The Guardian Jenn watched the interrogation from the privacy of the two-way mirror. The Black God had failed to elicit anything other than a sneer with every one of his approaches. Four of the five vamps he'd chosen as bodyguards were exchanging looks of derision behind his back, and the vamp he tried to interrogate was openly ridiculing him. As much as she knew she shouldn't, Jenn pitied the young god. She'd interfere if it wouldn't make him look even weaker before his men.
At last, Jonny stormed out of the room, and Jenn emerged from the observation room into the hall. His body rippled with angry power that made her keep her distance. He slammed his hand into the wall.
"This isn't working!" he shouted.
"Then we take a different approach," she said. "You have more than one option."
"But this one knows exactly what I need to!"
"Don't fixate, Jonny," she advised. "If more than one person knows something, it's not a secret. This is the first lesson every good spy knows."
He met her gaze, listening.
"This vamp wasn't a loner. He has friends, doesn't he?" she asked.
"Several. I had our logs checked like you said. He's been working on the same team for years."
"There you go. Lesson two: everyone associated with your target is a potential weak point."
"What if they don't talk, either?"
"We try something else."
"Damian can read minds. Darian can read minds. I can't," he mused. "Xander said my powers will build slowly."
Upon arriving at the Black God's compound two days ago, Jenn had quickly learned the Black God had little control over his own powers and no respect from the vamps he led. It was a dangerous combination, one that could make his stint as Black God very short, if they found a way to kill him. Jenn said nothing, aware the vamps in the interrogation room were listening.
"This business is more complex than I thought," he admitted. "I guess I watched too many movies about spies to know how they really work."
"Good operatives have a box full of tricks. We've identified weak points in your organization. You must clean house, Jonny, or you'll never be able to go on the offensive."
"You'll help me go on the offensive against your own people?" he asked, facing her. The air around him rippled, reminding her he was as powerful as Damian. His power pushed her against the wall. She couldn't tell if he were doing it on purpose or simply had no control.