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Chapter eighteen: Hosts and Guests

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Earth -1847 I. dies Solis Kal Apr. MMDCCLXXII a.u.c.

(31th of Mai of the year 422 B.C.)

12th of March 1844

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Earth -1819 IR0. dies Solis ad V Id. Sept. DCCLXVII a.u.c.

(7th of September of the year 14)

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- And he was a slave trader?

Agrippina's question was whispered while she couldn't tear her eyes away from the horrifying spectacle of a man who clearly has been sucked dry while he still was still very aware of what was happening to him and, for a time, alive and screeching.

The man's face clearly showed that he knew what was happening to him and that it hadn't been painless.

- He was, answered Germanicus who had hurried to the Palace as soon as he had learned that his wife had been summoned by the Emperor.

He was Augustus' grandson but even he knew that being summoned by the Emperor has never been good news. Luckily for everybody when he arrived, he had learned from Augustus himself that he hadn't been at the origin of the invitation.

- He was a Greek, added Germanicus. He was specialized in providing Greek preceptors and young boys and girls for entertainment purposes. It seems that if those who came do not like Greeks, they like Greek slave-traders even less.

The man's body had been brought that very day on Augustus' demand. He had to be taken out of Hecate's temple by force, but the Emperor had wanted to have a look at him without the whole priesthood looking at his face. And now the corpse was lying on a cot in the Palace's underground frigidarium. Germanicus hadn't known that the corpse was here, or he wouldn't have let his wife follow him here.

She had been shaken enough by what had happened before without having to see such a monstrosity.

- The Gods seem to dislike quite a lot of things, whispered Agrippina who was still shaken but was no longer trembling. Juno hasn't been very kind with Livia Drusilla. One could see that she was angry with her. And Livia was aware too, I've never seen her so upset.

- What happened?

She paled visibly.

- We aren't allowed to speak about what has been said! Juno forbade us to tell.

She frowned and finally looked at her husband.

- She didn't forbid to speak about what happened only about what was said.

She took the time to think about the whole event.

- It was Juno and one of her sisters. A warrior Goddess who wore a fine scale armor, a longsword and a spear. She put a spy on fire just by looking at him. I've never seen a man jump so high and run so fast.

- She didn't threaten you, did they?

- It was a threatening event, but she never threatened me… It wasn't pleasant and I really don't wish to repeat that experience.

- What experience?

They both turned around to look at the Emperor who had just come back to the frigidarium after having given a few more orders.

- The interview by the Goddess, answered Agrippina. It was soul shattering.

- I saw what it did to Livia. Do you know where she is?

- She spoke about praying at her favorite shrine, answered Agrippina. I couldn't say more.

- That's enough, I know where she is, I'll go get her. Don't get anywhere I want to know what was said.

- She forbade us to speak about it, we can't say a word.

Augustus looked like he would protest but he finally nodded.

- I will have to ask her, that's all. I'll go fetch my wife; she probably needs me.

Just before the Emperor went out, Germanicus asked him a last question.

- Shall we stay at the Palace, grandfather?

- No, go home. And, please take your mother in law with you. I want to know where she is, but I no longer wish to restrain her. Warn her that I will see her soon and tell her that even if I asked her to stay with you, it is not a command!

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- Of course, it is not a command, but what would happen if I refused to follow you?

- Mother, said Agrippina, let's not extrapolate on Grandfather's real motivations. You are free to come with us at our Home and you are no longer to be restrained. Make me the favor of at least spending a few days with me and your grandchildren. They have never seen you, remember?

- Not my fault, answered Iulia with the usual steel in her voice. And I'm not quite sure if, without the Goddess' wish you would even want to be seen with me. You are all scared shitless by my father.

- He is an exceptional man…

- He sure thinks he is. And if he wasn't earlier in his life, the fact that everybody sings his praises from sunup to sundown has probably by now convinced him that he is. In truth he is a Tyrant and a gifted puppeteer, that's what he is!

Both Germanicus and his wife shot an afraid look around them.

- Look how scared you are! What do you believe he can do to me that hasn't already been done?

She stopped and took a long breath.

