“You let them leave?” Talon made no attempt to disguise his disappointment upon his return to Drifa. While Nei and Presia still sat at the table he had offered to his intriguing guests, the Djinn had gone.
“Let them? I sent them off on another glorious adventure in far off lands.” Nei smirked up at Talon. “I’m fine by the way.”
“I can see that.” Talon removed the distractions from the hall and stepped through the space where the table had been to approach Nei. “I wanted to speak with them about your time in Eden.”
“I think I was there.” Nei deliberately mocked him as he playfully turned to Presia and made his playful query. “Was I there?”
“You were indeed, Lord Frost.” Presia was glad to see his humor remained after his trauma, and delighted to see the dynamic of Drifa was still unchanged.
“I guess you can just speak to me then, huh?” Nei jumped to his feet in front of Talon. “Unless of course you had some other agenda?”
“My office.” Talon scowled and pushed past Nei toward the stairs.“Absolutely.” Nei bowed after him before he turned to kiss Presia. “Come on, you pretty thing. We have to speak about Eden.”
“Before we share our tale I have a question of my own for you, Talon.” Presia sat gingerly across Nei’s lap as they settled in Talon’s office for what she assumed would be a lengthy exchange. “I have had auguries of an arrival here, beyond that of the Djinn…”
“That is none of your business, witch.” Talon glared at her. “Nor is it what I asked your Master here to discuss.”
“Ease off, Talon.” Nei warned. “I don’t need to tell you a fucking thing.”
“The arrival is long overdue payment for services rendered.” Talon gave his explanation curtly. “Beyond that it is not your concern. It is a private matter.”
“Keep it that way.” Presia insisted. “It should not force the Circle into turmoil.”
“You are not a member of this Circle.” Talon reminded her sternly.
“I’m about ready to walk out of here, Talon.” Nei smirked at him. “I’m not Karas. I don’t have to take your shit.”
“Despite your insufferable attitude, Frost.” Talon chuckled. “I actually value your place here. I just wish you remembered what it was.”
“Let’s just get story time over with.” Nei started to mindlessly braid sections of Presia’s hair to pass the time. “I don’t want to spend all day in here.”
Nei was cautious with his tale; there were dealings in Eden that he was certain were better left there. Fortunately for him, he had slept through many of the details of the climax of events and couldn’t do any real harm. He focused his storytelling where it would do the least damage; his own involvement, which seemed to entertain Talon well enough.
“You were foolish to put yourself in jeopardy for strangers.” Talon scolded Nei for the act that nearly killed him. “You are not invincible. You should remember in the future that bravery is often a worthless virtue.”
“No praise for the noble sacrifice?” Nei laughed at Talon’s fatherly tone. “I think I sense genuine concern under those insults.”
“It is purely selfish.” Talon chuckled. “I don’t feel like training your replacement.”
“I heard you were pretty pissed about my near death experience.” Nei retorted smugly. “So worried that you had Karas waiting at my door day and night.”
“Don’t flatter yourself. A member of my Circle was attacked.” Talon attempted to write off the vampire’s assumptions as he noticed several messages arriving on his tablet. “Lucifer wouldn’t give me answers; I had no choice but to get them from you.”
“Spare me the quote from the employee handbook, Talon.” Nei laughed and hugged Presia playfully on his lap. “Just admit you love me.”
“Would it make you less irritating?” Talon asked coldly as he responded to his messages. Nei’s quiet laughter and lack of an actual response was answer enough. “I thought not.”
“You don’t need to say it.” Nei grinned at him. “I know it’s true.”
“If you fell so quickly, you had minimal exposure to these fascinating creatures. These Djinn.” Talon decided not to waste any more time on Nei and pressed on. “Presia, you had more dealings with them.”
“Enough to know they are complicated and should not be underestimated.” Presia answered as honestly as she could without revealing the nature that would appeal to Talon most; their need to find a Master. She felt no one could benefit from one of the Djinn allying with Talon. “They were however given the Council’s permission to inhabit Tsuriai unscathed. I don’t suggest you make trouble, Talon.”
“I am not in the habit of making trouble.” Talon waved them off and turned in his chair. “That will be all.”
“Welcome back, Frost.” Nei mocked Talon’s lack of manners as he led Presia from the room. “So good to have you back, thanks for the story. Have a great fucking day.”
“Good evening, Nei.” Talon chuckled.
“Don’t fucking call me that!” Nei shouted as he left an icy wind behind him on his way out of the office. He turned to Presia and smiled. “Talking to some people is like squeezing lemons with papercuts. Now what is going on with this vision of yours?”
“I don’t know for certain.” Presia admitted her frustration. The visions had been minimal and she had been distracted by caring for her Master she only knew that there was a source of conflict that could drive a wedge between members of their Circle. “There is not much to go on. I just feel it will cause trouble with our First and Second.”
“Fuck it.” Nei shrugged. “Let them kill each other. I’ll take over, you take four-arms’ office.”
“And who will be our Third?” Presia playfully indulged his idea.
“We’ll get a dog.” Nei shrugged. “Who is gonna complain about it?”
Tsuriai 