Chapter 124

**Thomas**

"Freddie? What are you doing here? Everyone has been looking for you." I say watching him carefully.

We are all suspicious of this man who claims to be Maya's brother.

He lets out a surprised laugh and tucks a longer strand of his hair behind his ear in a nervous way.

"I was just exploring the area. I have never been around here and I let my curiosity get the better of me and got lost. Nothing to worry about though because I found my way back. Why did something happen?" He seems agitated like he really hadn't expected anyone to be here.

I brush over his question and point to the drawer he is closest to. "Are you looking for something? Perhaps I can help."

I try to keep my tone friendly and warm, at least for me.

He glances behind him and shrugs. "No nothing important. So what's going on? Where is everyone else?"

He leans and looks past me I'm guessing to search for anyone else in the house.

"The others are out helping the patrols. There was a Blood Demon attack." I try my best to keep my answers short and vague so I can feel his reaction.

He makes a forced shocked expression. "Wow. I can't believe it. Did anyone get hurt?"

He still hasn't asked about Maya. He would know she was sick if he had been around pack lands, everyone knew. Sow here was he really?

"A few small injuries but all of the Blood Demons were killed. We found out a lot about them when we had the autopsy done."

Those words get a genuine reaction of a mixture of fear and anger. Now, why would that be?

"I'm sorry I wasn't here to help." He says leaning back against the counter.

"Yes, it is too bad. Maya would have hoped you could help. Have you seen her around?" I ask him.

He shakes his head. "Not today, but I'm sure she's around somewhere. She is always trying to help someone."

"Well, she isn't able to do much helping while she's in a coma." I finally say.

He straightens out and his eyes go wide. "Coma? What do you mean? What happened to her?"

I have a theory now as to why Maya has gone into this coma and maybe sharing it will get the reaction I really need right now.

"She is being reborn. You know the stories right? When a powerful being goes into stasis so as to fully come into their powers. " I say with a straight face.

He may not know this but if by chance he does then how he takes this news will be very enlightening. Just as I hope his face contorts into anger.

"That's impossible. She is already plenty powerful. I need to see her." He says pushing forward and heading for the door.

When his back is turned to me I push my power toward him and freeze him in place. Yeah, there is a lot about my powers people don't know mostly because I didn't want to scare anyone. Something in me is shouting a warning that this guy isn't who he says he is. I slowly walk around him so that we are standing face to face.

"What did you do to me?" He asks wincing when he tries to move.

"Your mind controls your body does it not? I have the ability to control minds in different ways. Now I can't read minds so don't worry about that but there is a whole lot of other things I can do. For instance, I can tell your mind that your body needs to stop, and as you can see it worked quite well. Now tell me what you were really doing when we couldn't find you." He lets out a growl of frustration but I keep my hold on him.

He tries hard to fight against my power but I can see when he finally gives up.

"I wasn't anywhere. There's nothing to tell." He says but I see the small hint of a smile before it disappears again.

Somethings wrong.

"I know you are lying to me! Tell me the truth. Who are you?" I ask more firmly and adding a bit more strength to my hold.

This time though, he doesn't wince. No...he smirks and stands completely straight breaking my hold on him completely.

"Oh Thomas. It's too bad you were the one to find me. You really are a fascinating specimen and wiser than those other idiots. When did you figure out that something was wrong?" He walks around me like a predator toying with its prey. "Or did you only now put it together?"

He ticks at me and shakes a finger at me. "Very disappointing for a Fae to fall short so badly. I have been sitting under your nose all along and you fell for my act so easily. You have been around these wolves far too long."

"Who are you? You're not Maya's brother are you?" I ask.

He laughs. "Bravo. You got it right on the first guess. No that was a little story I cooked up to get close to the girl. Honestly, the whole thing has been so tiresome. Really, why the humans enjoy playing someone else for money does not make sense to me at all. It's much more fun being exactly who you are meant to be. Like me."

"Who are you?" I growl out taking a stance to fight back if he should attack me.

"I think I will keep that secret for now. I think it would be best to get the whole family together first. Now, take me to Maya." He says stepping up to me and my eyes fall to his hands that are now dancing with crackles of magic.

"You're a Mage," I say in disbelief.

The Mages were said to have died out long ago.

"Very good. Yes, I am, and if you have heard the stories about my kind you know how dangerous I can be. Even a Fae of your power is nothing compared to me. So how about we skip this show and tell and take me to Maya. I can't have my dear little sister ruining all my plans." He says moving closer to me until I can feel the heat of his power.

I can't let him get to Maya, but I need to play nice until I know what he is really after. If he wanted Maya dead, he had plenty of chances to do it. So he must need something from her.

"Okay, I'll take you," I say holding my hands up to show him I won't fight.

He gives me a self-satisfied smile before nodding his head toward the door. "Let's go."

I nod and turn toward the door. We walk slowly through it and I turn toward the hospital. I assume he already knows where it is so the idea is to get lost finding Maya once we get there at least until I can send a message to the other guys. Not my best plan I admit, but with little to work with, I will have to make things up as I go.

As I suspected Freddie moves quicker and ends up leading me toward the hospital. Once inside a few people looked our way but Freddi has plastered on his best friendly face and greets everyone as we walk. I lead him to the elevator and press the button for the top floor. Maya is actually being kept on the first floor, but if I lead him the furthest away as I can it will give me a chance to get away and send word for help before he finds her.

We step onto the elevator and I press the button for the top floor.

"She's in one of their best rooms. It has a great view of the pack lands." I say trying to make conversation.

"No view is going to matter when I'm through with her. She won't hold a single memory when she meets her parents in hell." He spits out with noticeable bitterness.

I want to turn and punch the guy right in the face, but that is not the Fae way and right now I need to rely on my natural abilities.

"What did Maya do to you? She did not even know you until you came to find her." I am not sure if he will be any more forthcoming now than before, but I won't stop trying to get something from him that will make this entire situation make sense.

"She took something from me. Something that was promised me and I won't stop until I am given what I'm owed." He says with venom.

I take in his words and try to work out what he could possibly be talking about. Maya has four mates, a son, and some interesting powers but besides that, she doesn't have much. She has never sought anything that wasn't given to her if we really look at all the facts.

"What did she take?" I ask.

He laughs. "All will be revealed, brother-in-law. Soon enough."