The Sapphire Stratagem by Thomas K. Carpenter

Author:Thomas K. Carpenter [Carpenter, Thomas K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Moon Books
Published: 2023-07-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

"How do we know it's her?" asked Choo-Choo from the back seat as he held her shoulders.

Pandora sat next to the shimmering obscuration field. The woman inside of it wore a navy blue patterned skirt and black high heels. They were all that was visible outside of the field. She could have been any financial analyst or hedge fund manager on the street, but Pandora knew it was her mother. There was a push and pull between them like two opposite magnets spinning wildly on their axes.

"It's her."

The woman sat between Pandora and Duro while Choo-Choo and Kuma—who had surprised her by leaping into the SUV at the last moment—sat in the far back seat.

Duro grabbed the bracelet on the woman's wrist, unclasping it. The hum of an enchantment dropped, revealing Selena Thule. The bone and gold half of her face shone like polished mask while her hair was combed over the human side of her face. She glared back with the intensity of a lightning storm.

"You're fools if you think this will do anything," Selena said, scowling and maintaining eye contact with Pandora.

Duro stared at the back of her head with heavy-lidded eyes before turning to Dane in the passenger seat.

"Anyone on our tail?"

"Clean as Invictus' butthole. The moment we pulled up, a flock of pigeons descended on the sidewalk, scattering those rich assholes. No one saw us grab her. At best, the security cams might have caught it, but they won't know anything for days."

The SUV headed through back alleyways and underneath raised roads. Pandora barely noticed their passage through the city as she hadn't broken eye contact.

"You know she's a traitor," said Selena. "I sent her to the Undercity to spy on your little clans."

"I told them everything, Mother."

Selena sat back against the seat, fidgeting with the bone-and-gold arm that she held against her chest. They eventually pulled into a parking garage in the ninth ward. Phillip backed the SUV up to a loading dock on the lowest floor. Once inside, Duro hauled Selena out and led her into the elevator. The seven of them ascended into the building. The apartment overlooked a park where families were lunching on blankets and throwing frisbees for their dogs.

"Your entire clan is going to be wiped out soon," said Selena as they bound her to a metal chair with enchanted cuffs. Both wrists and ankles were immobile.

"Maybe," said Duro, sitting on the table before their captive. "But you'll answer some questions first."

Selena spat on Duro's leg. He ignored it as he pulled a blade from inside his jacket.

"No," said Pandora right away. "Not like that."

Duro turned his head. "You know she'd do the same to you."

"That's why I can't. I can do just about anything, but not that. It would make me like her."

Selena smirked. "It's that human weakness shining through. Maybe it was good that you betrayed us. You would have been like a flaw in the steel."

"Why do you toil for him, Mother? Why do you hurt your own daughter on his behalf?"

"You know the game he plays.

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