- But you are right, you have still a chance to survive his reign! Let's not take risks with your safety. With Tiberius safely ensconced in the Heir's place our life, those incoming years, will be dangerous enough.

As on command Germanicus and his wife shot another look around them.

Which made Iulia laugh.

- Don't be fools, Tiberius is only a pale shadow of the Monster that currently reigns on Rome and he is a superstitious bigot who would never go against an oath! He had adopted your husband and sworn that he would protect him and you. He's legally his son even if he despises him. It's not him you need to fear, it's his mother. Livia Augusta is a conniving spider and a backstabbing snake who will do whatever is in her power to oust the Iulia Gens out of the succession and get her own blood on the Imperial Throne. In her mind the real dynasty is Gens Drusia. Would I be a betting woman I would bet the few sesterces your grandfather left me on Drusus ending up wearing the Empire's purple.

- She didn't look very well last time we saw her, whispered Agrippina.

- Don't worry for her, I'm quite certain she will recover in no time. People like her always do. And it could even have been an act to let her foolish husband flock at her side to protect her. I am sure that she's, as we speak, looking at ways to get rid of us without angering the Goddess.

- That seems improbable…

- She will plot anyway. It's her twisted soul's way to look at the world.

- Why didn't you accept the G…

- Stop it right here, daughter. We are not to speak about what was said in that garden. Not to strangers and not to family and not even between us who witnessed the whole thing. You should know by now that there are ears everywhere and all those ears listen on behalf of half of Rome. Her orders were clear, weren't they?

Agrippina lowered her eyes and nodded.

- She was, sorry…

- Don't be sorry just remember what she promised and what it means for us. I remember and it gives me the strength I need to do what must be done and fight against that ugly old man who is at Rome's head and his wicked Heir who still is my husband.

- He is your father, Domina, said Germanicus.

- That's up to discussion in more than one way. It was him who decided that I no longer was his daughter and in hindsight I'm not sure if, as in everything else, he wasn't right with that. I never felt like his daughter, I ever only was his preferred tool to get his chosen Heirs' allegiance.

She looked Germanicus in the eyes before looking up and down at him.

- You are not yet ready, son, but with your wife's help I should be able to get you into shape to be a successful Heir. Hopefully you will be strong enough to survive to the challenge. If not, you'll just be another one of Livia's future victims, that's all. Let's go Home, children, we have a lot of work to do.

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Rome – AI's central surveillance office

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- You are sur about what you have just done, asked Charles.

- We do. Ask our friend IT to show you the whole conversation and when you're done, we will have to talk about why you gave a mass murderess like Livia Drusilla nanites to extend her lifespan. Each year with her around is a risk for all those who aren't of her Gens! She's either Stalin's direct ancestor or his mentor, Charles!

- Augustus wanted her at his side… And I had told him what she would have done…

- Did you tell him what she did? That she organized the disappearance of Iulia's first-born sons in order to get her son to have a better chance to be Emperor at a time when Augustus never would have thought of Tiberius as having the stature to become Emperor?

- There never were any hints in the literature that she'd done anything of the sort…

- You could have asked Speedy to explore her memories. Fluffy did it and what she found out makes this woman the first successful serial killer of History.

- A serial killer kills by himself and I'm quite sure that a lot of people before her did kill numerous people to come to power.

- You still should have looked; she's now protected against poison and most of what would kill a normal person. It will be a lot more difficult to get rid of her…

I beg to differ, said Fluffy. Give me five minutes and she's as dry as her heart.

- That's only true of us. All those others around here just got a major villain propped up and upgraded! I'm not sure we did them a favor.

Charles made a face and finally gave in.

- I did a mistake and I'm sorry but I just didn't believe that she was the villain of the play.

- She is, believe me. But you are right she would have been around for a few more years even without the nanites and she would have been in the shadows of her son. If Augustus was able to forget that she would have killed him he is probably able to refuse to believe that she has been on a killing spree for decades now.

- We could get rid of her now…

- No, said Maureen. You really don't want us to follow that path! At least not yet. We have another possibility; we can thwart her future efforts by aligning a real and decided enemy to face her.

- You believe Iulia could be that one?

- She has the willpower, and her hatred is not clouded. She could be just the right person to ruin Livia's efforts.

