7. Kian

7

KIAN

S hai poked his head into Kian's office. "Brandon is here to see you."

"Excellent. Show him in." Kian rose to his feet and walked toward his guest with an extended hand. "Good morning, Councilman."

Brandon flashed him a smile full of teeth, but it lacked the usual spark. "Good morning, Regent." He shook Kian's hand while doing the one-armed bro hug and clap.

Kian responded in kind and then motioned to the conference table. "Please, take a seat."

"Can I get you coffee, gentlemen?" Shai asked.

Kian wasn't comfortable sending Shai on errands of that sort, but it was early, he had a feeling that his talk with Brandon would take some time, and he wanted his guest to feel comfortable and stay as long as was needed.

He looked at his guest. "Coffee?"

"Sure." Brandon smiled apologetically at Shai. "I should have grabbed three cups at the café for us, but my head was elsewhere."

Shai waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about it. I was planning to go anyway. Do you want pastries as well?"

For a moment, Brandon looked like he was going to refuse, but then he shrugged. "Oh, hell. Why not? I would love a Danish."

"One for me, too," Kian said.

When the door closed behind Shai, Brandon leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "You said something about needing my movie magic expertise. Can you elaborate?"

"You are aware that we have the royal twins in the keep's clinic, right?"

Kian had sent all the council members a memo, but Brandon did not live in the village, and he avoided council business when he could, so Kian wasn't sure he had read the updates.

"I am aware. How are they doing?"

If he had read the last memo, he would have known, but it seemed like he hadn't.

"As you know, they were in terrible shape when we found them. It was just in the nick of time. The medical team tried to wake them both up from stasis, but so far, only the prince has woken up. He had lost his memory and didn't even remember his name until two days ago. The team is slowly bringing them both back to health, and the prince is about to start physical therapy."

"What is his name?" Brandon asked.

"His name is Ell-rom, and his sister's name is Morelle. He only remembered both their names after he was brought into her room. Seeing her triggered the recollection. They seem very close, and he feels responsible for her."

"That's natural." Brandon uncrossed his arms. "What about the immense powers that he was supposed to possess?"

Kian smiled. "For now, he seems as harmless as a kitten, and I'm positive that he's not pretending, but I wouldn't be surprised if those powers manifest once he gets physically stronger and regains his memory. It could also be that the sister is the dangerous one."

"I assume that you have guards stationed near the clinic."

Kian nodded. "Two Guardians and two Kra-ell hybrids are manning the security office at all times. I have them working in shifts and monitoring the surveillance cameras from the clinic. That way, the prince doesn't feel like he's a prisoner under guard, which my mother would have never approved of, but I don't need to worry about his powers suddenly manifesting, either. Also, everyone wears the compulsion filtering earpieces around him."

"Good," Brandon said. "So, where does my expertise come in?"

"We need to stage their deaths. We are waiting to perform the funeral rites for the Kra-ell who perished in that pod, until the twins regain enough body mass to look like their fellow Kra-ell, and we want to film it. Aru will send the recording to his commander, and ultimately the evidence will reach the intended audience, meaning the Eternal King. It is essential for the king to be convinced that everyone inside the pod is dead. The problem is that Anumati tech will immediately recognize digital or computer manipulation. We need to do this the old-fashioned way, with movie magic. We will probably also use Bridget's poison trick to induce a death-like state for the twins, but adding a convincing funeral pyre would help."

He didn't need to explain why it was important for the Eternal King to think the twins were dead. That had been covered in a council meeting that Brandon had actually attended in person.

The media specialist chuckled. "These days, everything is done with CGI, but I know a few old timers who still remember how things used to be done before that. If they are still around, they are probably working for theme parks. They are a dying breed."

"How convincing can they make it look?"

Brandon shrugged. "For regular moviegoers, they can make it very convincing. I don't know if they can fool superior technology, though. Perhaps you should think about a better solution that will not require movie magic."

"Like what?"

"I can't think of something off the top of my head, but I'll give it some thought. When do you need to do this?"

Kian was about to answer when Shai walked in with a tray of coffees and a bag of pastries.

"Here you go, gentlemen." Shai put the tray and the bag down on the conference table, took one of the paper cups, and turned around. "I'll be in my office if you need me."

"Thank you," Kian said, and so did Brandon.

Kian picked up one of the cups and took a sip. "The twins are not camera-ready yet. They are no longer as emaciated as they were when we brought them in, but they are still very thin and pallid. In contrast, the dead Kra-ell look healthy because their bodies did not eat themselves and were perfectly preserved in the sealed stasis chambers. The twins also lost most of their hair, and it will not grow as fast as it would have if they were physically well. Regrowing hair is not their bodies' top priority while they rebuild weakened muscles and organs that were on the verge of collapse."

