Iced
Page 85
The Ice Monster is stripping away Fae existence on the deepest level. Theres something to my life force theory!
You have strong incentive to see it stopped.
I interpret Rjans expression as a royal Duh.
Which makes it worth a lot to you.
Rjan gives him an incredulous look. You could not hope to terminate it nor do I barter with pigs and fools.
I will terminate it. You will pay me handsomely for services rendered when and how I choose to invoice you. And, one day, you will kneel before me and swear your fealty. At Chesters. Before an audience of Fae.
We could do fireworks, I say excitedly.
Never, Rjan says.
Im a patient man, Ryodan says.
I think about that later, as we dig through the rubble, fill my ziplock and tuck it into my backpack. I munch a candy bar to make more room in my bag. Youre not patient. You zero in on something and lock on like a missile. Youre the most pushy, manipulative person I know. And I knew Rowena.
Patience and persistence arent mutually exclusive. You have no idea how patient I am. When I want something.
What does somebody like you want? More power? More toys? More sex?
All of the above. All the time.
Greedy bugger.
Kid, let me tell you something. Most people spend their short time in this world less than half alive. They wander through their days in a haze of responsibility and resentment. Something happens to them not long after theyre born. They get conflicted about what they want and start worshipping the wrong gods. Should. Mercy. Equality. Altruism. Theres nothing you should do. Do what you want. Mercy isnt Natures way. Shes an equal opportunity killer. We arent born the same. Some are stronger, smarter, faster. Never apologize for it. Altruism is an impossible concept. Theres no action you can make that doesnt spring from how you want to feel about yourself. Not greedy, Dani. Alive. And happy about it every single fucking day.
Are we done here yet? I got a paper to get out. I roll my eyes when I say it so he doesnt see how much what he just said got to me. I think it might be the smartest thing I ever heard anyone say. Hey, you think my swords
For fucks sake no.
Geez, dude. Just asking.
We stop by two more scenes in Dublin that got iced, first the fitness center, then one of the small underground pubs. Its a gaping hole in the pavement, with chunks of concrete listing in at dangerous angles. Theres nobody around to cordon it off and make sure wandering kids dont fall in. Fortunately there arent as many wandering kids as there were rightafter Halloween. Weve gotten most of them off the streets. Some of them refused to come in, chose to go underground instead. Got to respect that. It sucks being taken pity on by someone elses family, knowing youre not really part of it. I wonder how wild theyll be in a few years. I cant wait to see what they become. I think in a few years theyll make a heck of an army. Growing up alone makes you tough.
Until the walls fell, I never knew there were so many places beneath Dublin. I used to think there were only a few underground rivers, a couple of crypts like the ones at Christ Church and St. Patricks, and maybe the occasional cellar. Dublin keeps a lot of secrets. Since the walls came down, Ive discovered all kinds of places down under. We Irish are a canny lot, we like multiple ways out of a tight spot. And why shouldnt we? Look at how many folks have tried to be the boss of us, and for how long!
I peer into the rubble-filled hole. Dude, how am I going to get my ziplock?
Boss, we got a problem.
I glance over my shoulder. One of Ryodans men is standing there, looking pissed. Its a dude I dont often see. Ive never heard anyone say his name. I think of him as Shadow because he glides into rooms barely disturbing the air. You almost overlook him, which is a feat considering hes a foot and a half taller than me and got to be three hundred pounds. Watches everything like me. Doesnt speak much, unlike me. Tall and muscled like the rest of them, scarred like the rest of them, hair like night and eyes like whiskey in a glass.
Listening.
Fucking half-breed Highlander took the sword.
What? I explode. Christian took my sword? I told you and told you it was probably unfrozen! I kept saying that we needed to go check! What the feck is wrong with you dudes? Cant you guard a measly little sword from a measly little half-human?
Shadow gives me a look. Hes damn-near full Unseelie prince and he had a flamethrower, kid. To Ryodan, he adds, Lor and Kasteo are badly burned.
A fecking flamethrower! Why didnt I think of that? Best I came up with was a measly hair dryer. I need to start thinking on grander scales! I return the look. Im so pissed off my head is mean with pure pissed-offedness. You dont understand, when I was in his bed, I found a dead woman stuffed between it and the wall! Now he wants me dead and you let him get my sword! What am I supposed to do now? Ryodan wont share whatever the feck weapon he has! How am I supposed to protect myself? Cant you guys do anything right? One little sword! Thats all you had to watch over! And why didnt we think of a flamethrower? Anybody got a brain among you dudes? Flamethrower! Brilliant! Did it hurt my sword?
