Chapter 18
XXXXXXX
"I ask you to protect her, if you can." Eric's voice was low, with a strained hint of pleading and only a little hope. He was unaccustomed to relying solely on the abilities and wits others for the defense of what was his.
His dolorous tone conveyed more agony than Ermessen had ever heard there. The Norseman's attachment to his chosen was indeed everything it was reported to be. She placed a hand gently on his arm. "Be assured, I am your ally, and hers. I will give any and all aid within my power. I will be dressing her for her appearance tonight. Never underestimate the impact of presentation, even on someone like Appius."
Eric couldn't manage a smile. He offered a silent nod instead, before leaving her standing alone in the doorway of her office. This night promised to be long and harrowing for everyone. There would be no delay. It was time.
XXXXXXX
In the instant before opening her eyes, Sookie believed her world had somehow righted itself during the passing day, but she quickly realized everything was just as she'd left it. The body next to her was not Eric. If Eric were here, his body would be behind her and his arm would be draped around her protectively.
The rising corpse curled tightly into a fetal position in front of her now was frail and trembling. It had never really registered with Sookie before, just how thin and fragile Mina must have always been. She was a tiny wisp of a thing beneath her multiple layers of clothing.
When Sookie put an arm around her and pulled her close, Mina gasped and gave a startled jerk. "I keep forgetting to breathe," she mumbled.
"It's alright," Sookie said softly, reaching up to stroke her hair. "You'll get used to not breathing. You don't need to worry about remembering."
"How long will it hurt?" Mina whimpered pitifully. She burrowed closer to Sookie and began to cry. "Won't anything make it stop?"
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Shana asked, coming to the side of the bed and reaching toward the embracing vampires.
"Step back, Shana," Sookie said, tightening her arm around Mina. Despite trying not to alarm anyone, the warning was clear in her tone. "Did someone come today and show you around?"
"Yes, Mistress," Shana answered, as she moved to the opposite side of the bed, away from Mina. "Should I go and get a donor for Mina?"
Mina looked up briefly. For a moment she looked as if she might lunge at Shana, but a second later she simply deflated back into a ball and resumed sobbing.
"Yes, please," Sookie answered, taking a mental sweep of the room to determine how many were with her. "Where is Genevieve?"
"She went to the kitchen. She was going to bring up a snack tray for us," Karen said from the direction of the bathroom.
"Karen, go with Shana. Send three donors back here, and then you two go on and join Genevieve in the kitchen and eat there. Is Heller here, or did he go back to the villa with Eric last night?"
"He is with the Master," Shana answered.
"Just us girls then," Sookie said with a forced smile, trying to lighten the mood as much as possible. It didn't work. There would almost have to be jugglers and clowns to lighten the mood today. Nothing quite like the prospect of executing a visiting Queen before sunrise to cast a pall over any bright spots in the evening. "Oh, and if you happen to see Saaset, would you ask her to visit me if she has time? I have a few questions and I'm not sure when or even if Eric will be allowed to come and see me tonight."
Mina moaned and Sookie responded by pulling into a sitting position with her back against the headboard, and Mina in a heap across her lap. As she gently rocked and stroked Mina's hair, she wondered how much of what was going on was even registering with her. It was hard to believe this miserable shell of a girl was ever the perky, helpful young woman Mina had always been.
This lost creature had clawed her way out of the ground and killed a large male faerie, all on her own. Then she'd rescued Alexei and Saaset from a silver barred dungeon, with no one to give her instructions. Now she was little more than an incoherent, tear-stained mound of flesh, incapable of stringing even the simplest thoughts together. Sookie kept expecting to see images of doors coming from her mind, but there were none. Her mind was utterly closed. Or so far gone there was nowhere for doors to lead. This last thought made Sookie clutch Mina even tighter. There had to be something she could do for her besides hold her and pet her head. If only Eric were here.
A short time later, there was a knock at the door. Unfortunately it was not the authoritative knock announcing Eric's arrival. Sookie arranged Mina on a pillow and covered her with a satin quilt.
Sookie opened the door to find Pythoness being borne on a litter carried by two male vampires.
"A Queen who opens her own doors?" the blind vampire questioned. "You need more servants, my dear. The locals will think you uncouth. I shall mention it to Eric when next we speak." She waved a hand to her bearers and Sookie had to jump back to allow them through.
