“I am Kallias Athanasiou, son of Councilman Athanasios.”
A connection to a councilman…could be…useful. Yet…the offer… “Not good enough.”
“Call him off and we will pull back and leave.”
Foxx wrinkled his nose. “What? Just so you can come back and try again? No, I don’t think so.”
Kallias grimaced as he reached into his jacket with his unbroken arm, pulled out a cell phone, and dialed someone. Foxx listened to it ring. On the fifth ring, someone picked up.
“Councilman Athanasios… Father—” The vampire cut off suddenly on a cough, Kallias letting out a wet sounding gasp of air.
Ahhh, it sounds like something’s punctured…maybe a rib had broken off and pierced his lung? Foxx could only hope, right?
“Kallias?!” the man asked harshly. “What is going on?”
“The dhampir is out of control. Our people are dead and dying. Our only chance of survival is if we negotiate with the one person who would likely be able to stop him—the vampire we were sent to capture.”
The councilman was silent for a moment. “Is he with you?”
Foxx smirked. “I’m here.” His smirk widened at the sound of teeth grinding.
“Foxx Honeywell, I’d suggest calling off your dhampir, before this becomes worse for you.”
“Worse than a death sentence?” He snorted. “Do you think I’m stupid?”
“Worse for all those you care about,” the man restated stiffly. “One Mr. Alastair de Grey lives in your building, does he not?”
Foxx let out a bark of laughter. “OH, I would not go there, if I were you. If you think touching me will get you slaughtered… Did you really do no research on me? About those I’m associated with? I mean, my connection to him is more hidden, so I suppose I can understand why you wouldn’t know. But Alastair is different. Did you not look at who openly stands beside him before daring to make such a threat?”
“What nonsense! Call off your monster, or he too, will suffer the consequences of your actions.”
“Do it. I dare you. And when the oldest of us, the master of death, comes for you, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Kallias’ eyes widened, his hand clenched around the phone, while the councilman went silent.
At the sound of a quick inhale, Foxx tutted. “Ah, ah, ahh, you just realized something, didn’t you?! Or is it that you remembered something?”
“You’re one of…Daydric’s…turtle doves…”
Foxx giggled at hearing the full nickname. Daydric was the only one who ever called him that, and rarely did the man use it in full. “That’s right! I’m the crazy one! And Alastair is…the other one. I assure you, as much as killing me would anger him, laying a hand on Alastair… Well…”
It had happened before. He and Alastair had pissed someone off. Foxx had always been one to defend himself, to fight back, and in most cases, he'd win…but Alastair… To say Daydric’s response to them being harmed…to Alastair being harmed specifically, had been catastrophic to all those involved, would be an understatement.
Athanasios took a deep breath in and out, before stiffly declaring, “The council hereby rescinds the capture and execution order on Foxx Honeywell, and Harlow Blackmore. Now, call him off.”
“I want your word that there will be no problems surrounding this issue in the future.”
“You have it.”
Which was great, but…greedy or not, he wanted more.
“I also want you to rescind your laws on dhampirs.”
“Absolutely not!” Councilman Athanasios gasped.
“Well, I guess they all die then,” he said, right as the screams in the background ramped up.
“Honeywell, you can’t be serious. Don’t you understand how dangerous these creatures can be?! You are witnessing that fact at this very moment!”
