Waylaid Part I : Thieves in the night.

Chapter V

Elisa sat behind her desk and stared out the large picture window that dominated the wall behind it.  Her office was on the thirteenth floor of the building, so the view would be considered by most to be somewhat breathtaking.  She rarely noticed the view however, when she stared out this particular window she always seemed to do so lost in thought.
Her thoughts when staring out this window usually revolved around her father.  Elisa was the daughter of the Great Lifebane, but few knew that he was her father, and she liked to keep it that way.
Elisa hated her father, and knew that he in return had hated her.  She never had the knack or ability to learn magic, so to him she was useless.  Never while he was around did he waste an opportunity to tell her how much of a disappointment she was, and how much joy he took in watching her fail at everything, just like the useless masses they were trying to conquer.
She hated him, but she was determined to bring him back from wherever he had gone, just so she could rub his face in how much she had accomplished without him.  Then she would kill him and take his place as the true leader of his fallen Empire.  But these were thoughts for another time.
Now however, she sat lost in thought over the last few days.  That human bitch, and her ugly friend, along with that dreadful Dwarvin bartender had caused her enough problems to set her plans back.  Worse than that, they had humiliated her.  The humiliation alone screamed for their deaths.
How were any of the other leaders of Lifebane's fallen Empire going to take her serious, if a group of nothings could get away with so blatantly slapping her in the face.
The men that had let those who wronged her get away were far from expandable.  She had had to kill them for their failure.  After giving the Deathskulls a second chance, she could not afford to hand out another second chance so soon.  If her followers began to feel that no punishment would follow failure, no one would respect or fear her, and 'That', would never do.
The men she had put to death were by no means any of her elites, but they were still good men.  Very much needed men in an organization that she felt was to small as it was.  But when it came down to it, they could be replaced.  Her reputation must be retained at all cost.
How would her father view this situation?  Would he laugh at her, and say things that cut into her soul like usual?  Or would he pity her for never living up to his expectations?  The only thing she was sure of was that he would never lift a finger to help her when she needed it.
Gods did she hate him.
Her father would have to remain a thought for another time.  For now the burning question was where had her enemies gone?  That was stupid.  She had far too many enemies for a question so broad.  No, these three missing people were not her enemies, they were her annoyances.  So the true burning question was, where had her annoyances gone?
Since her men had burned down the Dwarf's bar, the only thing they did right that night, all three of her annoyances had disappeared without a trace.  She had people looking for more information on the Dwarf, because he was the best lead they had to finding them.
But with all her people looking, the best they could find so far was just the Dwarf's name.  Lorr C. Hellstorm.  Why did Dwarves always have to have names that indicated violence or wealth?  Her people could find nothing else on him so far.  No phone number.  No home address.  Nothing.  Surely he didn't live in that dirty little bar of his.
What was she paying her people for?
Maybe she could get the Deathskulls to locate her annoyances.  No.  Whatever she decided to do with the Deathskulls would have to be demeaning enough to teach them the proper lesson.
The only good thought she could bring to mind was that no one would be able to trace the weapons that had burned up with the Deathskulls little club house back to the Rebirth Movement.  That, and all the pain and suffering she would inflict apon her annoyances.  Seeing them tortured in her mind brought a small smile to her face.
The smile faded with a knock on her office door.
"Come!"  She called out.
Her assistant entered the office.  He walked up to her desk and waited for her to acknowledge him.
"This had better be good."  She seethed at him.
"Your presence has been requested at Project Brutality."  He said getting quickly to the point as always.
She looked at him for a long moment.  He was a human with short blonde hair and blue eyes, and was attractive as humans went.  His loyalty was unquestionable, but still, she just didn't like him that much.
"And?"
"And, that's all they said."
She thought for a moment.  Project Brutality was the last thing on her mind right now.  Still, it could be good for getting her mind off the problems at hand.  "Call them and tell them that I will be there within the hour.  Then get my car ready to go."
"Yes ma'am."  He turned to leave.
"And Zach..."  She called after him.
"Yes ma'am?"  He turned back to her.
"Has there been any more news on the Dwarf?"  She asked.
"No ma'am."  Was all he said.
She waved her hand at him in dismissal, and he left.
Elisa turned back to her window.  What could Project Brutality have for her that they just couldn't send her in a report?  Hopefully it would be something interesting.