Daniel noticed something weird about his father for the past three weeks after the appointment. He sat across the table from his father at dinner and something was different from the way he was sitting to the way he was holding the fork.
You're imagining things, he told himself. He's probably just tired from the change he had experienced these few weeks.
He believed that because it was the only answer he could give himself at that moment. The alternatives weren't things he could face even if they were true, so he just stayed on the illusion he created for himself and he kept on eating.
Everything else came in small things after that, Alexander was less responsive to his family and wasn't speaking as much as he did during dinners.
People who weren't paying attention wouldn't notice this about him, but Daniel was always paying attention to his father, and he knew that something was off, he could feel it.
He looked like someone who was hiding something and Daniel hated how didn't know what it was, because he was used to his father always expressing how he felt so for him not to say what it was he was hiding was annoying to Daniel.
For him to hide something like this from us, it must be something big. He's though, He'll tell us when the time is right probably, hopefully.
There was also a certain way Alexander would look at Eve, it was as if he was guilty for something that he done to her. Eve noticed this but she didn't want to bring it up because she had never seen her husband like that before, and Daniel was as confused as her.
Something happened, he thought one evening, watching his father stand at the window with his hands in his jacket pockets and his back to the room, looking at something that wasn't the city. Something happened at the Syndicate, and he's decided not to tell me what it is.
He had an understanding of what was going although it wasn't as clear as he hoped it would be.
A few days later at one night Daniel was laying on his bed while the entire house is dark. He decided to get up and drink some water to as he was a little thirsty.
He stopped in the hallway as he heard his father's voice was coming from the study in a low precise register, and Eve's voice was also with him in the same tone. He stood silently with his back against the wall in the dark and his glass in his hand and closely listening to them.
He only caught pieces of their conversation ''For the Syndicate to do something like this.'' Eve said quietly with stress in her voice.
Then his father replied, ''And this is how they've been doing things for years,'' He had a long pause before continuing. ''These people are nothing but sick bastards-''
''Lower your voice,'' Eve interrupted him. ''Daniel might hear us.''
As Daniel stood in the hallway, he felt his chest tighten, he immediately thought about the two colleagues who had come on the night of the celebration.
That feeling he had about, his intuition was right. I knew something was off about those two! I just knew it! He thought as everything coming to mind.
What's going on with the Syndicate? Daniel thought as his back was still against the wall. What could this be that would have my dad act so anxious and distant?
He tip toed back to his room and when he got there and threw himself on the bed in the dark room, and he felt a bit of loneliness in him. His parents had left him out of something that seemed to have been big and could affect three of them, if not the world since it's the Syndicate.
And this how his parents were when it came to situations like this. Especially his father who would always manage or solve something by himself, that is how he came to be recognized for who he was-
Alexander the Great.
But what was more surprising to Daniel is that his father involved his mother to this, which meant that it was something he wouldn't be able to handle alone.
Eve may not look it at first glance, but she was a woman with many capabilities and to add to her exceptional combat abilities that she taught to Daniel too.
What are they going to do? Daniel thought while looking at the ceiling. Actually what hell is going on...
The following morning Alexandre came to the table with his coffee already in hand and something resolved in his face. He sat down while looking straight at Daniel with a clear and direct stare before nodding at him.
''How are things going at school?'' he asked, and his voice was easy and ordinary.
And now he's trying to act like nothing going on! Daniel thought immediately. Cut the crap father.
"Fine," Daniel said. "Same as usual."
"No trouble with anything?"
"No."
His father nodded while looking at his coffee and said something quieter this time, ''If anything is to happen to you while you're at school, don't hesitate to tell me. Okay?''
''Of course, father,'' Daniel responded carefully.
''Good.''
Alexander looked up and held his eyes for a moment and what was in his father's face was something Daniel couldn't put a name to. He looked like someone hiding a sense of guilt towards him and Daniel could tell, he knew enough to know there was something going on.
I don't know what it is father, but I really do hope that you get to tell me one day. Daniel thought. But for now, I'll just have to trust you.
''Is everything okay, father?'' he asked instead.
Alexander didn't utter a word and just nodded; he looked back at his coffee and wrapped his hands around the cup. Eve came in and set things on the table as the morning moved through itself as always.