“Not particularly,” I answered, locking away that information. It might not have had any meaning at all, but that’s what made me better. I kept it all. I rememberedeverything.
However, I didn’t have much time to waste on meaningless conversations today. I had an auction to go to, and the bell rang at 7pm. I wasn’t one to be late, especially not for something as important as a pastor preaching his carefully constructed lies to the people before selling members of his congregation to other congregations. “You’ll be pleased to know Poppy has survived my attempts so far. She’s thwarted any attempt at being poisoned by an incurable disease or being hit by a train.”
Malachi gave me a disapproving look. “Good, she’s your fourth.”
“And she’ll soon be another check in my book,” I smiled. Poppy was smart, more so than the others. She was quick witted, but while I wasn’t able to kill her like I had the others, I was ableto escape her. It always took her a day or two to catch up, leaving me ample time to remain one step ahead, precisely where I needed to stay.
Although, she was quickly earning my respect, as quickly as one could, I suppose, and I foresaw our game continuing for quite a long time.
A muscle in his jaw feathered, clearly unamused. “We were discussing our future in Washington State,” he went on. “We’ve been making too much noise—”
Not for anything I was doing.
“—so we need to either quiet down or move on.”
Or kill those who dared speak against us. It’s been a while since I went on a spree. Even longer since I was caught. Perhaps it’s time to break out my favorite weapon of choice and deal with this judge who had suddenly grown the balls to speak such blasphemous words to dearest tired father.
Although, it would be fun to see this play out. The stress of the ever-growing empire weighing on his round little shoulders. I guess this program wasn’t as successful as he wanted it to be. I suppose it serves him right with how he’s been handling it. I’d serve him a repeat of some of my ideas, but why waste my breath here when the legacy was just down the hall?
The mountains showed promise. He was a learning boy. Willing and still moldable, even if he didn’t see it.
“What do you have in mind?” I asked, hearing the ticking of my watch from where it rested in my pocket. Taunting. Today was the day I needed to go. Plans were only plans if they went accordingly, before imploding in explosions of blood and fire. It needed to start out well so the chaotic implosions caused chaos I alone controlled.
Tick tock.
Malachi pulled a folder forward. “I want you to take in Clarke Sanders,” he told me, causing my eyes to narrow ever so slightly. “He’s to take the place of Don Reeves.”
My grip tightened ever so slightly around my cane, a smile touching my lips. “And why can’t your heir do it? Or the teacher or even the hunter? I’m busy today.”
“Because I want you to do it,” he told me.
Father, father, father. What shall we do with you?
“I know you’re busy this evening, but your appointment is at 8. You and Clarke need to be there by then.”
What an odd time to schedule an interview. “And shall I be disposing of his old assistant? Or is that something you’ve already planned?”
He checked his watch. “He was in a fatal accident two hours ago.”
And Clarke, who will have filled out an application months ago, will mysteriously appear, wondering if the job was available yet. I would be there to make sure everything went well.
The Judge would know exactly what happened and he’ll be too terrified to turn dear Clarke away. A watchdog for a Superior Court Judge. How the tables have turned. Another important office back under our belts, although I would never have been so thoughtless as to losing that office in the first place. The Judge never would have threatened me; he would have been dead long before that ever came into play.
“I’ll run your little errand,” I agreed, lifting my chin. “But it would do you well to remember that even the mightiest of empires fall. Tick tock, dearest, you either need to replace the cracking concrete of this foundation or the entire thing will go tumbling so far down, not even you will be able to pick it up.”
“I don’t appreciate your thoughtless threats, Azrael.”
I turned for the door. “It’s not a threat, but that’s interesting that you took it that way. It would do you well to open your eyes while you still can. Power can corrupt even the corruptor.”
I left his office and pulled out my pocket watch, checking the time again.“Tick tock, goes the clock, it’s finally time to play.”
5
Scarlett
June 22nd, 2019
It was the annual auction tonight, and the room was far more crowded than I had ever seen it.
