Alexander

I exhaled a puff of cigarette smoke, watching it swirl and dissipate before extinguishing the stub and flicking it away. The cards dangled from one hand, my fingers deftly shuffling them with practiced ease. The dim light cast long shadows across the room, adding to the tension between us.

"If you lose, it looks like I get to handle the contract," Sebastian said, his mischievous smirk cutting through the haze.

"I admire your delusions," I replied, my own smirk mirroring his. Sebastian Carson was the only man worth my time. The rest including my father and the students I begrudgingly taught, were mere distractions, unworthy of my potential. His mind was a labyrinth of cunning, a twisted mirror of my own.

His wife often joked that we would be fierce competitors for Satan's throne in hell. It was a thought that amused me; the devilish rivalry between him and me was more stimulating than anything else in my life. Our intellectual battles were a dance of wit and strategy, each move calculated, each word a challenge. He was the only one who could keep up with me, the only one who made the game worth playing.

However, one thing we don't have in common is his love and passion for his wife, an obsession that runs so deep it's almost unsettling. As for me, I'm incapable of feelings like love. Once upon a time, Sebastian and I stood on common ground, sharing the same dispassionate outlook on life. That was until his wife decided to crash into his world, tearing apart the foundation we had built together. But that doesn't stop him or distract him from his ruthless means. He is still unforgiving in his ways, which is exactly what I want and why he is the person I chose to work with.

"The professor role suits you better anyway, so what's the point?" he said, letting out a provocative laugh. Did I forget to mention he loves to test my patience?

I pressed down on the cards, almost tearing them apart. "Don't test me, fucker. Anything but this," I growled.

"Ease there, motherfucker. Destroying the cards because you can't win?" he taunted. Sebastian knew all too well what made me lose my shit, and he never missed an opportunity to push those buttons.

I leaned back, my gaze cold and calculating. "Winning isn't the issue, for me. It's about who controls the contract. We both know this deal could make or break our business on the East Coast."

Sebastian leaned back, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You think you can handle the pressure? The heat's already on us. One misstep, and we're both dead men."

"Pressure is for the weak," I replied smoothly. "This contract is our ticket to the top. I won't let your distractions derail us."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Always so serious, maybe you should lighten up a bit. Might make you a better player."

I narrowed my eyes. "And maybe you should take this seriously for once. This isn't a game. It's our hard work on the line."

Sebastian leaned forward, his smirk fading slightly. "Alright, I'll give you that. But if you want the contract, you're gonna have to prove you're not just all talk. Show me you can win."

I met his gaze, unflinching and unyielding. "Fine. But remember, once I win, I call the shots."

"Deal," he said, extending his hand. "May the best man win."

I took his hand, the grip firm and controlled, then laid down my final cards, winning the game. "I never lose. You, however, seem to be losing your edge. Maybe that wife of yours is slowly eating away at your potential." Even I knew it wasn't the case, Sebastian wasn't the kind of man who could be brought down by anything or anyone. I was just better at this game and loved giving him a taste of his own medicine.

"Do not, and I mean ever, bring her up," he said, his eyes darkening with anger.

"Or what? You'll kill me?" I replied with a mocking smirk.

"Precisely. The fact that you're my best friend gives me the courtesy to warn you, at least. Anyone else would already be dead," he said, standing up and straightening his black coat.

"I have other business to deal with. I'll let you know what I find on the prophecy case," he added, turning on his heel and walking away.

"Even if you wanted, I'd make sure we both die." I called after him. Sebastian had his ways of digging out the past and unearthing mysteries, which proved him worthy to be one of my cards in this game of finding the murderer. Everything we do in life is like a game of cards. Play the right cards in the right manner, and you win. In life, however, those cards stand for people. Use them when you should, without letting emotions get involved, and there you have, everything you want.

******

Alexander

I leaned back, thinking about the plan I had meticulously crafted to take back what was mine from my father: the family legacy. Dominance requires intelligence and a fortune, and while I had plenty of both, the legacy was essential to my ambitions. The ringing of my phone broke my concentration. It was my sister, the only person who had a place in my life other than Sebastian. I answered, and she greeted me cheerfully, "How's my favorite brother?"

"I'm your only brother," I responded, my tone flat.

"Nonsense. My other brother has been ignoring my calls all week," she sighed.

"You've only been gone for a couple of weeks. What's your point?"

"Asshole. If I got into trouble, would you just ignore me?"

"You wouldn't call me if you were in trouble. You're Dad's little princess."

"I'm fifteen years older than you, and Dad had me when he was sixteen. The title doesn't really fit," she laughed.

"You don't need to remind me of his teenage mistakes every time," I scoffed.

"Alright, alright, don't be a whiny asshole. I'm just calling to inform you that I'll be there tomorrow."

"And was that an important reason for you to call me?" I said, deliberately trying to annoy her.

"I missed your voice, okay? And before you say anything meaner, I'm gonna go. Bye," and with that, she hung up.

I rubbed my face and let out a deep sigh. Growing up without a mother, what's it like? I don't really know. I rarely dwell on the emotional aspects of my life, so this kind of introspection feels foreign to me. My dad, a man of high morals as he liked to say, has no idea where our mothers are. While my sister is hell-bent on finding them, I've never tried. If they wanted to be found, they'd be here. Everyone knows about us, so the idea that they're unaware is laughable. And frankly, I don't think finding her would change anything for me. Her presence wouldn't alter who I am today.

I walked out, aiming for the administrative chamber. I needed to check the CCTVs from the past few months, focusing on the girl who was murdered. Analyzing her behavior, her partners, the spots she frequently visited, and so on. However, I couldn't compare this with other girls because we didn't have access to data from so long ago, and twenty years ago, these facilities didn't even exist.

I met with guards and students from back then, comparing patterns. One thing I quite don't understand is that I can see her entering the forest, but I did not see anyone else entering it. What are the odds that the killer is invisible?

I let out a frustrated sigh. Every time I felt closer to solving this case, another pattern emerged, making it more convoluted than it already was. One thing I can infer is that it's someone within the circle, within my dad's reach, because anyone else wouldn't have such extensive access to internal information. Someone old enough to perpetuate this murder tradition for years. Or maybe it's a family affair, with each generation upholding the legacy. Or perhaps someone has created a cult, passing on their nefarious acts for others to continue.

I was now certain, this wasn't just a random act of violence; it was a legacy of blood.

Note: Every character I introduce in the story has a purpose, so hold tight.

Also, we've reached the seventh chapter. I honestly never thought the story would progress this far; I expected to run out of ideas and motivation by the second or third chapter. While I did face a creative block for a month or two, I'm glad I was able to continue.

If you are reading, please do leave votes and comments-they really motivate me.