The next day, Bane's small army left to see the warlord at an ungodly hour. Eclypsa yawned tired from staying up the night before, troubled by the implications of what Bane divulged. Ugh she tried to hide a shiver. Bane caught feelings for her? Could she have any more bad luck? She was still figuring out her feelings towards James and now she had to deal with this?! God. She needed a drink, emotional issues were exhausting.
In her head, Eclypsa compared both men. James didn't warrant her animosity. He was unfortunately just a pawn; he was dangerous yes, but he had no real power. He didn't fight for stupid-ass ideals. He didn't delight in carnage and destruction, James did his job mercilessly. Bane was a moron fighting for ludicrous ideals. Superior human?! Who was he to judge everyone and condemn them based on his personal ideals?! Plus he pulls the strings, he had the power, motivation, and cunning to actually realize his half-baked scheme. Bane was a wrecking ball, using brute strength and his ridiculous bulk. He was built like a body builder and probably strangles his opponents or broke their backs over his knee or something ridiculous like that. James was more subtle, preferring to stab or shoot or take his opponents down with a really cool martial arts move.
James was in a word, sexy. Oy, Eclypsa hated the way he made her hormones go wild. Part of the allure was his mysterious personality and tragic past. Eclypsa closed her eyes enjoying the dry wind that blew into the Jeep. That sounded bad, she thought-thinking someone was sexy and mysterious because of a tragic backstory. But it was so annoying the way the man made her blood pressure rise when he took off his shirt showing off his amazing broad shoulders, sculpted biceps, and defined abs. He was muscular and cut but not as bulky as Bane. If Bane was a body builder, James was a martial artist. And the fact that his stupid face was more attractive than it needed to be-he was unfairly beautiful with the long messy chocolate hair that was so soft and luxe to the touch. His eyes, they were like the sea after a storm to quote the Princess Bride. And his lips were made to sin- Bane interrupted Eclypsa's train of thoughts and she reflexly raised her hand to slap his hand away when he pointed out their destination.
Instructions and commands were given and they all went to enter a palatial building. Eclypsa held her medical bag and looked around-the architecture buff in her was squirming in glee. The building was massive with clean white walls and red roofs. The turrets and domes were red with a filigree of gold. It was beautiful and with Bane's track record, she was afraid that he would destroy it. They were waved in and Eclypsa couldn't help running her hand in the courtyard fountain. Bane turned and his eyes crinkled with amusement while Eclypsa steadfastly ignored him. They entered the main throne room and there sitting on a large island of plush pillows and rugs was the warlord.
The warlord was an older man-mid 60s was Eclypsa's guess-and in very good shape. He and Bane started conversing in a foreign language and from the way they were speaking, she guessed that they were haggling. She stood quietly and tried not to fidget but she was standing for the past 20 minutes and there was no patient for her to see. At last Bane put his hand at the small of her back-she stiffened immediately-and pushed her forward. The warlord eyed her up and down and reached out to touch her but Bane's hand darted out and grabbed him. The man's bodyguards hefted their weapons while Bane's men got into position. Eclypsa felt the tension rise, she placed her hand over Bane's and gently removed it. Bane said something and everyone exhaled.
The man commanded his lieutenant and they rushed off. Within a couple of minutes, they came out and nodded to the warlord who swept his arm to Eclypsa, motioning that she should follow them. With a glance at Bane, she did and when she saw a glint of cold metal in her peripheral, Eclypsa sighed with relief. James would come with her. The men protested but she held up her hand and said, "He won't come in, he will stay out here," and pointed at the door frame. James parked himself there and didn't move. The men gave him side-eyes of suspicion and let her enter.