Page 23 of My Master
Demetria had thought that once Isis had run away, he would realize that she was the better choice, always loyal, always faithful, but he had done nothing but obsess over Isis’s absence. So, when he had made Demetria his second in command she assumed that he was finally forgetting, finally realizing the true talent she possessed. But then he found Isis again, and Demetria feared that he would bring her out into the limelight, just like he had all those years ago. He assured her that Demetria shouldn’t be concerned with Isis’s return—that he had a plan to execute her publicly for her insolence—
Now, she wasn’t so sure…
Her Master pulled on his dark black pants and turned to face her, running a hand through his hair. “So I see you spoke to Isis.”
“Yes, Ispoketo Isis!”
“And what is it she told you?” He leaned against the edge of bed and observed her with an unreadable look upon his face.
“She said—Isis said that you lied to me, that you brought her back to become your second in command! She told me youlied!”
“And you believe her?”
“How could I not? She has always been your favorite! She is yourobsession!” She pointed an accusing finger at him.
His expression morphed into a scowl. “Calm yourself, Demetria,” he demanded.
Sobs rattled her shoulders and she fell at his feet, like she had so many times before and pleaded to him with cries. Tears fell from her eyes and onto his feet. “Master, please tell me she is lying!” She held onto him. “Please tell me she will be executed! Tell me the truth, please!”
“You cannot handle the truth, Demetria, you are weak.”
The truth of his statement shook her. She squeezed her eyes closed and shook her head back and forth, holding his ankles, her hands shaking. “I amnotweak, Master…” she denied. Feeling hands touch her shoulders, causing sparks of electricity to course through her, she looked up. He was looking down at her through his curled dark lashes. Gently, he guided her up until she was on her feet in front of him, staring angrily into his face.
“Look at you, Demetria,” he said with that odd coolness that told her that something bad was coming. “You claim to not be weak, yet here you are, crying at my feet, begging me to give you false reassurances. Look me in the eyes and tell me that this is not a sign of weakness.”
Demetria opened her mouth but she couldn’t bring herself to say the words, because she knew he was right. She was weak.
“You have been nothing but jealous of Isis…”
“That is because she has your favor, my Master! I have done nothing but try and please you! Why her?Why?”
“Because you are weak!” he spat venomously, gripping her shoulders tightly. “Look at yourself, Demetria. You ask why I favor Isis? Because she is strong, with a will of her own, and I admire that; I can use it in battle, as a demonstration. I can show them that if Isis—a wild spirit—can be controlled, then I can control anyone I want. You? You are weak and know nothing but how to follow orders, easily tricked, easily led astray. I have millions of you, but Isis—she is irreplaceable.”
Demetria’s bottom lip trembled slightly and she looked down at her bare feet, suddenly hating herself, but hating Isis even more, for being alive, for everything she’d ever done to her.
He let go of her, his frown disappearing into a smile, yet the icy coldness of his anger still remained. “I will announce tonight that Isis will command my armies. But do not think that I will forget about you or what you are to me, no, never. You will be there to follow any order given to you by Isis—her second in command.”
Demetria turned and ran.
11
Santiago Enterprises had been reconstructed in a matter of months. Everything that had been burned down was quickly built up again, making it look exactly the way it had been before Damien had set his Rogues on it. There had been no need to hail a cab, Maria had called for one of the limos to pick them up and take them straight there. The ride had been silent and completely awkward, mainly on Antonio’s part.
He slumped in his seat; his arms crossed, and stared out the window the entire time with a frown on his face. He knew he had just seen his father the night before and had talked business with him, but he dreaded every moment he had to be in that building, confronting his own father.
The man had tried to apologize many times to Antonio, for believing Damien over him, for kicking him out of the coven, but Antonio chose to ignore it all. It wasn’t as if he didn’t love his father, he did, and he was just pained by the memory of Damien so that he couldn’t bring himself to confront him just yet.
He pleaded with Maria not to tell their father; to only get them into S.E. quietly and secretly. She had agreed, but he was still wary.
They arrived at S.E. quickly; all three of them exited the car. After Maria barked quick orders to the driver to wait for them, they walked into the building. The double glass doors slid open at their arrival, beckoning them inside. Maria walked in first, followed by Ezzy then Antonio last.
Maria greeted the receptionist with a perky “Hello!” then gestured them towards the elevator. Pressing the ‘up’ button, they waited for the doors to open; Antonio turned to his sister and asked, “Where are these documents?”
“They’re on the fifth floor, inside of a heavily locked and coded room.” The doors opened and the three of them stepped inside. Maria pressed the number five and the doors closed again, the elevator jerking up.
“Please tell me you know the code,” Antonio muttered.
Maria scowled at him. “Of course I know the code,tonto.”
