"Madam, I would like you to know that everything we say here is being written by my secretary over there", Daniil said.
"Sure, no problem about that", Jade straightened her back on the chair she was sitting on. She wondered what the essence of this was but accepting the fact that people needed to know about her, especially that man sponsoring rapists and thugs in the village.
[A fight was coming]... she thought, with the hairs on the back of her neck standing at attention.
"What is your real name? Your birth name?"
"Jade Spear"
"That is an unusual name"
"Unusual?", Jade chuckled. "Probably because my parents were immigrants. We are not originally from Cones"
"Oh"... Daniil scribbled something on his notepad. "I heard from sources that you used to sell fruits in the market. How did an ordinary fruit seller trying to survive, acquire such abilities?"
"How do I answer that now?", she scratched her head a little.
"Anyhow, Miss Jade. I'm all ears", Daniil gave a plastic smile.
[He didn't have to smile though, how false], Jade thought; it had rubbed off on her wrongly.
[I hope she gives me a juicy answer. People are waiting on this story], Daniil thought.
* * *
Now, Joe, Rex, and a few boys under Ajax's command knew where Jade could be found. The stupid reporter had led them straight to her.
Joe was elated, thinking he had found Selena too.
"Have some of the boys go nearer to the house. Have the place surrounded", Joe said.
Rex was picking his rotten teeth and it irritated the hell out of Joe who punched him hard squarely in the mouth. The hand rex was using to pick his teeth was sent into his own mouth, causing the flesh to scrape against his teeth, drawing blood.
"What did you do that for, Joe?", Rex shouted.
"You are a slug. I gave a command, did you hear it?"
Rex stared at Joe, his eyes shooting bullets, [One day, I would feed you your ears as breakfast. Overgrown bastard]
"You wanna do something, round man?", Joe taunted.
Rex consciously suppressed his anger... [One day], he thought.
He turned away from Joe and told the man standing behind him the instructions he had just received, "Have the house surrounded, NOW!", he spat the blood that had gathered in his mouth.
Joe was deeply pleased with himself... he hated Rex, [The man was irritating]
* * *
"We should hurry and wrap this up. I do not like how I feel", Jade said.
"What do you mean, Madam?"
"I mean there is something coming. Everyone should be careful. Are we done here?"
"Okay. One more question, some call you a witch, some call you an enchantress, some, a diviner. What do you call yourself, Miss Jade?"
"Exactly what you have said. I call myself, Jade. Nothing more"
She got up, standing and looking at him with a straight face. He seemed to have gotten her message because he stood up himself and signaled to his secretary to pack up.
"You have been most cooperative. Thank you", he said.
"Hmm... You are welcome"
He nodded and as they were about to leave, Jade's mouth couldn't keep shut, "Be careful, Mr. Daniil"
* * *
Two steps out of the building, Daniil's face was covered with a dark cloth that had a foul smell to it.
He took a few breaths in and was knocked out in seconds.
"Run... get out of here before you suffer the same fate", Rex said to Daniil's secretary.
They didn't have business with him, he was useless to them. Rex had all he needed.
Just as the boy was about to take off, Rex pulled him back, "Give me that bag with you"...he said as he grabbed the bag out of his hands and watched the poor boy take off like a chicken that knew it was going to be killed.
* * *
"What business do you have here?"
Jade stared down at the tall man that had just entered her house. She could smell the bad stench oozing out of him. It was a stench from his soul.
"What do you want here?", she asked again.
Joe was looking around like he was searching for something.
"Where is Selena?"
"Who?"
"Do not play smart with me, woman. Where is the girl you have been protecting? A whore who ran away from the brothel"
"Oh. The girl that was being starved and made to do things against her wish? That girl, you mean?"
Joe's eyes began to get red with anger. He was hanging by a thread from pouncing on this woman who thought she could do things. He would show her in a bit that she was just a cockroach. He would trample on her very soon.
"She is long gone, Mister. If that is what you came to find out, you are late. Please, I need my clients to come in. If you would..."
In seconds, Joe flipped the table that separated him from Jade. Her eyes widened, [This is a mad man. I should tread carefully]. She got herself ready for anything.
"Please leave"
"Where did she go to?", he growled.
"Somewhere you can't reach her. Another city entirely", Jade was glad she was heaping hot coals on his head with her information.
Joe was approaching her like a predator that had found his meal...breathing like a buffalo.
Jade's eyes shone a bright purple and fire sprang from her palms, "If you come any closer, you will not leave this place with your sight, that is if you leave here at all"
He stopped in his tracks, considered her threat, and said, "You will be hearing from us soon, woman", he smiled maniacally.
Joe kicked the table, breaking one of its legs, and left the room.
* * *
Daniil regained a little consciousness when they were in the carriage carrying them to Ajax's office.
"Where are you taking me?"
No response.
"I do not have anything of any importance. I just work to put food on my table...there is no need kidnapping me"
"Oh shut up! You have lots of things we want to know from you", Rex replied.
"Like wh-"
Rex punched the side of his head sending him into oblivion yet again..."I said shut up"