- And you like her, said Jane with a smile.

- I do indeed! This woman has been exploited and belittled for years and still she has not been broken. She's an excellent candidate for our little Crusade.

Charles couldn't help but cry out.

- The Empire doesn't need more inner turmoil! You'll bring it at the brink of civil war with your feminist agenda!

Maureen looked up.

- I will be there to avoid any unfriendly events!

- You will be there?

Maureen nodded with a smile.

- I hadn't, until now, decided that I was interested in playing Goddess. I think Iulia Augusti Filia will be a perfect leader for the Roman women liberation front and I will take a little time to sponsor her!

Maureen stood up, kissed her sister on the brow and made a sign to Fluffy.

- Could you please transport me at Germanicus' Domus? I need to give my new champion the same weapons Livia has received by error.

Charles was about to protest when his voice was covered by the loud sound of the departing duo.

- Good job, said Jane with a genuinely satisfied smile. You succeeded where neither Lionel nor I got any result. My dear Maureen has decided that she needed another crusade. Not sure Augustus will like it.

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Rome – AI's central surveillance office

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- Where are the kids, Priscillia?

Agrippina's voice was just at the edge of being upset and Priscillia visibly paled.

- They are in the Garden, Domina!

- Alone? Why aren't you with them…

- I was sent away by Her, Domina. She appeared out of thin air and made a move to send me away. I would have refused but she spoke into my mind and promised me that she…

Iulia interrupted the scared servant with a hand on her shoulder and a smile.

- Don't be worried, we know who's come.

She took her daughter by the hand.

- Let's go to the Garden, dear, we have a high-ranking visitor.

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- And what did he then do?

It was Nero's voice and he seemed interested and driven.

- Well, he was facing a God and he knew it.

She winked at the young boy.

- You always know when you face a God, there's that energy that runs along your spine that gives it away.

She balled her fist and went on.

- And he also knew that One-Eyed Balor was one of the Angry Gods. A God who hated everyone and everything and who wouldn't hesitate to destroy him just for the pleasure of getting rid of one nuisance.

- How do you survive a meeting with an Angry God?

This time it was the voice of Drusus, Agrippina's six years old son.

- As with any other God, you use your brain, young man, because when facing a God there is no force and no magic that can prevail against him or her. The only thing to do is to convince the God that you are an interesting fellow whose survival is more interesting for the God than his demise. So Cuchulainn bowed before the God and asked him permission to sing an Ode at Ethniu his muse, who also happened to be the God's daughter.

Slowly Agrippina, Iulia and Germanicus, followed by a trembling Priscillia, entered the Garden.

The Redhair they had seen that very day at Juno Shrine was sitting there, cross-legged, with Germanicus' two eldest sons sitting in front of her. She wasn't wearing armor and sword but the staff that was lying at her side had a swirling jewel whose light was throwing moving shadows all around the garden. And it was emitting a strange buzzing sound.

- Could he even sing?

- Of course, he could, little man. All the Celtic Gods' followers know how to sing. It is a gift the Gods gave them at their birth! It wasn't a selfless gift, though, Gods are seldom selfless, you need to know that. They always do what they do for a reason. Remember that, young men, the Gods' help always comes with a price.

- And why wasn't it selfless?

- Because the Gods love to listen to music and their preferred music is the choirs of their followers. So, by giving to their followers the gift to sing they were always sure that at any moment anywhere in their realm somebody would sing, and they would never be without a merry song to cradle their hearts and lift their souls.

- And what would Cuchulainn sing?

- That's a good question and since it is very difficult to relate a song, I'll let him sing it for you, dears…

And a mist began to gather over the triclinium and the features of a superbly shaped strong man soon appeared. His body was covered with multicolored tatoos and a two-handed bronze sword that was taller than himself was fixed at his back.

Soon he began to sing a song they couldn't understand but whose strong melody and powerful harmonics did bring tears to the eyes of all those who were listening. And the voice, if enthralling, was accompanied by the sound of numerous instruments -one of them a wonderful harp- which squeezed their hearts and lifted their souls.

The song lasted for a long time and even Germanicus felt tears running out of his eyes.

