The Syndicate

Author\'s Notes: Thank you Lisa for pointing out the spelling and grammatical errors in the last chapter. Sometimes Clover and I may miss a few things, here and there. It is greatly appreciated when a dedicated reader points them out to us. Once again thank you and please enjoy this chapter.



"Dialogue."



Narrative



~Character Thoughts~



***Dream Sequence***



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The sound of foot steps echoed off of the granite floors and walls in the eerie silence. A faint trail of light escaped from the corridor\'s lone door, the only form of illumination to be had was distorted by wisps of smoke, rising outwards from the crevices in the door.



As a pair of men reached the door, the blond haired man instructed the brunette to wait outside. The brunette gave a curt nod of his head in acknowledgment. A firm hand reached out and grasped the door knob, prying open the solid redwood door.



A dense silence fell over the occupants of the room as nine-teen pairs of eyes turned towards him. The gathering chamber stirred with mild annoyance and a simmering, frothing hatred.



Jack hated council meetings. In his opinion it was a redundant task, that had to be performed once every three months. Gun metal gray eyes scanned over the room immediately spotting all the familiar faces, some wore scowls and others feigned indifference. All of the men were shirtless, as was the custom of identifying one another.



The chamber was brimming with all of the Syndicate\'s top brass. Of those present were the Red, Black and White Elders. Each Elder maintained three Under-Bosses and each Under-Boss had his respective Lieutenant, as well as a multitude of Henchmen under his command.



The Lieutenants would sport the \'Winding Serpent\', similar to Jacks\' the only difference being that the color of the serpent would change depending on which Under-Boss the Lieutenant belonged too.



Each Under-Boss carried two \'Winding Serpent\' markings, the color varied depending upon which Elder that Under-Boss served. The marking was not unlike that of the Lieutenants; the difference being that the tattoo was placed on each arm.



The Elders were marked by two \'Winding Serpent\' akin to that of the Under-Boss. The distinction being an Uroboros tattooed around their waist, head biting tail directly beneath the naval. Each Elder wore their respective colors proudly.



Jack plastered a cynical smirk on his face as e began to strip his button down shirt.



Taking one step forward into the chamber he was immediately chastised by the Black Elder, "Well, it so kind of you to finally grace us with your presence," barked the Black Elder as his faded green eyes gazed fiercely at the pompous Lieutenant.



"The pleasure is all---" Before Jack could even put the old bastard in his place, he was cut off by his commander.



"It is not your place to chastise my subordinates." Bit out the White Elder, his icy blue eyes piercing the frail form to his far right.



"You and your subordinate can fu--"



"Enough!" Bellowed the Red Elder his ebony eyes flashing with impatience, "We are here to celebrate a joyous occasion, not to waste each others time with petty argument! Yes we are all aware that this man has delayed our proceedings for quite some time, but we must proceed unhindered. Now quickly make your announcement to your subordinate." He nodded in the White Elders direction.



The old man\'s icy blue eyes hardened if ever so slightly, as he regarded Jack. "As you know the White Serpents have been missing an Under-Boss for quite sometime now; in no small part due to your services." A mirthful chuckle escaped his throat.



"We as members of the Syndicate must honor certain traditions, it is no secret that you have long been a candidate for Under-Boss.You have served this council well, by eliminating the traitor." The Elder spat out the word with such venom in his voice.



"So, whats your point?" Asked Jack with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders, although he knew full well what was about to be asked of him.



"My point is that you shall bear the title of Under-Boss of the White Serpent and bear it proudly. Do you accept?"



"I accept... under one condition." Jack knew that he didn\'t have a choice in the matter... but what the hell why not make the best of a bad thing ?



The Elder raised a thin white Eye brow, "What is your condition?"



Jack turned back to the door. "Marko, get in here."



Marko strode into the chamber, forest green eyes fixed directly on Jack. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Jack, back ramrod straight awaiting further instruction.



"Marko shall take my place and become my Lieutenant."



The Elder scrutinized Marko in complete silence.



"It is done. You and your Lieutenant are expected to have all of the proper markings." As if on cue a tall, lanky man waltzed into the room with a sleek black brief case in hand.



Jack had not seen that man since he had joined the ranks of Lieutenant, he was the one to give him his first \'Winding Serpent\' and now he would give him his second.



A navy blue designer Jacket and an off-white button down shirt were unceremoniously tossed to the ground, where they landed in a heap. Now Marko stood shirtless. His well chiseled physique was marred with fine scars and shallow pits, a testament to the hardships he had to endure; his years spent on the street had not been kind to him.



