dreams of dawn ~cold-light~ part G
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“...Usually I frighten people when I smile. It’s best not to cause a riot,” Ikenna responded after a moment of silence, his red gaze moving away from the lean sprite, instead to the sunlight pouring through the windows. Bright, painfully harsh sunlight. Blinding and unforgiving... Why did it have to be so... So painfully bright? So... “I really hate sunlight,” he suddenly commented softly without really thinking, his voice flat, holding little emotion. I... I really despise it so... Why had he said that aloud? He... Fool...

Nia cast a quick glance at the bright light spilling into the long, large living area, his smile fading, his carefree look easing into a solemn, troubled expression. “Go on and get yourself cleaned up a little. I’ll make you some Ules Tea. It’ll help, I promise,” he stated quietly, his attention drawing away from the light, his focus instead setting on Ikenna’s pale face and blood-red eyes. “Okay, Ikenna?”

“...Hm? Oh. Okay,” he responded distractedly, blinking, pulling his gaze away from the windows, the bright light... “Ules?” he then inquired, a questioning tone in his silky-smooth voice. What the hell is that? He’d never heard of it...

“Just trust me,” Nia stated with another laugh, his face regaining that trademark cheerful, easygoing expression. “It tastes like shit, but it’s great for hangovers,” he then commented lightly, turning away from the Councilman, taking a few steps towards the opposite end of the long room.

“Wonderful,” Ikenna responded sardonically, his focus moving down to the black carpet, the grey and black sphere design... It was dizzying, but better than the bright sunlight shining through the curtained windows. He... He really did need to wash his face, to collect himself. I’m acting like a fool, the man thought with a fatigued breath, slowly forcing his weary legs into motion, pulling himself from his sitting position on the black leather couch.

After standing still for a moment, doing his best to get better control of his wobbly legs and focus his blurred vision, the Councilman took a few slightly unsteady steps away from the sofa. As Nia left the room through the kitchen’s clear door on the opposite end of the room, Ikenna slowly made his way to the bathroom, near the computer and file cabinets on the far left side of the living area. Why would a drug-dealer need file cabinets? he wondered idly, his blood-red eyes glancing over the little office space before pulling away, instead focusing to the clear glass door leading to the apparently rather large bathroom. Glass door... Idiot.

Ikenna slowly reached out a hand to grasp the black handle on the clear door, pulling the heavy glass open, taking an unsteady step into the room. A large room, and unlike the edgy, darker décor of the living area, this room was far more simple and elegant. Elegant for a bathroom, anyway.

Dark, deep-purple tiled floor, softer, neutral shades of tile on the walls and ceiling... A separate shower and bathtub, both finely crafted and elegant. White with deep purple trimmings, and... A soft rose pattern on the side of the large tub... A nice touch. The petite sink in the corner matched the tub and shower as well, purple and white, a flowered pattern and a simple mirror... Cheerful, but not overpoweringly so. Ikenna of course preferred darker, moodier décor, but still... It was nice.

The redhead let out a sigh, his blurred gaze moving to the dark tiled floor, deep shades of purple, so dark it was almost black...

--“...You’ll ruin him, just as you ruined yourself...”--

Cold, accusatory words from his memories, echoing in the dark shades of purples, the.... Ikenna shook himself, forcing the wretched memory away, forcing that face from the past away. What the hell am I doing? Standing, staring at the floor like a damn lunatic. I suppose I am a lunatic... The man shrugged the thought off, taking in a weary breath. Stop it...

With a small shake of his throbbing head, he moved to enter the room further, the heels of his boots lightly clicking on the hard tile.

I really should get cleaned up and... And get out of here, get to the office... he then thought with a frown, moving closer to the white and purple toilet, gingerly raising the dark lids. After as many drinks as he’d consumed, his bladder was more than full... The ones who will give me the most trouble are Tanek, Arlo, Kana and Delya... Not that the others are much better, yet...

After relieving himself and flushing the toilet, he lowered the lids, his weary gaze setting on the sink in the corner, the oval mirror on the wall... His thin face makeup smudged and weary, dark circles ringing his bleary eyes... I look like hell... Not that it was particularly surprising. With that thought, the man moved to the sink, his gaze locked on the purple handles. He turned on a blast of hot water and proceeded to thoroughly scrub first his hands and then his face, using a profuse amount of the liquid citrus scented soap sitting on the sink’s basin. (After all, it was hard to tell what sort of bacteria he could have picked up on that damn bar...)

--You killed mommy, didn’t you? Just like you’re killing me. You kill everyone...--

Ikenna splashed another handful of hot water on his face, forcing that soft, innocent voice from his dreams away, closing his eyes tightly. God damn it... Hot water, washing away his smudged makeup and... His face still felt dirty. His hands, his face, he.... The redhead let out a troubled breath, moving to turn off the sink’s flow of water, his eyes moving to meet his reflection’s gaze in the mirror.

Without the makeup, his pale, wet face looked... Well. Rather awful. Heavy rings of black circles practically engulfing his weary eyes, his face drawn and so... So...

--...You’re the one who’s really a monster...--

His head pounding and his mind filled with images of a boy he had lost so long ago, he turned away from the mirror, unable to look upon his reflection any longer. It was far too disgusting of a sight to behold. Fool... Utter fool.

He grabbed a small white face towel from a wooden rack on the wall, roughly wiping his face dry. Afterwards, the slender man haphazardly tossed the towel back onto the rack, not even bothering to fold the damn thing. Which usually he would most certainly do, as he was generally a meticulously neat man, yet at the moment... His head was pounding far too much, his stomach churning, his body aching... He... Fuck the towel. Who cares?

Ikenna stepped unsteadily away from the sink, moving to grasp the bathroom door’s black handle, pushing it open, stumbling through the doorway. The large bathroom suddenly seemed too small, he.... Stop it. Idiot, he berated himself, clenching his fists tightly by his sides. Letting out a slow, steady breath, the man continued his slow pace, forcing his legs to remain steady, his red gaze moving about the long, narrow living area.

Nia had yet to return from making the ‘Ules Tea,’ (whatever the hell that might be,) the room quiet, still. The sun seemed to be shining even brighter than before, filling the dark room, bright sunlight spilling over the vibrant green plants situated tastefully around the room. Plants that Ikenna had failed to even notice earlier...

Light. The radiantly bright rays engulfing the furniture, the black leather glistening in that harsh light. Everything so... So damn bright. Ugh... Forcing his gaze to the opposite end of the room, Ikenna moved to traverse across the sunlit room, his focus on the clear door holding the kitchen. (According to Nia it was a kitchen, anyway. He had yet to even glance at the room...)