- At the end of the song, said finally the tall redhair, the God was touched and granted Cuchulainn his life and the means to return to the Land of Men. And so Cuchulainn not only survived his encounter with One-Eyed Balor but became a good memory for the God which, as the future would tell, is always a good thing to be.

She looked up and smiled at the newcomers.

- Oh, look who's just arrived. As I promised, your grandmother has come! She finally has been authorized to come and see you.

Both boys jumped up to run towards the tall thin woman they didn't know but who could only be their famous grandmother. She was soon smothered by her enthusiastic grandkids.

- She will stay a few days, too. She'll have ample time to tell you stories about her youth and her stay at the marvelous island of Pandateria, the lovely place your grand grandfather has chosen as the preferred pied-à-terre for his only daughter.

She looked at Agrippina.

- Which would also have been the place where your mother would have ended her days…

The next part wasn't provided in words but in thoughts to the adult members of the family.

She would have died of malnutrition there after dear Emperor Tiberius would have exiled her there.

And Germanicus' and Agrippina's faces became dead serious and even Iulia frowned at the words she heard in her head.

- Go on, said Maureen, get acquainted with your grandchildren, dear Iulia. I have some minor business with your daughter and son-in-law. I will all be back in a few minutes even if they could need a little longer to get used to their new gifts.

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- I can treat him immediately but I can't treat you.

- Why?

- Because of your pregnancy. What we will place in your blood is a very strong magic. But it is a magic that will have been carved to enter your body and to protect it. If we launch the process today, you will lose your daughter…

Both parents reacted with the same question.

- Daughter? It is a daughter?

- It is indeed, and you will name her after yourself. She would enter History as Agrippina the younger. I wouldn't want to interfere but I personally believe that your naming customs is the most foolish one anyone had ever come up with. Everybody here within a family has the same name, prognomen, gognomen and postnomen! It makes anybody's head sway. You really need the mind of a God to even remember who's who!

- I could name her after you or your sister…

- You could but know that bearing the name of a someone powerful is not an easy way to begin your life. A name, and it even truer for a God's name, comes with a lot of baggage. Give her the name you feel is the sound of her soul. That's what it should be! And you must name your child only after she has taken her first breath and cried out for the first time. Before that you can't be sure that the right soul has entered the body.

- The right soul? What do you mean with the right soul? A false soul could enter our daughter's body?

Germanicus was visibly upset.

- That's not what is happening at the birth of a child. In fact, it is always the right soul who enters the body of a newborn but until the last second only the Gods know who it will be. Neither the parent nor the waiting souls have the least idea.

She pointed at Agrippina's tummy.

- You are busy building your daughter's body and there are a few souls who are turning around her. In a certain way the souls are suing for your daughter's body. In the end one will be given access while the others will gracefully accept their momentary defeat. That's why you shouldn't name a child before it is fully born. You can prepare yourself by listening to the competing souls but only when she has breathed and cried for the first time can you be sure that the soul has taken hold of the body.

She stopped and forced herself back to the more important topic.

- Back to the blood upgrade. I can do your husband, but you can't have it before the birth of your daughter. It would really kill the baby. No chance it wouldn't.

Germanicus looked at his wife with worry.

- But once she's been given ti, will it help her with other pregnancies?

Maureen hesitated a second before answering with an insincere 'yes'. She wasn't lying but Nanites were little chaotic beasts who could either be indifferent to a man's sperm or decide that they were witnessing an intrusion by outside forces and react immediately. The later a lot more than the former but that was an information Agrippina didn't need. Should the young woman want other children it could be that a little help would be needed but it still could happen.

- So, let's have our daughter, dear.

He looked at Maureen.

- My wife won't die in childbed, will she?

- Not that I know of. As I already told you the reason of her death won't be to die in childbed, but she will be starved to death on Pandateria by your father after he becomes Emperor and you've died of illness in Syria.

Germanicus couldn't help but shook his head.

- Why would he do that to my wife? Killing me to promote his son Drusus to become Emperor has a wicked logic to it. But killing Agrippina?

- The reason can probably be found in the same motivation that pushed your grandfather's wife to order Agrippina's brothers to be killed! Because of an untethered ambition and probably because of a profound hatred for Gens Iulia. I wouldn't bet against the fact that Livia wants to eradicate anything that's Iulia and not also of Drusus' blood. I could look if you want precise answers. And for Tiberius there is also, I'm sure of it, paranoia.

