I exhaled as Jin locked his gaze on me. Did he truly believe he could force answers from me?
"What exactly do you want?" I questioned, sighing again and this time glancing at him.
"All I want to know is what occurred. Why was she saying all of that?" He inquired.
"You know how tiny kids make stuff up and have vivid imaginations?" I responded.
"In this town, we all know you're the person with the least pleasant soul." He mentioned this.
"If I'm not pleasant enough, why are you talking to me?" I inquired. This man was attempting to irritate me, and he would undoubtedly see that 'least pleasant soul' if he continued to press my buttons.
"The girl seemed really sad the last time we were together." He continued. "She was terrified."
"Did she appear underfed?" I inquired.
In answer, He inquired, "Where is this going?"
"Since you know so much about statistics on how sad kids appear, I thought you would be willing to address a few questions." I responded, eliciting a huff from him.
"Please respond, Jin." I requested.
"Did she appear undernourished the last time you saw her?" I inquired once more.
In answer, he shook his head slowly.
"Did she appear sleep deprived?" I inquired.
"Okay, no problem. Just because I stated you had the least pleasant spirit here doesn't imply you have to be nasty to be disagreeable." He said almost in a yell.
"Is that correct?" I inquired, crossing my arms in front of my chest.
"How come those identical words sounded so unpleasant when you stated them, five minutes ago? You attempted to accuse me of mistreating the small kid simply because I don't get along with you and other people in town." I said.
"It's assumptions like these that make me dislike your company and the people in this area." I also included.
"Or were you attempting to highlight the fact that I physically mistreat her?" I inquired.
He frowned and scratched his head as he turned away from me. "Please accept my apologies. I was nervous, and I blurted out all those words in a frenzy to find out why the girl was so upset.
"Jin, I just have one phrase for you. Stay away from Charmaine and I." I said as I walked away in the direction Charmaine had fled to and Jin's men had pursued her.
I deviated from my intended itinerary and strolled down an alley way where there were no people.
I took a crystal ball as pure as water in a stream from the shoulder leather bag I was carrying it in and held it with one hand while waving the other above it.
It changed, showing a tiny girl rushing in the midst of many people in the market; she was in the very center of the market, where huge enterprises flourished and a few government offices were located.
That wasn't good news since the more she was exposed, the more danger crept in and her freedom was jeopardized.
Tapping on the crystal ball, I materialized directly in front of her, utilizing light manipulation to ensure no one saw what had just transpired. Nobody saw the transition.
She bumped into me and I held her tight even with her trying to fight for her freedom.
"Relax, sweetheart. Please relax." She calmed down as she glanced up and saw it was me, I said as gently as I could.
Where did she imagine she'd be able to flee to?
She was trapped with me as long as her parents didn't come up. If she was ever discovered with the human traffickers, who weren't afraid to capture someone even in broad daylight, her life would be more secure with me than being sold as a slave.
While Charmaine gazed up at me, surprise was written all over her face, my crystal ball was secure in the bag. I was certain that she was wondering on how I had caught up with her so quickly.
"I'm more familiar with these streets than you are." I said as Jin's men emerged a few minutes later, standing a few yards away from us, staring at us and exhaling hard after their running.
Charmaine was also exhaling heavily and said nothing, as Jin appeared.
"Are you interested in seeing any magic tricks over there? I'll go out and get you some beef too." Jin offered as he crouched alongside Charmaine.
She didn't even glance at me to check if I agreed, she just slowly nodded her head, and Jin looked up at me as he straightened up "I'll take care of her. I guarantee you."
I knew he'd take care of her, but I also knew what he was up to. I was aware of his motives, but I was willing to go the additional mile to stay one step ahead of him.
"Darling, let me see your tongue," I said as I knelt in front of her .
She wanted to know why I had asked her to stick her tongue out, but she didn't want to argue so she obeyed my command.
Hesitantly, she poked her tongue out, and with ease, I cast a spell on her to ensure that she never revealed her identify or anything pertaining to her origins.
I wish I had thought of this sooner; I would have done it the night she first came here to be with me.
I stood up straight and glanced at Jin, who was still gazing at me.
"What? I needed to make sure she was okay." I said.
"Go ahead, just don't run away like that again." Charmaine was informed.
"If she disappears, I'll eliminate you, and I mean it." After one of Jin's guys held Charmaine in his arms, I told him.
"You won't have to do that because I'll return her to you safely. I'm a man who speaks his mind." He swore.
I rolled my eyes as I watched him rush with Charmaine, towards the gathering closest to us, where magic tricks were being shown off.
"Have you heard from the highnesses?" As he stood alongside me, Edoso inquired.
"No," I said, shaking my head in response.
"What you did could have cost you your life." He told me of this.
"I understand, but desperate times need extreme means." I responded.