"That's not fair."
"Hm? What is not?"
At that moment, I wished I could turn into a cat and slink away. But I had no haughtiness to display. And he spoke again before I could formulate my thoughts into a cohesive whole.
"It is an enhancement of intuition, actually. Some call it an intrusion. But I say knowledge is power, don't you agree?"
"I... agree with both. But mind-reading is impossible."
"Then let's say I've been around long enough to know what others are pondering."
"I don't buy it."
He suddenly moved up out of his armchair, rising to his tall stature. "Come," he beckoned, a barely discernible twinkle in his eyes.
"For what? Teleport me to wherever you want me to go then, if you're some magician or whatever."
"Magician?" He cupped his chin in his hand. "I suppose that is close. But," and he shrugged and dropped his hand from his face. "It is no matter. What you will see will be no magic. Come, I do not wish to force you."
I grumbled then, gripping the armrests and pushing myself up to my feet. I felt like I weighed a thousand pounds. And I ached all over. I guess it'd been a pretty rough night so far. The pain must have showed on my face because Jann leaned down to look at me.
"Are you ill?"
I rolled my eyes. "It wasn't that long ago that I was getting thrown around a burning room and God knows what else. Oh, and I was locked up in a dark room for hours. Did you know that, too?"
He nodded. His hand reached up to my face and I stiffened. Normally, I'd smack a wayward hand that approached me, but… he must have pushed some acquiescence spell on me or something. He merely put his fingers to my jaw and turned my head to the side.
Right. That cut. He studied it for a moment, then retracted his hand. I wasn't able to read his eyes, so flat and emotionless they were.
I scoffed then, looking away. "You know, I wouldn't be surprised if you planned this whole fiasco yourself."
Half of his mouth turned up in a stupid smirk. "You are most cynical."
"No," I turned my eyes to meet his gaze and kept it there. "I just know how fucking devious people are."
"Including yourself?"
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"I thought so," Jann replied quickly. "Now come, there isn't much time." He held out his elbow for me.
Why I had to take it, I don't know. But I did. I suppose it was more cordial than him pushing me around, or making me walk in front of him with a knife digging into my spine or something. Or worse, holding my hand. I shuddered at the thought, suddenly feeling very skeeved at the sight of my hand inside the crook of his sleeve.
This time, I was more cognizant of where he led me and we made it quickly down a hallway, around a bend, through a door and down a spiral staircase. Except this time we went out through another door into the hallway I recognized that would lead to the atrium. But we turned before we got there, and I found myself descending yet again.
I really couldn't believe how nicely furnished this home was. I've been to large houses before, and they had a tendency to be of the minimalistic persuasion in the décor department. Not so with Jann. In fact, much of his décor seemed to be of the old world: gilded, tones of olive and soft yellows, upholsteries of gold and burgundy. Surprising, for someone as prim and stiff as himself.
Now there were no windows, and I felt we were in a basement of sorts, even though when I'd landed on the lower level, there were still tall windows looking out into the darkness of the night.
We stopped at the double doors at the end of the wide corridor, and he stopped and turned to look down at me.
"I truly do not wish to assist you. Will you remain composed?"
I pursed my lips. "Do I have a choice?"
"I can begin now. Or should you break your silence, I will be forced to do it for you."
I scoffed. "Leave me alone."
A glimmer passed through his eyes, and he nodded and opened the door.
I wasn't ready for what I saw before me.