- Paranoia? That is a Greek word, isn't it? But I don't know what it means.

- It is the name of a disease of the mind that pushes a man or a woman to see everybody around him plotting to kill or destroy him. Not extremely dangerous with normal people, a real scourge though when the insane person is also the most powerful man of a realm. And if you judge the family line of poor Tiberius by his mother's deeds, Tiberius' is clearly not the sanest Being walking around in Rome.

Germanicus couldn't help but take his wife in his arms. Theirs had been a marriage of State but love had soon come to reconcile them with their lot and a few children had blessed their union even more.

- Let's not freak out, boys and girls, said Maureen with a smile, we will keep an eye on Tiberius, and should he become too insane to be of use we will grant him the necessary cure.

She looked at Germanicus.

- Meanwhile you have a mission and as soon as your daughter is born and your wife treated, you should leave Rome and stay away as long as possible! And your wife and your family will go with you on your journey and campaigns! So, you should be as far away as possible to be safe from the enemies of the inside and thus be able to focus on the enemies of the outside. To be on the safe side, we will give you an exhaustive list of all the agents within your staff who spy on you and for whom they spy. We'll let you decide what you want to do with the whole bunch of them! Killers and would-be assassins we will deal with directly and you will have no problem recognizing them. They will look a lot like that Greek Slave Trader.

She plunged her hand in her satchel and took out a strange cylinder.

- You should lie down, this will be unpleasant.

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- Why do I have the impression that you are here because of me?

- Probably because it is the case, answered Maureen to Iulia's question. Jane and I we don't like what your father and your mother-in-law did to you, and we believe that it could be payback time!

- Payback is a dangerous occupation…

- Indeed, but not half as dangerous as trying to play against me. Jane is the pure, kind and compassionate family member. I don't look the part, but I'm the crazy murderous bitch. I tend to retaliate in strength and with a great lack of subtlety. And I don't give a damn about collateral damage.

- Collateral damage?

- Innocent bystanders killed by the rubble of the house I had to flatten to get rid of a few ruffians, that such sort of thing!

Iulia couldn't help but frown.

- That's not very subtle indeed.

Maureen shrugged.

- If there is a need for subtlety, we send my sister Jane. But when something else is needed and there's a time for brutal efficiency then I'll send myself.

- I'm nobody, you know. My father has deprived me of everything.

- That will change, we could force him to give you everything back or we could manage the whole thing by helping you to become the richest single entrepreneur of the Roman Empire and surroundings. Wouldn't that be a satisfying revenge?

- I don't even have an acre of land I could sell to have the beginning money.

- We could fill this house with pure gold, but it would be too easy for your father to accuse us of cheating. No, we will launch a society and your name will summon all the Capital you need. Iulia Augusta Filia will be the name of the next best investment of the whole Empire.

- The whole of Rome and thus the investors know about my relationship with my father. They'll scare out…

- There are a few very rich and very disloyal people in Rome quite now who will have to decide whom they want to displease. We've met them and I'm quite sure that they will listen to some smart advise coming from very well informed sources. Some very impressive agents will perhaps have to do a little persuading to convince the reluctant crowd, that's all. I do see a group of rather frightened Senators who will flock around you just because they will have been convinced by the presence of such powerful backers that they will immediately see where the best profits will be found.

- Let's not declare war, quite now, will you? I know that I will never reconcile with my father and now that I know how Tiberius would have treated me, I'm quite sure that I have no choice but to consider him as a sworn enemy, too. But I'd like to choose the moment to declare the outbreak of hostilities. For now, let's hope that the matter can be resolved without open warfare and bloodshed. I'm quite sure the Empire will prefer it that way.

- I don't know for the Empire, but Augustus will like it better, I'm sure of it because it is not sure that Charles will go on supporting him if we slip into a more belligerent phase. He's not the master of war and bloodshed, you know. That's a trait I share with my husband, and we have shown quite a few times how good we are at it.

Iulia once more shook her head and the trace of a smile appeared on her lips.

