The Silent Master
The air in my secluded estate was cool and crisp, a welcome relief from the controlled, sterile atmosphere of the city. I stood on the balcony, a glass of fine vintage in my hand, and looked out at the perfect, unblemished night. Three years and three months. It was a bizarre thought, a chilling truth that settled in my mind like a heavy stone. Just over three years ago, this level of control, this absolute power, was impossible.
But now, it was a reality.
The plan was proceeding step by step, a meticulous grand design that was unfolding exactly as it should. The mortals, blinded by the promise of safety, had willingly branded themselves, their freedom for a lie. My brothers, the princes of the Third Kind, were reveling in their newfound power, ignorant of the fragile nature of their victory. It was all going as planned, and even if some of the princes resented my father, and I questioned him time to time, he always knew what to do next.
I was quite impressed, honestly. The detailed planning was genius. The way he had foreseen every move, every counter-move, every moment of chaos that would lead to this serene, perfect conclusion. But what got me curious, what bothered me, was why he continued to be off the grid. He was the supreme ruler of us all, the one who held absolute authority. Yet, he hid out, a ghost in the shadows. I hadn't spoken to him in months, not since the last council meeting.
What was my father planning?
The question gnawed at me, a constant, irritating itch I couldn't scratch. My own power, my position as the architect of this new world, was a testament to his trust in me. But a new, cold fury began to simmer beneath my calm exterior. Whatever he was doing, whatever new scheme he was hatching, it better include me. I was his most loyal son, the one who had made his vision a reality.
I took a final sip of my wine, the glass feeling like a brittle, fragile thing in my hand. I turned and walked back into the estate, my gaze falling on one of my agents standing by the door.
"Get my car ready," I announced, my voice cold and hard.
My agent, accustomed to my sudden, unannounced departures, simply gave a quick nod and moved to obey. I had a feeling my father wouldn't appreciate this visit. He liked his privacy, his secrets. But I would not be left in the dark. Whatever he was doing, if he was doing something, I would find out.