Fury and Flame | 3

0 | 2

D E L P H I N I U M

My body beaten and bruised, I shot a glance over my shoulder as I heard approaching footsteps. "That is enough," I heard the deep voice of my master tell the Tribunal.

      "I believe this has gone far enough to punish her for her crimes," he said and I could sense he was staring down at me. Knowing I wasn't worthy, I didn't look up at him.

      The Tribunal heeded his order and backed away, their shining black batons being hidden inside their cloaks again. They'd been ordered to beat me for what I'd done, to remind me what I'd done before was traitorous. They didn't have to restrain me. I'd taken hit after hit without making a sound, knowing that with each blow, my old self was being beaten out. I would gladly be rid of her. Orion could have given the Tribunal the order to kill me and I would have let them. It was the least I could do for letting them all down so gravely.

      "How are you feeling?"

      I smiled through bloody teeth. "Better than ever, master. Now that I am here."

      "Are you? Have you not been beaten severely enough for what you did?"

      "No, Unul Exaltat. As soon as you enlightened me again, I realized the magnitude of my appalling behavior. I am a traitor to Imperium, and I can only hope you forgive me for it." My eyes stayed on the floor.

      "You killed countless soldiers. You defied Adiago Hundsen, who was working with us at the time. You destroyed both our weapon production centers and our Russian stronghold. I should have your head."

      "You should, if you wish it. I will not stop you. But I only want you to know that I'm sorry. I was stupid and weak enough to be turned from you." I kissed the tile at his feet. "It will not happen again, if you choose for me to live."

      He was silent for a long time. The Tribunal didn't move once; one might have thought they were statues under those crow-shaped masks. I waited to be ended for Imperium's glorious cause. But it never came.

      Soldiers entered the throne room behind us. One of the men offered my blades to me and I took them, shooting a curious glance toward Orion.

     "For your next mission," he explained. "To prove your undying loyalty."

     I frowned. He didn't believe that I was with Imperium for good? "You know there are no bounds of my loyalty, master."

     "Yes. However, your last time in the Mind Sweeper ended in tragedy for us. I need to be sure it will not happen again." He was speaking of the time my mind had unfortunately fallen back into its previous unenlightened state. When I was still unwisely resisting Imperium's magnetic pull. Thankfully, I was in my most powerful capacity now. And it was all thanks to him.

      "Give me the name and I will not disappoint."

      "Claudius Pointe, an American. No witnesses. Thirty hours. Bring me his head, Secerător."

"Yes, Unul Exaltat. For Imperium's glory." I held a tight fist before my heart.

     "For Imperium's glory," he repeated, languidly mirroring my gesture.

     With that, I turned to leave. As I strode out of the throne room, all of the other soldiers wisely gave me a wide berth.

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      I sat on the roof of a building above the one Claudius Pointe lived in. It had just become completely dark outside so I was completely hidden from view. My target would be arriving home from work soon. Until then, I had time to kill.