You have strong incentive to see it stopped.
I interpret Rjans expression as a royal Duh.
Which makes it worth a lot to you.
Rjan gives him an incredulous look. You could not hope to terminate it nor do I barter with pigs and fools.
I will terminate it. You will pay me handsomely for services rendered when and how I choose to invoice you. And, one day, you will kneel before me and swear your fealty. At Chesters. Before an audience of Fae.
We could do fireworks, I say excitedly.
Never, Rjan says.
Im a patient man, Ryodan says.
I think about that later, as we dig through the rubble, fill my ziplock and tuck it into my backpack. I munch a candy bar to make more room in my bag. Youre not patient. You zero in on something and lock on like a missile. Youre the most pushy, manipulative person I know. And I knew Rowena.
Patience and persistence arent mutually exclusive. You have no idea how patient I am. When I want something.
What does somebody like you want? More power? More toys? More sex?
All of the above. All the time.
Greedy bugger.
Kid, let me tell you something. Most people spend their short time in this world less than half alive. They wander through their days in a haze of responsibility and resentment. Something happens to them not long after theyre born. They get conflicted about what they want and start worshipping the wrong gods. Should. Mercy. Equality. Altruism. Theres nothing you should do. Do what you want. Mercy isnt Natures way. Shes an equal opportunity killer. We arent born the same. Some are stronger, smarter, faster. Never apologize for it. Altruism is an impossible concept. Theres no action you can make that doesnt spring from how you want to feel about yourself. Not greedy, Dani. Alive. And happy about it every single fucking day.
Are we done here yet? I got a paper to get out. I roll my eyes when I say it so he doesnt see how much what he just said got to me. I think it might be the smartest thing I ever heard anyone say. Hey, you think my swords
For fucks sake no.
Geez, dude. Just asking.
We stop by two more scenes in Dublin that got iced, first the fitness center, then one of the small underground pubs. Its a gaping hole in the pavement, with chunks of concrete listing in at dangerous angles. Theres nobody around to cordon it off and make sure wandering kids dont fall in. Fortunately there arent as many wandering kids as there were rightafter Halloween. Weve gotten most of them off the streets. Some of them refused to come in, chose to go underground instead. Got to respect that. It sucks being taken pity on by someone elses family, knowing youre not really part of it. I wonder how wild theyll be in a few years. I cant wait to see what they become. I think in a few years theyll make a heck of an army. Growing up alone makes you tough.
Until the walls fell, I never knew there were so many places beneath Dublin. I used to think there were only a few underground rivers, a couple of crypts like the ones at Christ Church and St. Patricks, and maybe the occasional cellar. Dublin keeps a lot of secrets. Since the walls came down, Ive discovered all kinds of places down under. We Irish are a canny lot, we like multiple ways out of a tight spot. And why shouldnt we? Look at how many folks have tried to be the boss of us, and for how long!
I peer into the rubble-filled hole. Dude, how am I going to get my ziplock?
Boss, we got a problem.
I glance over my shoulder. One of Ryodans men is standing there, looking pissed. Its a dude I dont often see. Ive never heard anyone say his name. I think of him as Shadow because he glides into rooms barely disturbing the air. You almost overlook him, which is a feat considering hes a foot and a half taller than me and got to be three hundred pounds. Watches everything like me. Doesnt speak much, unlike me. Tall and muscled like the rest of them, scarred like the rest of them, hair like night and eyes like whiskey in a glass.
Listening.
Fucking half-breed Highlander took the sword.
What? I explode. Christian took my sword? I told you and told you it was probably unfrozen! I kept saying that we needed to go check! What the feck is wrong with you dudes? Cant you guard a measly little sword from a measly little half-human?
Shadow gives me a look. Hes damn-near full Unseelie prince and he had a flamethrower, kid. To Ryodan, he adds, Lor and Kasteo are badly burned.
A fecking flamethrower! Why didnt I think of that? Best I came up with was a measly hair dryer. I need to start thinking on grander scales! I return the look. Im so pissed off my head is mean with pure pissed-offedness. You dont understand, when I was in his bed, I found a dead woman stuffed between it and the wall! Now he wants me dead and you let him get my sword! What am I supposed to do now? Ryodan wont share whatever the feck weapon he has! How am I supposed to protect myself? Cant you guys do anything right? One little sword! Thats all you had to watch over! And why didnt we think of a flamethrower? Anybody got a brain among you dudes? Flamethrower! Brilliant! Did it hurt my sword?
