"Are you quite finished?"
The emperor's tone said he was clearly at the end of his patience, but Keene showed no concern, looking thoughtful, even so far as to glance up at the ceiling and making a humming noise before he looked back at the ruler and shrugged. "Maybe. I suppose that depends on you."
The older man's eyes narrowed. "Remember what happened to you the last time you tried my patience, Seer."
"Oh, you mean bringing me here and letting your guards beat the s*** out of me? Yes, I am quite concerned about a repeat of that, I assure you." The hybrid stood his ground, his stance completely confident, not intimidated in the slightest and there was a look in his green eyes that said he knew something he wasn't telling, something VERY important and he was just waiting to reveal it.
The emperor seemed to grit his teeth. The older man knew he walked a fine balance with Keene. On one hand, he needed the Seer's visions but on the other hand he had to keep the cocky hybrid in line, exert his authority and control over the black-haired male. It had worked in the past...which was why he was slightly puzzled as to why it wasn't working now. Threats were usually enough and when they weren't, carrying them out were. Hmm, perhaps this was just the hybrid's way of trying to stay proud even though he knew he needed the emperor. It had been, what, nearly five or six days since he'd had the drug in his system? Yes, the ruler could use that... He waved his hand as if dismissing this whole entire conversation, as if he was being benevolent in not making Keene pay for his insolence.
"Enough. Tell me what you learned, Seer. Or better yet, who you've brought back."
The emperor looked toward the three surrounded by his guards and Keene didn't even glance back when he answered. "The white-haired one is Carontessa, the red-head is Dorene and the android who'd like to put a few bullets in your chest is Raxiel. I wouldn't upset him." The guards looked a bit alarmed by that comment and they kept a closer eye on Raxiel, but they'd not been given orders to apprehend him or draw weapons so they didn't, but they were definitely more aware of him.
"And their purpose here?"
"Sightseeing."
The ruler looked like he wanted nothing more than to strangle Keene in that moment. "If you cooperate, Seer, you'll be given what you want. Test me and it will be withheld."
Keene's brows rose into his hairline and he scoffed. "Just what do you think I want from YOU that I couldn't get with but a few words?"
"You need the drug."
The hybrid smirked and the anger bubbled up in his gut, the loathing and frustration of years rose to boil through his blood. And this time he didn't need to reign it in. He knew he didn't. He didn't have to act anymore and he was going to enjoy this. His smile could have frozen magma. "Actually...I don't. You have no control over me. You were a fool to think you ever did. YOU are the puppet, not I. Or did you actually think you could break me to your will?"
The emperor didn't look impressed, though, he did look slightly jarred by Keene's attitude. This had never happened before. "You're lying."
Keene shook his head, amusement playing across his face and somehow, that was much more deadly than even his anger. He didn't honor that accusation with a proper response. "Do you honestly think they keep me as compliant as I make you believe? That after nearly two hundred years I haven't learned to live without them? No, pathetic ruler, your have no hold over me but that which I make you think you have. I am far above your influence. I am Worlds' Bane." Keene's dark jade eyes glittered with fire and finally, the older man looked uncertain, almost scared really as he'd paled drastically at the name the hybrid had dropped into the tense room. It was not a name most people wanted to hear and it was usually spoken in hushed terms. It wasn't a good thing, but Keene owned it without flinching.
"You can't tame me."
The emperor spoke again, defiant, trying to gain some handle on the situation again. "You can't do anything in here. Your powers are cut off." Even as he said the words, the older man looked slightly nervous and Keene's smug expression clearly said the emperor had right to be.
"I don't need them."
The ruler stared at Keene for a long moment, truly uncertain now and the hybrid merely held his eyes steadily, his own piercing and still holding that secret, that glimmer of something important, something he'd still not revealed. Perhaps it was that knowledge - and really, what could Keene reveal that was more shocking than the fact that he was Worlds' Bane? - that decided the proud ruler as the older man finally seemed to give in slightly, wary.
"What do you want?"