Conferment

'I see.' I took another sip from my glass. 'You have them to keep you company.'

Mrs Blondy dropped all her weight unto the leather chair. Her heavy steady breath indicated how exhausted she was. 'No, I have everything I need to keep me company.'

'And what 'bout Jackson?'

I don't know how that affected her, but she scowled at me, 'And what about him?'

'I understand how disconsolate you are. Or even worse, but this wouldn't change anything.'

She sat up right and shut out her head to me saying, 'And how do you think I feel?'

'Lost.'

Technically the one and only answer that fits her condition. She couldn't even hide it under her grim expression. 'I've been there ... all my life. Even when I think things are getting better.' I shook my head and continued, 'Instead they were getting more and more heartbreaking every time I unravel a mystery.'

'So what did you do?' she asked even calmer than myself.

'I learned to draw strength from my weaknesses. I learned to perfect ... my flaws.' I took another sip from my glass.

'And, how did that help you?'

'It made me callous and impervious to regret. That way I don't have to think too much.' I shrug noncommittaly. She leans back again on the chair and exhaled. Her faced revealed signs of a thoughtful look.

'I dont want to ... talk about it.' she turns her face away from my gaze. I see the bitterness and rancour in the smile she could carve. 'Only if I could go back and change it.'

I exhaled calmly above my drink before I spoke, 'Where we are now, is a result of our past decision. We can only sharpen the other end of a broken pencil and write with both sides. There's a saying, a madman saying of course, if you can't escape hell, you blow it up. Since death is technically of the hook.'

Mrs Blondy repositioned her gaze to me back, 'If I could change one thing of the world it would be that.'

'If I could change one thing of the world it would be to become a better person.'

Her expression changed into that of bewilderment, 'Why's that?'

'You see, Mrs Dougan, when you perfect your flaws, in as much as you'll be leaving above regrets, life would become broad and choices would be made easier.'

'I see you as an angel ... Isn't that the meaning of your name? Alva meaning Angel and Ché meaning God, a God–sent Angel. Why do you have to change?'

I gave Mrs Dougan a look of appraisal and answered, 'The Angel was God–sent, he went astray and became the Devil. Who am I to overcome such malefaction.'

Now she was smiling. I take for instance she was enjoying my company. 'Even the devil you speak of seeks redemption.'

'Of course Mrs Dougan, everyone wants to be on the safe boat.'

'I'm starting to see you from a new perspective. A view were this better change you seek gives you an unrelenting passion for self–absorbtion.'

'I'm not an egocentricist.'

'I see.' Mrs Dougan rose from her leather couch and cat–walked to me. Stepping on the white liquid her maid exported from her until she got to me. She went behind my couch and made her three inches crimson finger nails travel from the head of my belt to my face then whispered into my ears seductively, 'Tell me, if you were to choose between saving mankind or yourself, which would you go for?'

I cocked my head with a smirk plastered on my face after the question, 'Humanity is like a city. Governed by a ruler. If this ruler were to lag behind he would leave this city in disarray. But we should know every city can be rebuilt, and rebuilding it means correcting it's original flaws.'

My answer left her speechless for a while. But after minutes of playing with my ears, she asserted. 'I'll take that as a yourself.' she stopped engaging me and slowly walked to my front, 'I look forward to meeting this ... Better changed son of Mazzanti.'

I raised my cup to her in conformity of what she said. But there was something else. Something very imperceptible. I thought I sensed it from her aura. I thought I sensed fear. Or was it confusion. An almost indistinguishable emotion. I had to walk up to her, caress her pure delicate face then stared into her eyes.

She seemed powerless and weak under my confinement. Technically something every woman wants from a man. 'You see Mrs Dougan, what I require is very exiguous. My parent's knowledge were should I say, dilettante, when it comes to handling matters like this.'

She was slow to talk, but she did, 'And what do I get in return?'

'Simple. You have my protection, no one would know your part in this our little play.' I smiled, devilishly.

Her breathing intensified and her eyelids came fluttering right before me. I'm guessing she's trying to fight back, but, Haa! No one gets in between me and my goal.

'Alright!' she relented. 'Her husband's name is Thomas, and he walks with the ... err, it's a civil service thing. Have a daughter and they live happily ever after. Your not going to hurt them are you?'

'Hurt them?! Of course not. What kind of a monster would do that. I'm only going to bring them one step closer to themselves than they could possibly imagine.' Now I sense that aura again. And this time I got exactly what it was. It was fear. I could literally see her iris fluttering in her eyes.

