Chapter 16

Possibly, Maybe

For a moment Klaus felt ambushed, but he pushed the feeling down. So many things had happened to him lately and he managed to do it relatively fast.

He quickly plastered on a smile, stood up and stuck his hand out towards the woman who had so rudely interrupted. "Miss Lockheart I assume, I am glad to make your acquaintance." Klaus then gestured towards a seat next to Amelia.

"Charmed I am sure." Was her reply before she took the offered seat.

Next in line was a man with a jawline that seemed to have been chiseled from stone. His hair was cut short to his scalp and in his eyes, Klaus could see a challenge- not towards himself, but at the world in general.

They shook hands and after the man uttered "Sparta" he took his seat. As the next one walked up Klaus could hear Beatrice trying to start a conversation with the stoic looking man as soon as he had sat down.

"Yo, I am Billy Prodigium."

Klaus had to look twice at the next arrival. His face was more metal than skin. Tattoos framed his face in an amalgamation of skulls and other things Klaus could not quite make out. His clothes were very unique compared to the other guests present at the event. To put it simply- he was dressed casually.

With a raised eyebrow Klaus just shook his hand before the guy walked to his seat with the most pronounced slouch Klaus had ever seen.

Last but not least was a girl that was staring into space, or so it seemed to Klaus. She was not dressed in what he would call a fancy dress. If he had to be honest- it looked old fashioned and rather plain compared to the array of dresses and clothes that people were wearing at the event.

In contrast, he had to admit that she was very buxom and curvy. Something that the plain dress could not hide. She suddenly looked at him and as if noticing him for the first time- she smiled and stepped forward with her hand reaching out. "Elizebeth Cromwell, I am happy to meet you, Klaus."

She moved in uncomfortably close and her back foot lifted imperceptibly. A woman walking past behind her tripped and smashed into a waiter walking by. The drinks on the waiter's tray spilled all over the two people involved in the collision.

Klaus did not miss the sudden sadistic smile on her face as she whispered. "She used to bully me a lot in school. I have been waiting for a long time to get revenge."

She then looked behind her. The woman was now screaming at the waiter and causing a scene. "It was worth it."

Klaus was not sure what to say, so he simply gestured at the chair.

Klaus was just seated when the lights dimmed and the stage Amelia was on earlier, brightened. A man in a stark white suit was now on stage. His golden blonde hair seemed to glow in the light along with his suit.

Amelia leaned closer to Klaus, before whispering. "That is your cousin- Cornelius Roth"

Klaus could hardly hear her, his jaw was set, gaze laser-focused on the tree in the background of the stage. It was the wrong color.

Amelia saw Klaus' hand form into a fist and she judged by the set of his jaw that something was upsetting him. She then remembered that like most clans and groups in the Secret Worlds even the Roths had different factions.

Cornelius smiled brilliantly, before starting his speech. "Welcome one and all to this humble gathering."

There was a smattering of muted laughter at his statement. The event was anything but humble.

"I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to those who don't know me. I am Cornelius Barnabus Roth and I will be your host for tonight. As the host, I truly hope you enjoy your night now that most of the backstabbing, lying, blackmailing, exaggerating and promises are over and done with."

More laughter followed this statement as most of the people now seated together would go into the Secret Worlds in the groups they sat in.

Cornelius then waved his hand for silence, smiling all the while. "This event like others before it in time immemorial was not only organized to form the groups we now have to improve our chances of survival but also to clean the slate between those who were hurt and to ensure no grudges go with us."

His tone turned grave. "It is no secret that less than half of those going will not come back after the first excursion and I implore you all to make peace so that lives will not be unnecessarily taken- like the lives of the Argents that were recently wiped out."

Mutters of surprise and agreement followed his statement but no one was more surprised than Klaus himself.

He wanted to ask Amelia for more details, however, Cornelius beat him to it.

"From our investigations, we have discovered that demons were responsible."