Brandon leaned forward. "We can get creative with wigs and maybe some subtle prosthetics to fill out their features. Careful lighting and camera work can hide imperfections as well."

Kian smiled. "I'm glad to see you getting excited about the production. You've always loved the creative side of the business."

To Kian's surprise, Brandon's expression turned serious. "I still do, but I reached a point where I can no longer stomach the rest. I'm done with Hollywood."

Kian blinked. "What happened? You used to boast about beating the sharks in their own infested waters."

Brandon had been instrumental in propagating the clan's narrative through films and television. Equal human rights independent of race, gender, and religion had been an uphill battle that owed its success in no small part to the councilman in charge of informing and enlightening human culture through media.

Brandon ran a hand through his hair. "The industry has changed dramatically in recent years. It's becoming increasingly difficult for us to exert our influence in the ways we once did."

Kian raised an eyebrow, prompting Brandon to continue.

"The rise of streaming services, the consolidation of major studios, the shift in focus to woke issues, and the influx of high finance—all led to lesser focus on good storytelling," Brandon explained. "Writers, the very people we used to work closely with to shape narratives, are being marginalized with less creative control and lower pay."

"Surely, that makes them more susceptible to our influence?" Kian countered.

Brandon shook his head. "Not when they're constantly worried about their next paycheck or jumping from project to project without fully understanding the bigger picture. And don't get me started on the obsession with remakes and seemingly perpetual franchises. It's limiting the scope of stories being told."

Kian's brow furrowed. "I see. So, what's the solution?"

"Social media. This is where modern narratives are being shaped, and it's where the public attention has shifted to." Brandon's eyes lit up with excitement. "Platforms like InstaTock are shaping culture faster than any blockbuster movie ever could or did. We can reach millions instantly, without the bureaucracy, financial constraints, and the big egos of Hollywood."

Kian considered the implications. The clan had always adapted to changing times, and this shift seemed particularly significant.

Not for the first time, he wondered how much longer they could maintain their influence hidden in an increasingly connected world.

"Very well," he said. "Whether it's a silver screen or a smartphone screen, our goal remains the same—to guide humanity away from the shadows." He didn't add that it was growing increasingly more difficult lately.

Kian had a strong feeling that their archenemy had made a secret move on the eternal chessboard game they had been playing and that he was getting ahead of the clan. Wars were once again sprouting everywhere, human rights were diminishing, and darkness was once again spreading, but this time, it was happening at an alarming pace.

"I'm glad that you are so understanding about it." Brandon sighed. "I'm so fed up that I'm selling my condo in Brentwood and moving to the village full-time. I need to hit the reset button and devise a new strategy."

"What do you have in mind?" Kian asked.

"I'd like to talk with Kalugal and brainstorm some ideas and see what we can do to take it to the next level. Movies are dying, Kian. The future is in interactive, immersive experiences. That's where we need to be."

There was nothing more interactive and immersive than Perfect Match, but it was not ready for general consumption yet. For now, InstaTock was all they had to work with.

Kian leaned back. "I will arrange a meeting with Kalugal."

"Excellent, thank you." Brandon pulled a Danish out of the bag and took a big bite. Once he was done chewing, he used a paper napkin to clean his lips. "So, what's the next step with the twins? I mean, in addition to staging their deaths?"

"I'm sure my mother would demand that we bring them to the village. She's already told Ell-rom that he and Morelle are her half-brother and sister. The truth is that I'm not even going to fight her over this. Moving them both to the clinic in the village will make life easier for everyone. Bridget and Julian want to get back home to their mates." He chuckled. "They have been creative, with Turner sleeping with Bridget in the clinic and Ella staying some nights with Julian in one of the penthouses. They are being good sports about it and not complaining, but there is no reason to make their lives more difficult than we need to."

Brandon seemed skeptical. "That's not like you, Kian. You still don't know whether the twins are threats or assets. Don't you want to find out first how powerful Ell-rom will get before you move them to the village? We can't have everyone wearing earpieces all of the time."

"Of course. I'm referring to the future after we know everything there is to know about the twins' powers. Right now, Ell-rom doesn't even know what compulsion is, and my mother will have to coach him on how to use it for us to assess it."

Brandon frowned. "Is that smart?"

"If he has the power, he will discover how to use it sooner or later. I'd rather it didn't happen spontaneously. Ell-rom is improving rapidly, but Morelle is still unconscious. She might be the dangerous one. What if she's hostile? What if she has abilities we're not prepared for?"

"Those are all valid concerns," Brandon said. "Perhaps you need to call a council meeting and brainstorm this together."

"That's a good idea. I'll call a council meeting soon. We need to make a decision as a community. But first, I want to see how Morelle progresses. And I want to get a better read on Ell-rom. In the meantime, I want you to work out a solution for faking their deaths."

"Give me a week to make some calls, feel things out. I'll have a preliminary plan for you by next Friday."