The litter was placed gently on the floor and one of the bearers brought a chair from the side of the room and sat it beside the bed before leading thePythoness to it.
"They have put you in a room with no fire," Pythoness said sadly. "If we meet again, I shall have you brought to me. Come sit near me, within reach, if you please."
The bearers left the room without having to be told. They took up positions in the hall, outside the door.
Sookie sat on the edge of the bed, between Pythoness and where Mina was lying behind her.
"I was told you were coming for the trial," Sookie said. "I didn't expect to see you before then."
"And yet I have seen little else, but you, since my arrival here. You fill my mind's eye. It is quite exhausting."
"I'm sorry to be so much trouble," Sookie said as Pythoness reached out to her. She thought the ancient vampire was going to touch her face, but instead a hand lightly touched the bloodstains on the front of her gown.
"No stains are so difficult to remove as the tears of a child," Pythoness said with such profound sadness in her voice, it almost brought a tear to Sookie's eye.
"She's not my child," Sookie said after a moment. Mina moaned softly and shifted slightly on her pillow. Sookie placed a hand on her shoulder and patted her until she quieted.
"Is she not?" Pythoness may have been blind, but her face portrayed absolute confidence in her knowledge. "What I see is so rarely wrong.
No matter. I am told you have questions. You asked for Saaset, I know. She is a sweet girl and was more than willing to come to you, but a woman in your position likely has questions beyond young Saaset's scope of experience or learning. She has full access to Perdigo's extensive library, but her choice of reading material is rarely useful for anything other than temporary distraction."
"How long will Mina be in physical pain and how long will it take before she's herself again?" Sookie asked. Pythoness was a sensible woman; she would appreciate getting right to the point without wasting any more time.
"Loss of one's Maker is a always a jarring experience. An older vampire; for example, one who has learned all his Maker can teach him and has the ability to care for himself and others, one who has adapted to responsibilities and perhaps even progeny of his own, this vampire might feel only a sudden ache or cramp, and the feeling may pass almost before it was noticed.
A newly made vampire on the other hand, rises with a need to adjust and a thirst for knowledge as well as blood. The blood thirst can be sated easily from a variety of sources; the other thirst however is difficult for anyone save the Maker to slake. The tether of a Maker's bond is like a human umbilical cord. The Maker provides everything the newly created needs to survive, and it is near impossible for the newborn to survive without it."
"You said, near impossible, so some do survive. How?" Sookie asked, an edge of desperation creeping in to her tone. "Surely they only need someone else to take care of them and teach them, right?"
"Few things in life are so simple. The vampire on the bed beside you doesn't need someone. She needs a Maker. Her Maker is dead, so she needs someone who is willing to take his place. She needs someone willing to make the formal commitment of taking personal responsibility for her education and actions."
"Like an adoption?"
"Precisely," Pythoness said with a smile. "A Transuma Caerimonia it is called; a transfer ceremony. The rights and responsibilities of a Maker are transferred to someone else and a formal Maker's bond is reestablished. I believe she would like very much to establish such a bond with you."
Sookie was momentarily shocked into silence. "I would love nothing more, but under the circumstances, it isn't possible. I couldn't do that to her. I couldn't have her lose two Makers, one right after the other. It would be more cruel than leaving her as she is."
Pythoness laughed softly. "I sometimes forget not everyone can see what I see. I have answered your questions, now I will offer you some advice. Appius Livius will keep Eric at the royal villa until only moments before the trial commences. It is one of his many petty actions designed to prevent the two of you having any private time together.
Eric will come to you, but you will have only minutes when he does. Your temptation and his will be to waste this time embracing. You will have time for one thing and one thing only. If you spend the time for any other purpose, it will be wasted and all hope will be lost.
When Eric comes, and the two of you are alone, you must drop to your knees and confess, nothing else will save you."
Sookie looked wildly around the room and dropped to her knees in front of Pythoness. "Appius will never let Eric do anything to save me. Can't I confess to you?"
"Get up stupid girl," Pythoness said sharply, her words slapping Sookie harder than a hand to the face could have. "At least you are bright enough to see Eric is not able to save you, nor did I say he would be able to. You put yourself in this absurd position; you must save yourself. What would you confess to me? Things I have already seen? I know what you did and why you did it. Perhaps even more importantly, I know what you didn't do."
Sookie closed her eyes and lowered her head into the lap of the ancient. "Please," she pleaded. "I beg you not to betray my secret."
