Chapter 26: Accord
Zia rummaged through her belongings that Orion brought for her. She found a pair of shorts and a t-shirt to wear and went to the bathroom to change.
Her nerves were in a mess. She wasn't ready to see Damien again. Seeing him was frightening.
Her hands were shaking at the thought of his fangs and claws. She didn't know what to expect from him after what she had seen.
So much had happened in such little time that she couldn't wrap her head around it all.
"I guess we can go now. She murmured as she walked out of the bathroom completely changed."
Orion's face was filled with concern for her.
"Are you sure?"
"No but we don't have a choice. I don't want to cause anymore problems." Zia said, looking at the ground as she walked toward the door.
Orion became quiet as he followed her.
They walked down the stairs of his cabin and head to Damien's office with Ansel leading the way quietly.
Zia broke the silence suddenly. "What does Damien want, Ansel?"
"I am not sure, Zia. I can't imagine him wanting any further trouble. Things have gone too far." Ansel said with frustration in her voice.
Zia remained quiet the rest of the way.
When they arrived at Damien's office, Ansel knocked on the door.
Moments later, Damien opened the door. He looked as though he had cleaned himself up and attended to his wounds.
Maybe Ansel cleaned them for him. Zia thought.
"Ansel, you can leave. I will take it from here." He said, holding the door open for Zia and Orion.
Ansel did as she was told as Damien closed and locked the door behind Zia and Orion.
Damien walked over to his desk and took a seat. He picked up a glass of whiskey and swirled the liquid in the glass.
"Have a seat." He said, gesturing to the leather chairs across from his desk.
"I prefer to stand." Orion said, frankly.
Zia took a step closer to Orion and stood next to him as Damien cocked a brow and looked at Orion then back to Zia.
"Very well. Let's get to the point. It is clear why you are here Orion. I am not sure why you have taken this long to act. I am also not sure what your sudden interaction with Zia is about."
Orion remained quiet, not willing to give Damien any information that was not necessary to give.
Zia grabbed a lock of her hair and began rolling it through her fingers.
Damien looked directly at Orion. "I have a proposition for you."
"Go ahead." Orion said.
"I am not here to cause any issues. Clearly you have an interest in Zia for some reason that you do not wish to share with me. I will not harm her if she continues to perform for the circus. All she will have to do is perform. You both can remain here. That is it." He said, as his gaze shifted to Zia.
Zia looked at Orion, nervously.
"Also, I expect you to stay out of my way once this deal is made. I have no business with hunters. I simply am in the business of making money. Keep your distance from me and I will do the same." Damien warned.
Something about this deal seamed strange. Orion didn't feel right about it.
"First of all, no matter what we do or do not agree to, you will not harm Zia." Orion said firmly.
Damien remained quiet and leaned back in his chair looking at Orion in the eyes.
"Zia, what do you want to do?" Orion asked, as he placed his hand around her shoulders.
Damien bit down on his jaw at the sight of Orion touching Zia. He wondered what else Orion had done to her.
Zia looked up at Orion and then at Damien. She walked closer to Damien and slammed her hands on his desk. She had enough of his games.
"Why didn't you tell me you were a hybrid?" Zia asked.
Damien just looked at her without saying a word.
Zia became furious.
"You raised me from a baby and never said a word! You abused me. You hurt me in so many ways and I did nothing to you! Now I know why you are so evil!" Zia screamed with tears streaming down her face.
Damien showed no emotion. He couldn't reveal how her words made him feel. He would show weakness and now was not the time. Especially not in front of Orion.
"Not all Demons are evil, Zia." Damien finally said placing his focus on the glass in his hand.
"Oh, I guess only the hybrids are!" She spat as she crossed her arms.
Damien became quiet as though thinking of words to say to quell Zia's anger.
"Zia, I am sorry if I hurt you. It was not intentional. However, regardless of what has happened, if you remain in the circus, you will both have to agree to you performing. I expect Orion to perform with Gemini as well. I still have a business to run." He replied.
A fight was not what Damien wanted after the brawl he had just experienced with Orion.
Zia turned her face away from Damien and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I do not believe you, but I will agree to the terms only if I can stay with Orion. I feel safer in his cabin." She said as Damien's face showed his disapproval of the terms of Zia's agreement.
She needed to buy time while figuring out her next move. She needed more answers about who's she was. With Orion's protection she would feel a little more at ease.
"But his cabin is closest to the darkness. Aren't you afraid?" Damien said.
"I will be fine, Damien."
Damien looked at Orion to see if he was in agreement with Zia's terms.
Though Orion remained silent, Damien could tell, he was in accord with Zia.
"I will agree to what Zia has proposed. However, if you fail to comply with this agreement, you will truly experience what a hunter is capable of." Orion cautioned as he glared at Damien.
"Fine we are in accord. Your first performance will be tomorrow. Whatever practicing you need with your ring of fire must be done today. You both may leave." Damien said as he gulped the remainder of the liquid in his glass.
He reached for the whiskey and gave himself a refill before standing up and walking towards the door.
He unlocked the door as Orion and Zia walked out, then shut the door behind them.
"I don't trust him, Zia. What if does something to you when you perform?"
"Well, we don't really have an option right now. I will figure something out, hopefully." She said as they began walking back to Orion's cabin.
"We need to get you out of here, but I don't know where is safe enough." Orion said.
"Neither do I."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone