The Unknown

Chapter 5

I woke up early and went to the kitchen and made myself a cup of coffee before heading to the work room. Alister was in there, holding my hilt, strange objects next to him. "Interesting design Ms. Charles," He told me as took the tool in his hand and continued to work on the hollowed out hilt. "I decided to do you the favor of saving your pride and going ahead and putting in the runes without you asking. However, it comes at a price," he told me. Of course it does I thought as I took a drink of my coffee.

"What," I asked him. "You will be receiving an outfit soon, you will wear it without protest. We are going to a gala and since Ace wouldn't look good in a dress, you will be going with me," He informed me. I rolled my eyes, "Throw a wig on Mikal." He cut me a glare, "If you wish to bury another one of your family members then by all means. However, your brother doesn't have the breasts or ass to fill out the dress." "Stuff the dress," I said with a shrug. I then turned when I heard the doorbell. I sighed and went to it. It my dress and accessories. I took them and shut the door. "Be ready in an hour," Alister said as I passed the workshop to go up the stairs. I opened the box and I was shocked to see a soft pink floor length gown that was strapless. I was a little irked that he also had picked out the underwear. A white lace strapless bra and thong. I quickly showered then stood in my robe with my hair in a towel as I began to do my make up. 

I put on the clothes and I was amazed and disturbed that it fit like a dream. I the dress shimmered a little in the light as I moved. The heels were covered in crystals that sparkled and wrapped around my ankles. I thought I was going to have a heart attack at the diamond earrings and bracelet set in the box. I stood in my full length mirror and couldn't believe what I was seeing. The dress covered the part of my back that was covered in scars from when that thing whipped me. My long blonde hair had a soft curl to it. My eyes looked bright with the light make up to high light it. I will admit, Mr. Black and Gloom, had good tastes. 

I grabbed the clutch he had paired with it and slipped my phone, lip gloss, compact mirror, and debit card inside it before leaving my room. He was waiting at the bottom of the stairs wearing a tux. I had to admit, he looked good, but I much preferred him in the usual attire I have seen him in. As I came down the stairs, his eyes racked me over from toe to the top of my head. I noticed the lust filled hunger in his eyes, and chose to ignore it. 

"Pretend you feel something for me besides hatred Ms. Charles," He said once we were inside the limo. "I don't hate you," I clarified. "Think you're the lowest of scum to ever grace the Earth? Sure, but I don't hate you." Hatred was an incredibly strong feeling. I only felt it towards that thing that killed my parents. I don't care about the things that it did to me. I would go through it all over again if it meant my parents got to live. 

"So what is this gala supposed to be for," I asked him. "It is a gathering of the elite in Brightly who enjoy dipping their fingers into things they shouldn't," He told me. "And how did you receive such an invitation," I asked him sweetly. "I am only part of the Organization to keep the veil up," He told me. "I am no law abiding citizen." I snorted, "Never for a second thought you were." 

As we pulled into a line of limos waiting to unload it's passengers he looked at me, "Don't answer any questions. Let me do all the talking. You be my clueless date that is simply there to be eye candy." I rolled my eyes. Asshole. When we got inside the mansion I looked about the guests, Alister's firm hand on the small of my back. Many women eyed Alister lustfully, while many men eyed him with hate and envy. One thing was clear though, he was the most powerful one here. I felt like a lamb wearing a wolf's costume among other wolves while Alister is a dragon that liked to eat anything and everything he could get his claws into. 

"I see the great Alister has decided to grace us with his presence," A man with silver hair and only faint wrinkles around his mouth said. He was still incredibly good looking though. Oh the things money can buy you. "McKale," Alister greeted coldly, his arm pulling me slightly closer when McKale decided to let his eyes rake over me. "It's a rare sight to see a woman on your arm," He said to Alister. "Is her services for sale?" "You should know by now, I never have to pay for a woman's services. They're always willing to give it freely," Alister said with a smirk. I had to strongly resist the urge to roll my eyes. "That isn't a no," McKale said with a smile. 

"What are you willing to pay," Alister asked him. Now is the time to resist the urge to slam my heel into his foot. McKale lowered his eyelids, "What are you wanting?" "The orb," Alister told him. "No pussy is good enough to for the orb," McKale told him. What exactly is the orb? Must be worth something if Alister was risking a heel to the balls for it. 

McKale walked away and I sent Alister a quick glare and he pinched my ass for it. I jabbed him with my elbow and he pulled me to his chest, "Behave." It was whispered in my ear, but I knew he would say it just as soft even if he wasn't in my ear. I bit my tongue and went back to playing the role of the bimbo here for looks. As we walked about and Alister stopped to talk to others, I noticed some of the staff, may not have been staff. They walked about too fluidly, eyes darting about, looking for windows of opportunity it looked like. I then noticed one picked the pocket of a man who was too busy boasting to notice. I kept an eye on a female waitress who was using her looks to distract some of the male patrons while the man slipped items from them. 

I noticed a couple would shift their gazes every now and then to Alister. I smirked, good luck, I thought. As we continued to make our rounds I noticed one of them picked McKale's pocket, pulling out a round object. Was that the orb? As the waiter slipped it into his pocket I got a glimpse of gold and jewels. Has to be. 

As they continued making their way about, serving drinks and such while targeting their next victim. When they neared, and Alister was distracted, I easily slipped the orb from their pocket and into my clutch. Score for me, I thought. Now to leverage it against Alister. 

We got into the limo at the end of the gala. Alister seemed pissed, "Couldn't get away for one blasted second." I crossed my arms and glared at him, "I should shove my heel up your ass." "Not now Ms. Charles," He said he pulled his phone out of his pocket. "We have more pressing matters other than your feelings being hurt. We need to get the orb." I rolled my eyes and slipped it out of my purse while he was distracted by his phone. "So what does the orb do," I asked out of curiosity. "It strengthens ones magic," He explained. "McKale uses it to strengthen his aging talisman to allow him to keep from aging anymore than he is now." Meaning he would have to keep it on him for it to work, I thought as I looked it over. 

"So what does it look like," I asked him. "Gold and gaudy like many  magical artifacts," He replied, typing quickly into his phone. "I was hoping to sneak away to look around in his room for it." "So like this," I asked him, holding it up. He glanced up at it then back at his phone, "Yes." Then he snapped back up to look at it, "How did you get it?" "There were a couple of pick pockets disguised as waiters at the gala. One slipped it from McKale's pocket," I told him. "You would know this had you been paying attention. So what do you need it for?" "We were going to use the orb to help strengthen the veil to buy us some time," He told me, reaching for it. I pulled it back, "What are you willing to pay me for it?" He glared and crossed his arms, "What do you want?" 

"Let's consider it a favor without limits that I can cash in on anytime I feel like," I told him. His jaw clenched and unclenched. I could he truly did not like the offer, the idea of being on my beck and call at a moment's notice. It's not like I'm trying to put a leash on him. No one could leash him. This was the best thing in the world. "Fine," He reluctantly said and I handed it to him feeling smug. 

When we got back to the house I made my way up the stairs. I could feel his eyes staring at my ass. I stopped and looked at him over my shoulder, unable to stop the seductive smile that graced my lips, "Sorry Alister, but you can't afford my services." I noticed his eyes flashed from green to red then back again in a matter of seconds. I then continued to go up the stairs the get changed before spending the rest of my time on my weapon.