THE CREATURE
“So?” Luka looked at me expectantly.
“What?”
“Did you find her?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You left your room yesterday.”
“I went to the bar.”
“You left the hotel.”
“Am Iyourprisoner now? Tracking my every move?” I scoffed. “I stepped outside for some air.”
“Are you afraid?”
“Why would I be afraid?” I took a long sip of my bourbon.
The action alone made Luka raise a brow, those auburn eyes boring holes in the side of my face. I wanted to poke them out so they would stop staring at me.
We sat across from each other in the hotel lounge within the bar area. The chairs were comfortable, despite not being able to sit still. It was no Explorers Club, but the space was fine for taking a drink or two.
“What’sthe plan?”
“No plan. Not one involving you,” I muttered.
“Do you not trust me?”
“Of course not. You kidnapped her,torturedher. I think she would be wise to kill you if she saw you.”
“Ah yes, I forgot about that,” he remarked, then slowly smirked. “That’s a lie. I still think about it sometimes.”
“Watch yourself,” I snapped.
“There’s been a telegram.”
“From whom?”
Luka took a long sip of liquor, as if he had not heard my question.
“Luka,” I snapped my fingers in his face. “What telegram?”
“From London.”
“I saidwho,notwhere,” I seethed.
“Your father.”
I returned the rim of my whiskey glass to my lips, finishing it off before staring at the refractions of the crystal, letting the liquor bite before swallowing.
“We have to prepare a reply,” Luka said, though he didn’t seem any more enthusiastic than I was, “even if it is just to delay.”
“We will not entertain him.”
“I don’t think we have a choice. We must respond, or he may resort to less diplomatic approaches. We have no Hosts, and the Nest is getting anxious.”
