John Galahad
"That's enough testing, you money sucking vampires! I said that I'm feeling good, hence I'm leaving. Send the bill to my secretary, he'll handle the rest." I shouted to a group of very, very expensive doctors frantically trying to stop me from leaving.
"Sir, we know that you're feeling better and your tests seem to be good as well, but this is unprecedented, we can't know whether your condition might return, if we do not do a few more tests." One of the frantic doctors said, literally holding me by the waist.
"More tests? Have you no shame?" I protested. "You've been studying me for three days non stop, have some compassion, I might not look it now, but I still am 76. I don't want to spend the rest of my short life as your damn lab rat! I'm leaving!" With a strong push, I sent the doctor that was holding onto me flying. The rest, after weighing the potential money and the potential injury risk of going against me, gave way.
"You should still come and get examined at regular intervals." Some other doctor said while I was leaving.
As if… With this new body, with this newly found strength of mine, I can feel it, there is no disease, nor condition that has the balls to try its luck with me. At this point, there's nothing for me to fear in the whole world. I thought. Still… Just what is that guy? I smiled. Well, there's only one way to find out, let's go and say hello. But first, I have to prepare a sizable house warming gift…
In the evening, I was riding my favorite Rolls-Royce towards the center of LA, eager to meet that being again. I gave him the penthouse for two reasons, the first being that he asked me for it and the second - the fact that I'd know where to find him. I wonder just what has he done with it in the past three days? I hope that that Persian rug in the living room isn't stained by blood.
I mean it wouldn't be hard for someone like me to get rid of a body, but the rug itself was a gift from an Arab sheikh. What was his name again? Prince Al-something? Well, the way the prince spoke of it was like of a treasure or a family heirloom. It might become problematic if he ever wants to see or, god forbid, get it back.
The car stopped and the driver lowered the separation. "We're here, sir. Are you really sure that you don't need any bodyguards with you?" He asked.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." I answered. "Besides, I wouldn't be able to guarantee the guard's safety if they followed me in there…"
"Should I inform your secretary of this, just in case?"
"Don't bother the man…" I answered. "He has his own responsibilities to attend to. Just wait here, I should come back… Probably."
"... Very well, sir, I'll follow your command."
I opened the main door, entered the password and took the elevator to the top floor, excitement and fear boiling inside of me. The elevator stopped at the top. This is it, let's see just what you are… I thought. I swallowed hard, the door opened. What I saw was a group of four women and a little girl sitting around a table playing monopoly.
I looked around, everything looked normal - no blood, no bodies or satanic symbols, just the girls sitting on sofas that cost more than a normal person makes in their entire lifetime, playing monopoly. I rubbed my eyes and looked around again. Still, everything looked normal - this scared me far more than anything else could. Just what exactly are they?
The girls noticed my presence and a redhead asked me. "Excuse Me, sir, who might you be?"
I was about to answer, but then spotted that the girl had something akin to cat ears. I looked at the rest and noticed similar anomalies in them as well. The child in the group - another redhead - had cat ears as well, a golden haired girl whose ears were freakishly long, reminded me of an elf, and the other two - while they looked normal - gave me an impression similar to Adam's. I didn't know what it was, but I could feel that they could kill me with a flick of their finger. The one with pink hair especially exuded something akin to murderous intent. The feeling was suffocating.
"Well?" The pink haired girl asked? "Who are you, old man? You wanna die or something?"
A cold shiver ran down my back. This is it, if my response isn't perfect, I'll die, I can feel it in my very bones… What to say? What can I say, they don't know me and I don't know them, the one I know is Adam… That's right! Adam! I swallowed hard and weighed my options. It's either this or nothing… "Do you know a man named Adam?" I asked weakly.
The face of the older looking redhead lit up. "Oh, you know Adam? Are you a friend of his from this world?" She suddenly covered her mouth. "Please don't mind what I just said." She pleaded.
This world? I thought. "There's no need to worry, young mis." I reassured her. "Is mister Adam here? I'd like to see him, for I have a gift with his name on it."
"Ah, tribute…" The pink haired girl nodded in understanding. "It seems that master's power is acknowledged even in this backwards world. Very well, you feeble mortal, leave what you brought here, kowtow three times and go on your merry way. The master is out at the moment, but I'll inform him of your arrival."
"Yes, of course, mis, I'll do as told…" When coming here - I was driven by pure curiosity, but now I'm leaving, driven by fear. I - John Galahad - the richest man in the world, someone who is acknowledged and respected by the leaders of most of the world - am going to actually throw away my pride and kowtow to someone. Just what is happening?! I was about to drop to my knees when a voice stopped me.
"Pain! You're going too far again!" The redhead said and turned to me. "Please, sir, don't mind her antics, she's just in a bad mood since she's losing pretty badly. Please take a seat, you can wait for Adam to return here."
That girl can actually subdue a monster like that? "Very well, young mis, I'll oblige." I said, sounding as timid as a mouse.
"Who are you, mister? How do you know big brother?" The smaller redhead asked.
"Well…" I scratch my head, not knowing whether it's safe to tell them what happened and how Adam saved my life. I looked at the cat ears and thought to myself that these girls should already know just what that being calling itself Adam is. "Well, you see, I am just a feeble old man of no importance whose life was miraculously saved by Adam. I came here to express my thanks with a meager offering. I know that it's not a lot, but I hope that Adam is pleased by it."
"Oh wow…" The older redhead gasped and turned to the others. "See? I told you that Adam is a good person… Somewhere deep, very, very deep inside. Oh, by the way…" She turned to me. "My name is Elizabeth, this is my younger sister Lilia." She pointed to the little one. "These are Luna, Alpha and Pain respectively." She pointed at the elf, the blond and the pink haired one. "How should we address you, mister?"
"My humble name is John, John Galahad." I said.
"Well, mister John…" Elizabeth said. "I'd offer you a cup of tea or coffee, but, the thing is, I still can't work that machine over there." She pointed at my 20 000 dollar espresso machine. "I keep asking Adam to teach me, but he keeps blowing me off, saying that he's too busy or that he'll teach me some other time."
The pink haired girl smiled. "It's not that he's busy, he just doesn't know how to himself."
"Well, if you'd like, I'll show you." I said.
Elizabeth's eyes sparkled. "You can operate it? Really? That's so cool!"
"Yeah, I used to own it." I said. "In fact this whole penthouse was mine merely three days ago, so if you so desire, I'll teach you how to use everything in here."
"What? This belonged to you?" The redhead asked, concern etched on her face. "Then where do you live now? If you want, I'll ask Adam to let you move in back here and live with us."
"That's quite alright, I have quite a few more homes, so there's no need for you to worry, young miss. So, how about it? Would you like my help?"
She thought for a moment. "Well, if you're really okay with it…" Then a determined look appeared on her lovely face. "Please teach me everything that I need to know, I want to surprise Adam when he comes back!"
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