𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞

SIX: Silver And Gold.

CHAPTER SIX: Silver & Gold.

Harold wondered what it was about silver and gold that seeks the souls of men even those of the cursed cold blood. Men like his father whom no matter what era they were in would always seek the roads paved with wealth, glory and blood. The new century had been explained to him on their way back from the cottage he was confined in. Now he was sat on the family dining table sticking a fork into his rare to medium steak.

His family's business activities were now being explained to him and again he wondered what it was about cash and acquisitions in gold and silver that collected his family's allegiance. The Sinclairs were a determined bunch that made sure to live in the aesthetics of owning everything, everyone and....

"You will begin your academics next Monday. Throughout this whole week a service tutor will come in and take you through all the base knowledge you will need to know before you begin your classes." Mr Sinclair wiped his mouth with the white silky material. When Mr Sinclair spoke, he always did so like totalitarian leader, a regent sire. His mouth would open, reaching for words and the whole lot of people would go quiet, drop their forks and listen with full intend whether it affected them or not.

"The school is under the impression that you went through the correct formal education to get to senior class. Here we know the truth and the truth is you know nothing of this new era, and you are far much worse lacking in knowledge for what constitutes education anymore. That is why we want you to prove yourself better than the impression they will have." he finished.

With food in his mouth, his oldest brother proved he hadn't changed much when he spoke with a sarcastic tone "You'll be happy to know that education is considered a basic human right now, little brother."

Harold didn't know whether to believe this or not, when school was mentioned he assumed he would be attending classes with offspring from those that were at the top of their chosen industries not "Civilians?" he asked.

"Behave yourself Ernest, you'll only scare Harry." Harriet's table manners were as impeccable as always "You'll find that you'll be in school with people different than you. Different family strutchures, genders, races, sexuality..."

"We have a full library in the back that will ease you into the new world order." Mrs Sinclair's voice was the feminine version of his father's. "So back to what matters most right now. You must excel in your studies, so that by the end of the year you'll be placed in Advanced Programs. With the goal that you qualify for the very best tertiary institutions this country offers. You know we expect you to lead the board right?" she said.

"Haven't Antony and Ernest been doing that?" Harold had hoped he would wake up to different responsibilities but it seemed dreams remained a luxury not afforded to him.

Words formed in stone, glid over the air like poison "Antony's focus must be on helping his brother find his betrothed or else First bloods will run extinct."

Everyone avoided making eye contact with their newly returned little brother whose eyes were bulged with more questions than he had when he awoke. "what do you mean or else first blood will run extinct?"

All there was was the he sound of air conditioner running in the background and silver cutlery hitting the imported fine china that carried their dinner. Noone answered him and a just a few hours later Harriet and Ernest barged into the room he'd been shown as his.

"It's not close to what I promised you, but it's a happy starter. Come on let's go party" Ernest threw him a denim jacket and tattered jeans he'd torn from the closet.

Harold examined the thin and dreadful pieces of what was supposed to constitute as clothing with raised eyebrows. "People wear this to balls?"

Harriet selected a pair of black slim fit slacks, a white shirt and shiny black dress shoes "You'll be surprised wait until you see what girls wear these days and the way men hold themselves with no pride. I promised you gossip and I have plenty to make you survive the dreadful world of high school." she smiled.

Harold's own smile grew, he loved his siblings "Ok. Is Antony coming too?"

"We're sneaking out," they both rolled their eyes, and laughed. "What do you think? Ha!"

"So where's this ball?"

"He said ball." Ernest laughed.

Harriet slapped him softly "Behave. It's not a ball Harry, Ernest is taking us to a strip club a little out of town."

"No!" Antony protested from the doorway "You can't take Harold to a strip club, it's bad enough you sneaked him out to a club already on his first night back. What you thought I wouldn't find out?"

They both rolled their eyes.

"He still has a lot of things to catch up on." the tall, stiff brother suggested dropping a stack of history books in front of his recently awakened brother.

"Come on Tony, books are boring," Ernest groaned slipping a rolled paper between his lips "can't he have something fun to do first before you make him study everything unnecessarily?"

Antony looked annoyed, then conflicted "Dear Brother," he referred to Harold "How are you?"

Harold lifted from his chair first, grateful to have been considered in the argument between the two ever feuding siblings as he remembered. Then he gave his two elders a curt bow, right hand on the left side of his chest. "First, please accept my gratitude for your..."

Antony cut him off "See why he has to read first? Our brother's mind is still stuck in a dead century."

"Tony, it's no big deal Ernest and I will...." Harriet tried to soothe but Ernest cut her off "Why do you insist of complicating things Antony! Do you think you're the only one that cares about Harold? We both love him as much as you do..."

"Are you sure?"

"What's that mean?" Harriet frowned.

"I didn't mean you, but I have to say. I am surprised you of all people is so blase about this. You both know what's at stake."

"Oh so you meant, Ernest then?"

Antony stuck a hand in his black dress pants, the movement straining the arms of his crisp white shirt to show the intimidating muscle under his strong arms "Father has great plans for you Harold, please read these books and then we'll talk about formal education. It is rather important in this century, Ernest wouldn't know so don't follow his lead. Please."

"I don't know why you insist of feuding with me, I never asked for father to give me the rights of use for the...." Ernest tried to say, but Antony closed the door behind him anyway.

"Father still not acknowledging Antony I see?"

"Yup" Harriet and Ernest sang. "You must know, father has great plans for you Harold dear."