Obsidian's Reign ¹

∷ Chapter 11 ∷

CLARA STARED AT the two demons before her, determining the weight of their words. They were trying to protect her from . . . angels? The situation seemed highly ironic and if Rylan and Jae weren't supernatural beings themselves, she probably would have doubted them. Unfortunately, it was only too clear from their expressions that they were, in fact, being serious. Frighteningly so.

Clara frowned, leaning forward from her seated position and burying her face in her hands. What kind of twisted situation did she find herself in this time?

She took a moment to compose herself, and when she finally pried her fingers from her face, she found her companions looking back at her in the same manner as before. Despite the forceful nature of their proposal, both had a blank expression on their faces, with Rylan boasting an unconcerned air about him. A sigh of resignation left Clara's lips as she straightened herself from her hunched over position.

"And if I refuse?" she asked.

"You seem to be mistaken about one thing," Rylan said. "You don't have a choice. It doesn't matter if you refuse or otherwise."

Clara felt increasingly annoyed the longer the conversation went on. They were going in circles and it irked her.

"Fine," she said. She didn't see a point in furthering the argument. A part of her knew that the only choices she had were to agree willingly or be forced to agree.

"Fine, what?" Rylan prodded, earning a scowl from her.

"Fine—I agree to stay in the mansion for the next seven days."

Jae allowed himself a moment to exhale in relief at her words, his blank expression morphing into one that portrayed a genuine smile. Unlike his superior, Rylan could hardly care less if she agreed to the proposition or not. Either way, the Elite would definitely get her to stay, even if it meant forcing her against her will and locking her up.

It was highly unlikely they would permit her soul to be forsaken before the deal was completed. The Elite never let a job go unfinished and Rylan would ensure they didn't start now.

Shifting in his seat, he said to Clara, "Despite what you might think of us, it's not in our nature to go back on our word and that includes respecting the terms of the deal you made with Jae. Part of it was that you will be given absolute freedom for a week to do whatsoever you desire. However, in light of recent developments, it would be best if you remain in the mansion unless you absolutely must leave. In which case, you are to let one of us know where you're going."

"It's not as though I'm capable of going anywhere," Clara grumbled. "In case you've forgotten, my car is still a pile of ash."

Rylan couldn't help but laugh at that, breaking his initial stoic manner.

"Even better. You might as well just stay here quietly until your week is up."

Clara scowled at him and was about to give him a piece of her mind, but was stopped when she unintentionally met Jae's eyes from across the coffee table. He shook his head at Rylan's behaviour.

"I have a better idea. Why don't you drive her to the city?"

"And be her personal chauffeur for a week? What makes you think I'd be willing to do that?" Rylan glowered at his superior's words.

"You drive up to Alphaplex every day and a passenger during the journey isn't going to make much of a difference, is it? It might even make for an interesting trip."

The frown on Rylan's face seemed to be steadily deepening with each word. Though he could think of a million and one things he'd rather do than have to drive the human girl back and forth, he knew that once his mind has been made, there's no winning an argument with Jae. He always has the last say, after all.