Hold On To Me (WillDip)

Chapter 43: The Machine

The doorbell rang late that evening, Will, who had been cleaning the silverware for something to do, put down the cloth and went to the front door to see who it could be. He switched on the porch light and opened the door to find two men standing there, stiffly and blank. He recognized them from the photos on the mantle in one of the lesser-used living rooms, it appeared Filbrick Gleeful and his son Stanley had come to visit,

"Can I help you Gentlemen?" he asked.

"We are here to see Stanford, if you'll please be so kind as to lead us to him?" Filbrick asked politely, no emotion on that face and very unreadable as he waved a hand at him as if to say: get on with it. Will opened the door a bit more and allowed them in. "Follow me then," he said, taking them to the study close by. He knocked on the door loudly and opened it as he heard a grunt of approval. "Master? You have visitors," he said, trying to sound like he was still a servant. He had a funny feeling they wouldn't tolerate him otherwise.

"Oh, really? What's with the-" Ford stopped as he turned around in his seat. His eyes widened at seeing his father and his brother standing there. "-voice"

Shit!

Why had he left Hunter's old amulet in his bedroom!?

Filbrick scoffed. "You look dreadful. Why are you wearing those awful clothes? You're a Gleeful! You shouldn't be dressed like a damn hobo, boy! And why is your servant dressed like a teenager and not in a respectable uniform?" the man sneered, glaring at Will with his gleeful blue eyes. Mason scoffed as he appeared from the kitchen where he had been helping the cleaners do the washing up.

How dare this man be so rude!

Ford winced "Oh, the servant...well...I wasn't expecting guests, so, um, yes sorry about the mess"

"Even your words are unacceptable! What happened to you, Stanford? I didn't raise a stuttering nervous wreck!"

"I..I don't understand, father"

"You're lagging behind, Stanford, I heard from a few friends of yours what you've been up too. It appears you need some re-conditioning of the Gleeful way, hmm?"

Fords stomach sunk, this is what Hunter had meant by 'he will come for you'

But what exactly was his father going to do to him?

"What...What did they tell you? Because I assure you, it's not true, I have simply been very busy, with work."

Filbrick's lip curled. "So your nephew isn't gay? And you're just gallivanting with your male assistant for a joke? I don't think so. You, Mason and that servant of yours are coming home with me, we'll fix this all up, get Mason married off to a nice girl. Your studies are over, find a wife or I will cut you off, is that clear?"

Mason's blood went cold.

Ford's fingers clenched tightly in anger "What. Did you just say? Do you have a problem with me liking who I want to!? Cut me off!? I have my own salary, thank you very much! I'm not a sponge!!"

"This is still my house, Stanford. I can still kick you out of it if I so desire, and I have ways to turn all your riches into nothing." Filbrick said calmly.

Will's eyes widened as Ford stood up in an attempt to show some dominance to his father, knocking a few books from his desk as he did so. Mason yelped as Filbrick pushed him back and grabbed Will around the neck, squeezing hard as he slammed up against the door frame "Get in the car, Stanford, or your 'servant' gets it"

Ford's eyes widened, and he looked at Will sadly as he struggled to make a decision. Mason could almost hear his brain whir as he tried to think of something. But Will's pained whimper made him sigh with defeat. "Fine!" he grumbled, storming out the study and down the hall. Mason tried to grab for Will, but Filbrick kicked him away from him, "Get in the car" he snarled.