Arcane Alchemy:The forbidden Rites

"Look, the loser is here."

Alves entered into the funeral hall to those words. But the haste and horror which followed the news of his grandfather's death couldn't let him care less about the insults. After all, he was used to them. 

"I'm glad that Laura didn't marry him yet. He would had jinxed our family."

"Who knows, the delayed contract signing with AUSTRIX group was because of his bad luck."

Alves ignored the side talks and whispers meant to deride him. His heart was shattered. He knelt at the front of the coffin. The coffin of the man who always spoke up for him. The man who had made sure he remained in the CASPER'S MANSION. The only person who was nice to him.

"Grandpa, why did you go this early? Why did you leave me alone in this cruel world."

A tear strayed from his eyes. He made to clutch at the coffin to bowl out his eyes, but suddenly he felt two hands on his back. He looked up, it was Michael and his immediate younger brother, Simeon. 

"Stop making a scene, loser."

Michael, the man who cussed at him when he entered, pulled him up roughly, but when he looked at some of the influential men present, he feigned a sad smile. He needed a good charade, because not only did he need the help of the CEO's, but he also needed to be comported before the father of his wife. 

"Where are you taking him to?"

Alves stood in the way of the four men in black tuxedo suits who wanted to take his grandpa away. 

"I know how you feel, but Grandpa deserves to rest. He can't possibly be comfortable in the coffin."

Simeon, sweet talked before the people. He leaned closer to Alves,

"You better respect yourself now and don't ruin the remain few minutes you have left."

Alves matched up Simeon's face, they were pretty much of the same height, 6"3. 

"Few minutes?"

But Micheal didn't let Simeon answer the question, he shoved Alves to one side stylishly and nodded at the four men. 

Alves watched as they carried Grandpa away. At this funeral, it seemed that he was the only one who was sad. Some people wipe away their tears, but they can't hide the smiles on the corners of their mouths. 

In the city of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

Alves clenched his fists. He was filled with sadness and anger, but nothing could be done. but w What Simeon said kept replaying in his mind. 

FEW MINUTES?

He swallowed the thoughts. 

"I'm so sorry Mrs Casper. The death of your husband's father must really affect you. When we had talks about family, you wouldn't finish a sentence without mentioning him."

Manuel walked to Mrs Casper and hugged her. Mrs Casper feigned tears. Alves watched them closely. He knew all the cards they were playing. 

Alves knew that Mrs Casper had an eye on Manuel. Mrs Casper was the madam of the CASPER'S MANSION, meaning the mother of the three men: Michael, Simeon and the last born, Gareth. 

And Manuel? He was the CEO of the automobile industry whose net-worth was $250 billion. 

Michael already married the only daughter of the Manuel, and now Madam has an eye on Manuel himself. How greedy the Casper family could be, Alves thought. 

"I'm so honored that you stopped by as soon as the news got to you. You must be very busy."

Madam had pulled away from Manuel. Manuel smiled sheepishly, he had such a beautiful smile for a middle aged Spanish man. 

"Casper was a great man. My father owes his luxury to him. He wouldn't help but make a hymn of how innovative Casper was during their young days."

Madam traced Manuel's silvers eyes to his fine lips. You could tell how obvious it was that she was ogling him. Wow! On such occasion? Alves shook his head. But there was nothing he could do. 

"I should get on my way now. When will the burial ceremony be?"

Madam got a hold of herself and cleared her throat,

"If there will be, we'll let you know."

"What do you mean by if there will be? You are not thinking of burying grandpa as a dog are you?"

Alves stomped forward. Manuel gave him an interesting look. Manuel was kind but thorough. To everyone. 

"That's true. After all it's all Casper's wealth. He should have a befitting burial ceremony."

Manuel acknowledged him. Then he added,gazing upon Damien kindly. He was one of the few people who had gazed on Damien like a human and not a piece of trash, like the Casper family. 

"Who are you? I'm not sure I've seen you around... not in any of the meeting of the company."

Alves wanted to tell Manuel as much as he could. About how he has been deprived of every right in the house. About how he was made to live like a dog and barely noticed. Often talked down. 

But Madam laughed out loud,

"Oh, he's Alves, our gate man's son!"