'What does that mean?'

I became slightly pissed. She thought I was a monster. She thinks everyone or thing that bears that name is a monster. 'Not everyone with my name are inhuman.'

'Thats not ... what I meant.'

'I think what you meant is, I am like my parents.'

'No, I believe in your change.'

I nodded at her. Still couldn't take my eyes off her though, 'Change into a better person? Yes. These are unremitting steps. I cant do it all by myself.'

'You need my help? I'm more than qualified.' every word from her came out timorously.

'Why not, I need you...' I witnessed her high–spirited anticipation, so I had to take it easy. '... to trust me.'

'Trust you?' she murmured. 'First, I want you to give me your word.' she asserted.

I shrugged. 'What?'

'They have a daughter, Alvaché. She needs her parent.'

'I need my parents!' I uncontrollably got pissed and yelled at her face. 'They were taken from me.'

I didn't know I scared her to the brim when I raised my voice. She shrieked and shivered like the winter had gotten to her spines. She even shut her eyes out of shock and crumpled her face. 'I'm sorry Alvaché! I truly am! But your not like them. Your a better person ... you can still make things right for them. And yourself.'

I took a sip again from my cup and gently soothed her delicate face, 'Oh Mrs Dougan, you know little about transmogrification. I'm not going to be like my parents, I'm going to be better than ever were.'

There was little silence between us. I could sensed the fear in her eyes still and this made her incapable to utter another word. Widening her eyes, she unnoticeably shook her head.

'Bottom line of our deal, Mrs Dougan, I expect you to arrange the scene. Mrs Guinevere has an undue appraisal for you. Which means she's more than willing to set off on any course you refer her to.'

'Fine. I'll tell her to meet with you in the hotel.' she spoke with the space in her teeth. 'Why do you think she'll agree to this irrational proposal?'

'Coming from you, I'll say she wouldn't question much.'

'And when she does?' Mrs Dougan sounded fairly disappointed.

'You tell her it's a business associate which you wouldn't be able to attend to because of schedule.' I cocked my head and smiled gently.

'If you have any devious plans it won't work. 'Cus she's married and she a very faithful woman.' she asserted.

'That is up to me to decide.'

'Ok, fine. I trust you'd do the right thing.' she raised her head in response.

'Of course I would. So, see you around Mrs Dougan.' After speaking, I placed my cup on the glass table and turned to Mr Dubois. He led the way outside the building and we drove off.

Inside the stainless daisy manor, Mrs Dougan stared at her trembling palm, terrified. This course of action she chose to take was unknown, but that which was known was that if she didn't end the life of that boy, she'd finally get to witness the devil walk on earth in flesh and blood.

IT was evening in my humble... might be a stretch of word, home. As a way of our custom, if any of our beloved kiss the other side of life, they would be a dine, a last dine with them. Where all their relatives and friends and acquaintances would gather to make merry.

Mr Dubois had done a wonderful job in preparing for this day. The invitation, expenses, planning, and not to forget, the band. A combination of only the string, brass and woodwind brothers in the orchestra made a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

But despite this, there was one thing missing, me.

I figured this might be the only chance I'd get to spend with my parents. The only chance I'd get to inform them on my next move considering our line of business. To their best understanding, the very best move which they couldn't accomplish, to my understand, the most virtuous and benign move.

As the neverending rain dashed before me, it pulled me back to awareness. It was then I realised I'd been in the rain longer than my brain could account for. My good Kinton black suit had now being drenched and the rain didn't seem to get any lesser. My bodyguards scuttled to shield me with an umbrella and provided another nylon suit as we entered a black four-runner muscle car amidst three others. The instant we left the graveyard, I thought I saw her through my side glass. Her perm caramel hair. Dressed as immaculate as ever; sparkling black jacket and white vest. Standing right there with an I-believe-in-you smile. I returned the smile even warmer to her. And in a flash, she was gone.

THE dinner was going as smooth as possible, but something else attracted the glamorous just outside my residence. A lustring convertible red car drove in an uncultured fashion. A well moulded lady, seeming to be sculptured by the gods alighted the vehicle. She wore an armless red gown that ignited the lust of many married men around. Not many were riveted by her unmatched beauty but the four wheels parked before her. It was a car worth $4million on the chart and only one person they could account for held this car disposable.

Me!

So how on planet earth did she acquire the car?