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Chapter 5
Ana
After I agree to Tzelik’s offer and make what is bound to be one of the biggest decisions of my entire life, I barely even get a minute to settle on the idea before a mysterious man in a crisp black suit practically kicks the restaurant’s doors down and strides towards us. He has the same paper-white skin and electric blue eyes as Tzelik, the same striking features, and although his neat hair is a shocking jet-black against his colorless skin, when he reaches the president’s side I’m struck by what an intimidatingly handsome picture they make side by side, and I wonder if they’re related. If so, I suppose that good looks must run in their genes, and I try not to stare as he spares me a cool glance before leaning down to whisper something into Tzelik’s his ear.
Tzelik sits suddenly straighter in his chair. “Now?”
“Yes,” Mystery Man says, his voice gravelly and flat.
“Well, then.” The president stands up in a quick motion, one hand coming to rest over the thin sword hanging at his hip. “Miss Martin, take Miss Blyesh and my son home immediately. Do not stop anywhere, do not talk to anyone. My brother and I have some business to attend to.”
“Uh, sure. Is everything—?”
“Immediately, Miss Martin.”
And just like that I’m left alone in a trashed restaurant while a few waitstaff hover awkwardly in the corner with our food, as Asili’s angry cries float through the bathroom doors.
I grab the food to-go, and we eat it in the car on the way back. Just when I’m convinced that the longest day of my life might finally end soon, the luxury carrier hums to a stop by the front door to Tzelik’s mansion and the three of us pile out to see that our entry is blocked by a very large, hulking figure with his back to us.
“What in hell is happening now?” I sigh as I pull up beside Mystery Man Number Two of the night.
The man turns from where he’s talking to one of the butlers at the door. He’s wearing a heavy leather jacket with metal studs on it, is almost as wide as the double doors, and has an upturned, flat nose on his dark purple face. When his four black eyes land on me, his nostrils flare as he sniffs the air.
“You are President’s new assistant?” he asks in a booming voice that I feel through my chest.
“Yeah, unfortunately…”
“Good.” He hands me what looks like a little gift-bag with ribbon handles. “Give to him. I go now.”
“You’ve got blood on your shoes, you know,” Asili interjects haughtily while I pluck the bag from his meaty fists.
“No, do not,” he says, even though he clearly does. “It’s trick of light.” And off he disappears into darkness.
“Great,” I mutter. “Are we done with all the drama, or does someone else want to sneak in a quick reveal before we head inside?”
Asili tilts his pointed little chin back to look at me as Miss Blyesh guides him through the doors. “You’re weird.”
When I follow them all in, I once more find myself freezing up as I take in my surroundings.
Of course this is what the inside looks like.
Black and white tiled marble floors. Platinum embossed decorative molding. A huge entryway with two sweeping white staircases curling towards each other, a massive crystal chandelier illuminating the room in a dazzling array of light, and a handcrafted, misty mural painted over what looks like acresof domed ceiling.
As my eyes trace over the lavish display before me, I wonder just how much money one man needs.
“Yekita, I want a glass of milk before bed!” Asili grabs the nanny by her skirts and drags her off.
Yeah, honey, and I want my life to not be some kind of strange, mafia sit-com…
I turn to ask the butler where my room is, only to find that he’s disappeared.
…Well I guess I’ll just go to the kitchen too, then.
Curiously, I peek inside the little bag as I jog to catch up, and find that it’s been kept strangely cold inside.
Is this a cooler bag? Why would the present need to be cooled?
I get to the kitchen only a few steps behind, and Asili is already sitting on a tall barstool by a white marble bench-top while Miss Blyesh pours him milk. I lean a shoulder against the doorframe and shake the bag a little. “Does anybody know what room I’ll be sleeping in?”
