Sentry of the Arcane

Chapter 8: Fitz

I don't realize how much time has passed until someone knocks on my bedroom door. I walk over to it, but I don't open the door. When I realize that there's no peephole to identify who's on the other side, I ask loudly, "Who it it?"

"Who do you think..?!" a deep, impatient male voice replies.

I open the door to see Donovan tapping his foot restlessly. He notices that I'd opened the door and exclaims, "Dude, do you realize how long it's been?"

I shake my head. I grab my room key and slide it into my pocket. "No... What time is it?" I ask as I close my door behind me.

"It's 9:12," he says exasperatedly. "Everyone's waiting for you!"

Suddenly, I see Audrey rush past the two of us to Sophie's room. Raising an eyebrow at the male Sovereign, we step into the elevator. "..Everyone?" I ask sarcastically.

"Well- almost. Sophie was still in her room while you were in your room. Apparently, Audrey decided to listen to Laurel when she suggested that we should bring the two of you down." Donovan scoffs, "I should have guessed that you'd be researching at this time."

I chuckle softly at his remark as we make our way to the conference room. Jacob Grahams was a part of the army, I tell myself. 43 years old. Has the military buzzcut that's required. Both parents are dead: one from cardiac arrest and the other from cerebral hemorrhage. Lost his right arm to a currently unknown injury...

"Good to know," Donovan suddenly remarks, making me realize that I was talking out loud. "But why am I supposed to know that?"

I shake my head as I open the doors to the conference room. "You don't need to know that," I reply as the two of us take our seats. "But I was just reviewing who Jacob Grahams is."

"The brother, right?" I turn around to see Sophie sit down besides me. She then stares at everyone as the other four begin to converse among one another, now silent.

I frown faintly. Then I notice the slight hesitation that flashes across her face. Realization dawns on me and I lean forward, close to her ear. "...You suspect Jacob, don't you?" I whisper, causing her to swivel her head at me, our noses barely touching. I divert my attention from her faint blush and add, "I can see why you doubt him, though. His background would make him the likely suspect." Without waiting for her reply, I sit up straight and pay attention to the conversation in front of me.

The main participants of the conversation are the two Sovereigns. If anything, they're arguing about how Audrey was eavesdropping on us earlier. "I was so quiet! Someone told!"

Donovan snorts from his laughter. "As if, girlie. I heard you while you were getting out of the elevator." He crosses his arms, a smug grin on his face.

"...Sure, Pitts. And here I was thinking that you were brain-dead and deaf. Thanks for clearing that up!" Audrey grin a cheeky smile. "Now I know you're just brain-dead!"

Donovan frowns. Turning to me, he asks, "Who's better at eavesdropping- me or Audrey?" He points at himself and silently mouths, Me, right?

I shake my head. "First of all, you haven't shown me your eavesdropping skills, Donovan."

"And Audrey, you got caught by Donovan," Sophie points out, causing me to laugh. "Remember?"

Laurel nods her head. "So they're both losers!"

Benen snickers at the shocked expressions of the two Sovereigns. "Ha! I guess they are."

Almost on cue, Donovan hold a white-knuckled fist up at the male Altruistic. "Guess again, sonny. I dare you..."