Page 45 of To Crave Darkly
“Sir, I really must protest,” Jasper objected.
“Noted. Now sit down.” There was no hiding the threat that laced de Santis’ words. Jasper obeyed immediately. “I understand your reticence, Farrow, but all I ask is that you both hear me out and I am sure you will agree with me.”
Jasper jerked his head in an affirmation and de Santis turned to me for my answer. I didn’t like it but what other options did I have?
“Fine. I’m listening.”
“We know next to nothing about you or what you are capable of. I think by having Farrow and his team train you we could uncover more about your abilities and thereby establish whether you are a danger to us or not. Of course, you could take your chances out in the real world…” He didn’t need to finish that sentence. I knew I would either cause some catastrophic event because I didn’t know what I was capable of or I could be captured or possibly killed by someone much worse than the man sitting in front of me.
“This sucks ass,” I griped. “But I’ll do it. If Jasper will have me.”
“He doesn’t have a choice,” de Santis remarked. Seemed to be a lot of that going round. I didn’t have a choice either. Well at least I would have some purpose here and maybe I could learn to kick Jasper’s butt. There had to be a silver lining somewhere.
“Ok. But I need a few things first.” Might as well try and get something out of this, I didn’t have a penny to my name and only the clothes on my back.
De Santis leaned over his desk and rested his steepled hands against his lips. “Ask away.”
I suddenly felt like I was asking the Devil for a reprieve. Time to see what I could get away with. “Since I am now staying here, I will need clothes, preferably not all black and leather. As much as I like the leather pants, they aren’t going to be suitable for everyday wear.” I sensed Jasper shift in his seat. I guess the leather pants hadn’t gone unnoticed by him but now was not the time to think about that.
“I can agree to that,” de Santis replied, “I will have some things sent to you. Pick what you want and return the rest.”
I didn’t like the idea of him picking my clothes but hey, if it was free, I wasn’t going to complain. “I also want some sort of monetary compensation. If you’re keeping me here indefinitely I want to be able to pay my way.”
“Done. Anything else?” he asked, a predatory smile playing about his sinister mouth.
“I want to be able to walk around without feeling like I’m about to be attacked. I don’t want to have to keep glancing over my shoulder wondering if somebody is going to take a run at me.”
“She’s referring to the incident with Flint, Sir,” Jasper clarified.
Recognition crossed de Santis’ features. “Of course. As long as you remain here in the Conclave you will have the protection of my name. I will make sure everyone knows it.”
“Thank you.”
“But you will do me the favour of not roaming around on your own. Either Farrow, or one of his team, will escort you at all times.”
“Is that really necessary?” I grumbled.
“Yes. Until I either know you are safe or that you can handle yourself.” De Santis’ tone was authoritative. He was giving me an order and it rankled with me.
“Until you decide how much I am worth to you, you mean,” I snapped. Anger curled de Santis’ mouth and I instantly regretted my hasty words. I really needed to work on the brain to mouth filter, I swear it was going to get me killed one day. I sensed, rather than saw, Jasper roll his eyes at me. He was such a sourpuss, but I reined in the temper for him all the same. I didn’t want him getting into trouble because of me.
“If that’s how you want to play the game, then yes. Until I decide you are not worth my time or my effort you will be safe. After that,” he shrugged, “who knows.”
The threat was clear. I was only worth something to him if I was useful. If I outlived my usefulness, or I wasn’t part of this prophecy thing then I was on my own.
“Understood Cesare.” His jaw twitched at my use of his first name and a little flutter of joy pulled my lips into a smirk. I was getting under his skin. Good. I liked to know I could make him squirm a little too. It certainly made him seem less infallible. “Do you need us for anything else? Or can we go?”
“No. You’re dismissed.” The glare he gave me was murderous. “Agatha,” he shouted, and the sour-faced woman came trundling into the room. “Please see my guests out.”
In those few words he had shown who was in charge here. He had dismissed us and reminded me that we were there because he allowed us to be. I could see why he was at the top of the food chain around here. Ialmostrespected him for that. Shame he was such an ass, or I might actually like him. Nope. ‘Like’ was too strong a word. Tolerate seemed a better fit.
We were ushered back into the foyer with the torturous furniture and firmly shown the door. It was the most graceful eviction I’d ever seen. Giddiness bubbled up inside me at the absurdity over what had just happened. I’d had a verbal sparring match with a King, got recruited into a special ops team, and been evicted from a building in the space of thirty minutes. How had my life gotten so weird? As I stepped back out into the cool night air I turned to Jasper, and lost it.
Full-blown belly laughs erupted, and I had to clutch my knees as I doubled over in hysterics. Jasper’s face was a picture. He wasfurious. I had never seen his scowl so deeply etched into his brow, and I thought I’d seen them all.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he roared, which just made me laugh harder.
“I’m sorry… I just… Can’t you see how crazy this all is?” I managed to get out through the giggles. Tears streamed down my face as I clutched my ribs to ease the ache from laughing. Jasper crossed his arms over his chest in his I’m-waiting-for-an-answer stance, but it just set me off laughing again. Bless him, he was trying so hard to be serious and give me a good telling off, but it was having completely the opposite effect on me. He threw his arms in the air and walked off leaving me to catch up with his retreating form. This was starting to become an annoying habit.
