Placing his briefcase down on the table in front of him, Davis unbuttoned his jacket and sat down, taking the seat opposite Charles. He didn’t move, just sat watching patiently. The guard snorted and slammed the door behind him. For several moments they sat in silence, the stillness of the room broken only by the monotonous tick of the wall-mounted clock.
Slowly, Charles’s eyes rotated toward Davis, his gaze no longer blank but sharp and focused. He straightened in his chair and closed his mouth. His tongue moved inside his cheek, slightly distending it, before he blew out an elegant breath. A small white capsule was expelled from his parted lips, landing on the table between them.
Davis looked down at the pill and then back up to Charles. “Good morning, Charles,” he said softly, his voice betraying no hint of surprise.
“Davis.” The man’s voice was low and cultured with a slight rasp to it, as if he hadn’t used it for a while.
“They haven’t tried to medicate you in some time,” he remarked.
“Apparently, they’ve been receiving phone calls from Mercy’s chief of police,” Charles replied in dry amusement.
Despite the air of refinement and wealth that his sharply tailored suit implied, Davis had a hint of danger about him. But it was still there, nonetheless. His face was handsome and untouched by age, a direct contrast to his white-blond hair and pale-colored eyes.
“I assume they are trying to keep you from talking to the wrong people,” Davis mused.
“I would imagine so.” Charles’ mouth curved. “However, they aren’t very subtle about it.”
“The first sacrifice has been made,” Davis said quietly.
Charles’ eye flickered but otherwise gave no other outward reaction to the news. “It bears the brand of the serpent?”
Davis gave a sharp nod.
For a moment, the only sound in the soulless room was the rhythmic tapping of Charles’ fingertips on the table. “Is everything in place?” Charles finally asked.
“Yes, all the arrangements have been made, and everything is proceeding as planned.”
“Good.” Charles nodded. “My daughter?”
“She’s returned to Mercy,” Davis replied.
“Does she suspect?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I’ve been keeping a close eye on her. For the moment, she knows nothing.”
Davis shifted his sleeve and glanced at his watch.
“It’s time.” He stood slowly. “Are you ready?”
Charles stood too, and the restraints at his wrists and ankles clicked open and dropped back against the chair with a small metallic clang. He felt his power flex and unfurl inside him, held dormant for too long.
“I think it’s time to pay my daughter a visit.”
“Shall we?” Davis gestured with his hand, indicating for Charles to take the lead.
Charles nodded, moving toward the door. It opened and swung outward; it caught a soft heap sprawled across the polished floor making a muffled thud.
Charles stepped over the unconscious guard, followed by Davis. The two men strolled down the corridor like they didn’t have a care in the world. Upon reaching the internal security door, it buzzed and swung open.
They proceeded through the facility, stepping over the unconscious bodies on the floor and ignoring the guards and staff slumped at their positions. The air was heavy with the scent of magic, and all around there was not a single conscious person.
“Hex bags?” Charles asked, and Davis nodded. “Potent,” Charles mused.
“I called in a favor from our friends in the South,” Davis replied. “Cost us, but everyone within the vicinity of the facility will be out for at least a few hours.”
When they finally stepped out of the main entrance and into the crisp, fresh air, a shiny black SUV waited patiently. Looking up at the endless, cloud-covered sky Charles took a deep breath, allowing the clean air to saturate his lungs.
“Charles,” Davis interrupted, holding the car door open for him. The gate beeped and slid open as they exited the grounds of Morley Ridge.
