representative. I had to know why
the Ifrit would choose to defend that seemingly insignificant
Vampire."
"There does seem to be some kind of connection,” Toby agreed. “But it just doesn't make sense. Why would Brimstone wipe out a legal nest, and have the Master on the rap sheets? They're trying to cover something up,” Toby concluded.
I nodded. At least he was on the same path of logic I was. "But Chithula is a criminal,” Toby protested. "No one's ever proven that,” I pointed out. Brimstone had been investigating Chithula for quite some time. Many wondered how he had obtained such wealth and remained hidden, while others were sure he was breaking every magical law in the book and creating his possessions from nothing. Still, there were rumors that Chithula was nothing more than a drug lord, cultivating and selling his drugs on the streets using the Inhumans under his control. This had never been proven and I couldn't imagine a being of this much power choosing such a mundane profession. I didn't sense any malice when I stood before him, even though I was a supposedly “lesser species.” He seemed open and honest, and in light of the fact I questioned him and he didn't outright kill me, very patient. Perhaps we caught the Ifrit in a good mood. "The fact alone that Chithula was expecting us frightens me a bit.” Toby paused. “And I don't like the way he looks at you."
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?" "He's eyeing you,” Toby breathed, “like he wants you for his own." I saw his ego deflate right there in front of me. “I don't think—" "Yes, Rose,” the Werewolf interrupted, “he does. I can see it in his eyes, the way he moves, and the way he looks at you. Do you realize,” he paused, “that he didn't look at me or Karl even once in the audience chamber? Not once."
"I didn't realize,” I admitted. My skin was starting to crawl. “I'm just a nobody Seeker,” I defended. “Why would anyone want me?"
Toby didn't answer. I wasn't sure I expected him to, but I would have liked him to. "We need to get out of here,” he said finally. "We can't.” I stood and walked around into the living room. “Brimstone is already upset with us; let's not add Chithula to the list."
"I don't care,” Toby argued. He stood up and followed me. “The investigation isn't worth this." I looked at him dumbfounded. “Why would you say that? If Brimstone finds us guilty of botching a hunt, they'll do more than just fire us. They'llterminate us." Toby stared at me with his deep, brown eyes. “We can run."
"There does seem to be some kind of connection,” Toby agreed. “But it just doesn't make sense. Why would Brimstone wipe out a legal nest, and have the Master on the rap sheets? They're trying to cover something up,” Toby concluded.
I nodded. At least he was on the same path of logic I was. "But Chithula is a criminal,” Toby protested. "No one's ever proven that,” I pointed out. Brimstone had been investigating Chithula for quite some time. Many wondered how he had obtained such wealth and remained hidden, while others were sure he was breaking every magical law in the book and creating his possessions from nothing. Still, there were rumors that Chithula was nothing more than a drug lord, cultivating and selling his drugs on the streets using the Inhumans under his control. This had never been proven and I couldn't imagine a being of this much power choosing such a mundane profession. I didn't sense any malice when I stood before him, even though I was a supposedly “lesser species.” He seemed open and honest, and in light of the fact I questioned him and he didn't outright kill me, very patient. Perhaps we caught the Ifrit in a good mood. "The fact alone that Chithula was expecting us frightens me a bit.” Toby paused. “And I don't like the way he looks at you."
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?" "He's eyeing you,” Toby breathed, “like he wants you for his own." I saw his ego deflate right there in front of me. “I don't think—" "Yes, Rose,” the Werewolf interrupted, “he does. I can see it in his eyes, the way he moves, and the way he looks at you. Do you realize,” he paused, “that he didn't look at me or Karl even once in the audience chamber? Not once."
"I didn't realize,” I admitted. My skin was starting to crawl. “I'm just a nobody Seeker,” I defended. “Why would anyone want me?"
Toby didn't answer. I wasn't sure I expected him to, but I would have liked him to. "We need to get out of here,” he said finally. "We can't.” I stood and walked around into the living room. “Brimstone is already upset with us; let's not add Chithula to the list."
"I don't care,” Toby argued. He stood up and followed me. “The investigation isn't worth this." I looked at him dumbfounded. “Why would you say that? If Brimstone finds us guilty of botching a hunt, they'll do more than just fire us. They'llterminate us." Toby stared at me with his deep, brown eyes. “We can run."