The stifling heat coated his pronounced pectoral muscles in a thin sheet of sweat, that made him glow in the dimly lit room. No matter how hard Marko tried to push the thought out of his mind he could not evade the feeling of being exposed.



Both men sat in the nearest available seats and awaited the tattooist to finish prepping his instruments. A piercing buzzing rent the silence in the room, to signify that all the instruments were ready and prepared.



He approached Jack first and sanitized the area from his right breast, all the way down to his elbow. The meticulous sound of buzzing filled the chamber for many hours as there was much detailing to be done. Blood seeped down Jack\'s breast and arm, mingling with sweat and rubbing alcohol. Finally the tattooist moved away from a grimacing Jack and on to an agitated Marko.



The brunette had never been tattooed before, so he was rightfully apprehensive. The tattooist sanitized the area from Marko\'s left breast all the way down to his elbow, it was customary for the \'Winding Serpent\' to be placed over the left breast first. For as long as the bearers heart beat, he would be expected to be loyal to the Syndicate.



As soon as the needle made contact with Marko\'s flesh, he clenched down on his teeth grinding them together. The pain was akin to a slowly spreading fire, moving up and down his body in measured pulses. Marko would have to endure the infernal buzzing and the pain it wrought, in silence for fear of being perceived as weak.



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The buzzing had abruptly ended and the pain had subsided to a dull throbbing. Marko wiped the blood off of his freshly marked body with his discarded shirt, tossing the soiled cloth aside when he was done. Both he and Jack rose to their feet and faced the White Elder.



"Now, you have both gained more power in our ranks. But with increased power, comes increased responsibility and duty." Announced the Elder, "Now the White Serpent is at last whole again."



"Cut the bull shit, old man" Interjected Jack. "Why the hell did you tell that kid he could stay at my place?"



The White Elders eyes narrowed to slits, "I will ignore your disrespect tonight, only because it would not do to have you lashed on the very same night as your ascension." Hissed the Elder with malice dripping from each word, "But, in response to your question, every Under-Boss is too have a single, permanent server at his residence."



"Well I don\'t want---"



"If there is something wrong with the boy, we shall have him relocated to a more profitable position." Said the Elder, cutting Jack off mid-sentence.



Jack knew that he was caught between a rock and a hard place.



~If I say I don\'t want him, they\'ll whore him out and if he stays...~



The blond affixed the Elder with a burning glare. "No, he is... acceptable."



"Good. Now that we are done with business, we can move on to the pleasure."



The door opened abruptly and a troop of boys and girls no older then twenty-five filed into the chamber. All eyes turned towards them to devour they\'re naked forms, their presence sending waves of sheer arousal to every assembled man\'s groin.



"Now, brothers. Enjoy the finest fruits, that the Stable has to offer." Echoed all the Elders at once.



Jack stared at the scene playing out in front of him with utter disgust. He spat on the ground as he brushed off the advances of a beautiful red headed boy. The boy couldn\'t have been any older than seventeen. The red head\'s azure eyes widened in fear, thinking that he had done something to upset the Under-Boss.



The sound, sight and smell of sex invaded Marko\'s senses and he momentarily lost himself in the heady aroma. Marko couldn\'t help but become aroused. His thick erection strained against the thin fabric of his navy blue dress pants.



"Hey boss, is it always like this?"



"Yeah... even those old farts get in on it" Jack\'s answer hung in the air, "Tch... I\'m still amazed that they\'re even able to get it up."



Marko quickly diverted his eyes to the large platform where the Elders had been before. His emerald green eyes widened in surprise, each Elder was occupied by the ministrations of a gorgeous, young male and female. The brunette felt sickened, these men were old enough to be fathers, if not grandfathers to the young men and women serving them.



"Marko," Jack broke the other man\'s train of thought, "I\'m leaving."



"Yeah. Let\'s go." Both men exited the gathering chamber unnoticed.



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The drive home was uneventful, both men choosing to remain silent as they mulled over the night\'s events. At last the pair arrived at a grand downtown building---



"Do you wanna\' come up?" Jack tilted his head towards the building,"I got a bottle of Blue Label, that I\'ve been itching to crack open."



"Yeah, as long as I get first sip." Crooned Marko.



Jack let out a heart felt chuckle. "Alright, if you think you can handle it. Just leave the car keys with Frank, he\'ll garage the car."



Both men were greeted enthusiastically by the portly door man as Marko handed him the keys, they moved past the extravagant lobby and into the elevator. Jack took out a small silver key, inserting it into the elevator panel he pressed the button labeled \'PENT\'.



