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Thea drummed her fingers against the table. “In the Meathook? Seriously? Even knowing nothing about the Veil or the Lorica you know better than to go traipsing around there at night. You’ve lived in Valero all your life, haven’t you?”
I swallowed thickly. Yes, I was aware of the Meathook’s colorful reputation, and it had been shoved down my throat multiple times tonight alone by many different people, but I wasn’t about to say that.
“I’m sorry, again.” I dared to look her in the face this time, because if I was going to get terminated – whatever that meant at a place like the Lorica – I wanted to be able to make a spirited, if honest defense for myself. “I got cocky, okay? I thought that I’d be able to just step my way out of trouble now that I know what it is that I can do.” I scratched my nose, sighing as I said the next bit. “And okay. Maybe I got careless because I knew I was under the Lorica’s protection.”
The wrinkles around Thea’s eyes relaxed, her expression going just a notch softer. “That protection only goes so far, Dustin. We can’t have Eyes watching you at all hours, and you’re not always going to have Hands to escort you. The whole point of this exercise was to see if you can handle things on your own. That’s what the other Hounds do.”
I folded my hands together and stared at my thumbs. Other Hounds, maybe. I guess I wasn’t cut out to become one of them. Disappointment settled in the pit of my stomach. Sorry, dad. Again.
Thea sighed. “Next time, just call a damn car, will you?”
I lifted my head at that. “Next time?” There was going to be a next time?
The corner of Thea’s mouth quirked. Not quite a smile, but not quite a frown either. “You made a mistake. A grievous one, but not something that can’t be fixed. I’m confident that given time we’ll be able to beat the insubordination out of you.”
I gulped.
“Or at least your propensity to make extremely terrible choices about walking around alone late at night. That’s what got you into this mess to begin with.”
Ouch. But that was only fair. She wasn’t wrong.
“I’m giving you another chance,” she said. A deeper exhalation of breath, then she continued. “There’s something about you that we need to cultivate, Mr. Graves. The Lorica isn’t quite done with you. We need to see how far your gift can go. You’re – unique, to say the least.”
Charm had taken me this far in life. I figured it couldn’t hurt to see how much farther it could take me. I ventured a tiny smile. “So you’re saying I’m special?”
To my relief, Thea laughed. “Special, yes, to a point. We’ll have to see yet if you’re exceptional.” She steepled her fingers and leaned forward. “If you’re worth the time and effort.”
“But,” I blustered. This was a farce, at first, but somehow I felt honor-bound to defend my specialness. “The sword. Vanitas. It resonated with me. Herald said so. It picked me. It chose me.”
She chuckled again. “And I suppose that makes you think you’re some kind of Chosen One?”
I felt my ears going hot, realizing how ridiculous I must sound to her. “Well, no, but – ”
“There are no Chosen Ones at the Lorica, Mr. Graves. There is no grand Prophecy that must be fulfilled by a Special Boy. There are only those who work hard to prove themselves, who show that they are willing to do what it takes to learn, to grow, to acquire both knowledge and power.” Her eyes narrowed. “And to take
orders.”
I nodded, this time without saying a word. Really shouldn’t push my luck. I watched, though, as Thea reached across the table, her fingers splayed out, reaching for my hand, but not quite touching. I looked up, surprised at the gesture.
“I know how it feels right now, that you’re still longing to go back to your father, to talk to him, to make things right. I’m here to tell you that now is not the time. But eventually, we’ll find a way.”
This was it. Everything I ever wanted. Security, friends, an actual job. Here was some hope, even if it was distant, of reclaiming what mattered most about my old life: my family. Real magic, to sweeten the deal, and maybe, if I played my cards right, an enchanted sword. How’s that for benefits?
“And in time, because you have the aptitude for it, we might even be able to teach you a spell or two. Soon. It may take a while to see results, but I sense you have the tenacity for it.”
“That sounds great,” I said. What I really wanted to do was jump up on her desk, pump my fist, and beat my chest, screaming. Instead I sat with my butt glued firmly to the chair.
“So, pending some behavioral concerns, I think we might be able to begin negotiations for your salary. Would you like to work for us, Mr. Graves?” She leaned forward across her desk again, and as if she needed to convince me any more, spoke slowly. “How would you like to find your own killer?”
My back straightened at the sound of those words, and I looked her in the eye when I spoke. “I would like that very much.” Justice. Maybe, in time, vengeance. “Very much.”
Thea leaned back, satisfied, and smiled. “Death has changed a great many things, but I think you know by now that it was never meant to be the end for you.” She lifted her hand across the desk once more, reaching her fingers out, an invitation, a contract. “Dustin Graves. Are you ready to start your life anew?”
I took her hand.
END
