them in after a brief knock to the double doors. She was arrested by a sense of déjà vu as she walked into the room to find Alexi and Ramj (as Konstantin) seated much the same way they had been the day she’d left.
“I must say this is a pleasant albeit unexpected surprise,” Alexi began. “And here I thought we would have to come to you.”
Tiffany heard his words but didn’t bother to acknowledge them as her eyes zeroed in on Ramj’s stoic visage. Statuesque even.
“What? No hello, how are you? It seems your new beau has been a bad influence on your manners. Although, I can’t completely blame him since he hasn’t been feeling quite himself lately. Isn’t that right?” He glanced beyond her should er and back again. It was a brief look yet enough to have the hairs on the back of her neck prickling. “We both know his name isn’t really Konstantin, isn’t that correct? What did you say it was again Yan?”
Tiffany thought she’d be ill, as another man seemed to step from the shadows. She wasn’t sure how she’d missed him. Although lean he stood heads and shoulders above average height.
“Ramj Oloff.” The man who looked as if he could play for the NBA supplied. “And you must be the infamous Tiffany Sinclair. Your pictures really don’t do you any justice.”
“Maybe we should keep her around for a bit. He seemed to enjoy himself with her,” Alexi suggested.
“No offense. Human females don’t interest me much. However, feel free to indulge yourself before we have to dispose of her.”
The men’s exchange slowly sank in, she felt lightheaded. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing showing up unarm ed, but how was she to know Ramj would be in a near cata tonic state, at least that’s how it appeared to her. It was obvious something was wrong with him. She just needed to figure out how to snap him out of his trance.
“If you’re looking to your friend for help I wouldn’t expect much. It seems Yan here has an amazing abili ty to render a person immobile . A wonderful talent.”
“You’re suppose d to be helping him,” she found her voice turning accusatory eyes on the non-human.
“Me, help a Fae?” She all but waited for a sinister laugh to follow the completely diabolical look on his face. “I’d rather see you human s destroy this earth first.”
“We do and your people are gone too.”
He shrugged, “Some, but those of us left will inherit the earth and could rebuild a new order. What your kind calls survival of the fittest.”
“How do you know you’ll be among the survivors? You must hold a very high opinion of yourself.”
“No too bright of you to taunt a man with supernatural powers.” Alexi advised.
“And you, what do you think will happen to you in his destruction scenario.”
Alexi cocked his head to one side, his normally arrogant grin plastered across his face.
“I’m not really worried about it. By the time Yan is ready to put his plan in motion, in say about seventy years or so, I’ll be long gone from this earth having died a very rich, very happy man.”
“By selling out the rest of humanity?”
“Someone is bound to do it, why shouldn’t I be the one to benefit?”
“You really are a parasite,” she spat in disgust. Anger rose to replace fear.
Any reaction to her speech was squelched by a knock.
“E nter,” he called in a voice illustrating his irritation.
“Enrique, my friend. Glad you could make it.” Alexi stood stretching his phony smile.
“You made it sound urgent. What the hell are they doing here?” He paused just inside the room taking in the unexpected trio.
“Looks like Alexi plans on ending your partnership.” Tiffany provided making a quick summation of the situation.
“Beauty will only get you so far my sweet. So I suggest you focus that mind of yours on ways to make me have a change of heart regarding your future, and work less at annoying me.”
“Alexi, what is she talking about?” Enrique looked between
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