"I already told you,” I said,
slightly confused.
Chithula frowned. I obviously wasn't playing the game by his rules. His burning eyes flashed with intensity. He wasn't going to ask the question again. "There was a nest of Vampires in Vegas that Brimstone wiped out,” I said slowly. “They were legal. I have spoken to the brood's former Master. He claims to have a Chithula representative defending him. I need to know why."
Chithula soaked in my statement, considering each and every word. “Mr. Asp, the Vampire you have in lockup, is indeed under Chithulan protection. He came to me and felt his life was in danger." "Then why did you let him leave?” I asked point blank. "Mr. Asp was part of a larger picture, Rose Webb. It wasn't merely his life I was protecting.” Chithula stopped and reconsidered his words. “But the Vampire has done what he was intended to. He has unwittingly spread this information and set events in motion." I couldn't help let my mouth fall agape. “What?" "He brought you,” Chithula smiled, his eyes flashing with fire again, “to me." I suddenly felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Any comfort I was feeling was ripped out of the room as if he had dropped a bomb between us. The urge to flee gripped me. It took every bit of my strength to remain sitting in front of him. I started to understand one thing: I wasn't a guest of the Chithula. I was his prisoner.
"Someone is trying to subvert the Brimstone Syndicate,” Chithula said darkly. "How do you know this?” It was the obvious question, but the only one that came to my mind. "I had a vision of things to come nearly two thousand years ago.” Chithula paused, allowing me to consider his age. “I saw a place that seemed to rise out of the desert and glitter, and before the Brimstone Syndicate even existed, I saw your face, Rose Webb." The admission stunned me.
"It is no coincidence that I have made my home outside of Las Vegas,” Chithula said, answering one of my lingering questions. “It is here I was destined to play my part and once Mr. Asp arrived, I knew what I saw was in motion. I haven't seen the complete picture,” he admitted, “but I have to trust the Powers That Be,” Chithula finally acknowledged. “The rebellion is upon us." "Rebellion?” I felt the word choke in my throat. He was starting to frighten me. I fidgeted on the rug, seemingly unable to sit still. “I still don't understand what I have to do with all of this." "I don't have that answer,” Chithula said. “I just know that something is threatening the Brimstone Syndicate from within, and you are a key player.” He paused and considered me again. “I need to know whose side you're on."
I looked carefully at the Ifrit before me. He had been testing me the whole time, ensuring I was worthy of his knowledge. “What does it matter to you? Why are you concerned with Brimstone's survival?"
Chithula frowned. I obviously wasn't playing the game by his rules. His burning eyes flashed with intensity. He wasn't going to ask the question again. "There was a nest of Vampires in Vegas that Brimstone wiped out,” I said slowly. “They were legal. I have spoken to the brood's former Master. He claims to have a Chithula representative defending him. I need to know why."
Chithula soaked in my statement, considering each and every word. “Mr. Asp, the Vampire you have in lockup, is indeed under Chithulan protection. He came to me and felt his life was in danger." "Then why did you let him leave?” I asked point blank. "Mr. Asp was part of a larger picture, Rose Webb. It wasn't merely his life I was protecting.” Chithula stopped and reconsidered his words. “But the Vampire has done what he was intended to. He has unwittingly spread this information and set events in motion." I couldn't help let my mouth fall agape. “What?" "He brought you,” Chithula smiled, his eyes flashing with fire again, “to me." I suddenly felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Any comfort I was feeling was ripped out of the room as if he had dropped a bomb between us. The urge to flee gripped me. It took every bit of my strength to remain sitting in front of him. I started to understand one thing: I wasn't a guest of the Chithula. I was his prisoner.
"Someone is trying to subvert the Brimstone Syndicate,” Chithula said darkly. "How do you know this?” It was the obvious question, but the only one that came to my mind. "I had a vision of things to come nearly two thousand years ago.” Chithula paused, allowing me to consider his age. “I saw a place that seemed to rise out of the desert and glitter, and before the Brimstone Syndicate even existed, I saw your face, Rose Webb." The admission stunned me.
"It is no coincidence that I have made my home outside of Las Vegas,” Chithula said, answering one of my lingering questions. “It is here I was destined to play my part and once Mr. Asp arrived, I knew what I saw was in motion. I haven't seen the complete picture,” he admitted, “but I have to trust the Powers That Be,” Chithula finally acknowledged. “The rebellion is upon us." "Rebellion?” I felt the word choke in my throat. He was starting to frighten me. I fidgeted on the rug, seemingly unable to sit still. “I still don't understand what I have to do with all of this." "I don't have that answer,” Chithula said. “I just know that something is threatening the Brimstone Syndicate from within, and you are a key player.” He paused and considered me again. “I need to know whose side you're on."
I looked carefully at the Ifrit before me. He had been testing me the whole time, ensuring I was worthy of his knowledge. “What does it matter to you? Why are you concerned with Brimstone's survival?"