More mutters broke out and some even cried out in outrage while standing up. "Who dares consort with demons!"

"They must be punished by all of us!"

More cries were uttered but stopped when Cornelius lifted his hand for silence. "I know this news is shocking, even more shocking was the news that it was a Roth behind it. My very own cousin, Klaus."

At Cornelius' words, people looked around with angry and searching gazes. They all eventually settled on Klaus' table when a spotlight highlighted them. The people at the table reacted differently.

Beatrice leaned away trying to seem inconspicuous. She barely had any backing after all. Sparta was looking at Klaus with anger while Amelia simply had her head lowered.

Elizebeth seemed to not notice anything while she stared off into space and Billy was looking at Klaus the way Klaus was looking at him earlier.

Klaus's mind was reeling and he muttered under his breath. "Pain you feces producing idiot. What do I do now? Think Klaus, think."

Klaus slowly got up feining confidence- he had dreamed of being a lawyer, he just never dreamed he would have to defend himself in front of what could turn into a mob of superpowered humans.

"What proof do you have? You accuse me on hearsay and speculation dear cousin." The last part was said with a tone that could not be misinterpreted as anything other than sarcasm.

"I was an orphan a year ago all but abandoned by you, all this is new to me and I am sure all of you know that. I wonder why you would accuse me of this now of all times. Tell me, cousin, do you feel threatened?"

At his words, all heads turned towards the stage once more. Cornelius for his part was not about to be outdone.

"It is no secret that the Argents tried to have you killed who else would have the motive. The Delmora has also graciously given me information that you summoned demons right in their home."

Klaus looked over the crowd and spotted Elise. She did not make eye contact with him, but Rohit was grinning like a pig in mud. Judging by the fact that they were sitting at the table of honor it did not take a wild guess to figure out how they managed to get a seat at the Roth table.

Klaus closed his eyes and sent a small apology to Lilith in his mind. "Did the Dalmora also happen to mention that at the time they were holding me as captive and trying to bend my mind to make me a slave? In fact, an Elder of the Delmora was with me when we got ambushed and by your reasoning, they also have a motive."

Cornelius visibly sneered. "Stop your lies, we all know the truth."

Klaus snorted. "What truth? The truth that Delmora are incredibly trustworthy? The truth where we are from different factions and that you have everything to gain from discrediting me, for all these people know you could have staged the massacre of the Argents after all- it was you that investigated."

Mutters broke out at this and people were starting to give Cornelius strange looks.

Cornelius suddenly looked desperate to Klaus and started to utter. "We have video-"

"Enough!"

Everyone looked at the new person that entered the stage. Like a drama playing out, a new light highlighted her where she stood at the table of honor. Her likeness to Cornelius was uncanny and Klaus could instantly discern that they must be twins.

She slowly walked up to her brother and whispered in his ear. After a moment he looked like he wanted to argue, but in the end, he stepped down dejectedly.

She turned to the crowd and gave a deep bow before saying in a surprisingly soft voice. "I apologize for my brother's overzealous attempt at seeking justice for the Argents."

Klaus snorted loudly which prompted her piercing blue eyes to turn on him. He weathered her stare and looked right back at her. He would not be cowed, it would show weakness. Something he could not afford.

Despite sort off winning the argument, he knew he had lost overall. People doubted him now, with good reason as he was sure Pain was responsible in some way. He felt gratified that he had damaged them as well. If the argument had continued he would at least have ensured it ended up in mutual destruction.

In her eyes, he could see that she knew this. It prompted her to bow reluctantly judging by her balled fists. "I apologize to you as well Cousin Klaus."

Klaus forced a smile but another side of him promised murder through his eyes. "No need cousin, any fool can criticize, complain and condemn- and most fools do. It takes character to show understanding so I will forgive your fool this time, just keep him on a shorter leash in the future."

With that said, Klaus sat down ignoring the murderous stare from her brother. He was more concerned with the looks the people at his table were giving him.

