On that note, we
also need to work out what kind of payment she'll receive for this.” The tall
Vampire turned to her and looked at her closely for a moment, tilting his head
slightly before going on.
“I hope you realize that our, organization , isn't
exactly cash rich at the moment. Still, there may be services that we can
render, or if not, perhaps you would be all right with us owing you a favor?
The Line Walker brought you to us, so I assume that he has some plan for
repayment for his part, but on top of that?”
Again Claire stepped in for her before she could speak, Kate
decided to go with whatever she suggested, since this situation seemed to have
moved into the area of Vampire politics again. Claire moved to stand in front
of her physically, almost seamlessly, in that smooth way she had that crept up
on you if you didn't pay attention.
“Two favors and a third to be delivered if these men provide
useful information.” She countered, her voice sounding flat and hard.
The tall Vampire smiled and shook his head.
“I think not. We want her trust and services in the future,
not to be enslaved to her whim, wishing for this and that regardless of what we
can provide. Two favors, but they must be within our abilities to provide
without great hardship. No asking for the moon or anything like that.”
Claire raised her eyebrows and smirked, as if she had him
exactly where she wanted as far as this negotiation went. Her light green skirt
swayed in the breeze from the air conditioner that ran constantly in Underwood,
her brown shoes shining just a little as she stood there, poised and confident
looking.
“Two, within the confines of your collective abilities, which
are great enough that clarifying that way is specious... and two to be
delivered if these men provide usable information.”
The tall Vampire nodded then and turned to Kate again,
waiting as if she'd have something to ask for right then, which she didn't. She
wracked her brain, her attention caught suddenly by the men moaning piteously behind
the duct tape over his mouth, wrapped all the way around his head twice. That
gave her an idea that should allow her to discharge one of these favors right
now, without actually costing the Vampire and his group anything. She'd have
helped take down people like this for free, but Claire seemed to want her to do
it this way.
“All right... I know that these men have to be killed.
It's not like we can take them to the cops or anything, I get that.” One
of the men, the second one cried out when she said this. Turning, her eyes
flashed.
“Oh, don't pretend you deserve better! Poor little me, 'I
don't deserve to die. All I did was rape women and little children and, oh yeah,
got bunches of them killed' right... Don't try playing me that way.” Her
voice dripped with acid scorn that made Troy stare at her, since he'd never heard
her do more than sound slightly peeved before. Hilda actually stepped back,
which drew the attention of the tall Vampire Kate spoke too.
“So how about this. I invested a lot of energy in healing
them, and I don't want my work to be wasted all that much. So... if they
cooperate fully and easily, kill them quickly and as painlessly as possible?
It's better than they deserve, but my people are, at heart, lovers, not
fighters or killers.” Turning she glared at the men, who both looked at her
with panicked eyes. “If they don't cooperate, then do whatever you need to get
the information. There's a difference between kindness and foolishness, after
all.”
The tall Vampire turned his back to the men and winked at her
a smile crossing his face briefly. His voice though, when he spoke sounded
rough and almost angry.
“Well... fine, if that is your wish... We'll be all soft and
kind to them if they cooperate. Otherwise we do whatever we want to get them to talk. These fuckers better not talk. I won't be happy
about this unless they suffer first!” His voice, as deep as it was sent
also need to work out what kind of payment she'll receive for this.” The tall
Vampire turned to her and looked at her closely for a moment, tilting his head
slightly before going on.
“I hope you realize that our, organization , isn't
exactly cash rich at the moment. Still, there may be services that we can
render, or if not, perhaps you would be all right with us owing you a favor?
The Line Walker brought you to us, so I assume that he has some plan for
repayment for his part, but on top of that?”
Again Claire stepped in for her before she could speak, Kate
decided to go with whatever she suggested, since this situation seemed to have
moved into the area of Vampire politics again. Claire moved to stand in front
of her physically, almost seamlessly, in that smooth way she had that crept up
on you if you didn't pay attention.
“Two favors and a third to be delivered if these men provide
useful information.” She countered, her voice sounding flat and hard.
The tall Vampire smiled and shook his head.
“I think not. We want her trust and services in the future,
not to be enslaved to her whim, wishing for this and that regardless of what we
can provide. Two favors, but they must be within our abilities to provide
without great hardship. No asking for the moon or anything like that.”
Claire raised her eyebrows and smirked, as if she had him
exactly where she wanted as far as this negotiation went. Her light green skirt
swayed in the breeze from the air conditioner that ran constantly in Underwood,
her brown shoes shining just a little as she stood there, poised and confident
looking.
“Two, within the confines of your collective abilities, which
are great enough that clarifying that way is specious... and two to be
delivered if these men provide usable information.”
The tall Vampire nodded then and turned to Kate again,
waiting as if she'd have something to ask for right then, which she didn't. She
wracked her brain, her attention caught suddenly by the men moaning piteously behind
the duct tape over his mouth, wrapped all the way around his head twice. That
gave her an idea that should allow her to discharge one of these favors right
now, without actually costing the Vampire and his group anything. She'd have
helped take down people like this for free, but Claire seemed to want her to do
it this way.
“All right... I know that these men have to be killed.
It's not like we can take them to the cops or anything, I get that.” One
of the men, the second one cried out when she said this. Turning, her eyes
flashed.
“Oh, don't pretend you deserve better! Poor little me, 'I
don't deserve to die. All I did was rape women and little children and, oh yeah,
got bunches of them killed' right... Don't try playing me that way.” Her
voice dripped with acid scorn that made Troy stare at her, since he'd never heard
her do more than sound slightly peeved before. Hilda actually stepped back,
which drew the attention of the tall Vampire Kate spoke too.
“So how about this. I invested a lot of energy in healing
them, and I don't want my work to be wasted all that much. So... if they
cooperate fully and easily, kill them quickly and as painlessly as possible?
It's better than they deserve, but my people are, at heart, lovers, not
fighters or killers.” Turning she glared at the men, who both looked at her
with panicked eyes. “If they don't cooperate, then do whatever you need to get
the information. There's a difference between kindness and foolishness, after
all.”
The tall Vampire turned his back to the men and winked at her
a smile crossing his face briefly. His voice though, when he spoke sounded
rough and almost angry.
“Well... fine, if that is your wish... We'll be all soft and
kind to them if they cooperate. Otherwise we do whatever we want to get them to talk. These fuckers better not talk. I won't be happy
about this unless they suffer first!” His voice, as deep as it was sent
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