As he reached the clear glass, looked through the door, he discovered it was indeed a kitchen, large and sunny. Aqua-blue walls paneled with light colored wood trim, a hardwood floor covered with a large, intricately woven sea-foam colored rug. Wooden cabinets with turquoise counters, a large oval kitchen table and simple wooden chairs... Again, it was simple and elegant. Not to Ikenna’s taste, but... It suited Nia. It was nice.

The tall elemental currently stood at one of the counters, his back to Ikenna, assumedly preparing ‘tea.’ His head tilted a bit, obviously concentrating on his task, his lean frame relaxed and... He exuded such a calm, easygoing air. It... How does he do that?

With a weary sigh, Ikenna turned away from the kitchen door, his focus moving to the black loveseat situated directly in front of the large screened TV a few feet away. He... He needed to sit down.

The redhead moved to sit on the furniture piece, leaning his head against the cushioned back, his red gaze trained to the black ceiling. What time is it I wonder? How late was he for work? How many hours had passed since the meeting he had failed to attend? Not... Not that he particularly cared at the moment. He knew he really should be at least attempting to plan what to say to the rest of the Council, but Ikenna... He... I just don’t care. They can’t kick me off. Even if I am the single most hated member of the whole damn thing. It didn’t matter. Though he could most assuredly be punished, his position as head of Med and Science was in no current danger.

Of course, if the Council found out what he had done to the Letrum Venator, (and he was pretty sure they would) his punishment would be even more severe... Ikenna shrugged the thought off, closing his eyes, placing his right hand on his throbbing forehead. The worst they can do is hurt me a little... Nothing new there.

As a member on the High Council of Tevrra, Ikenna was practically untouchable by the country’s justice system, the police or military held no authority over the supreme authority of the Council. No... Council matters were strictly contained, held confidential... Which in his case, wasn’t always such a good thing. All matters regarding a Councilman’s indiscretions or criminal activities were solely ‘dealt’ with by fellow Council members in disciplinary hearings...Tuoni barely gets a slap on the wrist for raping two innocent human women, yet I show up ten minutes late for a meeting and the whole Council is ready to have me tortured for a week straight... the man thought, his hand pressed firmly against his forehead, his lips set in a bitter frown.

He could barely get away with simply missing a meeting, yet Arlo Tuoni could literally get away with murder... He raped those women and killed the man who tried to stop him, yet I’m the only one who voted for serious punishment... The only one... Of course Tuoni had allies on the Council, unlike himself. That makes all the difference.

Such an asinine system, full of dishonest wretches. A game of corruption and popularity contests. It was a game he was willing to play, however. For Malba, he’d take the abuse and thinly veiled death threats, the contempt and... The ‘disciplinary’ hearings... Besides, joining the Council had not only made Ikenna untouchable by the Tevrran’s justice system, but more importantly... It had made Malba untouchable as well. A councilmember’s family was included in the protective shield. When appointed on the Council, his son’s criminal acts were covered under the Council’s power, no one else. Which actually would have been a... A very bad thing normally, but...

On entering the Council, the redhead’s first act had been to strike an ‘agreement’ with his fellow members. A loophole he had found in the Council’s disciplinary writings. A practically forgotten option written in a little used book of Council ethics.

--...A councilman may choose to accept another’s justly deserved punishments, acting as a shadow sacrifice in the disciplinary eyes of the High Council. To accept is for life, a shadow sacrifice until the day of thy last breath...--

Ikenna had agreed to take any punishment for Malba, take it in his son’s place. Anything he does now, he can’t be harmed or punished for it by Tevrran hands. I’ll take it instead... Of course the Council --as well as the general public-- despised him and his son both for making such an agreement, but there hadn’t been a damn thing anyone could do to stop it. Council law is Council law. No going against it... Fucking over the Council with their own laws and ‘ethics’ had been somewhat amusing, really.

My son may be hated, but he is no longer a wanted criminal in Tevrra. That’s all that matters. It had been worth it. Malba hadn’t quite seen it that way, however. He had been so angry... Ikenna still wasn’t sure why. I freed you from your wanted status in Tevrra, yet you hit me and stormed off... Foolish boy. That had been centuries ago. He had still actually been on speaking terms with his son at that time. Their relationship was of course strained by that point, but at least... The boy would still talk with him, still... Such a long time ago... It... Malba...

As horrid as the Council was, he still... It served its purpose. Having full control of the country’s medical and scientific developments, wiping Malba’s criminal record, protecting him from prosecution... (Prosecution from Tevrra, anyway.) It was worth it. He’d play the game. It certainly wasn’t a game he enjoyed, and it wasn’t a game he could ever escape, yet that... What did it matter? As long as I get what he needs...

“Here. Drink this,” Nia’s light voice sounded, pulling the slender redhead from his contemplations. Ikenna slowly moved his hand away from his forehead, opening his weary eyes to focus on the aqua-blue cup held before him. A small, shallow cup without a handle, holding a dark, steaming hot liquid of some sort... Well. At least the cup looked sanitary. (Unlike the man’s bar...) Ules tea... Why the hell am I trusting him? Some sort of ‘tea,’ hm... The red haired man moved his focus away from the cup held in the elemental’s lean, long hands, his red eyes moving to the sprite’s face. A small smile on those slender lips, those black eyes holding a look of amusement...

“Don’t be such a baby. Just drink it,” the silver haired man ordered with a roll of his eyes, his light voice holding a teasing, playful tone. The redhead raised an eyebrow at this, a hint of irritation passing over his pale features. “Baby?” he inquired flatly, not pulling his gaze away from Nia and his teasing smile.

“Well. If the shoe fits...” the sprite responded airily, his amused smile growing, his black eyes sparkling... Odd. His eyes were so very dark, but somehow, so very bright at the same time. How was that even possible? After a moment of contemplation, Ikenna decided his head was pounding far too much to even bother to think about it. He instead rolled his eyes, reaching out his cut left hand to grip the warm cup, taking it from Nia.

The hot temperature of the cup was uncomfortable on his cut fingers and hand, and his whole body was absolutely throbbing, but he... He simply couldn’t work up the energy to care. Considering how much trouble Ikenna was most likely going to be in when he finally faced the Council, this pain was nothing. Not only would he have to face ‘punishment’ for his son’s newest crimes, but he had also ‘dared’ miss a meeting... Yes, he had a distinct feeling he’d feel much worse by nightfall. Best enjoy consciousness while I have the chance. Though enjoying consciousness wasn’t exactly easy.... Maybe being tortured and knocked out wouldn’t be such a bad thing after all. Perhaps then he wouldn’t dream...

