Dark Stranger Immortal (The Children of the Gods #3)(19)
As she gazed into those unfathomable eyes, everything else in the room seemed to dim and recede into the shadows. Deep, soulful, and wise, they probed her like some alien device, and Syssi had the odd feeling that the woman was reading her thoughts, looking at her memories, and brushing ghostly fingers against her feelings. Unable to look away, powerless against the woman’s hold, she was being weighed, measured, and judged.
It wasn’t that she felt threatened, there was nothing malevolent in that stare, but she felt violated.
Syssi’s distress must have shown on her face because it prompted Edna’s companion to come to her rescue. He tapped the woman’s shoulder to divert her attention, and as Edna turned to him, he winked at Syssi over her head and smiled.
Released from the woman’s hold, Syssi took a deep breath and then another, trying to shake off the uncomfortable tightness in her chest.
But her reprieve was short-lived; the two were heading her way.
“I’m Edna.” The woman extended her hand.
Syssi pushed up from her chair. “Hi,” she answered coolly. Taking Edna’s hand, she concentrated on the woman’s neck, avoiding the freaky eyes.
“Sorry about the probe, I know I made you uncomfortable, but it’s a knee-jerk reflex.” Edna held on to her hand, willing her to look at her face.
“Yeah, well… It was very disturbing to say the least.” Syssi took the risk of looking into the woman’s eyes again, daring Edna to see how wronged she felt.
Edna held her gaze without flinching and without a hint of remorse.
“You’re a stranger brought into our fold, and you seem to have our regent ensnared. I had to know what you’re about, but I do regret making you uncomfortable.”
Syssi’s face flushed red. “Find anything interesting?” she asked sarcastically, imagining the kinky stuff the woman had been privy to as she probed her memories.
Unexpectedly, Edna laughed and patted her shoulder. “You’re as sweet and as pure as they come, Syssi. But I’m not a mind reader, all I sense are feelings and the purity, or conversely taint of the soul. For whatever it’s worth, you have my stamp of approval. I just hope the Fates will treat you kindly.” Edna released the hand she was holding and her brief smile wilted, replaced by a look of melancholy contemplation.
“Brandon.” Her rescuer offered his hand as Edna left them.
Consumed and shaken by her encounter with his companion, Syssi had forgotten all about him. With a hand over her chest, she exhaled through puckered lips before taking his offered hand. “Hi.”
“Just imagine how an accused offender feels under that probe.” He chuckled.
“I don’t want to. She is scary.” Syssi shivered, promising herself to learn and follow every last nuance of immortal law. She never wanted to be judged by those eyes again.
“She is not that bad… after you get used to her soul-searching stare, that is. She is actually an amazing woman. A very harsh and unforgiving one, but a fair judge nonetheless. Not to mention one of the greatest minds you’ll ever encounter. Edna is brilliant.” He smiled in a disarming yet somewhat overdone manner, making Syssi wonder what he was really like.
“So, what do you do, Brandon? I know everyone else’s job here apart from yours.”
“I’m the media consultant. The one responsible for our agenda being delivered to the public in enticing pretty packages. Movies, plays, novels… I make it happen. Like an invisible puppet master.” He lifted his hands, pretending to be pulling invisible strings with his fingers.
“And what is your agenda?”
“Democracy, equal opportunity, education, human rights, promoting science and technology. To fight evil in all its mired guises; prejudice and discrimination, hatred and ignorance, etc., etc…” Brandon smiled broadly, his white teeth gleaming in a Hollywood-worthy smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
Suspecting that under all that easygoing charm, Brandon was a shark in an elegant playboy’s disguise, Syssi felt a little wary of him. But then again, she couldn’t really fault the guy for having what it took to survive in show business—where the waters were infested with predators.
Good thing that he was using his sharp, shark teeth for the home team.
Sharp teeth indeed… Choking on the giggle that was threatening to bubble up, she saluted him. “Well, good for you,” she said quickly. “Keep up the good work.”
“Will do, ma’am.” Brandon grinned.
Finally! She spotted Kian entering the room.
As Syssi’s eyes shifted to look at him, Brandon turned around to follow her gaze. “Oh, good, they’re here. I’d better take my seat. It was nice chatting with you, Syssi.”
“Good evening, everyone,” Amanda said as she entered the room with Kian. “Sorry we are a tad late.” She took her place to his left.
Kian remained standing at the head of the table, and after a quick smile at Syssi, turned to his guests, waiting for them to hush down. “Good evening, I wasn’t planning on making a speech, but I don’t want you to get the wrong impression and think this is a party. It seems Okidu and Onidu got carried away in preparing what I intended to be a simple dinner, using this as an excuse to take all this fancy stuff out of storage and finally put it to good use.
But this is not a celebration, as it would be inappropriate in light of our recent loss. My plan is to start a new tradition of casual gatherings, once or twice a week, for us to enjoy each other’s company as a family, and not just a bunch of individuals working toward a common goal.” He paused.