The Aftermath ✔

33 HARPIES HAVE NO CHILDHOOD

The siren-like noise preceded the truck's freefall. Once they landed, Slade blinked and refocused. They were back at the manor, as promised.

A tear in the air remained and an army of angels and harpies emptied out, Davenport at the helm.

"Take their heads," he ordered.

"No. That won't be necessary." Manny jumped from the truck, baby harpy in hand. "We have an audience. You are welcomed to join."

Davenport's eyes burned with fury. "I won't stand for this." He looked at the ground, speaking to himself, "We don't need to negotiate with—"

A wince had him falling to his knees.

"Wait," he begged. "Wait. I can fix this. Give me only a moment. He will offer up the human and the angel. I promise. I can fix this."

The first harpy to land was massive. She was followed by a smaller and yet another. Six women as far as Slade could count, two of them angels, all heavily armed and none happy to be there. Even more harpies flocked above, circling them like vultures.

While Slade scrutinized them, they stared at Trixie.

"Leave her," said the harpy in the lead, looking back to her people. "She's made her choice. This is what happens to birds who can't keep their mouths shut. Nobody interfere. This transaction is set, and is valid." She gave Trixie a fleeting glance filled with disappointment and disgust before taking off. "Give them room. Secure the altar." She called to Davenport, "So this is what serving Legion leads to?"

Still kneeling with his eyes fixed on the ground, Davenport seethed. "She interfered. It's got nothing to do with me and my choices. I was tasked with securing an infinite covenant. And I could have done it with a bit more support! They gave me a dwarf and a shop!"

Barbra hurried around the truck but hesitated to help Trixie out.

"I'm real sorry," the dwarf said. "I—"

"Save it." Trixie was heavy cargo but Slade persevered. "Brother, you will not sacrifice her. I will not allow it. I'll take her place before I allow that."

Trixie's movements were shaky when she touched the ground. "You never had any say in what he does," she muttered. "You never have."

Lomos, holding his child in his right arm, greeted them at the top of the steps, face scratched up, wearing a miserable frown. "Sovereign. Welcome. We were confident you would make it back."

Manny glanced at him and scoffed. "Glad to see you still in human form."

The brigade captain bowed his head and gave him room to pass.

Eli helped with Trixie, looking over her wings to ask Slade, "What do we do?"

Slade shook her head. "I don't know. I don't know what we can do." From the harpies in the sky to the werewolves on the ground, she felt helpless. "What do you think if we...?"

They closed in on the courtyard but Eli watched her, nodding. "I was thinking something like that. With how much runes you've got, maybe...maybe it can be enough. I go first."

Mouth tasting stale, Slade looked away from him. "I can't ask this of you."

"Both of you are foolish," Trixie muttered. "There are only three things powerful enough to be sacrificed right now. Me, my offspring, or the human." She dragged in a deep breath and brushed them off as she spread her wings and walked on her own.

Slade paused in her stride to watch her. "E...."

Eli took her hand; he had nothing to offer beyond an empty promise. "A sovereign is still a sovereign. There's power in that title. It's probably a sound sacrifice."