Page 9 of Xerxes Ascendant
“You should know that your debt has been escalated. I’ve washed my hands of it...and you,” Theta said distastefully.
Akira stiffened, not liking the threat in those words at all. He watched Theta’s eyes drift over him in much the same way Omicron’s had: taking in his dishevelled appearance with an unabashed sneer.
“Yet I see your financial circumstances have only worsened,MasterEpsilon,” drawled Theta, his eyes flashing in satisfaction. “Would you like me to lend you some proper clothes? I do not wish to take the dregs of your dignity as well as your position at this table.”
“This Coterie will not tolerate slander,” Omicron declared, gaze coldly fixed on Akira. “And I don’t give a fuck about your dignity. If you’ve lied to us and destroyed a Master’s name in order to free yourself of debt-”
“The key word there,” said Akira, “is ‘if’.” He smiled at the other man, to keep him off guard, and looked to the remainder of the Coterie instead. His heart was pounding, but he forced himself to remain calm. Slithering his way into or out of tricky situations was what he was good at. He’d somehow manage this one, too.
“I find it unimpressive that Simon has taken ten days to come up with this idea considering its level of unoriginality,” he commented, aiming the words at Nu who often complained about Theta’s lack of imagination. “That’s all he’s got to say? ‘Nothing happened’? What does he claimdidhappen in those hours we were allegedly alone together that night?”
“The same thing thatalwayshappens, darling,” Theta shot back with a cruel smile. “You dropped to your knees and begged to suck my dick.”
Akira raised a haughty eyebrow.
“I see. And Kyle? How does he fit into this little story of yours?”
“He’s-”
Akira wasn’t done. He wasn’t going to give Theta the chance to answer each singular question and build his lie brick by brick. He would force the man to construct his whole narrative with haste and panic, increasing the chances of him slipping up.
“Why were you not there to help us when Xerxes fell? Why would you flee if you didn’t have anything to hide? And why were a set of House Theta rune tags found in the debris?” he demanded, making that last one up to really test the man.
Master Nu cocked their head, looking questioningly at the figure in the doorway. They were keeping an open mind, at least.
“Epsilon invited me over to play with him and his boy,” Theta declared loudly, directing the words to the others. He sauntered further into the room and leaned an elegant hand on the conference table. “Randall panicked when it got rough. I don’t do hysterics, so I left...well before the city blew. I never saw anyone else there.”
“And the brands on Epsilon’s body?” Master Lambda asked. “How did they come about?”
Akira flinched. He’d been careful to keep the marks of his torture hidden from the Coterie under his carefully buttoned suits, but clearly someone – a client or House Epsilon employee – had talked.
Shrugging, Theta let one shoulder drop. “How should I know what the pair of them got up to after I left? It’sAkira. The little pain slut probably asked for it.”
Lambda looked at Akira. “Master Epsilon?”
Akira swallowed. He hated to admit weakness to the Coterie, but knew half-truths would no longer serve him.
“They burned and beat me while Theta watched on,” he admitted slowly, not taking his eyes from the smirking, silver-haired snake. “His favour with Benedict Mackenroth required Kyle’s capture and my cooperation. He attempted to obtain both, and ended up with neither.”
“More lies, Akira?”
“You were going to rape Kyle!” Akira snarled, circling the table with the desire to get his hands around that pale throat. Omicron blocked his way, his expression thunderous.
“Doeitherof you have any evidence against the other?” Rho asked with exasperation, throwing her hands up in the kind of dramatic performance her House was known for. “Or must we continue these back-and-forth accusations all night?”
Neither man responded, glaring at each other from across the polished wood table.
“Then it seems to me that there’s only one way to resolve this stalemate,” she announced, “and that’s to hear from the witness both of you agree was there that night. We shall await the testimony of Kyle Randall.”
Theta scoffed. “You’d rely on the word of Akira’s own whore?”
“His relationship with House Epsilon and its Master will be taken into account, of course,” Omicron hastily assured.
“As will Mr. Randall’s demonstrated honesty in his dealings with this Coterie to date,” added Nu, their eyes narrowing in admonishment. “Please notify us when he awakens, Master Epsilon.”
It was a clear dismissal. And although Akira ducked under Omicron’s outstretched arm and lunged for the door Theta had swiftly slipped through, he found the corridor beyond already empty. Fucker could move like a wraith when he wanted to.
Consoling himself with ideas of what he’d do to him if he ever caught the man alone, Akira returned to House Epsilon two levels down and was crossing the newly renovated foyer when his runepad buzzed in his tightly clenched fist.
