Chapter 16 New Home
Wednesday, February 23rd. Magnus Mansion. 9:25 a.m.
Xander was silent as he was being escorted by two guards out of the basement, closely followed by Alexei. Yesterday he was left in the interrogation chamber all night, with no food, no water and no place to rest other than the chair he had been in after the kidnapping.
«At least they didn't leave me tied up», he thought with irony, obedient while being led through the corridors, longing to know once and for all what his lair would be for... God only knows how much. Alexei had accepted his participation in the search for the son of a bitch who fooled them all, but he knew that for this, he would not be given privileged treatment.
He was aware of it, didn't have any illusions. He thought that perhaps they would leave him in some room in the style of any prison, with a simple mattress, a small bathroom on the side and if the planets were aligned in his favor: two meals a day. Up the wide stairs,, they went into an area completely different from the basement.
With walls in pale yellow instead of dirty with mold and coagulated blood, decorations that were mixed between classic and modern, but managed to maintain a harmonious balance. Not like the rusty pipes and bars that seemed to hover over him to suffocate him.
There were large and ostentatious flowerpots placed on small tables that gave the atmosphere a fresh and warm smell. Under the soles of his shoes, a polished wooden floor shone with the rays of sunshine that streamed through the huge windows. It was not at all what he foresaw from the main base of an organization with the reputation that Alexei Magnus possessed, not at all.
They left several doors behind and he wondered what worlds he would discover behind each one, maybe one night he could change to his little tiger and find out for himself. He was so deep in thought that when suddenly a tall, black-haired, broad-shouldered, white-skinned fellow emerged from one of them, he was startled by surprise. It didn't help that his BTE's didn't work either, which left him feeling incredibly uncomfortable.
The stranger had a dull pink sweater and torn jeans. On his head, a small tiara adorned with tiny crystals (also pink) that sparkled in even the slightest of shakes or the most subtle of winds. He envied him for being able to wear such an extravagant look with that much elegance.
-Oh, Magnus - seems surprised to find him there -. I thought you were out.
He then turned his attention to Xander, who was still evaluating him carefully. He feels the stranger move his sharp eyes across his body with curiosity, taking note of every peculiarity, before addressing the mafia boss again.
-Don't tell me this little thing is what's been causing us so much trouble!- exclaims astonished, widening his eyes and dropping his mouth open.
-Yes, that's him- Alexei confirms.
Xander can only guess what they're trading about him. The guy talks very fast and although he keeps his eyes fixed on the movement of his lips to try to understand what they think of him, he misses a lot of it or when he processes it in his mind, it doesn't make any sense.
It was obvious that he was the main topic of discussion, so it was frustrating to not be able to determine exactly what the hell they were saying.
-But he's such a tiny thing, Alex!- the man shouts, stretching to squeeze Xander's cheeks -. He's cute! - Laughing as he moves his crushed cheeks between his fingers in a circle, like a child being spoiled by his grandmother.
-That's enough, Lev. He' s not one of your toys - Alexei grunts, putting his hands away -. Come with me to set him up in his room. You're better at this shit than I am- he nods his head in the direction intended.
-Is he going to stay here? - drops the Omega, stunned but walking beside him anyway.
-Yes, it's necessary to keep an eye on him.
-Are you sure that's all it is? - Alexei could not help but notice Lev's mocking and accusing tone, as well as the stupidly mischievous smile on his irritating face.
-Cut the crap, Lev - scolds him, stopping in front of one of the rooms, which coincidentally (not SO coincidentally) was the closest one to his -. This is it, show him.
By opening the door, to add one more layer of stunning and: «What the hell have I gotten myself into?» to Xander, it wasn't at all what he'd imagined. It was a spacious bedroom, elegant and refined. No windows but properly illuminated, a king-size bed covered with white sheets and a grey bedspread of the finest cotton. Even a nice little night table was there.
There was another door on the side and he figured that must be the bathroom. Xander watched everything as if he were dreaming, doing calculations to try to deduce the price for so much luxury and exclusivity that he would have to pay, sooner or later. Alexei cut his train of thought short by stopping in front of him, looking serious, and talking slowly.
-You'll be under surveillance the whole time. There are cameras all along the bedroom, except for the bathroom- pauses for a few seconds until he gets a brief nod from the Omega, to make sure he's being understood -. If you try to run away, you will die. If you don't do the job you're here to do, you will die. If you try to fuck with me again, you will die.
He was afraid to ask: "If I shit without asking, I'll die too?" He didn't think Alexei would appreciate his awful sense of humor at that point. The two look at each other, while Lev suddenly breaks the bubble that had surrounded them.
-Why are you talking to the kiddo like that, Alex?- strange, crossing his arms over the chest -. It's not as if he were deaf- Alexei snorts and smiles, turning his attention to Lev, who suddenly realizes the magnitude of the events, his mouth and eyes open wide -. Is he?- shrieking in perplexity.