"I carry many secrets," Pythoness replied, her voice softening as she placed a hand on Sookie's head. "Secrets of princes and peasants alike. If you have a ridiculous desire to be known as a murderess, I will leave you to it. The false confession you have already given is adequate for the trial. The trial will not be stopped, but with such an auspicious number of royals and ancients; each with different interests in the proceedings, any numbers of outcomes are possible. Trust me when I tell you, your Maker will be greatly pleased if you confess to him before the trial begins.
But before Eric comes, you will have another visitor. She has already arrived at the fortress. It seems you carry the secrets of others as well. In gratitude for guarding her secret, none other than the Queen of Spain has come to attend you as you dress for court."
"Ermessen is coming to help me dress?" Sookie was surprised to say the least.
"She has chosen your wardrobe herself," Pythoness said with a broad, knowing smile. "Take her advice and follow her instructions. She has chosen with great care."
There was a knock at the door.
XXXXXXX
Ermessen swept into the room accompanied by three human female attendants carrying a variety of boxes. In very short order, she had the bed made, the boxes opened, and their contents arranged atop the duvet. She then put one of her attendants in charge of Mina and sent them both away, along with the donors who remained in the room.
"Now," she said with a knowing smile. "It is time to costume you for the performance of your life."
"I guess I should get Shana back up here to do my makeup," Sookie replied with a sarcastic scoff.
"No need. I have brought everyone and everything you will need." Ermessen's eyes narrowed as she gazed at Sookie. "Remember, you are playing a part tonight. The sympathy and respect of the gallery is paramount. Before you do even the slightest thing, you must think, how will the gallery react?
The destinies of many have been changed by the demands of a crowd. Appius knows this well. He will want to appear wronged and grieved. He will be masking his anger."
"So I should be sorry for what I've done and show remorse?" Sookie crossed her arms and glared in defiance. "Well, I don't think I can do that. I'm not sorry."
A broad smile stretched across Ermessen's face, as the worry she'd entered with subsided. "Perfect," she said approvingly. "You are a Queen. As such, your actions must convey your belief that you are above reproach. Alexei was a thief. That girl is your subject. It is your right and your responsibility, as her sovereign, to protect her.
In the world according to Appius, you have been cast in the role of the not to be trusted seductress. The faerie who liked to live dangerously, and set her sights on a vampire famous for his ability to resist the allurements of even the most beautiful vampires, male and female.
Your job is to make them see a Queen rather than an overreaching upstart. Your husband killed a sitting King in order to give you a crown. Tonight you must prove he made a worthy choice.
Here, these will help you."
Ermessen took a box from the pile on the bed and opened it. Inside was Sookie's set of Alexandrite jewelry; the set Eric had given her, that Ocella had given him, she recalled. There was an addition to the collection, a charm bracelet.
"This was a gift from my Maker," Ermessen said with a wistful smile as she lifted the bracelet from the box. "It has adorned no wrist but mine for over five hundred years. Tonight it will work for you.
I am told you have a habit of fidgeting when you are nervous. This must be avoided, if at all possible. Once you are seated on the stage, keep your hands folded in your lap. Be careful not to bury them in the folds of your skirt, keep them visible. Whenever you feel nervous, twist this charm."
She extended the hand holding the bracelet toward Sookie and pointed to a tiny gold house with Alexandrite windows. "Hold the roof with the fingers of one hand and twist the house with the other. You will feel it click into place when you have turned it far enough.
"Eric is here," Sookie said, the first truly happy smile of the day reaching her lips. She took a last look in the mirror and turned for the door.
"No," Ermessen said, holding up a hand. "I'll let him in. You wait here. The way you look, you need to make an entrance." Ermessen pulled the bathroom door closed.
Eric didn't knock. He met Ermessen halfway across the room. Something in the corner caught his eye, a bloodstained garment. "What is that?"
"Her sleeping gown," Ermessen answered. "Mina's incessant crying has soaked through everything she touched. The bed looks as if someone has been slaughtering sheep there. You should pull back the duvet."
"Thank you, no," he replied, then as if it were an afterthought, he added, "If you would though, would you have the gown boxed, exactly as it is, no cleaning, and have it sent to my room at the villa."
"Yes of course," she said. She did not give voice to the questions in her expression, nor did he offer answers to them.
"Everyone is already gathering in the theater gallery. I don't have much time," he said. "Sookie, come out. Ermessen, if you don't mind, I need to speak with Sookie alone before the proceedings begin.
