Nimrah

Not What You Think

A/N Probably only one or two more chapters to go. YAY! :D

If any of you remember back to the prologue you may have some suspicions as to Mr Brown's place in the story. If not.... Enjoy xx

-------------------------------Chapter 25---------------------------------------

I hovered in the foyer, just waiting. Watching the seconds on the clock tick ever slower and dread set in. After Miriam’s threat last night Lon had returned to his room. Colt and Alberta were assigned to a room on a temporary basis… according to Miriam they were to be gone in three days. I worried what she meant by gone. Sarah had followed me back to my room and made her way to the bed. She’d crawled back under the covers without a word but held a corner up invitingly. I’d made my way to her and slid in beside. We had a close friendship so I hadn’t been surprised when she’d wrapped her arm about my waist and hauled me tighter to her. I’d followed suit and let my breath fan her face. After a brief silence she’d begun shaking. Sob wracked Sarah and she’d ducked her head, pressing her face into my shirt. I felt so guilty knowing the position I had unintentionally placed her in. Her life was in danger because of me. After seemingly hours, though was likely mere minutes, she’d composed herself and drew back a little and whispered, “I’m so sorry Nim…”

I hadn’t been sure if she meant she was sorry personally, as though she had a part to play in this mess. Or if she was apologising on behalf of Miriam. Or if simply Sarah has been trying to express her regret for the situation we were in. Whatever it was I squeezed her comfortingly and whispered back, “We’ll be fine.”

As I waited in the foyer I prayed I could keep my promise. So much was riding on my “display of talents” as Miriam had christened it. If I couldn’t convince this guy to continue his funding Sarah was dead. Lon was dead. Colt and Alberta were dead. I could not live with myself if that had happened, so I guess by default then I was dead. Miriam’s foot tapped the floor impatiently. Her hand rested on the back on my neck like a collar and leash tethering her tome and making sure I was under control. Everyone else at the Society were to continue going about their day as per usual. Sarah had been dropped back at her school earlier in the morning by Allegro. He was yet to be clued in on the events of last night. Unless Lon, Alberta or Colt had said something, then only us five present last night, and the armed men and Miriam of course, knew what occurred. Though Miriam hadn’t specifically told us not to tell anyone else it seemed to have been implied. We didn’t want to draw anyone else into the hole that had been dug for us.

“Remember the stake Nimrah,” Miriam hissed as my eyes flicked once more to the clock, “Mr Brown is the chief funder of the Changers’ Society. Without him this place would go bust and before you go thinking that doesn’t sound so bad, that would mean no protection from Determiners at all. But not only that, any future changers will be without support and their volatile natures and sporadic shifts never controlled. Imagine a tiger changer unable to control their shift in the middle of a crowded mall. Not a good look is it?”

I bit my lip unwilling to respond. Miriam took my silence as affirmation and harrumphed in a satisfied manner. The entrance door buzzed signalling the arrival of Mr Brown. I don’t know what I had expected but as he rounded the corner and came into view I knew he wasn’t it. The man was in his early twenties at most and carried himself like a young adult, rather than a businessman. But what struck me most were his blue eyes and brown hair. Many people in the world have that combo, but looking at him I just felt the face was so familiar.

“Mr Brown!” Miriam exclaimed warmly stepping forward. She reached forward to shake the man’s hand, “What a pleasure to have you here,” she schmoozed. I grimaced at her tone but thanked the release of her hold on my neck.