another test. If Toby had snapped
and killed me it probably would have sealed his fate, and mine,
come
to think of it. There had been many long nights of surveillance when neither of us spoke a word. But during that time Toby had become my friend. I trusted Toby with my life. "Whose collar did we steal?” Toby asked finally, a bit of his color returning to his cheeks. He was healing quickly. Most thought the Werewolf's heightened healing ability was one of their gifts. I, on the other hand, realized it was the only thing keeping them alive. Transforming put a tremendous amount of stress on the body. Think about it. Anything that causes bones to break and regrow in different configurations, and organs to shift completely was probably pretty lethal. Which also explained why new Werewolves usually didn't make it to their second full moon. Their bodies couldn't handle the stress. I turned and looked back at my monitor. Running my finger down the screen, I smiled and turned back to Toby. “Ramirez."
Toby laughed. “That old Witch is going to be pissed." Elena Ramirez was Brimstone's top Seeker. Transferring from office to office, she went where the powers felt she was most needed. She had been a member of the Syndicate before Vampires, Werewolves, and other Inhumans had been admitted. There were rumors she was one of the very first Seekers, but no one had been able to substantiate the claim. I was under the impression she had created that rumor herself and was helping to perpetuate it. She had been very vocal about her distaste over allowing Inhumans into Brimstone, and time had not eased her position. She was a bigot, plain and simple. She always felt her job was to control and destroy the creatures of the night, not work with them. So most of the Inhumans took great pleasure in screwing with her. It probably wasn't helping our cause, but it was fun nevertheless.
"I wonder how long she was tracking Garrett?” I asked. Toby shrugged. “Knowing Elena, probably months. She doesn't do anything quickly.” He paused, his smile fading from his face. “Think she'll curse us like she did Jacobs?" I hadn't thought of that. She was getting rather vindictive lately. She couldn't outright kill another Seeker without losing her Brimstone status, but there were ways of making someone else miserable. No one was sure what she did to Jacobs, if anything at all, but he had retired shortly after accidentally capturing a swarm of mischievous Sprites that were part of Elena's docket. He had been a very promising Seeker, but he just gave it all up almost overnight. No one could ever prove that Elena did anything, but we all had our suspicions.
Toby shrugged. “I'll just tell the truth in my report. I was backup. You were the one who made the collar.” He stood up and walked around the desk. Sliding into the chair, he leaned his elbows on the desk and laced his fingers. He was looking much better. "You're a lot of help.” I snorted. It wasn't that big of a deal. I would just stop by Witchcraft on the third floor on my way out and pick up a couple of anti-hex charms. That should do the trick. I ran my hand through my messy hair. The rain had done a real number on it. “So, what are your plans tonight?"
Toby shrugged. “I'm off the clock in fifteen minutes. I was just planning to go home and sleep. You?"
to think of it. There had been many long nights of surveillance when neither of us spoke a word. But during that time Toby had become my friend. I trusted Toby with my life. "Whose collar did we steal?” Toby asked finally, a bit of his color returning to his cheeks. He was healing quickly. Most thought the Werewolf's heightened healing ability was one of their gifts. I, on the other hand, realized it was the only thing keeping them alive. Transforming put a tremendous amount of stress on the body. Think about it. Anything that causes bones to break and regrow in different configurations, and organs to shift completely was probably pretty lethal. Which also explained why new Werewolves usually didn't make it to their second full moon. Their bodies couldn't handle the stress. I turned and looked back at my monitor. Running my finger down the screen, I smiled and turned back to Toby. “Ramirez."
Toby laughed. “That old Witch is going to be pissed." Elena Ramirez was Brimstone's top Seeker. Transferring from office to office, she went where the powers felt she was most needed. She had been a member of the Syndicate before Vampires, Werewolves, and other Inhumans had been admitted. There were rumors she was one of the very first Seekers, but no one had been able to substantiate the claim. I was under the impression she had created that rumor herself and was helping to perpetuate it. She had been very vocal about her distaste over allowing Inhumans into Brimstone, and time had not eased her position. She was a bigot, plain and simple. She always felt her job was to control and destroy the creatures of the night, not work with them. So most of the Inhumans took great pleasure in screwing with her. It probably wasn't helping our cause, but it was fun nevertheless.
"I wonder how long she was tracking Garrett?” I asked. Toby shrugged. “Knowing Elena, probably months. She doesn't do anything quickly.” He paused, his smile fading from his face. “Think she'll curse us like she did Jacobs?" I hadn't thought of that. She was getting rather vindictive lately. She couldn't outright kill another Seeker without losing her Brimstone status, but there were ways of making someone else miserable. No one was sure what she did to Jacobs, if anything at all, but he had retired shortly after accidentally capturing a swarm of mischievous Sprites that were part of Elena's docket. He had been a very promising Seeker, but he just gave it all up almost overnight. No one could ever prove that Elena did anything, but we all had our suspicions.
Toby shrugged. “I'll just tell the truth in my report. I was backup. You were the one who made the collar.” He stood up and walked around the desk. Sliding into the chair, he leaned his elbows on the desk and laced his fingers. He was looking much better. "You're a lot of help.” I snorted. It wasn't that big of a deal. I would just stop by Witchcraft on the third floor on my way out and pick up a couple of anti-hex charms. That should do the trick. I ran my hand through my messy hair. The rain had done a real number on it. “So, what are your plans tonight?"
Toby shrugged. “I'm off the clock in fifteen minutes. I was just planning to go home and sleep. You?"