Inside the Office of Wolfram & Hart
Spotty’s Perspective
Spotty’s crystalline blue eyes remained locked on Marcus Hamilton, her smirk transforming into something sharper, almost predatory. Her voice, now tinged with icy amusement, cut through the tension like a blade.
“I can read your mind, you know,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “Asking me for assurances I’ll hold up my end of the deal while actively thinking about betraying me? So not cool.”
She let the weight of her words sink in, her gaze narrowing slightly. He’s predictable, isn’t he? Big guy, big pride, small sense of self-preservation.
Leaning casually against the desk, she added, “And by the way, you wouldn’t happen to know in which universe I could find Illyria, would you?” Her tone was calm, almost conversational, but there was a dangerous edge lurking beneath the surface. Let’s see if he’s smart enough to answer honestly.
Ila’s Perspective
Ila’s amber eyes glinted with barely suppressed amusement as she watched Spotty toy with Hamilton. Oh, she’s good. The whole mind-reading thing always throws them off.
Standing with her arms crossed, Ila leaned slightly closer to Hamilton, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. “You’ve got to admire her consistency, though, right?” she teased, glancing at Spotty. “Most powerful, bravest, craziest... and let’s not forget smartest. Reading your mind must be like skimming a children’s book for her.”
She chuckled softly, her gaze flicking back to Hamilton. He’s rattled. Good.
Marcus Hamilton’s Perspective
Hamilton stiffened, his dark eyes narrowing as Spotty’s words hit home. Damn it. Of course, she’s reading my mind. He forced himself to remain still, though his hands curled into fists at his sides.
“So not cool.” Her words echoed in his mind, a mocking reminder of just how powerless he was in this moment. This isn’t just a game to her. She’s testing me, gauging my reactions... looking for weaknesses.
When she mentioned Illyria, Hamilton’s jaw tightened. Illyria. Of course, she’d ask about that ancient thorn in everyone’s side. He weighed his options quickly, knowing that lying—or withholding information—wasn’t an option.
Finally, he exhaled slowly, forcing his tone to remain neutral. “I’ve heard whispers,” he admitted reluctantly. “The Senior Partners believed Illyria might be in an alternate Earth similar to this one. The circumstances surrounding it are unclear, but they thought she might be lying dormant there.”
He hesitated, then added, “If you want more details, you’ll need to consult the source books. They’re the only repository of that kind of information. I don’t have anything else to give you.”
He met Spotty’s gaze, his frustration barely contained. “If I knew exactly where Illyria was, trust me, I wouldn’t still be here.”
The Exchange
Spotty leaned back slightly, her crystalline gaze studying Hamilton as if weighing the truth in his words. “An alternate Earth similar to this one,” she murmured thoughtfully, her smirk softening into something more contemplative. “And the source books. Interesting.”
“Well, thank you for your cooperation, Marcus,” she said after a moment, her tone light but still carrying that edge of authority. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Ila chuckled again, shaking her head. “He’s lucky you’re in a good mood,” she quipped, her amber eyes sparkling with amusement. “Otherwise, he’d be dust, just like his buddy over there.”
Hamilton said nothing, his pride smoldering beneath his carefully neutral expression. I’ve given her what she wanted... for now.
Spotty’s smirk returned, sharper this time. “And just so we’re clear, Marcus,” she said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, “if I find out you’re holding anything back, you’ll wish you’d taken your chances with the First Evil.”
Hamilton forced himself to nod, his mind racing. “If you need the source books, I’ll have them brought to you,” he said, his tone carefully measured.
“Good,” Spotty said, her smirk widening. “Now, let’s get started. The sooner you cooperate, the sooner you can leave this universe.”
Ila’s Closing Quip
As Marcus turned to issue the order for the source books, Ila leaned closer to Spotty, her voice low enough for only her to hear. “Red haired, amber eyed menace strikes again,” she teased with a grin.
Spotty chuckled, her crystalline gaze flicking back to Marcus. “Menace or not, we’re getting what we came for. Let’s just hope the books actually have what we need.”