The C Word (Just a Word Book 1) by Kerry Heavens Page A

then she immediately closed it down again.”
    “Mali?”
    I nod,
regretfully and receive another encouraging hand squeeze. “I hate that word,” I
whisper.
    “It’s just a
word.”
    Nodding, I
continue. “She was afraid, he could feel the fear before his foot even hit the
lobby floor. He was cautious, but she had come to him for a reason and he
intended to help her if he could, that’s just his way.”
    “He is a kind
man.”
    I look at T,
puzzled. “You know him?”
    “I know of
him. Your bank and your family name are well known. It’s not only your
financial services that you are known for. The bank is something of a safe
haven for our kind and not just our kind, many kinds. The ‘others’ of this
world.”
    I smile,
feeling proud of what he and his father before him have achieved. “That’s what
we strive for.”
    “It’s an
incredible thing, when so many of the packs are in conflict, to establish such
neutral trust. It’s important to have trusted institutions like McQueen’s.”
      “My father doesn’t discriminate, everyone
needs a place of refuge some time. He helps anyone in need.”
    “My parents
put money in trust there for my future, because of your Bank’s reputation.”
    Our
reputation is everything. We keep treasures and secrets safe, but it’s my
father’s leadership that people respect. My chest tightens at the thought of
that responsibility one day falling on my shoulders. I have lived every day of
my life preparing for the opportunity; I only hope I can live up to the trust
placed in me. Because that oppressively hot day my mother came, was not the
first time that we were called upon as a last hope of safety, nor will it be
the last.
    “So what
happened?” T asks, urging me on.
    “He invited
her into a conference room to hear what she had to say. Not only was she a pure
blood, but she was also heavily pregnant. Even closed off as she was, he knew
that she was a not typical pure blood.” Few pure blood packs remained by then
and those that he knew of were not good news. Violence and destruction seemed
to be the key traits of theses shady creatures. Enmity, malevolence, call it
what you like, they are hostile beings and they live in an underworld far from
the normality of this life. She was not like them. He felt only warmth from her,
and while she could easily destroy his beautiful bank or maim his employees,
she chose not to.
    “And what is
a typical pure blood?” T asks, the challenge is clear. He is one after all and
is obviously all about challenging the misconceptions of his people.
    “You know
what I mean. Centuries of feuding has transformed the packs. They’re breeding
for power and aggression; it’s in their blood and in their nature. Their
strength is overwhelming and their instinct is to fight.”
    “All of them?”
    “No I guess
not all.” I blow out a breath, trying to stick to the story, rather than
analysing my prejudices. “This woman had kindness in her soul; my father felt
it and it interested him. His dealings with pure bloods had been swift and few;
they generally did not need his protection. He wanted to hear this woman out.”
    “She
challenged his idea of pure bloods and he wanted to know more?”
      “Yes.” I know he is pushing for me to
admit that not all of us are like I imagine, but I can’t, so I continue. “She
thanked him for seeing her and acknowledged that he was showing a great deal of
trust in not turning her away. She wanted to keep safe some bonds and one or
two trinkets for her unborn child, but she needed to be certain that the box
would be kept safe from anyone who might wish to know its secrets. She
apologised for bringing this fight to his door, but she knew he was the only
one she could hope would be able to help her.
    “She wanted
his reassurance that when her child came of age, this box would be opened to
him or her, and that they would be sought out if necessary to ensure they
receive it. She knew she was asking him to