The Aurian Chronicles Chapter 21: A CEO and a killer opportunity.

 Darkness rolled his eyes and let out a clearly bored sigh as he was escorted through the building of Farley Industries. As he was led through the elevator. he casually touched the corner of each wall he passed. Noting that all the employees' eyes were sagging, They looked like the stress of the work environment was driving them insane.

Darkness had to rub his eyes at the gaudy hallways he walked through, way too much white and bright gold, there was barely much for decor... it almost felt like an insane asylum combined with an attack on human senses. "I take it your boss doesn't know a good decorator?" He asked. They just remained silent and walked. He let out a fake mocking sigh and looked down. "Tough crowd." He mumbled.

Zach Farley poured himself a glass of expensive whiskey as Darkness was led in. "You wished to see me?" He said as he looked down at the four-foot-eight Man with pure contempt in his eyes. He noticed that Zach was in just a Golden bathrobe and a red Speedo. He then looked at the Golden Jacuzzi with a built-in waterfall feature and guessed Zach had just gotten out of it.

Zach's office told Darkness everything he needed to know about the man. Aside from the jacuzzi, there were fake paintings of actual art pieces in an attempt to make him look sophisticated. There was also a small mini golf course for him to play on. And there was a faint rendition of a jazzy tune playing that Darkness detested because the volume was just off.

Zach chuckled and poured Darkness some of the whiskey he'd been enjoying. Watching Darkness slowly smell, and then sip, he just eyed him down. "I'll get straight to the point Darkness... You killed my son... Sure he may or may not have been a little naughty... But he was still my Son..."

"Yeah? And how was that retired Police Chief? What about his son? Not that I really care, a job is a job." Said Darkness coolly, keeping his emotions in check, unlike Zach, who was now clenching his cup angrily while he tried to work out what to say next.

"Listen... I am TRYING to give you the chance to just leave town, never look back... Never set foot in my neck of the woods again... A WAR is coming between me and your boss. When all is said and done, you'll be unemployed... so how's a cool ten million sound? Think of it as your severance package!" Said Zach as he looked Darkness in the eyes.

Darkness drained the glass and rolled his eyes up at Zach. "You sent an Assassin to kill me... Even if I DID take that deal,  I know there'd be another breathing down my neck in the near future... Clearly, you think I'm like one of your employees who will graciously take you up on the first offer you'll throw out." 

"You must be about as dumb as they are if you think I'd care enough about any single one of my employees enough to pay them a decent wage, let alone ten MILLION goddamn dollars." Retorted Zach as he sat at his desk. He lit a Cuban cigar and through some employee sheets. "You may not know it, bub, but Farley Industries has its hand in a lot of pies here! Construction, security, we're even considering getting into the weapons and government defense racket later! That requires funding... If I got pinch a penny here and there? So be it? What's an ant to a man anyway?" 

"Alone, not much.. But a swarm? Well, you tell me." Answered Darkness as his glare matched Zach's, "The way I see it, you sent an assassin to take me out. It didn't work, so now you are trying to pay me to fuck off while you storm Mr. Capryse's office. I can tell you right now that if you think I'm scary, I ain't got nothing on him.. I'm merely his cleanup crew." He added for good measure.

Zach just laughed uncomfortably as he poured another glass. "Is that so? Well janitor boy.. take a look at this." He said as he pressed a button by his desk, showing cars pulling up and raiding a building. "Not that you would know anything, but we businessmen have our ways of tracking things... especially things we want... If I were you I'd be putting Capryse on speaker phone" He advised.

Darkness shrugged and pulled out his smartphone, starting a video call. The phone rang for a few seconds as Mr. Capryse answered. He appeared to be in a silk brown robe with coffee in hand and a raised eyebrow. "Good evening Mr. Sonata... bit of a late night, don't you think?" He asked curiously. Darkness went to retort, but Zach quickly snatched the phone from him and sneered.

"Got your little errand boy in MY neck of the woods Capryse." He said as he chuckled like a cartoon villain. "And on top of that, I'm bout to raid one of the buildings on YOUR territory! wonder what we'll find in your Bronx location? Perhaps where the black cards are?" He asked with a smirk like he was onto something. "Regardless, game over! CHECKMATE BITCH!" He yelled into the phone.

Mr. Capryse simply shook his head as he sipped his coffee. "Few things wrong there Mr. Farley. One, Derek has handled past people who tried to accost him, as I am sure you are well aware." He said as he pulled out a laptop. "Two, any information on my businesses anywhere in the world has been supplied by me." He told him as he showed a confused Mr. Farley footage of his men running through an old building of 'Pure Mind Solutions' looking for clues. "Three... You say checkmate only when the king is cornered... and unfortunately, you have sacrificed too many pieces to do so." He said as he typed in a code, causing explosions to go off through the building, causing it to collapse with Farley's men inside, and their vehicles the only proof of their existence that remained.

Mr. Farley looked on in horror as Darkness smirked and took his phone. "I have to go, sir. I promised to make it to my sister's 'concert' tonight." He said happily. Mr. Capryse waved politely. "Have fun! do wish the young lady all my best... and wish Mr. Farley a warm goodbye on my behalf!" He said before hanging up. Darkness shrugged and headed for the door.

Mr. Farley glared at him. "This ain't over, you shadowy freak! Have fun with your sister tonight! Cuz when I'm done, she won't even have a face or body worth looking at!" He threatened angrily. Darkness just looked back at him with an evil smile. "Oh yeah? You and what army?" He asked before walking out the door and leaving the building.

Lyte happily typed on her keyboard as she waited in Darkness' 1970 Dodge Challenger while Darkness got in. "You get it?" he asked curiously. She just nodded happily. "The whole conversation! Whenever you need it! I doubt the police will be receiving this, though." She said softly. Darkness shrugged. "Not up to me... that's for the boss man... But you did good sis! What else you got?" He asked.

Lyte just showed a wide grin. "The whole building! I can turn that place into the ultimate rave zone if I want to! And they'll never know who did it! Say the word and what you want? I'm ready like a Lyte switch baby!" She said happily. Darkness just laughed happily and drove off into the night. He wasn't sure what Mr. Capryse had in store yet, but the ball was in his court whenever he wanted to serve it.