“Stop staring at it and drink it already,” Nia stated and the redhead blinked, dragged from his thoughts. Ikenna let out an irritated breath, moving the cup to his lips, taking a large drink of the odorless dark liquid. Bitter. Horridly bitter... He swallowed hard, blinking his eyes at the overpoweringly sour taste of the ‘tea.’ “You’re sure this isn’t poisoned?” Ikenna questioned tonelessly, raising an eyebrow at the elemental standing before him.

“No, not positive,” the silver haired elemental quipped, moving to sit beside the redhead on the loveseat, gracelessly plopping down on the black leather cushion. “You have to drink all of it for it to work,” he then commented, resituating himself on the loveseat so that he was sitting cross-legged, his legs tucked under him.

“What, are you trying to make me sick?” Ikenna inquired irritably, raising his right hand to his temple, letting out a wince, swallowing hard once more. Why not just jump on the damn couch? he thought wryly, glancing at the elemental with an arched eyebrow raised. “Stop moving around so much...”

“I thought you said you could handle your booze?” Nia inquired teasingly, his light voice calm, amused. It was clear the silver haired elemental was enjoying this...

“I do handle liquor well. It’s when you bounce around and force me to drink poison that it gets a bit more difficult,” Ikenna retorted sullenly, his red eyes locked on the blue cup held in his left hand.

“Heh... Just don’t drink too much so fast. It’ll help. I told you it tastes like hell,” the man responded, giving the redhead a half amused, half sympathetic look. “After you drink the tea, why don’t you go back to sleep for awhile? It’ll make you feel better. You can stay as long as you want, I don’t mind,” he added, his black gaze moving to focus on the aqua-blue cup held in Ikenna’s thin, pale hand.

“...Thanks, but I really need to... Ngh. Get to the office. I’m already in enough trouble as is,” the red haired man admitted with a sigh, his right hand pressed lightly against his temple. “You really could have just left me at the bar, or kicked me out for that matter. Thank you for not tossing me out on the street. You really should have,” he then stated quietly, closing his red eyes, taking in a fatigued breath.

“No problem. I’m a low life criminal and all, but I’m not really that bad of a guy. I wasn’t going to throw you out,” Nia remarked lightly, shrugging his lean shoulders. “You’re sure you feel like going to work?” the sprite then questioned, glancing over the pale, slender redhead. “You look awful. No offense.”

“None taken. And I never feel like going to work,” Ikenna responded flatly, avoiding the question. Truthfully he hardly felt like existing, not to mention ‘working,’ but he... There was far too much he needed to do. Deal with the Council, try... Try to find some way to discover more information on Malba, on his current condition, his injuries... It... “I’ll be fine. I’ve got a change of clothes and a shower at my office. That’ll wake me up.”

“Hm. So... Do you need a ride? I’ll drop you off if you want,” Nia offered quietly, tilting his head a bit to the side, stretching his neck in an absentminded gesture. “It’s only a few blocks from here, right?”

“Yes... That would be nice, actually. I left my car at the office last night, I felt like walking... I definitely don’t feel like walking now, however,” Ikenna stated dryly, a hint of a sheepish tenor entering his weary voice. “I wonder if anyone’s stolen it yet,” he then commented with a wry smile, taking another small drink from the cup held in his left hand. Ugh...

“You left that fancy sports car of yours parked on the street?” the elemental inquired, disbelief entering his light voice, a thin, slender eyebrow rising. “Are you crazy?” he then questioned, his gaze set on the redhead. “In Cinis?”

Ikenna lightly shrugged his shoulders in response, taking another sip of the incredibly sour tea. “It isn’t like I can’t buy another one. Besides, it’s insured,” he stated evenly, his red eyes set on the blue cup held in his thin hands, the dark, steaming liquid...

Nia shook his head at the Councilman’s statement, wry smirk forming on his lips. “You have got to be one of the most apathetic people I’ve ever met,” he commented, his light voice dry. “And that’s saying a lot,” the silver haired elemental added, his black eyes moving to focus on the blank TV screen a few feet away from the loveseat. “Take me for example. If someone stole my car, I’d be pissed. Sure, I have enough money to buy a new one, but I like my car,” he then stated, moving to inattentively tuck a long strand of hair behind his ear.

“If you can afford another one, why does it matter?” Ikenna inquired with a frown, his focus not pulling away from the cup held in his hands. Why bother caring about mere objects? Replaceable, insignificant things... Why should I care? What did it matter?

“...Well. Because I like that car. I’ve had it for years. Just because I could buy another doesn’t mean it would be the same. It’d lose the sentimental value,” Nia explained with a soft smile, his black gaze drawing away from the screen, instead focusing on the redhead’s pale face. “It wouldn’t be the end of the world or anything, but there are a lot of things I wouldn’t want to lose. What about you? Isn’t there anything important to you, something that would piss you off if you lost it?” the elemental inquired, his head tilting a bit to the side as he studied the Councilman. “Obviously not your car.”

Ikenna slowly moved to take another sip of tea, ignoring the bitter flavor flooding his taste buds. Something he wouldn’t want to lose... Besides his son? The man frowned, contemplating the sprite’s question. Something... “Objects? I... A few photographs and other things like that. Things that would be worthless to anyone else, but... Other than that? I can’t really think of anything,” the slender redhead admitted after a few moments of thoughtful silence. I suppose I really am apathetic. Among other things, he thought, letting out a weary sigh, fighting down a wince as a fresh wave of pain ripped through his head.

“...Well. I guess you just aren’t much into material things. Nothing wrong with that,” Nia commented after a short pause, giving the redhead a small smile. “It’s pretty unusual for a politician to not be into money and material possessions though,” he added teasingly, his light voice holding a carefree, blasé tenor.

“...It isn’t that I don’t like nice things. I just...” Ikenna paused, trying to decide what it was he even wanted to say. It wasn’t that he didn’t like looking his best, didn’t appreciate fine things, but he... “I just... Honestly? I’ve grown too damn weary with this world to care much for anything. Other than my son. I suppose I’m nothing more than an obsessed monster, but I don’t... I don’t care,” he confessed with a short, entirely humorless laugh. The slender man then took a large drink from the cup held in his hand, finishing off the liquid in one swallow. I will not let him die. I will not let him suffer the same fate that hum--...Jinya. He will not suffer the same fate as Tenrai Jinya. I... He would find the solution. Even if it indeed meant sacrificing one of Malba’s dearest friends in the process.

