Page 71 of Nearly Dead

ChapterSixteen

“…historical precedent cannot be ignored!The Queensland Incident.The Philadelphia fires.Pompeii.”Mortimer’s nasal tone is pitched higher than usual with what sounds like righteous indignation.“All triggered by unstable hybrids which took decades of meticulous magic to cover up.”

“I thought wizards were responsible for Pompeii,” a man counters.I recognize the voice and try to place it.

“A hybrid’s body was discovered there at the base,” Mortimer says, as if that is evidence enough for whatever nonsense he’s spouting.

“Wasn’t that creature chained?”a woman asks.

I stand in one of the lesser-used corridors, not wanting to join them and knowing I should.

“We’ve all heard the legends, Mortimer,” the man says, sounding bored.“But legends are often exaggerated.”

I picture the man in my head.He was at the council meeting.Elder Birch, supernatural prison warden.

I follow the sound, moving silently down the hallway until I reach one of the smaller meeting rooms.The door is slightly ajar, allowing me to peer inside without being seen.

“The evidence is irrefutable,” Mortimer continues, gesturing to a stack of ancient scrolls spread before him.“Hybrid creatures are inherently unstable.The competing supernatural bloodlines war within the host until the resulting madness manifests in destruction.”

“But Zephronis must see something we don’t,” Birch says.“He brought her here instead of a secure facility.”

Mortimer stands at the head of an oval table, his thin frame vibrating with self-important intensity as he addresses a group of solemn faced supernaturals.I recognize a couple from the council.Elder Birch with his perpetually narrowed eyes sits close to Madam Britannia.There are several others whose names escape me.

“Zephronis,” Mortimer begins only to visibly stop himself.“He is respected, to be sure.”

The others glance at each other.

Mortimer seems empowered by their silence.“I can’t help but wonder if none of this would have come to pass if he would have upheld the marriage agreement between the Devines and Freemonts.So much could have been avoided.The Freemonts would never have been tricked into joining Thane in his misguided attempt to rebalance magic.”

Yeah.That’s not what happened.No one was tricked.The Freemonts are treacherous, greedy assholes.No wonder Mortimer likes them.

“Or if he’d let you take her under your care, Birch,” Mortimer adds.

“We need more than suspicion if we’re going to go against Zephronis,” Birch insists.“I’ll say it again.Legends are often exaggerated.They cannot be used as evidence.”

“Are they?Then how do you explain this?”Mortimer unfurls a larger scroll.I focus my vision as he reveals what appears to be a detailed illustration of a city in ruins.“Queensland, after the hybrid Daina de Silva lost control.Over three thousand supernaturals murdered.”He touches a book.“The Philadelphia fires inventory listing magical artifacts that were never recovered all because a hybrid couldn’t be contained any other way.There is a reason why hybrids should be forbidden.”

A murmur passes through the assembled guests.

“But you’re right.Let’s look at more recent events,” Mortimer presses, “my own niece’s destruction of invaluable magical texts.The library incident is merely a prelude to greater violence.The pattern is clear to anyone willing to see it.Werewolf and vampire natures are not meant to be contained in one body.”

My hands curl into fists at my sides.The library incident wasn’t a sign of my inherent instability… or notjust.It was the result of being attacked by Leviathan.A fact Mortimer conveniently omits.

“Speaking of her werewolf nature,” another voice interjects, “are we not concerned that she spent the night running with Thane’s former pack?If she’s forming alliances with werewolves while maintaining her vampire sire bond, she could become a nexus of power that threatens the established order.”

How do they know where I was?Has someone been watching me?

“Fair point,” Madam Britannia puts forth.“She is already positioning herself at the center of a potential power struggle.The hybrid’s very existence disrupts the balance we have maintained for centuries.”

“Your concern is noted,” a deep voice says from somewhere I can’t see.“Davis what are your thoughts?She’s your daughter.”

I can’t breathe.My father is here?I lean forward, trying to see him even as I want to stay hidden.

“I love my daughter,” Davis answers.I strain my ears, not wanting to miss a word.“However, I am not ignorant of the fact she was born human and was not prepared for such a fate.As a father, I hate to see her tortured in such a way.It breaks my heart.She’s too delicate for the supernatural world.I tried to protect her.I tried.”

“Of course you did, Davis,” Madam Britannia soothes, as if this conversation is all about my poor, suffering father.“We all know the trials you have faced and how wonderful of a father you’ve been.None of us doubt that.”

I clench a fist.Do I charge in and let them know I’m listening?The urge to fight is strong.I could tear apart the room, squish them like goblins and prove them all right.

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