-Yes- unable to avoid laughing at Lev's ridiculous reaction -. But I understand he can hear through hearing devices. I need you to get him everything he needs. You'll need to have...
-Excuse me, Mr. Magnus - Xander interrupts, not realizing that Alexei and Lev were in the middle of a conversation because he was self-absorbed admiring the bedroom-. I need to go to my apartment to get my stuff.
-Impossible - Alexei answers immediately -. You won't get out of here.
-Sir, I assure you I will not escape. As I told you yesterday, I'm interested in keeping my part of the agreement, I just want to dispose of my things. That's it, you can send with me as many men as you need- mumbles, he has always found it difficult to level the tone of his voice when he doesn't have his earpieces on. Then he gets an idea and looks up to Lev -. He can go with me if you want.
-I don't have a problem with that - grants the other Omega -. I'm desperate to be locked up here for so long. Nikon is better now and under Adrik's care and I'm dead curious to see where this little sweetness lives- as he rushes again into the cheeks of Xander, who resignedly accepts the coddling of the tallest.
-My name is Xander King, nor sweetness or sweetheart or whatever- he adds, only because no one else had the decency to ask him, though Alexei is careful to remember. He knew him by his pseudonym, King Phantom, so now at least he has a proper name to address him correctly.
-Damn it, all right- points to Lev and uses a firm, sharp tone, at the best warning sign -. You better get him back, Lev Serkin. And as fast as fucking possible.
-Yeah, yeah- Lev answers with annoyance -. Let's go, sweetheart - deciding to colossally ignore his annoyance by giving him that ridiculous nickname, dragging him by the arm to the exit.
Saratov. Xander's apartment, 3:25 p.m.
-Is this the place?
Lev asks, stepping into Xander's cozy (but too small for him) apartment. The flight from Moscow to Saratov is considerably short, a little over an hour, but he still feels a bit under the weather. It happens to him every time he has to get on a plane, which is quite ironic considering that he's a bird, but he has never tried to find out the true reason for his dizziness while flying, it was one of the main reasons why he never did it in his animal form either.
His question went unanswered as Xander went straight to his room, to get his spare BTE's. When he turns to pick up his stuff, he sees Lev leaning against the door frame.
-But what a lovely little thing! - Lev, unable to stop, approaches and tenderly caresses the cat's head -. Fuck... Okay - he sighs with resignation -. Magnus won't be happy, though.t a dusty suitcase from under the bed to start filling it with clothes, his toiletries, and several pairs of shoes.
-Can you hear well enough with that?- he points to his ears, telling Xander he was talking about the BTE's.
-Yes, although I prefer not to use them sometimes.
-Why?- Lev questions in shock.
-I like the silence and tranquillity. I'm a cat, after all - closing the suitcase and putting it on the floor -. There's something I need to take too.
-What is it, sweetie? - Xander slightly wrinkles his nose at Lev's nickname, but decides to ignore it.
-My cat.
-Oh, I'm not so sure about that - he hesitates, rubbing the knots in his neck -. I doubt Magnus will like it very much, I mean...
-I can't leave him, no one would take care of him - admits, heading for the dining-room couch where a round ball of black and brown fur was resting. Its chest white as well as its little legs, watching him with its big blue eyes. He lifts the kitty in his arms and strokes it behind the ears -. I have no one to leave him with. I need to take him with me, I won't get rid of him - by pressing him a little more against his body.
-But what a lovely little thing! - Lev, unable to stop, approaches and tenderly caresses the cat's head -.Fuck... Okay - he sighs with resignation -. Magnus won't be happy, though.
-I'll take full responsibility. Cooky won't cause any problems, he's usually pretty quiet - as long as he leaves him back on the couch to finish getting ready.
-But even the name is adorable! - Lev was sure that he was in an alternate reality where everything was fucking cute and he wanted to squeeze Xander's cheeks again -.I'll die of diabetes!
After about 20 minutes, Xander had managed to pack everything he needed, gathering the suitcase with his clothes and personal items, a huge box with a computer,, and several other pieces of equipment. There were also 3 other longer ones where his monitors were carefully wrapped with bubble paper, a huge ball of yarn, so big that it reached Xander's waist (and that Lev had to be scolded fiercely not to jump on it), a small bag with Cooky's toys, his favorite cookies and his carrier.
Lev gestured at two of the henchmen who accompanied them to start loading everything into the van where they had arrived. Xander took one last look around to make sure nothing was getting left behind.
-What about my apartment? - he asks Lev, as he takes Cooky in his arms to put him in the carrier.
-I don't know yet, maybe Magnus will decide to sell it- Xander closes the grate so the cat doesn't escape and when he turns to look at him, he looks alarmed.
-What? He can't do that.
-Why not, sweetie?- Tilting his head to the side, a curious expression on his face.
-Where am I supposed to spend my heat periods?