--“To save that son of yours, you’re willing to sacrifice one of his best friends. That monster friend of his. What does that make you?”—

Yes, Arlo. I am a monster. I know I am and I don’t care. I... I don’t care. He didn’t care... The only thing he cared about was stopping it. Stopping the red eyes and the trapped, pained expressions, the agony and the... The...

“You’re not hearing a word I’m saying, are you?” Nia’s voice drifted through the man’s thoughts and Ikenna pulled his gaze away from the empty tea cup held in his pale hands, focusing his red gaze to the elemental. “Hm?” he responded with a blink, attempting to refocus his wandering thoughts, to pull himself away from the images threatening to overrun his contemplations. Red eyes and tearstained cheeks, pain and misery in those frightened, dejected eyes...

“I said I don’t think you’re an obsessed monster,” the silver haired sprite stated matter-of-factly, his black eyes focused on the Councilman. “I think you’re just a father who’s let his worry for his son overshadow everything else. You’re too busy worrying over your son to think about yourself, or anything else. Right?” the man commented quietly, his easygoing voice taking on a more somber tint. “That doesn’t make you a monster.”

“Doesn’t it?” was Ikenna’s only mumbled response, his red eyes moving away from the sprite, back to the empty cup held in his hands. Doesn’t it? He...

“Nah. And I know what I’m talking about. We bartenders know these kinds of things. You’re just a little messed up, that’s all,” Nia remarked cheerfully, a lighthearted tone again entering his voice.

The redhead raised an eyebrow at this, moving his focus to the tall elemental sitting beside him. “You’re a drug-dealer, fronting as a bartender,” he pointed out flatly, his silky voice toneless.

“Eh, drug-dealer, bartender. Same difference,” the silver haired sprite replied with a dismissive wave of his hand, a playful grin forming on his slender lips. “I still know what I’m talking about.” With that said, Nia moved to gently take the empty teacup from Ikenna’s pale hands, setting the cup on the black arm of the loveseat.

“...I see,” Ikenna stated dryly, rolling his red eyes. Same difference... Fool, he thought, though had to force back a faint smile at the man’s carefree statement. Such an odd person... A common criminal of the notorious Cinis District, yet so damn... Lighthearted. It was mind-boggling. He breaks the typical lowlife ‘Cinis thug’ stereotype, that’s for certain, the Councilman thought, closing his weary eyes, moving a thin hand to his aching forehead. “I’m still going to go with the ‘psychotic, obsessive bastard’ theory, though,” he finally added wryly, not quite suppressing the bitter smile threatening to overtake his lips.

“Hm... Well suit yourself, but I’m going to have to disagree with you, Councilman, sir,” Nia commented with a shrug, feigning an overdramatically resigned sigh. “It’s useless to argue with a politician, after all. You guys are all so damn stubborn,” he then stated, the smirk on his lips widening, his black eyes holding a look of amusement.

“Stubborn. Don’t forget arrogant and foolish. Those are necessary qualities one must have if they wish to make it in the world of -‘politics,’-” Ikenna added helpfully, the bitter smile not fading from his lips. Stubborn, arrogant and foolish... Yes, all required traits, I’m afraid, he thought, closing his eyes tighter. “Ah and if you wish to be a Councilman, add ‘corrupt’ to the list as well,” he then stated dryly, resting his head against the loveseat’s plush back.

“So, you’re saying you’re corrupt? Now there’s a surprise,” Nia responded with a teasing, sardonic tint in his light voice, his dark, luminous eyes practically sparkling with entertainment.

“Yes, I’m afraid my sinister secret has been revealed. Shocking isn’t it?” the redhead quipped, not having to open his eyes to know that the drug-dealer had that amused, mischievous expression playing across his pale features. He could hear it in the man’s voice.

“Completely shocking,” the elemental agreed with a smirk, shaking his head a bit at the Councilman’s words. “I would have never guessed.”

“Hn...” Ikenna let out a soft sigh, gently massaging his throbbing head, closing his eyelids tighter. “I thought that tea was supposed to help?” the redhead questioned after a moment of silence, pressing his thin fingers and thumb firmly against his temples. So far, all the tea had accomplished was to give the man a foul taste in his mouth. Ugh...

“Give it a minute, you big baby,” Nia remarked with a dry laugh, leaning back against the loveseat, his black eyes still focused on the redhead. “Rest for a few minutes and you’ll feel better. I’m not promising any miracles, but at least you’ll feel like living in a few minutes,” the man then stated, his slender lips not losing that playful, carefree smile.

“Feel like living? Now that really would be a miracle...” Ikenna mumbled, not pulling his hand away from his head. Living.... Haven’t tried that in centuries... Living... Such a tedious thing.

“Yep, you’re definitely not the Ikenna Nuiwa I expected when you first showed up a few months ago,” Nia suddenly commented, a hint of mischievousness entering his carefree voice. Ikenna cracked open an eye at the man’s statement, curiosity flickering across his pale face. What the hell is he going on about now? Judging by the playful look on the man’s face and the amusement in his black eyes, something bad...

“Not only do you drool like a baby, but you whine around like one too. Who knew the soulfire-vampire’s such an angst ridden little guy? I would have never guessed,” the elemental commented innocently, blinking his eyes in a nonchalant manner. “Though maybe I should have known, what with the dark makeup and black clothes,” he added with a downright devious grin, winking a black eye at the redhead.

“...After this damn headache goes away, remind me to kill you,” Ikenna retorted irritably after a moment of silent fuming, his red eyes holding an annoyed expression, his lips set in a deep frown. This made the fourth time the man had called him a ‘baby.’ How dare he? And little? Baby? Little guy? Little? Ikenna Nuiwa may be a lot of things, but... A baby? Little? I’m not a baby... And, so I’m not tall. I’m certainly not ‘little,’ however, he thought petulantly, glancing over his own slender frame. Feh...

“If it makes you feel any better, it’s pretty cute,” Nia stated, faking a consoling tone of voice, his impish smirk only growing.

