Page 67 of Legion
Jolene turned to them, hand on hip, and patted her hair.“Well, how do I look?”
“A lot like my grandmother,” Beck said honestly.
The Prime smiled.“Excellent.She has a sweet face that screams ‘You can trust me.’That will help.”
Hopefully, yes, it would.They needed the cleric to feel comfortable with Jolene.To see her as no threat and lower his guard, if only a little.
They wouldn’t be able to squeeze information out of him via even the most gentle interrogation.Questions relating to the monkhood and the dark practitioner would no doubt trigger his brain and body to conk out.That meant they would have to make him sharewillingly.
People did that during conversations if they felt relaxed and safe.The truth serum would make him more inclined to be open; it would remove his hesitation to keep secrets.So as long as Jolene stuck to clever prompts, she should be able to make him blurt out helpful information.
“This had better work,” muttered Tobe, rolling his shoulders.
“Fingers crossed it does,” said Khloë.
Ciaran sighed.“Again, you’re not actually crossing them.”
“Again, I’m doing it mentally.”
“Why not just do it physically?”
“I’m tired.”
Jolene raised a hand, gesturing for silence.“Quiet.He’s starting to stir.”She perched herself on the edge of the bed, plastered a gentle look on her face, and focused on him.
Soon, his eyelids began to flutter and he mumbled non-intelligible words beneath his breath.He looked up at Jolene, his eyes a little glazed over.“Who are you?”
“Someone who means you no harm,” Jolene replied, her voice soft and lulling.“I found you outside in my yard.You’re hurt.It seems something happened to you.”
His brow furrowing, he lifted his head to take stock of himself, noticing the burns on his chest and arms.Confusion deepened his frown.“The last thing I remember is leaving the monastery with my brothers.”
“I didn’t see anyone else outside.”
“Her protectors must have slaughtered them,” he concluded, though he seemed to be speaking to himself.“Any who try to kill her don’t come back.”
Jolene lightly patted his hand in comfort.“Others may not have survived, but you did.You’re a strong one.And you’ll be back on your feet soon enough.Then you can return to your monastery.”
He swallowed, distressed.“The brothers there won’t be pleased that we failed.Andhewill be angry.”
Hebeing the dark practitioner, Naomi guessed.
“No one will be angry with you,” Jolene assured him.
“Yes, yes, they will,” he insisted.“I was supposed to kill her.”
“Maybe you did.”
A line dented his brow at that.“You’re right.I don’t recall killing her, but I might have.”Hope lit his eyes.“It could be why I survived.”
“Exactly.You’ll return a hero, not a failure.”
He nodded.“I’ll be rewarded, just as promised.”
“I do love rewards.Especially if they involve chocolate.”
“This one isn’t chocolate.It is so much more.”His gaze went out of focus.“He’s so pure and whole.He shines so bright it’s sometimes hard to look at him.But how can we not look at him?Even without wings he is magnificent.And now I will ascend like he promised.”
Naomi sent out a telepathic comment that would reach every demonic mind in the room.Sounds like the dark practitioner has definitely somehow convinced the clerics that he’s an angel.