A few minutes later and they were inside of Jack\'s scantly furnished living room. The smell of lavender in full bloom instantaneously assaulted his every sense. Jack was taken aback by the torrent of shattered memories of his drunken romp with the boy, as they relentlessly invaded his mind. He could not contain the furious, stirring heat that set his loins ablaze with the fires of arousal.



~The kid is still here...~



"Have a seat." Jack said pointing to the lone two-seater, facing the panoramic floor-to-ceiling window.



The blond made his way into the kitchen, popping open the closest cupboard. He fished out two glass cups and out of the fridge came a bottle of amber hued liquid and a tray of ice. Jack made his way over to the couch and set down the contents of his hands on a small coffee table.



Cracking the seal he handed Marko the bottle and said, "Well... just like I promised, first sips yours."



Marko took a baby sip and grimaced as the fiery liquid blazed a trail down his throat and finally exploded into his stomach. Coughing and sputtering, he passed the horrible tasting liquid over to Jack.



At this point Jack broke out into hysterics. Clutching his sides in pain from the laughter, he said "what a joke! I knew you couldn\'t handle it."



Jack took a big gulp of the whiskey, wiping his lips with the back of his hand. The glasses and ice tray lay discarded on the small coffee table. Accustomed to the taste of Scottish Whiskey, Jack did not so much as bat an eyelash at the after taste.



Out of sheer embarrassment Marko instinctively reached his hand up to ruffle the hair at the nape of his neck; the onset of a blush spreading across his cheeks.



"Yeah, well you know I\'m more of a beer---" The sound of the bedroom door opening startled Marko. He instinctively reached for his piece, but a firm hand over his kept him from drawing it.



Both pairs of eyes drifted to the door way and there stood Eian wearing an over sized set of pajamas. The boy moved an errant strand of sleep tousled hair from his face, as he tried to rub any remains of sleep from his eyes.



"You\'re back." The boy yawned out.



"Yeah... are you sure you should be moving around yet?" Asked Jack, cursing himself silently for allowing any emotion to seep into the question.



"Yeah I\'m---" The boy ran up to Jack and knelt at his feet gently grasping the blond\'s arm, all thoughts of sleep removed. "You\'re hurt!"



"It\'s fine." Said Jack, snatching his blood-caked arm out of the boys\' grasp; accidentally brushing the fresh tattoo against the material of the couch.



Jack winced in pain.



"Don\'t be stubborn damn it! Just let me help you." The boy cried out.



"I said I\'m fucking fine!" Yelled Jack menacingly, "I don\'t need to be babied. You wanna help me, huh?"



The boy refused to answer, he flashed Jack a defiant glare.



"Since you seem to know where I keep all of my shit," Jack said, as he stared pointedly at his pajamas, "Go get Marko a shirt, now!"



A blush spread across the boys\' cheeks, he got off the floor and made his way back towards the bedroom.



~Fuckin\' kid he always knows how to push my fuckin\' buttons. Why won\'t he stop trying to replace---~



"So... that\'s your server, huh?" Said Marko with a smirk on his face.



Marko\'s question jarred Jack out of his turbulent thoughts.



"That whole scene between you two, kinda\' reminded me of how you and Chase were... You know?"



The mere mention of Chase always made for a somber mood, "He is nothing like... like Chase." Jack bit out.



"Well... if you say so Jack." Marko gave a weak chuckle.



The boy had returned, with a white T-Shirt in hand. He handed it over to the brunette.



"Thank you." Said Marko with a gentle smile tugging at his cheeks.



"Your welcome." Muttered the boy in a low voice



"Well Jack, thanks for the night cap and the shirt. I better hit the road, I\'m beat." Marko yawned, for added emphasis. "Well... ummm... I\'m sorry I didn\'t quite get your name."



"It\'s Eian..."



"Well... Eian it was a pleasure meeting you." Said Marko, "Good night."



With that the brunette walked out of the apartment, leaving Jack to mull over his thoughts.



Eian broke the palpable silence first, "What now?"



"You can have the bed. Just stay out of my way." Jack sat back down grabbing the bottle of whiskey. He took a large gulp of the bitter liquid, running his tongue over his parched lips.



The blond faintly registered the soft pitter patter of foot steps going off in the distance. He could not for the life of him, begin to understand how his life could have gotten so complicated in such a short span of time. Taking another large gulp of whiskey, he daftly noted that over a quarter of the bottle had been emptied.



Jack raked his fingers through his hair, he now acknowledged that it was a stress induced habit.



Staring blankly out of the panoramic floor-to-ceiling window, his last thought was blurred as he slipped into the suffocating embrace of sleep; but it would not be the blissful sleep of the night before.