The Hidden Truth

Chapter Twenty-Three: A New Promotion

After my boss opens our suite’s door to allow me in, I head over towards the other queen sized bed on the far side of the room where I proceed to collapse on it. I have been up the entire night with Phoenix trying to come up with a suitable plan that wouldn't ricochet into a catastrophe later on down the line. We finally came to an agreement at about three in the morning and he gladly gave me a ride back here, making a pit stop at his place for what he called a ‘pick me up’. It's nothing more than a blend of berries and herbs along with a few drops of a special brew that consists of a caffeine boost of some sort that he made for us. 

He told me that one ounce of this smoothie will keep an average size person awake for four hours as he poured the rest of the contents of the blender into a little six ounce bottle for me to take back to the motel for later. I guess the fear of falling down that path again has me on edge and I haven't attempted to drink any more of it since. Instead I lay here on the bed with my eyes closed debating whether or not I should drink a little more of the concoction or just ride it out until I completely crash.

The clearing of a throat bounces my eyes wide open. I sigh. I should have known that the man wasn't going to allow me any time to think. “I’m not paying you to gallivant around town! This is a business trip and we have more to attend to today.”

As I roll over on my back I reply, “Yes sir.”

I watch out of the corner of my eye as he tosses his bag onto the other bed and gathers some clothes before heading into the bathroom around the corner mumbling words under his breath. Surely they were aimed at me for his displeasure in my actions last night. As soon as he closes the door and I hear the water running in the shower, I sit up on the edge of the bed opening the bottle in my hand. I'm not exactly sure how much an ounce is, but I downed what I thought was equivalent to it before stuffing the remainder of the bottle into my bag and changing my own clothes.

When my boss made his way back into the main area of the room he tossed the robe he was wearing earlier along with the towles he used in a corner near the door. By this time I’m sitting at the end of my bed with my elbows resting on my thighs and leaning my chin on the palms of my hands. My fingertips are lightly resting my nose while I think about how I’m going to get him to leave me behind as he takes the return trip back to California tomorrow. 

As I remain there going over the possible ways I can approach him, the man relentlessly rambles on, “I think that girl who left the meeting early would be a great addition to my home. She has a spark about her that I admire. I'm not sure if it's the fire in her I like so much or if it's the energy surrounding her because she's so young. Either way, that girl gave me a bit of my youth back when she grabbed my hand yesterday and it put a smile on my face for hours. We need to go back there today and claim her before someone else does.” 

Clearly the energy my sister released yesterday coursed through him as well as it did to Phoenix. The only difference is that when a person like my boss is bestowed with our energy it awakens the potential to use any of our skills for a short time with no side effects as if it was a part of them their entire life. It also makes them feel jittery and empowered which can be very dangerous in the wrong hands. Along with the possibility of shaving a few years off a person's life expectancy obviously. 

“Sir, trust me she's better off where she is, besides what kind of image do you think a ticking time bomb would be for you or your business. Do you really think you could handle that kind of publicity?”

“Michael, I didn't bring you here to tell me what I can or can't do. You are here to obey my orders and nothing more! You got that?”

 I took a deep breath and hung my head thinking about my mother's words. She told me that when the energies are taken from us unwillingly it leaves a hollow cavity. She compared it to the turning of the vampires in my story books. The energy my sister unloaded into him must have filled that void thus causing him to crave more of it but I needed to be sure so I asked, “Why are you so set on this particular girl? I’m sure there’s another out there that can do the same.”