Art is the beauty of life

August stared at the eager crowd. Their lights flashing in his eyes,

"What did you say?" He asked, perhaps he heard wrong.

Everyone turned to the reporter who'd asked the question.

The young man faced him brazenly, "is it true, your brother was involved in countless murders before his death?"

Gregory?

"Rumours surfacing say your brother conducted countless illegal experiments to cure your family, do you deny this?" The boy asked.

"Rumors? You defame my brother's name..on rumors?"

He opened his mouth to speak when Jeffery interrupted him.

"That will be all."

Jeffery walked to him and leaned into his ear.

"Your eyes..."

August shut them and drew a breath, they were getting harder to control.

"Are you denying these rumours?" Another reporter asked.

"I am," Jeffery said, "Gregory spent his life bettering New Grephar, bettering this city. Unless you have proof, further actions will incite a lawsuit." He addressed the remaining reporters, "That will be all, thank you"

"What is he talking about?" August asked when they left the conference room. Gregory could be brutal at times but he would never go against their sworn duty.

Jeffery sighed, and turned to him apprehensively, "yes, he ran human experiments. But nothing severe! Someone is dragging his name through the mud,"

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" He kept in touch over the years. He knew his brother ran experiments, he never knew they were human based. "And why human? What was he searching for?"

"I didn't tell you because he explicitly ordered not to. As for the humans, he was searching for a..."

A knock interrupted them. The door was gently pushed open. August's brows drew to a forced line when he saw who it was.

"I'm I interrupting?" The girl asked.

"Vivian,"

Her platinum pixie moved as she smiled, "welcome home, August"

"What do you want?" The last thing he needed was a Tyrone in his office. Especially her. She never spelled good news.

Her smile faded, "I'm sorry, about Gregory,"

August raised a brow, "you're getting better at lying,"

Sorry? Everything that happened to his family came from hers.

She walked, a blindfolded girl with her. As she took a seat, she turned to Jeffery.

"Leave us,"

Jeffrey bowed and took his leave.

A metal object slid across the table from her point. August picked it up. What was this?

"That, is the insignia of the Blood Coven. Information has it, they're gathering up at the Coastlines, Deadman's Coast"

It was an insignia of fire over blood, a little on the nose but to be expected of witches.

"We need to know why. Find out." She said.

"Give your hand to her,"

August frowned. What for? He took the little girl's hand.

"Did you release Cline cannibal?"

He looked up, his frown still evident. What was this about the Cannibal?

"His seal is broken. A little strange how it coincides with your arrival, don't you think?"

"Shouldn't he be dead?" August asked.

"He's alive,"

"I did not release Cline cannibal," he didn't.

"Do you know anything about his release?"

"Aside from what you've told me, I don't." He said.

August sat there as she left, his chin rested on his fist. He had his brother to bury, a company to keep afloat, witches to hunt and a young girl to convince to be experimented on; with rumours of his brother's deadly experiments going around.

His gaze lifted to the white ceiling. He clicked his tongue and got up. First, Miss Richardson.

***

Art is the beauty of life caught between the pages of white refined wood and the streaks of colorful paint.

"My turn!"

"No, my turn!"

Kelly smiled serenely as she watched the children fight over the face paint. Why must they choose violence? Why?

Her phone buzzed.

'Kelly!!!!'

Why was she screaming her name over a text?

'what?'

'Kelly. Don't freak out."

'why would I freak out?'

'August Cline just came to the apartment, looking for you! I sent him over to your gig,'

'haha, very funny.'

'I'm not joking!'

'Seriously Brie, you have midterms coming up, quit messing with Kels,' Eric replied the chat.

Kelly chuckled, it was a good joke though, but she'd never fall for something like that.

'if I so much as see August Cline at my gig, I will hand over my entire collection of Barry comics.'

'and you'll cook for an entire week!' Brianna added. Kelly shook her head, this girl would do anything to sell her bluff,

'Deal,'

"Miss Richardson?"

"Yes?" Kelly lifted her gaze, her smile still evident.

The sun rays moved ever so gently, from his golden hair to his sea green eyes, his eloquent figure illuminated under the light. Kelly froze. His voice echoed like fine velvet when he spoke.

"Hi, I'm August Cline. Can we talk?"