- I just got out of jail, I've discovered my grandchildren and rediscovered my daughter and I'm pleased with what a fine young woman she'd become. I'm not sure that I'm the right person to fight this war.

- Tiberius would have starved you and your daughter to death had Charles not intruded and stopped Livia before she could kill Augustus. Don't that count?

- Of course, it counts but I've spent years in custody with guards who mistreated me just enough to make my life a living Hell without doing anything that could push my father to consider that they had gone too far. I did what I could not to break but now that I'm free, I'm wondering if they didn't succeed.

Maureen walked over and put her hands on Iulia's Shoulders.

- I know everything about despair and I was sixteen years old when I was thrown into Hell. I survived four years until the man who would become my husband came to my rescue. I survived because Hate had fueled my anger and because I wouldn't let my jailers win by surrendering. You have done the same, now it's time for payback not resignation!

- No man came to my rescue…

- We came to your rescue, smiled Maureen, it is not quite the same but it's better than dying on your island shit hole.

Iulia took a long breath and shook her head.

- No, it's not the same but it still gave me back my freedom. Why did you even waste a thought about me?

- Charles did come because he is in love with Rome and because he believes that your father is the epitome of what a great ruler should be.

- He's probably right on that point and hadn't he been a shitty husband and an even worse father I could, perhaps, have admired him too.

- No man is perfect, Iulia and even the so-called Gods are quite despicable from time to time. But at least all those I know are loving husbands and great fathers. Not sure they have been great teachers but that's another story.

- Why do you say so-called Gods? Aren't you Gods?

- Of course, we are not, and, when you don't consider a propensity to show off, we never pretended to be. But that doesn't mean that we don't have resources to do approximately everything we want anywhere we want. And all those resources and means are with us right here.

- Why are you here exactly?

- Because this timeline is still important for Varus and because Charles couldn't resist meeting his preferred Roman Emperor! You must understand that our choice to meddle was based on political, emotional and geostrategic reflections. And, but that could be taken as an excuse, for scientific reasons…

- Scientific reasons?

- As in experimenting with the time flow. What happens if you change a major cog in the machine? Will said machine work better or crash? That sort of entertainment… But knowing Charles, I'd say that he wanted to save Augustus to see what he would achieve with a decade more of life to rule the Empire.

Maureen couldn't help but smile.

- My husband would do the same with Caesar had we found a timeline where the Republic's last civil wars are happening.

- Not your brother?

- Charles is, when all is said and told, a manager and managing an Empire is, in his eyes, the nec plus ultra of all achievements. Caesar was a soldier and a strategist, the sort of people who tend to disrupt the peace that is necessary to make better business. Not a situation Charles admires. He wanted to support the manager of the family.

- I'm not sure he did the world a favor…

- Since he knew what would happen with Tiberius' reign after Augustus' death, Charles could only see advantages to Augustus' survival. He is perhaps a huge dreamer whose decisions are sometimes not the most thought-over but, in this case, I believe he did make the right call. The day Augustus would have died Tiberius would have succeeded him. And his first decision would have been to stop feeding you and kill your last living son. Tiberius is clearly an A-hole of cosmic proportions but if Jane and I we don't give a damn about politics we do give a huge importance to family and said family's preservation. Killing family members just to get rid of competition is not the way we like it.

She made a droll face.

- Well, I do a little of that when it comes to my home country, but that's the whole of it. But we do love people -at least Jane does- and, once upon a time, she was able to convince me that I did it too. Add to that that we believe that we have a mission to further the cause of women in all those worlds full of men. And…

Here she whispered.

- …last but not least, we despise villains whatever famous and well-known they are! So, loving people, we decided to join the dance because we were pissed to see two murdering scums going on slaughtering people around them just because of their unbridled ambition. They kill whatever they can just because they want their own brand of blood being in power! What fucking morons!

Maureen took the time to calm down. She was a fiery red-head and, from time to time it did take a toll on her patience.

- For us it is personal now, and you'll soon discover that when the d'Arcy women do take things personally, it is very bad for their enemies' health.

She pointed at the door.

- Let's go and look if your grandchildren are still awake and afterwards once they sleep, we will have lots of things to discuss. It will be a short night.

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