CHAPTER ONE

B L U E
by Malvika Jha





CHAPTER ONE

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It was pitch black when I got home. At night, the Buchanan house looked like one of those haunted houses kids ran away from in Halloween movies. I would have rung the doorbell if the door weren't already unlocked. Tired and confused, I hurried inside and pulled back the handle of the sliding closet door, tossing my bag inside. The house smelled like herbs and spices. Ares was definitely making soup. I spotted her in the kitchen, but before I could open my mouth to speak, she pressed her index finger over her lips to silence me, and pointed in the direction of the lounge. Curious, I ambled forward, catching sight of a head of well-groomed, black hair from above the ledge. I immediately knew who was here.

"And so, the prodigal son returns."

I turned to see Clyde McLean sitting on the sofa in the living room. He was the current stand-in CEO of AVATA Inc., but more importantly, a good friend of mine.

"Who let you in?" I asked, approaching him.

"That lovely, voluptuous butler of yours. Erin, wasn't it?"

"Don't try that with me. You've been here long enough to know that her name is Ares. I never quite understood why you act so pompous towards your subordinates."

"Never to you, Oliver." Clyde remarked smugly. He was charismatic, but in all the wrong ways.

I figured it would be better for Clyde's ego not to remind him that I wasn't his subordinate. Instead, I laughed and shook my head, heading towards the minibar. "Can I get you a drink?"

"Really, brother?" Clyde laughed charmingly. "The evening has hardly begun, and you're already trying to inebriate me?"

I chuckled, pouring a dark-colored bottle into a short glass. "Please. Is there ever a time when Clyde McLean refuses a drink?"

As I handed him the whiskey glass, he let out a single laugh. "You know me too well."

I took a seat on the armchair across from him and watched calmly as he slowly sipped his whiskey. After a few minutes. I spoke. "Why are you here, Clyde?"

At the sound of footsteps not too far behind me, I knew Ares was listening. Clyde put down his glass and smiled. "Always in a hurry, aren't you, Oliver?" When I retained my serious expression, he continued. "Fine, fine. I come bearing news."

I quirked my eyebrow in interest. "What kind of news?"

"The stature of this news is for you to decide. Just remember. Don't shoot the messenger."

I nodded. He now had my attention. "Fine."

Clyde sighed. "Fraser's alive." I froze. My jaw clenched at the sound of that name. I thought I'd never have to hear it again. After a few moments, he eventually spoke again. "Oliver, are you alright?"

I did my best to compose myself, but I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact with him. "Yes, I'm fine. It's just late and I have some work to get to. I trust you can see yourself out."

"Of course. Take care." Clyde stood up and drifted out of the room. The sound of the front door shutting soon echoed throughout the house.

I stood from the sofa and grabbed Clyde's empty glass of whiskey. My grip tightened around it, and my hand started to shake. Impulsively, I threw it against the wall above the fireplace. It shattered into innumerable pieces. Shards of glass scattered all over the room.

Ares strided towards me, concerned. "Oliver—"

I walked right past her and up the stairs, heading straight for the office. Sitting down in the leather office chair, I turned on the computer and gathered a handful of blank papers from one of the drawers in the desk. Then, I scanned the books on my bookshelf until I found the one I was looking for. The Art of War by Sun Tzu, a Chinese military strategist. Flipping rapidly through the pages, I finally found the words I was looking for. Grabbing a black pen, I circled them heavily.


"All warfare is based on deception."


Fraser was alive. This changed everything.