TIW Dedopulos
Uphold them. Not take in every pathetic waif and stray that crosses our paths. You are to kill the girl this instant. She is in breach of the third tradition, she is the product of our clan, and that is my judgment. Kill her. That is a direct order.”
“How did.. . Look, wait a moment,” said Theo.
“What?” His voice actually managed to increase in volume and pitch. “How dare you, you piece of excrement? I will most certainly not wait a moment.
Not even an instant. Kill her right away, or I’ll have you executed myself before sunrise as a collaborator in this ridiculous breach.”
“1 need her!” shouted Theo, furious. “Why is that so hcking difficult for everyone to understand?“ Suddenly, Paschek was icy calm, laced through with biting sarcasm. “DO enlighten me, Archon Bell, as to why this particular need is driving you to scream vulgarisms down the telephone at me. Tersely, please, for my patience is thin. Have you perhaps fallen passionately in love?”
“She is the victim of a slave-trading ring. A large, well-structured slave-trading ring, run by a collaboration of kindred with mortal criminals affiliated with the transnational criminal organizations.
TCOs are not known to be under anything resembling secure influence from the sect. This could be immense, far larger than just Minneapolis.”
There was a long silence on the end of the phone.
Finally, Paschek spoke, sounding thoughtful and concerned. T h a t ties in with.. . No matter. Very well.
I retract my prior judgment. Investigate as fully as you are able. In the matter of this humiliating fledgling, I will defer judgment in favor of the local prince. You are to obey her decision on this as if it came directly from me. Keep me informed regarding your progress with this operation.”
“Yes, sir,” Theo said, relieved.
Paschek severed the connection, and Theo put the phone away. Delphine cowered away from him, terrified. Theo looked at her curiously.
Her voice was shaky, and quiet. “I heard him tell you to kill me. Order you. You have to obey orders, you said. Jesus, SWAT team, my ass. You are an assassin.” Her voice got even smaller. “Don’t hurt me.
Please. Do it quick.”
The0 shook his head. “I’m not going to kill you.
He retracted the order.”
Delphine collapsed onto the floor as her knees gave way. “Oh god. Oh god. I am so sick of this.” She laughed, a little hysterically. “It’s going to be the fucking death of me.”
The0 helped her to her feet. “It’s going to be okay.”
The doors to the boardroom opened again. There was silence from the room. Elizabeth came out and sashayed over to The0 and Delphine, looking grave.
“You’ve caused us quite a headache, Archon.”
“But for the best of reasons,” replied Theo.
Elizabeth shrugged lightly. “It doesn’t matter. The council is deadlocked. I have decided to let them all cool off for a few days, and then we’ll think about the issue again. As you’ve seen, it is an emotional one. In the meantime, the girl is to stay with you, under your protection, at all times. You will stand surety for her discretion and good behavior.”
“Thank you, ma’am,’’ said Theo with as much grace as he could muster. Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully and went back into the boardroom, closing the doors behind her. .“They’re going to fucking kill me, you asshole,” snarled Delphine.
“I’m not going to let that happen,” Theo replied.
“Come on. We’ve got work to do.”
Delphine suddenly stopped dead in the middle of the corridor. The0 continued for a moment before noticing, then turned to face her.
“You really mean that, don’t you!” She sounded a bit calmer again, and a little curious.
Theo nodded. “Yes. I do.”
“Why?”
“Because I gave my word.”
She looked at him with a very direct stare. “Yeah, yeah, that old tune. That’s not what I‘m asking. You know what I’m asking.”
“Because killing you is totally unjust. You didn’t have any choice, and you have no idea what you’re getting into. You were enslaved, then murdered and reanimated as a monster before you’d even had a chance to taste your life. The world owes you a break.
Plus, as you heard me tell my boss, I need you on this.”
Delphine continued looking at him. “Compassion?
Don’t worry, I won’t spoil your reputation by telling anyone. It’s great to hear, and I appreciate it, but you’re still dodging the issue, Theo.”
He scowled at her. “Where did you get so unwholesomely clever?”
“It’s a gift. Well?”
The0 hesitated a moment, then shrugged, and smiled ruefully. “Because there has to be something.
All those years, all that pain and death and loss and defeat, night after night.. . Longevity is not all it’s cut out to be, kid. There has to be something, or else the hunger gets you. The risk is that one night, you just sink into it, and you never come out again because you no longer have anything to come out for. You have to have something. Well, I do. It kept me alive when I was alive, and it’s kept me going since I’ve been dead.
It’s the only thing a slave can have. The only thing your master can’t take from you. I have my self-respect.”