ALMIRA THORN- Knowledge of Another Kind. [Editing]

Chapter 17- Preserved pleasantries.

As I pushed open the study door, the rooms low mumble of conversation continued as I entered into the room. Ray and Michael stood leaning with Lucian, deep in conversation as two faces stared at me, Ray looked up, giving me a smile, it lighting his face and lighting something deep inside myself, I snapped my gaze away and looked at the new arrivals.

One was a man of tall build, his height put at 6ft 3 at least as he towered over the rest of the company. His features soft with high cheekbones and sun kissed skin, making him look Spanish with his black hair, his eyes a bright hazel with flecks of gold around the rim, the knowledge and age behind the stare was one so old filled it had me holding my breath. His suit was smart and neat as he leaned over a large table filled with papers and map blueprints, much like the rest of the men in the room.

A woman was sat on the chair in the corner, showing obvious boredom and what the men were gathered doing. As her amber eyes set on me they brightened and she snapped up into a standing position, her purple dress complimenting her dark brown hair and pale skin perfectly, reminding me of Lizzy and her pale and pristine complexion. As she walked forward, her height was small, 5ft at least but it suited her small frame.

“You must be Almira, I’ve heard so much about you. You must be so bored with all these boys around you all day.” She giggled and winked at me.

I smiled, “I’ve got Lucy and she’s lovely company.”

The response shocked her and she flashed an emotion, too quick to know for certain, but I knew that she was not fond of Lucy from that flicker. None the less, she smiled and tightened her grip on my hand, “Of course, but I must take you into the town and out for lunch at some point, you must be dying to see the city after so long inside.”

“That’s enough Nina.” The man with the hazel and gold eyes spoke, his voice deep and strong. Nina loosened her grip and walked back to her seat, an annoyed look in her eyes despite her smile. The man walked up to me and even at my height I had to slightly crane my neck as he came and stood a foot from me.

He smiled, “Sorry about her” he whispered too low under his breath for anyone but me to hear, then he spoke louder, “My name is Jeremy, you have nothing to fear from me child but I need to know everything, no lies so we can understand exactly why the order have set out a warrant for you dead or alive.”

I gasped, “A warrant? Dead or alive? I just want my father back!” I moved into his space, not caring that he towered over me as I boomed my words across the room. Jeremy looked down and smiled, “I know you want your father back, but you cannot run through the streets.” He breathed before he continued. “Every major immortal assassin has you as their target and want the price they’ve got on your capture.”

I breathed, trying to control myself and not panic. “What do you want to know?”

He smiled again and it seemed genuine, “lets start from the beginning, your childhood.”

And so I did, I told them everything they asked, my training as a child, my healing, everything down to the tiniest detail, and it seemed to be the smallest details they took interest in, such as anybody that would meet with my father, anybody seen watching the grounds, any symbols in the books or along doors to indicate a knowledge of the order.

The mention of symbols on doors brought back a thought, a faint knowledge of something but it disappeared when I searched my brain further into it. Papa had worn a ring with a symbol, a sword embedded into an hour glass but I left that out, he’d said it was a family ring and the information seemed too personal to share. By the time I was finished, Jeremy had led me to the table and sat down, never taking his eyes away from mine, as he looked genuinely fascinated by the things I said.