Chapter 3.1
It was rare for the Meerkato boys to spend time together as a threesome. However, since Leon had been chosen at the heir for the next generation, Aristotle had noticeably started to spend more time with Leon, who had always preferred the company of Titus.
Leon did not mind, however, assuming his brother was trying to make amends for the childish way he had acted just because he had not been chosen to be the heir. Furthermore, he was already pleased with the pleasant news his family had started to share.
Tia and Dedric had finally managed to conceive naturally, and now had a beautiful girl called Miruku.
When Tia found out she was pregnant for a second time, she was more than delighted, as was Dedric and their adopted daughter, Mercedes, who was now a teenager.
Mandy had managed to achieve her lifetime wish of becoming CEO of her corporation, and was still eager to continue working until she reached the very top of her career. Eric was very proud of his wife, although he was yet to achieve his own lifetime wish of becoming an International Super Spy.
Mandy matured into an elder the very same night of achieving her lifetime wish and knew it would soon be time for her to hand the title of ‘head of house’ over to young Leon. Even though he was still quite young, she believed she could trust him to take over the Legacy.
As for Titus, he had rediscovered his love for painting and improved his style dramatically through hours of practice and several tips from his Aunt Molly.
With the money he made from selling his paintings and his part-time job at the Graveyard (only because Kristi worked there too), he ended up buying an electric guitar on the whim and began to teach himself how to play it. Realising his love for both painting and music, Titus decided to become Master of the Arts.
Being poetic and sensitive, and not to mention attractive, Titus had his fair pick of the ladies. Kristi was still the only girl for him however. Although they were not quite dating, they were growing closer each and every day. It was only a matter of time before they would become an official couple.
Titus also very excited about his eighteenth birthday. Finally no more school- and an excuse to throw a party! When the day arrived, he felt more than ready to hit adulthood.
Unfortunately, his Mother’s neurotic trait had rubbed off on him over the years, but he knew it would not hinder his life too much.
Titus shortly decided to tone down his emo look after realising it made him look younger than his years. He had to keep his dyed black hair and facial piercings of course!
He was very pleased with the result of his mature new image.
Now that he was a lot more focused on what he wanted to achieve out of life, Titus began making plans to get a simple part-time job at the local bookstore so he could concentrate on renting a house whilst raising his painting and guitar skills in his free time.
“When I move out, you’re welcome to my room,” Titus announced to Aristotle one evening when he was about to start making dinner for the family. He had heard Leon would be moving into their Grandparent’s old room, which Aristotle had claimed as his own shortly after Chris had died.
“Thanks,” Aristotle replied with a slight smirk on his face, “but, I’m going to help Leon make expansions on the house.”
Titus momentarily felt an uneasy flutter sift through his stomach. He had not heard Leon talk about making any alterations to the house, so naturally he could not help but be suspicious. The pressing thought remained with him as he tucked himself into bed that night.
It turned out Leon did not know anything about Aristotle’s plans to expand the house. His motives were far from pure, but he was confident he could easily talk Leon into an agreement.
Aristotle knew if he moved out from the house he would never been seen again. The Government knew he had killed Michael; it was ignorant to think otherwise. If he moved out, he believed he would be classed as a threat to society, and so they would destroy him. Somehow being part of the household Zasaka created granted him some sort of immunity, an immunity he was not ready to shred anytime soon. Therefore he wanted his own personal room which only he had the luxury of knowing his way around, a secret secluded space within the Meerkato household to do his dirty work.
Aristotle had been keeping his distance as he monitored, Lauren, his first target. His teleporting skills played a key role with this.
Watching, waiting… To kill her abruptly and irrationally would have been careless, not to mention idiotic, even if he did make it out to look like an accident (as he had done with Michael). This time he had to work with his patience in order for things to go smoothly.
This way he could simultaneously follow his other victims with ease. He was aware most of them had families; husbands, wives, children. Lauren was a single mum of two young children. Aristotle tried not to let such facts mess with his mind.
Focus. That was all he needed. And time, something he could buy if he stayed sweet with Leon. Very simple to do since his brother was experiencing love for the very first time. Leon spent a lot of time around Rocio’s house and keeping her company when she went to visit her ill Mother at the hospital.
Leon’s sixteenth birthday was just days away now, and he was nervous about taking over the household from Mandy. The fact that Aristotle was not moving out any time soon made him apprehensive too, but being family-orientated meant he did not have to heart to kick his brother out, especially with his apparent fragile state of mind.
Sadly, the decision to let Aristotle stay would be one he would later come to regret.
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