The Ifrit's eyelids became slits
over its eyes as he stared at me. Chithula shifted his weight from
foot to
foot as he assessed me. He obviously wasn't used to being questioned, or told he was wrong. "A nest of Vampires was destroyed by Brimstone recently,” I explained. “The brood's former Master has told me that he has Chithula representation. I need to know why." "You seem to misunderstand, Rose Webb.” A smile grew across his wide mouth. “That is at the very heart of the matter.” He looked up and motioned to several of his court. “I'm sure our guests are tired. See to it they have rooms for the day."
"Thanks,” I said, taking an uncomfortable step back, “but we really need to get back to Vegas." "I won't hear of it,” Chithula growled. He took a step down the stairs toward me, the flames engulfing him seemingly intensifying. “You and I have much to discuss, Rose Webb." Chapter My room was exquisite. After the servant left, I couldn't help but stand in awe in the doorway. More marble stretched off as far as I could see in all directions. A gorgeous wood table dominated the foyer with four chairs arranged around it. Drapes of heavy red velvet with golden fringes seemed to decorate every wall. Beyond the table were several plush couches arranged in a horseshoe shape around an impressive plasma screen television. Walking through the living area, I stopped. Instead of being separated, the bedroom was elevated slightly above the living room. The bed was huge, bigger than any I had seen, and swathed in black silk. An immense Jacuzzi sat in front of the bed just behind the stairs while an equally impressive bathroom lived on the opposite side of the living room. Squinting my eyes slightly, I could see the telltale shimmer of magic on just about everything. I wasn't sure if the furniture, decorations, or even the room had been created by magical means, or just spelled in some form. My senses weren't that attuned. Still, it was beautiful, no matter how it was created. Walking up the stairs past the Jacuzzi, I couldn't help myself. Turning around, I spread my arms wide and fell back onto the bed. The black silk wrapped around me as I stretched and made snow angels. It was more wonderful than I could possibly imagine. The mood quickly passed as I noticed my lack of reflection in the mirrors on the ceiling. Reality always had a way of bringing me back to the fact I was a monster. Nothing could change that.
Sliding off the silky bed, I then walked between the couches and snagged the remote from the coffee table. Clicking it on for some background noise, I noticed the last viewer had left it on one of those twenty-four-hour news channels. Trying to ignore the overly gorgeous brunette anchor reporting the horrific news—I wondered if a beautiful woman made bad news easier to swallow—I perched on the back of the couch and stared at the door. My mind started to wander.Should I stay here and wait for Chithula? Should I try and get some sleep? Should I go smash Karl?
I had to do something, and I was too wired to sleep despite the fact I could feel the sun rising beyond the compound walls. I was starving, too. I still hadn't had any sustenance. I was going on four days now. I could feel the hunger clawing at my insides. I had to feed soon to avert any possibleaccidents . It was best not to think about it.
After scooting off the back of the couch, I walked quickly to the heavy wooden door that led to the
foot as he assessed me. He obviously wasn't used to being questioned, or told he was wrong. "A nest of Vampires was destroyed by Brimstone recently,” I explained. “The brood's former Master has told me that he has Chithula representation. I need to know why." "You seem to misunderstand, Rose Webb.” A smile grew across his wide mouth. “That is at the very heart of the matter.” He looked up and motioned to several of his court. “I'm sure our guests are tired. See to it they have rooms for the day."
"Thanks,” I said, taking an uncomfortable step back, “but we really need to get back to Vegas." "I won't hear of it,” Chithula growled. He took a step down the stairs toward me, the flames engulfing him seemingly intensifying. “You and I have much to discuss, Rose Webb." Chapter My room was exquisite. After the servant left, I couldn't help but stand in awe in the doorway. More marble stretched off as far as I could see in all directions. A gorgeous wood table dominated the foyer with four chairs arranged around it. Drapes of heavy red velvet with golden fringes seemed to decorate every wall. Beyond the table were several plush couches arranged in a horseshoe shape around an impressive plasma screen television. Walking through the living area, I stopped. Instead of being separated, the bedroom was elevated slightly above the living room. The bed was huge, bigger than any I had seen, and swathed in black silk. An immense Jacuzzi sat in front of the bed just behind the stairs while an equally impressive bathroom lived on the opposite side of the living room. Squinting my eyes slightly, I could see the telltale shimmer of magic on just about everything. I wasn't sure if the furniture, decorations, or even the room had been created by magical means, or just spelled in some form. My senses weren't that attuned. Still, it was beautiful, no matter how it was created. Walking up the stairs past the Jacuzzi, I couldn't help myself. Turning around, I spread my arms wide and fell back onto the bed. The black silk wrapped around me as I stretched and made snow angels. It was more wonderful than I could possibly imagine. The mood quickly passed as I noticed my lack of reflection in the mirrors on the ceiling. Reality always had a way of bringing me back to the fact I was a monster. Nothing could change that.
Sliding off the silky bed, I then walked between the couches and snagged the remote from the coffee table. Clicking it on for some background noise, I noticed the last viewer had left it on one of those twenty-four-hour news channels. Trying to ignore the overly gorgeous brunette anchor reporting the horrific news—I wondered if a beautiful woman made bad news easier to swallow—I perched on the back of the couch and stared at the door. My mind started to wander.Should I stay here and wait for Chithula? Should I try and get some sleep? Should I go smash Karl?
I had to do something, and I was too wired to sleep despite the fact I could feel the sun rising beyond the compound walls. I was starving, too. I still hadn't had any sustenance. I was going on four days now. I could feel the hunger clawing at my insides. I had to feed soon to avert any possibleaccidents . It was best not to think about it.
After scooting off the back of the couch, I walked quickly to the heavy wooden door that led to the