The Skin Thief

Chapter 93

"Do you see this, Mr Kaiser?" Mother asks, speaking Athainian now, which I translate to Marcus in Etrayan. She gestures to a device that looks like a radio. It's been altered, though, with strange wires sticking out of it and a large speaker-type thing on the front.

It rests on a small table next to Uncle Harry.

"I do," Marcus replies, and I don't need to translate that.

"We've heard about what you are," Mother says, smiling calmly. She gestures to Harry. He flicks a switch on the radio.

Immediately, a strange, high-pitched hum fills the air. I slam my hands up to my ears subconsciously, and Marcus winces, shuddering. His jaw clenches, and his body stiffens. I bite back my smile, glad Mother got the message about Marcus's weakness. Judging by his reaction, this is the right soundwave to stop him from being able to faze into his shadow form.

Mother nods again, and Harry switches it off. "You take one step that makes me uncomfortable, and we'll turn it on and put a bullet in you and your little translator. Do you understand?"

I gulp and look at Marcus nervously, relaying the message.

He smiles politely and speaks Etrayan.

"You have nothing to fear from me today, Mrs Elliot," he says, his voice laced with charm. I look back at my mother and repeat what he just said. Mother just raises an eyebrow.

"We both need to trust each other, Mrs Elliot, if we are to come to some sort of agreement. I'm trusting you not to have informed Athainian authorities, or to have a trap laid out. You're trusting me not to attempt to kill you. The altered radio is a nice touch, and I would like to know how you discovered the weakness of my abilities, but I am more than just my powers. I don't need them to put an end to you and everyone else in this room." Marcus's voice is scarily calm. It sends chills down my spine.

I repeat the message. Mother's expression doesn't change.

"If you think the radio is my only precaution, Mr Kaiser, then you are not the man I was led to believe you were," she replies. Before Marcus can respond, she changes the subject.

"Now, if we are done trying to intimidate each other, I would like to discuss business. Why are you here, Mr Kaiser?"

"To strike a deal," he replies after I've translated.

"Yes, your message was clear about that," mother chuckles. "I knew my activities would get on the radar of a man such as yourself sooner or later. When the time came, I was expecting your realm to send in someone like you, not to bargain, but to eradicate the threat I possess."

"So, you're asking why I'm here to make a deal rather than kill you?"

"To kill me would be your best option. We aren't an honourable folk here," she replies.

"It would," Marcus agrees. "But it is because you aren't an honourable folk that I and my superiors believe we can come to a more beneficial agreement than trying to kill each other."

As I translate what Marcus said, a slow smirk forms on my mother's face.

"Interesting," she says. "Let me guess. You want me to stop stealing your weaponry and body armour, tell you what backstreet portals I'm using, and give up the person who is giving me all the information about the portals and who is helping me set up a very successful operation in your realm."

"That, and more," Marcus replies.

"And what benefits are there to me?" she asks.

"If money is what you're after, just give me a price," Marcus replies.