The bathroom door opened and Sookie stepped out. Eric froze. He couldn't move. He couldn't do anything but stare at her.
Ermessen smiled and gave Sookie a wink. "I'll see you both in a few minutes. Remember, you want to be late, but not very. You want people to be anticipating your arrival, but not annoyed at having to wait for you. Most importantly, no hysterics, remain calm, no matter what anyone else says or does. You are a vampire Queen. You must be perceived as regal and serene when circumstances appear most dire." Ermessen touched Sookie's hand and gave it a squeeze. "You look the part. Now make the people love you."
A second later Sookie and Eric were alone in the room.
"I love you," he said. His voice was low and strained, he sounded as if he might have been screaming ever since rising this evening.
"Unfortunately, I don't think you're the one Ermessen was talking about," Sookie said. The high-pitched giggle accompanying her words echoed through the room, before finally surrendering to the somber pall shrouding the scene.
"No," he conceded, allowing the tiniest of grins to briefly cross his lips. "I do not know her plans, but as I have said before, she is a worthy ally. Ocella is standing alone against you, but he has tradition and the law on his side. Clearly Ermessen sees a benefit in provoking him."
"What do you mean?"
Now, Eric laughed. "She didn't tell you? Perhaps I shouldn't either. Your ignorance may be central to her purpose."
Sookie was not amused in the slightest. "If one more person calls me stupid, I might just kill myself and save you all the trouble."
"Who called you stupid, my love?"
"Aside from you?"
"Stupidity and ignorance differ greatly, Dearest. Ignorance is remedied with information. Stupidity is a much more permanent affliction."
"Well, apparently Pythoness thinks I'm afflicted."
"I doubt that," Eric replied seriously, "Or she would not champion your cause. Some of the greatest minds in history have sought her council. The rest of us must pale by comparison. Do not allow her words to offend. Her value is not in her charm."
"I guess it doesn't matter," Sookie said, trying not to get too sidetracked. Regardless of whatever else Pythoness said, she had warned her she wouldn't have very long with Eric. She would have to confess, but that would only take a few seconds.
"What did you mean about Ermessen provoking Ocella?"
Eric's smile returned. "She has dressed you in purple, the color of royalty and more. So much more." He stepped forward and ran his fingertips along the floral sash across Sookie's chest.
"There was a woman in Rome. She was known to be a skilled and intelligent speaker. She once convinced Marc Antony to back away from his plan to raise money for his war, by taxing the propertied single ladies of Rome.
She had many suitors and admirers, men great and small alike. Among them was a common soldier who saw himself as worthy of more than his birth allotted. He confused admiring beauty with being among the beautiful."
"Ocella," Sookie said.
"Indeed. Ocella. He claims he was in love with her. He shadowed her footsteps until she set her guards on him and he was forbidden from being near her."
"And I look like her, in this dress?" Sookie asked, thinking she had figured it out.
"Not in the least," Eric responded. "But Ermessen has draped you in purple hydrangeas."
"That's what I said, but she called them something else," Sookie said, looking down at the sash carefully adorned with fresh sewn on blossoms.
"Hortensias," Eric said.
"Yes, that was it."
"The woman was called Hortensia and she was often seen wearing a purple scarf. Some claimed it was a gift from a lover. Many still refer to the hydrangea bloom by her name."
"So I'm supposed to be a replica?" Sookie asked.
"You are a vision," he answered, reaching out and touching her cheek, softly, as if perhaps he questioned whether she was real.
She laughed and placed her hand lovingly over his. "Pythoness was here earlier. I got the feeling she was ready for me to leave her visions."
"I'm sure Ocella feels the same, or will when he sees you."
"And you?"
"You will occupy my visions forever, my love, regardless of how this evening ends."
The time had come. "Eric, I need you to promise me something," she almost whispered.
"Be brave?" he responded with a mirthless laugh.
"You're already brave. I've never known anyone braver than you. I need you to promise me you will be kind to Mina."
"When have I been unkind to Mina?"
"No, Eric. I don't want you to not be unkind. I want you to be kind. Pythoness mentioned a ceremony like an adoption. I don't remember what she called it. It's to replace a Maker. I want you to be Mina's new Maker. She needs someone to be strong for her. She's so lost, Eric. She won't survive without someone."
