Chapter 9

Tom and Yinsen entered the tent, both noticeably cleaner and wearing fresh, new sets of clothes. Catching sight of them, Jamie put down her book and stifled a gentle yawn. "Koby, could you please show our guests to their rooms? I'm gonna take a break. Oh, and while you're at it, find two sets of clothes for them. The ones they're wearing won't last long." With that, Jamie headed upstairs.

"Excuse me, gentlemen, please come with me!" Koby appeared next to the two men and motioned for them to follow. Tony had many questions in his mind, but he figured it would be wiser to hold off until tomorrow.

They followed Koby up the stairs to the second floor. There was a corridor with three doors facing the stairs. Koby took them to one of the doors, opened it, and invited them inside.

Stepping into the room, Tony looked around. The room looked like a hotel suite with a bathroom. The floor had soft carpeting, and the walls had wallpaper. In the middle of the room, there was a large bed with four posts and velvet curtains. Surprisingly, there was even a window. Tony walked over to it and saw the moonlit desert outside, casting a silver glow over the landscape.

"The other gentleman's room is next to this one. Mistress Jamie's room is on the third floor. Please avoid going there, and I suggest both of you get some rest." Koby bowed and left, shutting the door behind him.

Pushing the bathroom door ajar, Tony cranked on the faucet, letting cool water flow. Moving on to the bathtub, big enough for two, he twisted the tap again, and hot water came gushing out.

"Why did they have us wash outside?" Tony asked, looking puzzled at Yinsen, who simply shrugged, and decided to let go of his curiosity for now.

After a short chat, Yinsen left for his own room. Since it was nearly four in the morning, Tony thought it best to catch some sleep.

* * *

A beam of sunlight shone through the window, zeroing in on the massive bed in the center of the room. Tony rolled around, trying to dodge the sun's rays. And then, all of a sudden, he jolted up, staring blankly at his surroundings. "Is this some kind of dream?"

"Tony, you up yet?" A knock echoed from outside the door. Tony replied and spotted a fresh set of clothes resting on the cabinet next to the bed. He snagged the outfit, got dressed, and sauntered over to open the door.

"You just woke up? It's already one in the afternoon." Yinsen, also sporting new clothes, stood outside the door. Tony stepped aside to let him in and went to the bathroom to freshen up. The toiletries were neatly arranged in front of the basin. He realized that someone had come in last night, but he must have been sound asleep to not notice it.

After freshening up, Tony even took the time to groom his beard. He came out looking refreshed and joined Yinsen downstairs.

Jamie sat peacefully in an armchair, engrossed in a book. The teapot on the table was pouring tea into her cup, while a knife sliced the pastries on the plate into bite-sized nibbles, all on their own as if guided by an invisible hand.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen. I hope you had a restful sleep," Jamie greeted them, setting aside her book. "Please, have a seat and help yourselves to some tea and pastries. I apologize for the late hour, but I thought it best to let you sleep in."

Tony and Yinsen took a seat opposite Jamie, appreciating the inviting atmosphere of the room. The aroma of freshly brewed tea and the delectable pastries filled the air, making their stomachs rumble with hunger.

As they settled in, Jamie continued, "I hope the accommodations were to your liking. Koby took care of arranging the rooms for you last night. We try to provide a comfortable space for our guests."

Tony nodded, sipping the tea and savoring its warmth. "The room was more than I could have asked for. It felt like a luxurious oasis in the middle of the desert."

Yinsen chimed in, his voice filled with gratitude, "Indeed, Mistress Jamie. We are grateful for your hospitality. The room was a pleasant surprise, and the rest was much needed."

Jamie's smile widened. "I'm glad to hear that. We strive to make our guests feel at home here. Now, I'm sure you must have questions about this place and why you're here. I promise I'll provide answers, but first, let's enjoy a meal together. You must be famished."

She gestured towards the tray of pastries, encouraging them to indulge. Tony and Yinsen eagerly reached for the delectable treats, savoring the flavors as they began their meal.

Between bites, Tony finally mustered the courage to ask, "Did you come here on your own? Where are your parents? Don't they object to you being in this line of work?"

Jamie nonchalantly replied, "My parents are no longer around. I have to make a living."

Tony paused for a moment and asked again, "Sorry, when are we going back to the United States?"

"Anytime. After you finish your meal, you can contact your assistant to arrange for someone to pick you up," Jamie replied, putting down her book and picking up a pastry with a fork that had been floating in the air.

Tony pondered for a moment and then said, "Can we stay here for a few more days? I don't want to leave those weapons from my company in the hands of those terrorists."

Jamie's attention was immediately captured. "To cover a day's stay, along with your meals, lodging, and security, the cost will be ten thousand dollars per day for the two of you. And if you're okay with paying an additional ten million dollars, I can even assist you in getting rid of those toys you mentioned."

Her comment about his weapons being toys made Tony's eyes twitch. "I think we can handle this by ourselves."

Jamie shrugged, "Fine, but no more than a week. I promised your assistant that I would ensure your safe return within a week, and I intend to keep that promise."

"Okay, just a quick question though—what's the deal with all this? Is the magic you mentioned actually real? And who exactly are you?" Tony asked. He always thought magic as mere tricks to please a crowd. Yet, here he was, in a magical tent with a young girl who clearly hasn't finished school yet, performing incredible feats with a small stick.

Giving him a sly grin, Jamie advised, "Don't pry too much, sir. There's a chance they'll wipe your memory if things get out of hand. Even though they're careful, accidents can occur. You surely wouldn't want to come off as a fool, would you?"

Tony arched an eyebrow, intrigued. Did she really just say that her people can mess with people's minds? Why was he even thinking of that? Of course, they do. Being witches and all. "What if I pay?"

"No, but if you really want to know, there are only two ways," Jamie replied.

"Can you tell me?" Tony asked, showing great interest.

"You either have to marry me or become my father," Jamie answered matter-of-factly. "Only family members are privy to our secrets."

Tony damn near fell out of his chair when he heard the conditions. But then he had a bright idea. "Hey! Ain't you still a minor? I could totally adopt you."

Bam!

A plate came crashing down on the table in front of Tony, sending the food flying everywhere. Koby, who had entered the room unnoticed, stood there fuming, his eyes blazing with anger. "You're outta your mind! Who the hell do you think you are, trying to be the great Mistress Jamie's father? Filthy muggles! You ought—"

"Shut it, Koby! Apologize, now!" Jamie's face turned icy in an instant. "I've said it before, only beasts care about bloodlines."

Koby's eyes filled with angry tears, but he couldn't go against his Mistress' order. Grudgingly, he said sorry to Tony, "I'm sorry, sir. Please forgive my rude words."

Before Tony could respond, Koby started bawling and started banging his head against the wall. "Bad Koby! Koby makes the Mistress mad!"