“Yes, well it doesn’t make me ‘feel better.’ At all,” the red haired man snapped, letting out an agitated breath. “Fool,” he then muttered, pressing his hand against his forehead a bit firmer. He certainly had to give the elemental one thing; the man had guts. I believe he is the first person to call me a ‘baby.’ I’ve been called lots of things, but baby? Fool... Yes, the sprite certainly had no lack of courage, though maybe a serious lack of brains... Idiot...

“Heh. You know, pissing you off is fun,” Nia admitted with a pleasant laugh, his black eyes still holding a look of amusement.

“...See how fun it is when I strangle you,” Ikenna deadpanned, his silky-smooth voice toneless, his red eyes rolling in an irritated gesture. I changed my mind. He can’t hold a decent conversation. Maybe drinking alone is a better idea after all... he thought with an annoyed sigh, closing his weary eyes. “Or maybe I really should just burn you. And your damn bar,” he then grumbled sullenly, realizing full well that he was really starting to sound like his son. Again. I suppose he takes after me more than he’d like to admit...

“Heh. I’ll take my chances,” was the silver haired sprite’s response, his smile not lessening, his pale face still holding that playful, carefree expression. “Sir.”

Ikenna let out a groan at this, not even bothering to respond. Why must he listen to this, anyway? Wasn’t it bad enough that he had to have a hangover from hell? He wasn’t in the mood to be made fun of. Foolish sprite...

“Heh, okay, okay. I’ll stop. I’m sorry,” the elemental stated with another of his pleasant, playful laughs, his light voice calm. “Just lay back and rest for a few minutes, I’ll shut up. The tea will start to work here in a little bit,” the man went on to say, his voice easing into a bit of a more serious tone. “You mind if I turn the TV on?” he then inquired, his dark gaze moving to the blank television screen a few feet away from the black loveseat.

“...I couldn’t care less...” the redhead commented with a soft sigh, closing his eyes tighter. He... Damned head. He needed to be at the office, searching for leads on Malba’s whereabouts, his condition, he... Instead of sitting in Nia’s apartment, being teased, he should... He should be...While I’m just sitting here doing nothing, Malba could be suffering, dying... He could be dead. He... A small shudder coursed up the man’s spine and his thoughts trailed, his lips forming a frown. Malba... Though Ikenna was trying his very hardest not to obsess over the thought, it... Well, it wasn’t easy. The unknown. No way to know, no way to... No way to help, no way to do a god damn thing. Other than worry. You... You’re such a fool, Malba...

The slender, red haired man was drawn from his troubled thoughts by the motion of Nia rummaging about on the loveseat and Ikenna opened his eyes, focusing on the sprite. “What are you doing?” he inquired with an eyebrow raised, watching the man reach a hand into the loveseat, searching under the black cushion.

“Looking for this,” Nia stated in response, pulling a small black remote out from under the cushion, a wry smile forming on his lips. “I never can keep track of the thing. I think it has a mind of its own,” he kidded with a wink of his black eye, pointing the remote towards the TV, clicking the blue power button.

Ikenna rolled his eyes, a smile briefly gracing his lips. “Fool,” he mumbled softly, again closing his weary eyes. Actually, his head... The pain was starting to ease just a bit... Perhaps the tea really may be of some use after all. Now, if only he weren’t so damn weary, so achy and dizzy... The redhead continued to gently massage his head, letting out a sigh as the pain began to gradually ease, bit by bit.

“Hey... That’s you. You’re on the news,” Nia stated with a blink, his voice holding a hint of surprise. Ikenna opened his eyes at the sprite’s comment, sitting up a little, forcing his fatigued eyes to focus on the large TV’s screen. Indeed.... It was most certainly him. Oh God... The redhead let out a small moan, closing his eyes, allowing his head to fall back to rest on the loveseat once more. He didn’t need to see anymore. He knew exactly what the footage was from.

“In yesterday morning’s open Council hearing, Councilman Nuiwa was the sole holdout on the proposal to deploy troops to assist with the growing problem in the Fuayan nation’s crisis with Xzutai. In what some critics are calling a cowardly move on Nuiwa’s part, he again voted against military action,” a high pitched female voice sounded from the TV, her voice repulsively pleasant and utterly obnoxious. “Let’s roll another clip from yesterday’s meeting...”

“I hardly see how Tevrra sending a troop of soldiers into the heart of Fuaya is going to resolve the tension between the Fuayans and Xzutai. At this point, I’m rather certain full military deployment would only throw the two nations into full out war. I’m not against trying to find a way to help resolve the issue, but force is hardly the way to go about it, despite what Councilman Tuoni would like you to believe. Force isn’t going to solve this,” Ikenna’s own voice sounded from the news report as a clip of the previous day’s open hearing appeared on the screen. Ikenna resisted the urge to let out another groan, firmly pressing his hand against his head, painfully so.

News footage from an open Council meeting, before the whole fiasco had started with his son and... And of course, as usual, the press was making him out to be the ‘bad guy.’ Not that he particularly cared. They can believe what they want to believe. I don’t care... he thought, the frown on his lips deepening.

“And despite Councilman Nuiwa’s pacifistic, idealistic sentiments, if something is not done, our own country could be put in real danger. Not to mention Fuaya. Xzutai will crush them if something is not done. So Nuiwa, sitting back and doing nothing isn’t going to solve anything, either, now is it?” Arlo Tuoni’s gruff, deep voice bit back on the news clip, his tenor angry, loud.

“Yes, Arlo, and pressing Xzutai is really going to put our country in a safer position. A country that Tevrra is already on stressed relations with, to say the very least. Do you honestly think barging into Fuaya is going to help keep peace between the two nations? As usual, Tuoni would like us to rush in without even weighing other options. Do you want this to become another world war? Is that what you want?” Councilman Ikenna Nuiwa coolly responded in the clip, his voice silky-smooth, his attitude ice-cold, emotionless.

“No. What I want is for you to use your brains for once, assuming you have any left, Nuiwa. What with all of the drinking and your obvious lack of mental stability.”

“...That guy really is such a dick,” Nia commented quietly, a frown on his slender lips, his black gaze set on the television screen. “Maybe I should have slipped him enough to kill him instead of just knock him out,” he then joked weakly, his arms crossing about his chest as he continued to watch the news report.

“...That may not have been such a bad thing...” Ikenna responded with a hint of a smile, his red eyes slowly opening to focus on the TV. A scene of a large conference room, a circular table with eight chairs... The High Council of Tevrra.

A plain white room with rich brown carpeting... The public Council conference room, fitted with camera equipment and microphones. Eight Councilmen sitting around that circular table, all eyes set on Ikenna Nuiwa...