Tired of politics he looked them over one by one- while ignoring the speech of his female cousin. "Who is leaving?"

Sparta was the first to speak and like his demeanor, it was straight to the point. "Is it true?"

Klaus gave him a look. "You are going to have to be more specific."

"Did you arrange with demons to kill the Argents?" Asked Sparta while leaning forward.

Klaus shook his head. "I did not, in fact, this was the first time I heard that they were killed."

Beatrice snorted, before asking. "Have you been living under a rock?"

Klaus gave her a faint smile. "No, I have been living on one."

At her look of confusion, his smile broadened. "You will understand if you go with me. We leave in two days if you decide to stick with me."

All of them looked in surprise at him. "We need the training to work together- I am not going to what could possibly be my death without understanding the strengths and weaknesses of those going with me and I would expect the same from all of you."

To Klaus' surprise, it was Elizebeth who spoke up next. "I have already packed my things and came prepared to leave with you tonight."

He heard Beatrice mutter. "Damn Cromwell's, all crazy as hatters."

Klaus looked at Billy, he just shrugged. "Whatever man, no one else will have me on their team."

His gaze then turned to Amelia. She looked conflicted but took a shuddering breath. "I am with you."

Beatrice swore under her breath and then bobbed her head towards Amelia. "I go where she goes."

They all then turned to Sparta. "How hard will the training be." He finally asked after working his jaw a few times.

Klaus smiled. "You will probably wish you were dead a few times."

This seemed to light a spark in the man. "Will there be demons?" Was his next question.

Klaus looked at the others and then nodded.

Beatrice let out a pronounced. "Bollocks."

Sparta got up drawing attention as the speech was not finished yet. "I will not go with the honorless you shame your ancestors."

Klaus looked at the stage still showing the white tree on its background and then nonchalantly spoke. "For that, you will not be welcome even if you were to change your mind. If we were anywhere else I would not let this go."

The man stopped in his stride. "Why let it go now?"

Klaus smiled and the air around him seemed to change. The same power that Amelia felt from him earlier doubled in its intensity and as he spoke it washed over the people present. "To fight you now would only serve to make you a pawn for them, or are you already one?"

Sparta turned to look at the stage where Klaus had gestured. The man let out a snort and then walked off.

Beatrice leaned back in her chair and ran her hands through her curly bob hair. "There goes one of our combatants, just bloody wonderful."

Klaus felt irritated with her continuous unhelpful commentary and could not help but retort. "We still have you, we can always rely on you talking our opponents to death."

For a moment the table was silent before they all started laughing.

It was a mixture of nervousness and being tightly wound up for the last hour that led to the laughter, for better or worse the people at the table would be the ones they would face death together with.

Not long after the food menu arrived and as Klaus looked at it he realized he did not know what half of the stuff on the menu was.

He was happy to see a similar frown on Billy's face until he spoke up. "What cheapskates!" He uttered in outrage before listing things that Klaus knew even less about.

In the end, he just took the same thing Amelia did only to regret it when the food arrived.

"This is raw fish isn't it?"

Amelia looked at him amused while popping sashimi into her mouth.

In the end, Klaus ended up trading his sashimi for Amelia's less unique looking sushi, but still got fooled into taking a whole spoon full of wasabi to Beatric's utter happiness while Billy swore vengeance for them spoiling such "artistic" food with their "vulgar" actions.

To Klaus, it seemed like his newest hardware covered friend was a complete foody.

Their enjoyment and merrymaking did not go unnoticed by the other tables who were still playing mind games with each other. In truth, it was due to their circumstances. Half of them were rejects and would not be accepted anywhere else- like Billy and Beatrice. Klaus was an unknown and the other Roths had made sure he would be shunned by the other families and clans. Amelia was there by choice and because her family encouraged it so she felt unfettered.

They all had no other goal but to survive unlike the other groups they had no other motive, no hidden agendas and this made it easier to connect.

For the first time, Klaus felt like he could maybe, possibly have friends again.