that right now." I tell him in a threatening tone.
"I got a call from Mr. Zen this morning. He sounded very worried about the state of the districts, especially yours. He plans to visit me and you, he said that he'd be leaving as soon as he was able... You know that he has the resources to overthrow you, Shane." Allan tells me in a more hushed voice.
"Yes, I do, but I'm careful, and much smarter than he is. Anyways, I'd like to discuss a few things with you. We can take a walk, or go to your office of you prefer." I offer, eyeing him carefully to make sure that the situation is good for both myself and everyone around us.
"You may come in my home since you walked here anyways. It's more comfortable in here anyways." Allan tells me as he opens the door wider for me. I nod and step inside.

Allan leads me down a separate hallway than last night. This one has dark oak wood floors while the whole hall wallpaper is a deep magenta color. The living room we enter is much nicer than my own, with everything in place and an elegant feel just walking in it. A candle burns on the coffee table, engulfing me in the scent of cinnamon and apples mixing in my nose. Two couches sit in the room, the same color as the rest being deep magenta. Allan sits on one across from me and crosses his arms like he usually does. His maid stands in the corner of the room with a wine bottle in her hand.
"Shane, would you like some wine while you're here? I quite enjoy the elegances that wine expresses, just how much more special it is than any beer could be. I have always felt that if I was any object instead of being human, I would be best expressed through a red wine. Sweet, but sticks in your throat and gives a sting if you swallow at a wrong pace." Allan states as he motions for his maid to come and pour wine into one glass on the coffee table.
"I'd love a glass, Allan, if you'd be so kind." I respond in a lie. I hate all alcohol, I always have, but living the life I live, you must make sacrifices and do things you don't want to do sometimes.
"Of course. Caroline, one for him as well." Allan orders. The maid pours me a glass afterwards and hands it to me politely.
"Thank you." I whisper to her as she begins to leave the room. I don't know how often she hears that, since I know what type of man Allan is to his family, I'd hate to imagine who he is to his maid.
"Now, what is it you wish to speak to me about?" Allan questions as he takes a sip of his wine. I swirl the dark red substance around in my glass and watch as it creates small air bubbles.
"I need you to keep quiet about the state of my compound. For my own reasons, I don't wish for anyone else to find out about it." I state as I take the smallest size of wine I can.
"And if they do find out?"

​Allan questions me as his eyes go up from his wine to meet my gaze for a moment.
"Then I can easily trace the source back to you, and if you tell them, it will not help you. I'm your only friend at the moment, so I see the best situation you can be in is to help me regain power again." I tell him in a threatening tone of voice. Allan takes another drink of his wine, eyeing me the entire time even as he sets down his glass on the coffee table a few inches away.
"I hate to admit it, but you're right. However, I want to know what I will get out of keeping this secret for you. Just because you're a friend doesn't mean that you being in power is my best option, since I can make friends with who I need to." Allan declares while his eyes stare into me like daggers.
"You should do this so that you can keep your compound. The leaders already believe I've made a mistake by making my brother​ an owner, and they will most likely do a background check on everyone who is currently in power, and they may not like everything they will see on you. Your abusive behavior and past, your anger, your past jail time... It's all saved in our archives, and if any smart man is put in charge after me, they will check that my work wasn't flawed." I explain with a small smirk formed on my face. Allan's eyebrows furrow while he grabs his wine glass again and sips from it. Allan doesn't reply right away like he normally does, instead he sits across from me drinking from his wine with annoyance pasted on his face,
"Do we have a deal, then? I'll help you if you help me." I state as I sip down a bit of wine and try to avoid thinking of the taste. I just know that Allan loves his wine, and he loves drinking it with friends, and that I can use to my advantage. 
"Fine, I'll work with you. But as soon as you deal with your compound and gain control of it, you get back here and fix mine like you promised." ​Allan ​demands as he takes another sip of his wine. 
"Certainly. Once I have my compound under control once again, I will have the resources to help you, and I will." I tell him sternly.