I always look so terrible on television... the man thought with a weary breath, taking in his pale, thin face, his apathetic, blank expression. Even with all the makeup, he still couldn’t quite hide that painfully pale, drawn and weary face. Ugh...

“...So, why did you vote against it? I mean, everyone is looking at you like they want to kill you. Wouldn’t it have been easier to just give in?” Nia inquired quietly, slowly pulling his focus away from the news report, instead focusing his gaze to the redhead sitting beside him. “Besides, Xzutai is causing a lot of trouble in Fuaya, right? What’s wrong with wanting to stop that?” he then questioned, his voice merely curious, his held tilting a bit to the side in an inquiring gesture.

“Arlo wants to barge into Fuaya and make war with Xzutai. He cares nothing about what it would do to Fuaya. This isn’t about helping the Fuayans, he has ulterior motives,” the red haired man responded with a fatigued intake of breath, his slim fingers and thumb moving to gently massage his aching temples. “This has nothing to do with Fuaya and everything to do with Xzutai. If he accomplishes what he’s truly after... Not only will the loss of life in Fuaya be immense, but our own troops...” Ikenna trailed off, shaking his head. “I can’t go along with it. I don’t care if it makes me look like the villain, there are things the public doesn’t know about this,” he added after a moment of silence, his red eyes pulling away from the screen, moving instead to the floor, to the bright sunlight tainting the thick, black and grey carpeting. Harsh, bright sunlight... “Arlo is a cold, evil bastard. Worse than me even. And I’m afraid that’s saying quite a bit... This isn’t about helping anyone, Nia. Trust me.”

“I somehow figured as much. Tuoni doesn’t really strike me as the caring, helpful type,” the silver haired drug-dealer remarked with a wry smirk, his black gaze moving back to the large television screen. “So... I guess without your vote, it can’t go through, right?” he then questioned, leaning back a bit on the black loveseat.

“Major military action has to be a unanimous decision. Tuoni basically has full control over the military, but he doesn’t have the power to declare full out war without the rest of the Council’s approval,” Ikenna explained, his voice flat, toneless, his gaze not moving from the black carpeting. The bastard has almost everyone on the Council as an ally, so... He usually gets what he wants... It... It was such a ridiculous system. To put a country’s fate entirely in eight corrupt men’s hands... (Well. Six men and two women, actually.)

“...How the hell did you end up on the Council, anyway? Why did you agree to it to start with?” Nia suddenly questioned, shaking his head at the continuing battle of words going on between the Councilmen on the TV news clip. “Seems like a hellish -‘job.’-”

How had he ended up on the Council? A lot of ass kissing and manipulative, underhanded moves... Not to mention sleeping around. That had been pretty helpful as well. I did what I had to do... “It was something I had to do. I don’t enjoy it, but it’s the only chance my son has. I knew what I had to do and I did it,” Ikenna responded matter-of-factly, his voice silky-smooth. “As for how... I was the assistant to the last Councilman of Scientific and Medical Developments. He chose me to be his replacement in the event of his death. That’s the way it works. Once you’re in, you’re in until you die,” the slender redhead then stated tonelessly, again moving to massage his temples. “When a Councilmember dies, his or her chosen replacement is appointed the position,” he explained wearily, his red eyes closing. I did what I had to do... I...

“...What if the Councilman who dies hasn’t chosen a replacement? How does it work then?” the elemental inquired curiously, turning a bit on the loveseat, repositioning himself so that he was facing Ikenna. “I guess I should be embarrassed to ask, but I’m not much up on politics,” he then stated with a wry smile, his voice light.

“If there is no one chosen, the Council votes on a replacement. When I die, that’s what will happen. I haven’t chosen a replacement and I honestly don’t care who they pick,” the Councilman admitted with a slight shrug of his thin shoulders. “Though I have a feeling they may very well vote in Cairra Darcy, as scary of a thought as that is,” he added, his voice utterly flat. That whore doesn’t have the brains to be on the Council. They’ll use her up until there’s nothing left... Stupid bitch.

“...Well. Hopefully you’ll stick around for awhile, that way we won’t have to worry about who they choose as a replacement,” the tall sprite stated nonchalantly, his voice even and blasé, yet his smile faded, his black gaze moving once again to the television screen. “Right?”

“...Hm...” Stick around? He... Ikenna merely shrugged his shoulders once more, taking in a deep breath. He didn’t particularly want to ‘stick around.’ All he wanted was to help his son... He... After that? I haven’t even thought about ‘after’ I save him... It... It’s tiresome... Besides. Malba will probably kill me once he’s well... And that’s fine. I... I’ll accept that. The redhead pushed the thought away, opening his eyes to focus once more on the news report.

It seemed the clip from the previous day’s meeting was no longer showing; instead a panel of three well dressed individuals (as well as the female newscaster) sat around a square desk, apparently ‘discussing’ the meeting’s outcome. Two male demons in fine suits, both with short, dark hair and haughty, arrogant faces... An attractive female elemental dressed in a dark, casual suit, her light blue hair long and curled, her small face heavily painted with makeup... Not to mention the prissy newscaster. A human with short blonde hair and perky breasts, dressed in a revealing red top and a short black skirt. Ugh... Why are we watching this? He... He really didn’t want to hear it... Ikenna knew what was coming and he really just wasn’t in the mood to listen to it.

“It’s no surprise that Nuiwa voted against any kind of action. All the man is good for is sitting back and looking pretty. He hasn’t got a brain in his head,” the female elemental commented with a sullen voice, her head shaking in a disgusted gesture. “The people of Fuaya are in a real crisis and Nuiwa couldn’t care less. Councilman Tuoni is a good man, he wants to help, but thanks to this, we are again forced to sit back and do nothing while the Council continues the debate on what to do. It’s saddening,” the woman added with a sigh, her green eyes focusing to the male demon sitting directly next to her. “What do you think, Bennet?”

The stuffy, haughty man nodded his head at the woman, his thin lips forming a frown. “I think with people like Ikenna Nuiwa governing this country, it’s no wonder we’re getting nothing done. He’s one of the worst things to happen to this nation. Most definitely,” the demon commented, his voice self-important, his narrow face holding a knowing expression. “Quite frankly, I think the man is a psychotic, obsessive fool. He’s far more concerned over his own personal family matters than governing this country. I’m sure we’ve all heard the rumors about that son of his and his newest scrape with the law. As usual, Nuiwa is more focused on that son of his. He’s clearly not stable. It’s in these cases that I wish the public could be more involved in determining who is assigned seats on the Council. The fact that we’re stuck with Nuiwa is a very depressing reality.”

