Chapter 9

A man sat silently out on his balcony rather late in the evening. He was waiting for the return of something that belonged to him. A girl, one that was important to him and everything he stood for. Everything he'd worked for in his entire life.

To others she was after all, just a girl. Yet they didn't know she had power, but he had more. Lost, scared, and out of control, she was more dangerous than ever. He had no doubt he could find her and capture her so he didn't fret. This was more than pride of course. He knew the girl better than anyone or anything and knew what she was capable of. Knew her weaknesses and how to use them; would use them. She was after all his creation, and it was only a matter of time until creations returned to their creator.

"Sir, would you like some more tea?" A voice asked behind him. It was competent and level, as emotionless as a robot, and just as obedient. The man smiled placing his cup down on the nearby table, and listened to the slow trickle of tea fill his china. He loved expensive things, and china cups were among his favorite.

The aroma of tea was one that was enchanting to him; especially Earl Grey. But on this evening out on the deck he had felt like sipping chai. It calmed his edgy nerves and the spices tingled his senses. Though of course he had nothing to worry about. The girl was obedient, his finest work. He wondered how far she had slipped into a new stage and how far away she was from him. She wasn't simple like everyone else. With her, he never quite knew. The power within her could only stay quelled for so long before it erupted like a volcano.

She had always been his favorite, she still was. Her twisted innocence always made him proud. She always obeyed, no matter what he had told her. To go as far as say he loved her is what he did. And he was always sincere. Why waste time telling petty lies when you could speak the truth and be done with it? His smile disappeared.

Failure in getting her back would not be acceptable. He needed her intact. She would be more than a great loss to him dead. He would have her. She would come to him. She needed him as much as he needed her. But he would wait patiently. Yet patience was killing him.

He threw the china cup over the balcony ledge. Staying seated the whole time. That particular cup had a chip. His evening was ruined instantly, and once she was back she would kill whoever had damaged his expensive china cup. China was appalling now, it was ever so fragile; he hated china just as he hated all fragile things. How dare someone bring him china out of all things to drink out of this evening. He'd plenty of other things to drink out of. When she got back he'd order her to kill the person who brought him that china cup. Forcing himself up out of his chair he went inside to sit at his desk.

He checked his staff evening schedule and jotted down the names of those who would perish. A calm came over him as he finished the last name and relaxed back into his chair. Only a few more minutes would need to pass and he would have her back. He felt a bit giddy at the thought of Ted returning with her. In the meantime, he amused himself with studying a picture Lily had given him of the girl

She held her head tilted slightly to the side following next to a blonde haired boy in a school uniform. Her eyes still burned a blinding blue. Such and intense shade he thought dreamily. One that no mere human girl could possibly posses. He knew that from looking in her eyes and now hoped a few average humans didn't know as well. It was something he couldn't have. He needed to keep her on a low profile under any and all circumstances.

Swiveling his chair around, he caught a man off guard; specifically Ted. A perverse chill ran through his veins as he watched Ted gulp in his presence. He took note of his empty-handedness.

"Um...sir, I have bad news." The way Ted merely choked on the words sickened him. He hated people who easily gave into his authority. He would rather enjoy the thrill of someone defiant.

"Go ahead, what is it that I need to know." Ted tightened and loosened the tie around his neck, as if it were a noose slowly preparing his fate. Ted's features were now as bland as oatmeal to him. As he was sick of seeing them.

"Sir, we didn't manage to secure Rin." Ted watched as the boss chuckled, lightheartedly at first. But soon it turned sour and then finally, cut off completely. Being so far from the man still didn't make him safe, and that's what scared Ted the most. "We should just get Lily to-" The man waved his hand cutting him off mid sentence. Ted didn't bother finishing.

"Lily's brute force is too much for this job. Infact we don't need anyone, right Ted?" Ted nodded sharply at his order like a dog. And he was shocked when Ted bothered to even speak again.

"Sir, while I do believe you are right-" He stopped speaking when the bosses eyes sliced into him like ice. The room was hot but all body temperature seemed to desert him. The boss narrowed his eyes at him as he slowly rose to his feet. The sound of his chair scraping against the floor was ominous enough to make blood run cold. He leaned over his desk towards Ted. The solid oak of it creaked slightly as he rested his weight on his fingertips. It was a stance that turned people away immediately, and high ranking officials into quivering idiots; it was a death sentence. Next to intimidation it was one of the bosses favorite tools.

"Ted, what part of no other people on this job did you not understand?" He noticed how Ted flinched at his voice. Striking fear into others was something he fed on, like a sustenance. For the wicked tend to live forever. Sidestepping he pushed in his chair. Growing tired of the comfort he'd received from it and his desk. He walked in a steady pace over to one of the grand tinted windows of his office. His heavy loafers clicked with Ted's impending doom as he reached his destination. Once there he sighed and frowned as he surveyed the view.

"I really thought I could believe in my head scientist," he said the words as if regretting them. Regretting having any staff at all, and he shook his head slowly as to further prove his point. He looked up from the glass directing all sudden attention to Ted. His smile was heartfelt, but his intentions behind it were beyond bitter. The man frowned just as fast as he'd smiled, showing concern for Ted.

"Or can I not?"

Ted shook his head quickly and firmly stated "No you can sir."

But the man sighed a much longer sigh instead. Ignoring the very syllables that had come out of Ted's mouth.

"I mean if you can't handle the job then your services will no longer be required, Ted. Asking for more people is insulting to me. I place all my trust in you that you would be able to finish the job...but if you say otherwise..."

"No sir! I can definitely manage this. I promise you I won't fail again."

"I'd like to believe you Ted but you stated yourself—"

"Sir please!" Ted clasped his hands together. "I won't let you down this time." The boss returned to his window grinning widely to himself at Ted's confidence boost.

"Good, we have a deal then. I'd hate to have to throw away another one." Ted didn't need to head over to the window to see exactly what his boss was looking at. It was no doubt the bodies of former employees who had...disappointed him. He took the bosses new silence as an invitation to leave. As an invitation to keep living. So he turned to leave, making sure to attempt it silently. But the bosses words followed his movements.

"Oh Ted, please do close the door on your way out. It tends to get a little...drafty in here." And Ted swallowed hard, closing the door shut behind him.