What the hell was Pythoness thinking, filling Sookie's head with shit that had nothing to do with anything? "How about if I give her to Oliver again? I'm sure he would be thrilled to take her, and unless I am very mistaken, he owes you."
"No!" Her anger flashed in both her tone and demeanor. "Oliver owes me nothing." She shoved him hard with both hands until he tripped onto the bed. "Tell me you understand what I'm saying to you. I need to hear you say it. Oliver owes me nothing. He has been completely faithful and he has done everything I asked of him. Everything, no matter how much he didn't want to. Say it."
"Fine he does not owe you," Eric complied. He couldn't bring himself to argue with her now. "But do you not believe Mina would be happier with Oliver as her Maker?"
"Mina will be happier with Oliver, as an equal. Do this for her, Eric. Do it for me. Promise me you will."
Eric suddenly felt as if she'd hit him with a brick. Mina would be happier as an equal to her lover. Not like her, not with her lover as her Maker.
"I will take her as my progeny, if she agrees," he said. He was staring toward the window. He couldn't look at Sookie. He wasn't certain how he would react and he had enough uncertainties to cope with at the moment.
"She'll agree. You're her King. She would never refuse you anything." She was talking faster now. She could feel time slipping away from her. "I only need two more things now." She took Eric's hands in hers and knelt in front of him.
Her action drew his focus from the window. "What are you doing?" he managed to ask.
"I didn't kill Alexei," she said, staring into his eyes as she spoke. "I intended to. I took Ermessen's stake and I made Oliver take me to the vault. Before we went in, I made him swear he would not go against anything I said happened, for any reason. We got inside and I really thought I could take Alexei, but I couldn't.
I knocked Alexei down. Oliver thought I was winning, so he handcuffed Mina to himself. She was confused fighting against him. He was trying not to hurt her. He could see I was starting to lose my fight and he was trying to come and help me, but Mina was fighting him so fiercely. She didn't know what she was doing.
When Alexei pinned me to the ground, I'm not sure exactly what happened, but suddenly Oliver was next to me. He was bleeding, but I couldn't tell from where." Everything she'd been holding back suddenly exploded and she began to sob. "Oh my god, Eric, he tore off his own hand to save me.
And then he had the stake and I knew you were coming, but you weren't there yet, but I heard the door latch. I knew it had to be Ocella. Oliver staked Alexei, but I pushed him away and took the stake back. I had to make sure it was me Ocella saw with the stake in my hand.
It had to be me. My plan was to kill him. I can't let Oliver be executed. He would have never been there if it wasn't for me. You understand, don't you? I know you don't approve, but please tell me you understand. I don't know if I can face it if you don't. I don't want to shame you."
That brought him out of the foggy barrage of thoughts bombarding his mind. "Shame me?" he asked incredulously. He pulled her to her feet, grabbed a box of tissue from the bedside table and stuffed several into her hand. Then he took out several more and began dabbing at the red lines forming on her cheeks. "You are the most glorious creature I have ever encountered. How could you possibly shame me?
If I am confused, it is not by your willingness to face death with steadfast grace. It is your enthusiasm for issuing the invitation I cannot comprehend."
"If we had a hundred years, maybe I could explain it. Maybe it only ever made sense in my head. I don't know. It's done now and whatever happens will happen." She reached up, placing a hand on either side of Eric's face, willing him to meet her gaze. "I've thought about what Ocella might do, what he might make you do. If it comes to that, do it fast, don't hesitate."
Eric took her by the wrists and removed her hands. His efforts to maintain his composure caused his voice to turn colder as he spoke. "Madam, I believe you are falsely assuming I share your appetite for this evening's scheduled amusements."
She slapped him, as hard as she could, right across the face. He grabbed her hand and held it between them and his fangs extended and his lips curled back in an angry snarl. As fury flashed in his eyes, she smiled. "There he is. He's the one I need tonight. I don't need a King or a lover or a friend. Tonight I need the sure hand of a Viking warrior."
For the briefest of moments, it was as if he'd gone mad. His mind reeled away from him into a dark current of possibilities. He could try to defy Ocella's instructions. He could fly out of here with her. How much of a head start would he be able to get her before the pain of being summoned overcame him? Not enough. There could never be enough. Ocella would simply compel him to summon her back, and then make him kill her when she got here.
It didn't matter what happened at the trial. Even if everything went as he expected it would and the official execution was prevented, Ocella would not suffer her to live, and he would insist that Eric be the executioner, ancient laws be damned.
