102 Making Plans

After breakfast, I walk back to the room with the portal to find Titus still sitting in front of the computer. I sigh and walk over to him before pulling up a chair and sitting next to him. He remains staring at the screen in silence as I softly ask "Why don't the Ghouls approach the City?"

Titus blinks and slowly turns to look at me with a frown. I stare at him in silence... waiting. His eyes flash back and forth on mine as his mind races. I hate to do this to him right now but we don't have the time for him to log out of reality at the moment.

Not only will it get him killed, but it will also get us killed. His face begins to morph into something between pain and confusion before he pushes away from the computer and stands up. I remain seated as he runs a hand down his face and starts pacing in the room.

When he finally stops, he turns to me and asks "You know why?" I slowly turn to him and shake my head no as I say "No, but I want to know why no one seems to question this. No one can control Ghouls, let alone stop them, and yet... not a single one goes into the City."

I slowly stand up and say "So either someone can control the Ghouls or they have something or someone that can." He stares at me in silence before cursing and saying "Do you know what you're implying?"

I stand my ground and raise my chin a little as I say "I'm fully aware." We both stand in the room with nothing but the sound of the computer running. I slowly reach out and place a finger on the computer as I stare at him and say "Corruption normally runs deep, Titus and it will get a lot worse before it gets better but I promise you one thing..."

I send out a small electrical surge, frying the computer as I say "Something has happened. Tigers don't come out of their caves unless forced. Thane's father is moving. He's searching for more power and is now acting desperate. Why do you think that is?"

Titus' chest rises and falls as his heart nearly beats out of his chest. I can hear it racing and unfortunately, I can smell his fear. Why do I keep progressing even though we're no longer in that world?

Titus softly says "Something's going to happen to the City..." I focus back on Titus and nod my head as I say "That's the impression I got too. It's safe to assume that we're racing against an unknown clock of some kind and the closer it gets, the more dangerous it'll become for everyone."

Titus' eyes suddenly go to the portal as he says "He knows about the other world and what happens to others that go there." I finally remove my hand from the fried computer as I nod and say "I think he knows more about it than Thane and I. I think the only way we can force him to move is if we destroy all the portals."

Titus starts pacing again as he says "But what if something happens and someone needs to come back again? Wouldn't this be suicide!?" I think about telling him about the old man's story but decide not to. Not because I don't trust him.

Some things are just better left unsaid. I turn to the portal with a clenched jaw. To be honest, even I want to keep them around but my instincts tell me otherwise. I use my power to take the whole portal apart and even destroy several pieces as Titus watches with extreme worry.

I start to walk towards the door as I say "We need to move fast before they catch on." Titus yells out and says "Screw it! Let's go!" He suddenly walks past me and yells out "Everyone load up! We ride in thirty!"

As I walk out of the room, Thane stands by the door with a knowing smirk. He slowly turns to look at me and says "You always do have a way with words. Who knew my little bird was so sharp?" I raise an eyebrow and smile as I say "I don't know if that's a compliment or an insult."

Thane's smile turns dark as he suddenly pushes away from the wall and blocks my path. He looks down at me as he slowly leans forward and whispers "For you? It's nothing but compliments for my little bird."

I slightly tilt my head to the side as I feel my smile growing. I take a step closer to him and reach out to his stomach. My fingertips slip under his black shirt as I slowly look up to him with a dark smile of my own.

When my fingertips lightly flutter across his smooth skin, I feel his entire body shudder as his jaw tightens. His eyes darken as he stares down at me and says "Keep that up and we won't be going anywhere today..."

I softly chuckle and watch as his breathing changes at the sound. I slowly brush my fingers along his muscles as I slowly slip them to his back. I lean up to his lips and stop just a few centimeters away before whispering "You started it.." I say with a growing smirk.

Thane's entire body tenses as desire consumes his dark eyes. His breathing becomes deeper as he stares into my eyes and says "I think it's about time you realize there are consequences for what you do to me..."

My smile grows wicked as I lean in and slowly kiss him. As soon as he tries to deepen the kiss, I break away and look up to him as I say "I look forward to it..." I pull my hands out from under his shirt and pat his chest before slipping under his arm and walking past him with a devious giggle.

Thane licks his lips with a wicked smile of his own, liking everything that little hellion does to him. He slowly stands to his full height with dark, knowing eyes. Yes, he was looking forward to it as well.