Ikenna let out a bitter laugh at the elemental and demon’s words, his red eyes closing, his head moving to lean against the loveseat’s plush back. “Ah. You see, I told you I’m a psychotic fool. Now it’s confirmed,” he stated dryly, his silky voice holding a hint of wry, self-deprecating humor. “Ah, and Arlo is a good man. Yes, he’s a fucking angel,” he added derisively, his eyes closing tighter. Tuoni, a good man? Hah... What fools... He’d go along with the ‘psychotic, obsessive fool’ dig, but Arlo Tuoni, a good man? What utter fools...

Nia frowned at the television, a look of distaste passing over his pale features. “Who are these idiots? It says ‘political experts.’ This seems less like debate and more like grade school name-calling,” the silver haired elemental stated, irritation entering his light voice.

“Ah, but Nia. In my experience, ‘experts’ and grade school children are usually on about the same wavelength. You must not watch a lot of political shows, eh?” the redhead responded with a small smile, feeling a bit of amusement at the man’s agitation. “Don’t worry about it. This is mild, trust me,” he then stated, his smooth voice calm, even. I’ve heard far worse... I’ve gotten used to the whole country thinking of me as a ‘psychotic fool.’ Though I suppose it’s true, so it isn’t something I can really deny, anyway, Ikenna thought with a frown, pressing his head back against the loveseat a bit firmer. “It’s nothing new. I am the ‘soulfire-vampire’ after all,” he pointed out, opening his red eyes to meet the tall elemental’s black gaze. “I just wish they would leave Malba out of it. Hate me, not him...” he then confessed, a sigh escaping his lips.

“...It’s still wrong,” Nia responded quietly, his perturbed look not lessening. “It has to sting, hearing that crap all the time, doesn’t it?” he inquired with a deep frown, his eyes holding a questioning look. “Even if you are the supposed -‘soulfire-vampire.’-”

Sting? Ikenna raised an eyebrow at this, a hint of a smile again gracing his lips. ‘You have to care for it to sting. I’m apathetic, remember? It’s annoying, but other than that? What does it matter?” the thin redhead pointed out evenly, his voice silky-smooth. Why should I care? I... I don’t care. Not about the world, about what I’m thought of, what I... What I’ve become. None of it matters. He had stopped caring long ago.

“...Liar,” Nia stated after a moment of thoughtful silence, a soft smirk forming on his slender lips. “I think you care a lot more than what you’d like to admit,” he added, his black gaze focused solely on the Councilman’s pale, weary face. “You care.”

“Is that what you think? How naïve,” Ikenna remarked with a quiet, bitter laugh, a bit of dark amusement tinting his smooth voice. “I don’t care, Nia. I assure you I don’t give a damn about this world,” he stated firmly, breaking eye contact with the elemental. He instead pulled his gaze back to the carpet, the bright sunlight. So bright, it hurt his weary eyes. I really hate sunlight...

“You don’t care at all, huh?” Nia inquired evenly, continuing to closely watch the red haired man, his small smile not fading.

“No. I truly don’t.”

“I see.”

Ikenna rolled his eyes at the man’s response, a bit of irritation washing over him. Who was he to second guess his own feelings, or lack therof? I think I know myself quite well, thank you very much... Annoying bartender. Drug-dealer. Whatever.

“So... Councilman Nuiwa, answer this for me then,” Nia stated playfully, that mischievous tone again flittering into his light, carefree voice. “If you don’t care about the world... Why is it that you’re putting your own ass on the line to try to keep Tuoni from getting a bunch of people killed, hm? If you don’t care, why bother? Why not just let the guy have his way, let him cause another big war?” the silver haired sprite inquired, a knowing smirk firmly in place on his smooth, slender lips. “Well?”

“...Ah. Well, it’s just the principle of the thing,” the redhead responded defensively, his gaze not moving from the carpet. It wasn’t that he cared. He just... “I just don’t like for that bastard to get his way. I get tired of watching the fool get by with anything and everything. The general public knows nothing about the real Arlo Tuoni and it just... Irritates me,” Ikenna added with a deep sigh, lightly shrugging his shoulders. It isn’t that I care, I just... The man’s thoughts trailed and he let out another breath, his focus slowly moving away from the carpet, back to the large, flat television screen. His blurry gaze focusing on the group of ‘experts’ dissecting his words, his actions, critical words and disdainful expressions... He didn’t bother to listen to the words spoken, just watched idly, taking in the bitter expressions and angry eyes... He truly didn’t care. He didn’t.

“...Hm. The principle of the thing,” Nia repeated, a silver eyebrow rising. “That’s it, huh? Just the principle of it?”

“Yes. That’s all it is,” Ikenna retorted irritably, taking in a deep breath.

“The principle.”

“Yes. The principle.”

“Hm.”

“...Feh... Idiot bartender...” Ikenna mumbled with a roll of his red eyes, though for some odd reason... A hint of a smile formed on his lips, despite the aggravation coursing through him.

“Drug-dealer.”

“Whatever.”

“Heh...”

The two fell into silence at this and the red haired man moved to again rest back against the loveseat, his gaze focusing on the black tiled ceiling. Black tiles, lined with white... It was... Still a bit dizzying... Though, at least that damn tea had actually begun to kick in a bit, as his head wasn’t pounding quite as much, nor was his stomach churning as badly. He... Now, if he could just... Work up the energy to move... I really need to get out of here. He had already wasted an entire night and morning, drinking like a fool. He... I have got to get to the office, I...

“Well, we’re out of time for this segment, so until next time, I'm afraid we'll have to say goodbye to our expert guest panel. Next up is world news...” the bright, bubbly human newscaster’s grating voice broke into Ikenna’s contemplations and he sighed, slowly dragging his attention away from the ceiling, focusing back to the TV. “Annoying, isn’t she?” the redhead inquired apathetically, his gaze focused on the short haired human, her wide smile and bright-hazel eyes. So very fake... That smile... Ikenna was quite the expert on lies after all, and he was certain the woman’s cheery temperament was nothing more than an act. A grating, obnoxious act.

“Heh. Well, she is a little high strung,” the elemental agreed with a smile, also turning his attention to the blonde on-screen. “Though you think everyone is annoying, so that’s not saying much coming from you,” he then pointed out with a teasing laugh, turning his focus back to the Councilman. “Right?”

“Hm. You may have a point...” the slender redhead conceded, his voice silky and even. Ikenna gave the elemental a hint of a smile at this, before once again pulling his gaze back to the ceiling. “You definitely may have a point...”

“Heh.”

“Hn...”

“And in what is an ongoing mystery, Teajan officials have yet to release any statements on the string of bizarre events taking place in the country’s Main District,” the woman newscaster stated with that bubbly, obnoxiously pleasant voice and Ikenna raised an eyebrow, refocusing on the screen. What bizarre events? What had he missed while drinking himself into oblivion? The man perked up his attention, forcing his weary mind to fully focus on the human’s words.

“Yesterday, the odd string of events started with the unexpected assassination of Official Gera Neesen, found stabbed to death in his Main District office. Shortly afterwards, a blast of unidentifiable energy shook all seven districts of Teaja, leaving the country in a state of alarm. No injuries were reported, but this unknown energy has left many demons and elementals alike in quite a terrified state,” the woman reported with a frown, her hazel eyes glancing down to a stack of white papers held in her short, plump hands.

“Gera Neesen was assassinated?” Ikenna inquired with a blink, a bit of surprise tinting his silky voice. “That man’s security detail was one of the most elite groups in all of Teaja. Whoever killed the bastard deserves an award,” he stated with a roll of his red eyes, a dark tint of humor in his words. “I’ve had to work with that fool a few times over the years in diplomatic relations. He was a perverted wretch,” the redhead went on to state, a look of disdain appearing on his pale face. “He was involved in sex-slavery, among other vile things...”

Nia shuddered at the Councilman’s words, a look of disgust forming on his lean, attractive face. “Sex slaves? Are you serious?”

“Sadly. And from what I understand, his slave ring’s specialty was mostly underage human girls. Innocent teenagers. He was a disgusting monster. Why the Teajans kept him in office is beyond me,” Ikenna responded with a shake of his head, his lips forming a frown. “I would have killed him myself if I could have gotten away with it. Well, looks like the world’s been rid of one monster at least. I wonder what assassin group was able to pull it off. That’s rather impressive, really,” the slender man stated matter-of-factly, his expression thoughtful. It would take an elite assassin to get by Neesen’s guards... I’m impressed. It was most certainly an arduous feat this assassin had accomplished.

“...Again I ask, why would you care, Mr. Apathetic Councilman?” Nia inquired teasingly, shooting the redhead an annoyingly playful smirk. “You don’t care about anything, remember?”

“...Oh, bite me. Fool...” Ikenna muttered irritably, his voice flat, his face frustrated. Foolish sprite... “I suppose even I have some standards...” he then mumbled, rolling his red eyes.

“Bite you? Bite you? Oh, now that’s not a very Councilman-like thing to say,” the drug-dealer responded, a mockingly shocked tone in his voice, his black eyes blinking innocently. “I’m stunned, sir,” the man added, his voice again taking on that lighthearted, teasing tenor. “Seriously though... I wonder what the hell that energy blast was that everyone’s talking about. I heard a little about it yesterday. Looks like no one’s figured it out yet,” Nia then stated, his tone taking on a more somber tint, his black gaze moving back to the television screen.

“Good question. It’s hard to tell,” Ikenna responded, ignoring the man’s previous teasing comment. He wasn’t even going to dignify it with a response. “I hadn’t heard anything about it, but I was... Eh, well. Not concerned with world affairs,” he confessed with a shrug of his shoulders, his thoughts threatening to move back into dangerous territories, into contemplations of his missing son and his injuries, and... And... “What time did this happen?”

“Dunno, sometime yesterday. Not sure,” Nia admitted with a smile, digging a hand into his black jean pocket to retrieve his cigarettes and lighter. After lighting a cigarette, he shoved the items back into his pocket, his black eyes focusing on Ikenna. “I think some woman killed herself in Teaja yesterday, too. Right before it happened. Everyone’s went crazy over there or something,” he then commented, taking in a deep breath of nicotine laced smoke.

“A suicide? That isn’t too unusual though, is it?” the Councilman questioned, moving a hand to massage his forehead for a moment, his weary eyes meeting the sprite’s black gaze. People kill themselves everyday... Suicide... Yes. Not uncommon... he thought, his red gaze moving away from Nia to focus on the black and grey carpet, the painfully bright sunlight... Not uncommon at all...

“Yeah, but this was kind of weird. Some ice demon I think. She jumped off the elevated train right before that energy thing happened. The passengers on the train were doubly freaked out, obviously,” the silver haired elemental commented with a rueful smile, shaking his head a bit. “Can you imagine? Watching some person throw themself from a train and a few seconds later, some insane blast of weird energy erupts throughout all of the Districts. I’m surprised there wasn’t a riot,” the man confessed, his attention moving back to the flat television’s widescreen. “Oh, hey. Here, listen, they’re showing something about it now. This is a clip from yesterday. That’s the guy on the train who tried to stop her,” Nia pointed out with a blink, motioning his lit cigarette at the news clip.

Ikenna forced his attention away from the floor, focusing again on the TV, taking in the clip. A female reporter interviewing an elderly human dressed in a dark uniform. The man clearly upset, tears in his sad eyes... Why is he so upset? So some crazy woman killed herself. Happens all the time... The redhead continued to listen however, taking in the man’s description of the demon, her behavior... Wait. An ice demon with blue, black and white hair? An assassination... A blast of energy... Ikenna smiled, shaking his head. “I’m sure they haven’t found her body,” he stated calmly, a bit of amusement playing in his silky-smooth voice. “They won’t find a body.”

“They hadn’t found her when I heard about it, why? What do you mean they won’t find a body?” the drug-dealer responded questioningly, a silver eyebrow rising at the smile on Ikenna’s lips. “What’s so funny?” he inquired, a hint of confusion playing in his dark gaze.

“It wasn’t a suicide,” the redhead replied levelly, not able to fight off the small amused smile on his lips. It would appear you weren’t the only one causing trouble yesterday, Malba, the man thought, his focus moving to the black tiled ceiling. “That so called ‘jumper’ was the assassin,” Ikenna pointed out with a bit of amusement, his weary eyes not moving from his focus on the black ceiling. Black and white... That explains why the assassin was able to bypass Neesen’s security. The blood-fox is about as elite as you can possibly get... That woman makes most soldiers look like helpless infants.

“Huh? How do you know that?” Nia inquired with a blink, a perplexed tone entering his light, pleasant voice. “How could you possibly know that?”

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