NB: Hi all! I know this took forever but I'm finally glad it's over! It's longer than the usual so hope that makes up for the wait. Thank you all for always checking in. Have a good read!
******
We really shouldn't do this."
Keona didn't bother replying but simply tightened her grip around Riley's arm. It annoyed her that he could still talk despite her strong hold on his mental consciousness --a clear indicator that he was much stronger than what she thought him to be.
"Maybe we -- "
"Another word Riley..." her voice was gentle but the underlying threat was real; her nails digging into his skin to bring across her point. To an unsuspecting outsider, they looked like a loving couple but Riley knew that Keona wouldn't hesitate to kill him on the spot if he even dared to breathe wrong.
He kept quiet as she led them to the main entrance of the facility; aware that she had cloaked them in some form of protective shield that rendered them undetectable by the main security cameras.
Riley was slightly relieved when he felt her loosening her grip over his arm but his smile faded when he saw her turn to face him with a grim expression.
"This is for your own good," she said, before placing her fingertips at the side of his temple. Riley didn't get the chance to stop her for immediately after that, all he could think about was the blinding white light searing through his cranial cavity.
***
When he opened his eyes, Riley was unsure why Keona was standing in front of him; arms crossed as she leaned back lazily against a pillar.
"Good morning."
Riley frowned. Morning? It was dark and he didn't think he fell asleep did he? And what was she doing here with him? She didn't sound too pleased and the chill in her voice wasn't at all encouraging.
"Let's not waste time. I need to report to Connor."
Riley wanted to protest. He knew, at the back of his mind, that something was not right but his conscious thought was pushing him to execute her instruction. It was as though she was forcing him to --but surely not. He was much older and his shields were superb... right?
Nevertheless, he felt his body responding to her command; his feet moving a step at a time down a quiet hallway towards the Elders' offices. He found it odd that none of the guards seemed to notice them --neither to greet nor stop their advances.
"How are you doing this?" he asked --he had to.
Like a lazy cat stretching its neck, she angled her head to her left and gave him a blank stare. She continued to eye him eerily until they finally made a stop in front of Connor's office. Before Riley could say anything, Keona had already pushed the door open; closing it in his face.
Stay outside
No! I want to...
Whatever he intended to tell her was cut off by a sharp pain in his head. He didn't think it was possible but it was as if his mind was being disciplined by a sharp whip to conform to her instructions.
Damn that youngling had power!
Shuffling his feet, Riley decided to wait. He had no doubt that Connor wouldn't hurt Keona --at least not to the point of death. She was his prized possession and he still had much use for her, regardless of what happened.
***
Indeed, Connor was thinking just that as he sensed Keona walking into his office. Swivelling his chair to face her, he gave her a smile --one that bore no warmth or meaning.
"You're still alive," he said as a way of greeting.
"So will you if you let Marine go now." Instead of being threatened, he laughed at her; slapping his hands down on the table top with glee. "I don't see what's so amusing," she said coolly.
"Oh, nothing, nothing my dear child. You're just the most peculiar and fascinating little creature that I have ever laid eyes upon. You... make me curious," he said, leaning forward as though sniffing at her.
Keona remained still even as he gripped her chin lightly. She knew that he was trying to read her mind; trying to break down as many shields as he could to learn the purpose of her visit. It was like reporting to your boss without having the need to even present your findings.
That also meant that he had access to even her private thoughts and memories --secrets that she and Draven had protected by constructing layers of pseudo memories and enforcing stronger shields.
"Hmm..." Releasing her, he started to walk slowly from his side of the table, round to where she was standing before crossing his arms over his chest to peer at her thoughtfully. "Why are you still alive youngling?" he asked.
"Should I be dead?" she asked defiantly, even though her insides were rattling like skeletons in a closet.
"Weres do not survive long after the death of their mates..." he prompted. It was a test, she knew, to see if she could confirm what both of them already knew were her memories. The only thing was that she hoped he believed those "memories" had been real enough and not constructed.
"I am not an animal," she said with as much disgust and pride as she could muster. "Vampires can live for centuries without their mates."
"Oh?" Connor was pleasantly surprised at her reply for he dropped his hands and started to pace in a circle around her. "You have gotten stronger little one... very strong in fact." He stopped right in front of her and stared long and hard into her green eyes. "But I do not trust you... yet."
"I don't give a damn if you trust me," she replied, trying her best not to spit in his face. "I've done what you forced me to do and now I have my own demands for you to fulfil." A pause. "I have nothing to lose now. I can kill you without regret Connor and trust me, this time, I will fight you even if it kills me."
Perhaps it was her tone of voice or the slight 'push' of her anger indenting on his mind but Connor took a step back to re-evaluate their situation. Indeed, from what he had read in her mind, she was now alone... and scared. She could be his greatest ally or his greatest downfall but he had to decide now. To incense her further could lead to a possible blood bath and his death. To pacify her on the other hand...
"Let us negotiate these... demands then," he said calmly.
"I want you to release Marine... and Kendall."
"Oh? Taken a candle to the boy have you?"
Keona didn't bother to reply him. Those two were underaged younglings just like herself and shouldn't even be locked up in such a place. If he didn't let them go, she was going to jail break them out --to hell with the consequences.
"I will consider Kendall's release on one condition."
"Screw you."
"Such a tongue," he laughed, wagging a finger at her. "But you are asking me to release one of my most useful assets. Surely you have to compensate that somewhat..." He waited to see if she had any reactions --to which she had none. "Join me; join this cause. Be a part of my most elite team. I'll make you even stronger than our strongest Vanguards. Like you said, you have nothing to lose. But I have everything to lose by giving you this position."
Keona squinted her eyes at him. Connor was an excellent master manipulator and though her mind tried to think of the possible loopholes in his offer, she couldn't think of any yet. She had to keep up with her story that she was mateless and with nothing to lose. Besides, it was a risk she had to take --at least to negotiate the release of the two younglings.
"Abide by my wishes and we'll deal."
