Chapter 5 - The Uninvited GuestThe front doorbell rang with a harsh, impatient tone at eight o'clock the following morning. Albert opened the heavy double oak doors to reveal Julian Vance, clad in an immaculate cashmere coat, flanked by two private legal advisors.
"Where is Christian, Albert?" Julian demanded, stepping past the butler without wiping his leather shoes. "I received an alert that Leo’s routine therapy session at the Vance Foundation was canceled this morning without my approval."
"Mr. Ashford is in the parlor, Mr. Vance," Albert said evenly, giving nothing away. "He has been expecting you."
Julian strode into the sunlit room, his expression a practiced mask of familial concern. "Christian, what on earth is going on? You know any deviation from Leo’s neurological routine can cause cognitive regression. The specialists at my foundation are ready for his—"
Julian froze.
Sitting in the center of the rug was Leo, laughing as Clara read aloud from an illustrated book of fables. When Julian spoke, Leo didn't wait for Clara to tap his shoulder. The boy turned his head immediately, his eyes widening in recognition of the voice.
"Uncle Julian?" Leo said clearly.
Julian’s face went completely ash-gray. His legal advisors exchanged confused glances behind him. The air in the room seemed to vanish.
"He... he spoke," Julian whispered, stepping backward instinctively. "That’s impossible. The auditory canal was completely degenerated."
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Christian rose from the wingback chair by the fireplace. He walked slowly toward his brother-in-law, his eyes cold and predatory. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a small glass vial containing the dark, extracted bead, holding it up so the morning light caught its synthetic gleam.
"You recognized his voice, Julian," Christian said with lethal calm. "Just as he recognized yours. But more importantly... you seem terrified that he can hear you."
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