Chapter 46
Dawn POV:
Walking up the steps feels like a punishment as my heart is thumping a thousand times per minute. Since we got here, we were told not to go up the stairs. The black stone steps are uneven which is making the ascent dangerous, not to mention the steepness. Monk Elijah is leading us to the topmost story of the temple, and I am beyond nervous. Archer is tensed too; I can see that in his body language which is stiff. When we reach the top, I am surprised how open and airy the space is contrast to the ground level which resembles a mesh of narrow pathways. We are asked to stand in front of a huge black wooden door as Monk Elijah knocks on it three times. The door opens and we follow Monk Elijah in. The room is dark apart from the candles and the moonlight and a single chandelier at the top. We are asked to stand at the middle of the room in front of a large vintage armchair occupied by a man I have seen pictures off. He is bald too and looks surprisingly young that what his age is supposed to be. When I look at his eyes, my blood goes cold. His eyes appear to glow in the darkness because it is not only silver, grey but has a certain kind of glow to them which is unearthly. There are several scars on his face and a ghastly cut just at the middle of his lower lip. He is a spitting picture of a grotesque creature. There is no running from the situation now, but I wish I could. He is wearing a greyish black shirt that is barely hiding the muscular tattooed arm and black trouser. I can see the red tipped darts peeking from his pockets just a little bit. He is flanked on both sides by heavily armed men in a pyramid formation. Monk Elijah and Madame Lorraine are seated at the far side of the room. I bet there are guards lurking in the shadowy corners.
“Hello Miss Dawn Speller and Mr. Archer Farrow” Feng greets us, and his voice felt like someone ran a cold bony claw down my spine. “What brings you here?”
That is not the question I was hoping for considering he showed interest in meeting us but again he won’t admit that. He wants to portray that we are in need and that’s why we have come to him. “We are here to ask for your help” I say
“Is it so? And why should I help you?” He asks.
“There is no reason actually, not until you find us worthy of your help”
“I see you are the spokesperson Miss Dawn”
“I think you wanted me to be” I say. His face breaks into a curious smile which makes him look like a real-life devil.
“What can you give me in exchange then?” he asks.
“A good story” I say mustering up all my courage. His smile drops instantly, and warning bells start to ring in my head. Did I cross the line already? After a long agonizing pause he orders.
“Approach.” I take slow steps towards him keeping my senses extra sharp so that I notice anything funny. When I am about ten steps away from him a weird feeling takes over me and I look at him in a different light. His face starts feeling pleasant, not only that the entire room seems to have lightened up giving me a holy spiritual feeling. For a moment I freeze on my tracks and then as if by a distant memory of reciting something over and over in my mind I take few steps back. The strange feeling ebbs away and I return to the reality once more. I have thought about the potential intoxication a lot and now I know for sure he is using something as a medium whether it is Valyrie or something similar to that. The change is subtle and not aggressive at all but if anyone is alert then the shift will be apparent with previous knowledge of the deception.
“Excuse me” I say and take out a handkerchief from my pocket. I look back at Archer and he also takes out a handkerchief similar to mine and tie it around his nose. When I am certain that my nose is secured I approach him confidently and stand hands clasped five steps before him. He leans back in his armchair and looks at me sternly “Looks like you have figured out more than I would like” He says.
“I had to. It’s my survival on the line”
“You are nothing like Harken, but you remind me of Daniella” He says and that shocks me. “She was clever and bold enough to reject me” Another mild shock. “Are you ready to face your father?”
“No” I answer honestly.
“Hmm. Then I think this is the right time. You know the terms of the bargain I suppose”
“Yes”
“But how will you approach the situation now that we have no spies in the mansion?”
“We haven’t figured that out yet, but we will”
“I will brief Madame Lorraine and Monk Elijah on your next step and what my help will be. I want a good ending to your story Miss Dawn, and I want to have a last say in that” He says smiling like a predator.
“You got it”
“You can go and plan”
We don’t waste time and walk as quickly as possible out the room and on the stairs. It’s not until I reach our hallway that I let my body sag with relief. When I sit on the bed I realize how much tiring and stressful that meeting was because my entire body was taut and muscles stiff. Now that it is done I have to keep up the ‘I am worthy’ act on their faces so that we keep getting the help we actually need.