Chapter 4 - A More Urgent Matter

To the best of Olivia Oliversen’s knowledge, Jack Noctis didn’t get embarrassed, but she sensed that, if he ever did feel ashamed, it wouldn’t be because of the behavior of others. That was their behavior. Not his. How could it be any reflection on him?

Still, Olivia wanted to present herself well. She would be quiet, sit up straight, and pay attention as best she could, despite only being able to understand a fraction of what was said. If someone had asked her why she was putting in so much effort, she might have said that a witch knows when to show respect—or glared at them, depending on who they were.

If someone had asked if it had anything to do with her being Jack Noctis’s apprentice and wanting to avoid making him look bad, she would’ve glared at them no matter who they were.

But the meeting had started at seven that evening, and it was now past eleven. She knew because there was a clock on the wall across from her. She had to stop herself from looking at it too often.

After that long, not even Olivia Oliversen had enough willpower to keep her posture from slumping and her eyes from glazing. The sounds of Arabic droned around her, and the only movement was a torrman shifting to make himself more comfortable.

There was no change to the monotony of the meeting, but Olivia’s eyes suddenly widened and her shoulders pulled back. She kept her head bowed while her eyes darted around the floor, settling on nothing. Her eyes stopped moving, and the color drained from her cheeks.

For a few seconds, she stayed like that. Frozen. Then she rose from her chair in the corner of the room and approached the head of the table where Jack Noctis was sitting.

She put a trembling hand on his shoulder, and said quietly, “Mr. Noctis.”

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Big Jacky raised a hand, signaling for her to wait.

Olivia scowled, tapped hard on his shoulder with the tips of her fingers, and raised her voice. “Mr. Noctis.”

The torrman who was speaking fell silent. Olivia could sense the eyes of everyone in the room on her. She ignored them. Jacky turned to look up at her.

She said, “We need to go home.”

Big Jacky’s voice was always impressive, but it didn’t usually have such an obvious tone of disapproval. “If you need to retire—”

“Mr. Noctis, we need to go home. Now.”

“Olivia—”

Big Jacky stopped. He froze like Olivia had. No one moved, and the only sound in the room was the ticking clock.

Jacky turned to the table and stood up.

Olivia stepped back.

“I’m afraid I must leave you,” Jacky told the torrmen.

The torrman that Olivia had interrupted said something. Judging from the sound of his voice and his expression, Olivia assumed it was an objection.

“I do,” Jacky said, “but a more urgent matter has come up.” He gathered the papers that had been laid out in front of him into a single pile without bothering to sort them.

More Arabic.

Jacky picked up his phone. “Forgive me, but I have neither the time nor the inclination to answer you. I must make arrangements.”

The torrman’s cheeks flushed. The woman sitting next to him reached out and put the edge of her hand on his arm for a moment. He frowned and looked away. The woman said something to Big Jacky.

“If that’s true,” Jacky said, “then your only choice is to wait for my return, but if the situation is so dire, perhaps you’ll find a way to address the problem without my input. Good evening.” Jacky turned to the door. “Olivia.”

Olivia fell in step behind him. She had to rush to match his pace. They left the room. Before the door had finished closing, Big Jacky had his phone against his ear. His pace never slowed.

Halfway down the hall, his call was picked up.

“Darius,” Jacky said, “you need to return to the mansion as soon as possible. I will be there shortly, but I have to make arrangements for Olivia’s return first.”

Olivia heard a faint murmur when Darius spoke.

“Something has happened,” Jacky said. “I don’t know what.”

Big Jacky interrupted the vampire’s next statement.

“Don’t bother. Iset will not be able to help you.”

Olivia’s heart constricted, sending a jolt of nerves through her body.

Big Jacky reached the top of the stairs at the end of the hall and plunged down them without pausing. “We must hurry, Darius.”