He could kill her now, here in this room, before the trial ever started. The result would be the same, but at least Ocella would be deprived the pleasure of watching her die.
As if to divert him from his half-formed plans, she spoke. "Put him away for now, but keep him close. Do we have time for a kiss before we go?"
The moment for changing the course of the evening was forgotten. He gathered her in his arms, careful not to crush the fresh hydrangeas sewn onto her sash.
XXXXXXX
They stepped out of the elevator at one end of a wide corridor. At the opposite end was a set of tall, wooden doors with an inscription carved above them. To either side of the doors was a guard wearing a gilded sword. As they approached the doors, Eric brought his right elbow to his side and extended his hand, palm down. He reached over and placed Sookie's left hand on his right wrist.
Eric did not alter their pace as they approached the doors. With a series of well-rehearsed, elegant movements, at precisely the right instant, each guard took a doorknob in hand, swung the doors open, and bowed at the waist. "Your Majesties," they murmured in unison, as Eric and Sookie passed.
There was a moment of near silence as the identity of the new arrivals registered throughout the crowd, followed by waves of whispers.
The room was a private theater, with carved stone seating for a hundred, perhaps a few more. The heavy black curtains were pulled back to expose as much of the small stage as possible. The Pythoness and Don Perdigo were seated close together at stage right.
Perdigo stood and gestured to the only other chair on the stage. "Deliver the accused here."
Until this point, Ocella had his back to the doors and was purposefully engaged in conversation with Don Rafael, near the stairs at stage left. He would enjoy watching that woman walk to her doom, but the thought of seeing the inevitable respectful bows and curtsies from the gullible hoard in the gallery was more than he felt inclined to deal with. What possessed his Norseman to go to such lengths to give that little wretch a crown was beyond his comprehension.
Eric knew he was being tracked. Ocella would wait until they were right behind him before he would make a show of turning and stepping aside, to let Sookie pass, alone. He would hold Eric at his side. Ocella does not understand her true strength. He doubts her resolve. He expects her to fall apart and put on a hysterical show for the crowd. He would be disappointed. It wasn't going to happen.
As was appropriate for her position, Ermessen was seated in the center of the first row, affording her the best view of the proceedings. She was dressed in slate blue silk, the bodice fitted close, from the high lace neckline, to the tops of her hipbones. From there, the voluminous, widely pleated skirt seemed to engulf the area around her.She offered a warm smile and slight nod of her head as they passed.
As expected, Ocella waited until the last possible second before turning. "She can continue without your-" He froze the moment his eyes reached her. His torso was twisted, the lower half having not yet followed the upper and his feet had not even begun the turn. The jovial tone with which he'd been speaking to Don Rafael abandoned him, replaced by a low snarling guttural sound that reached his lips, but never formed words.
Eric raised his arm and Sookie took her cue, grabbing two handfuls of skirting and proceeding up the stairs on her own. She walked across the stage; head held high, nodded to the two judges and sat in the chair at center stage, facing her audience. She was bound to be terrified, but she gave no outward appearance of fear. She was a picture of calm and serenity. Eric had never been more proud of her.
Sookie had a sudden urge to start tapping her foot. It took some effort, but she managed to keep from it. She cast a discreet glance into her lap for guidance. There it was, dangling from her left wrist; the charm bracelet Ermessen gave her. With movements only perceptible by anyone who happened to be looking directly at her hands, the fingers of Sookie's right hand found the little gold house. She gave the roof a twist and felt it click into place as the revolution was completed. She twisted it again.
Yes. Ermessen was right. This would do very well as a replacement for fidgeting.
Ocella glared at Sookie, sitting so serenely at center stage. He had to admit, though only to himself, she appeared quite regal. He wasn't worried about how she appeared now. That would all change soon enough. She would be awash in bloody sobs and be exposed for the commoner she was before the evening culminated in him ordering his Norseman to be her executioner. Patience, he told himself. Patience was the key to playing his hand to its full potential.
He would remain calm and enjoy watching her squirm. She would be squirming soon. Wouldn't she? He noticed a faint, but irritating, ticking sound. Someone's watch? No, the sound wasn't regular enough, and there was more than a single second between ticks; sometimes several seconds. Perhaps a mouse, or even an insect, scraping or chewing on something under the stage? Surely it would stop soon. It would stop and he could focus on his triumph.
A crooked smile slithered across his face.