Secret War: Warhammer 40,000 by Ben Agar (reading eggs books TXT) 📖

did learn from the very best."

"Ah! As did I," It said.

I grimaced. "Anyway, I didn't manipulate anyone; it was just mere logic; I just made sure it was brought out into the open. That's what would happen if we did try to take No One of Consequence by force. I was telling the truth, and Torris saw that."

Olinthre's brow furrowed. "But that's exactly what manipulation is, Attelus. Anyway, what Torris doesn't know that Karmen or Estella, whoever she is, is worried that you will try to kill Glaitis. Attelus, now I would like to know where I stand on this. Are you going to try to kill her when we get up there?"

I abruptly halted in my tracks; we were just about to ascend the steps to the main entrance and brushed my wet hair off my face again.

"No," I growled. "I intend to keep my promise to Karmen, no matter what. I thought that went without saying."

The Olinthre-thing raised an eyebrow. "You care about her, don't you, Attelus? And she seems to care for you too."

"And let me guess," I said. "You find that interesting, right?"

It grinned. "I would think that would go without saying, Attelus."

I frowned, took the smoking Lho in between finger and thumb then threw it away. It was strange; I wasn't scared, angry, or anything; I was as calm as calm could be, despite the situation.

Slipping my hands into the pockets of my flak jacket, I began to ascend the stairs.

"Let's just get this over and damn well done with," I growled.

 

 

Side by side, the Mimic and I exited the elevator.

Silently, we walked down the corridor, me with my hands in my flak jacket pockets and another smoking Lho hanging from the corner of my mouth. It still in the form of Olinthre, Its expression utterly devoid of any emotion.

I had expected the fear to appear as we ascended in the elevator. That it would come in a sudden rush, which would cause me to clench my teeth to fight it back, but still, I felt nothing even as we approached those glass doors and our footfalls echoed on the shining marble tiles—just clarity of mind, only an emptiness.

I have felt like this before, many times; in fact, it was the feeling I got when I was in a fight. I felt good, no more than good; I felt great. Despite how badly I ached all over.

Without a further word, we shoved the doors open and stepped inside.

Of course, Glaitis was still in that room, with the cold black marble floor and stark white walls, which made for a harsh, almost unnerving, in contrast to me. Behind her was a huge window made of reinforced one-sided glass, affording her a fantastic view of the dark, dank, depressing hive below. I have never seen her ever lookout it before, which in all honesty I couldn't blame her for and still, she sat, with her feet on her desk and reclining back in her chair while casually appraising a data slate.

"Ahh," she said with false friendliness. "I see that you two have joined forces, young one; you seem to have a skill to gain allies in the most unlikeliest o-"

"Shut up."

She was interrupted in mid-word, leaving her jaw hanging open slackly as she seemed to try to comprehend, and I ignored the equally shocked look of the Olinthre-thing.

For a good six seconds, she was like that, her mouth working as she struggled for words.

"D-did you just..." She managed through clenched teeth; then, a hideous smile suddenly curled her lips.

"Yeah, I just told you to shut up," I confirmed softly. "I'm not in the mood for your small talk."

She grinned and glared at me from under a hooded brow, a disturbingly familiar expression that sent shivers up my spine despite myself.

"And pray tell, young one, why is that?" She queried, laying her elbow on the table and her heart-shaped jaw into the palm of her hand.

I clenched my teeth and clenched my fists. "Because..." I trailed off.

"Because you're angry, aren't you, young one?" she finished, the smile somehow turning even more insane. "Because you are so full of rage and hatred? For what I have done? For what It had done?" She said, indicating the Olinthre-thing with a wave of her hand.

I smiled then began to laugh, I threw back my head and bellowed out at the top of my lungs, and Glaitis and the Olinthre-thing's confused expressions made me laugh all the harder. I even laughed so hard that I had to wipe tears away with my forearm when I finally finished.

"N-no, it's not that," I giggled as I saw Glaitis glare at me, her jaw twitching with barely contained rage. "It's not that at all."

"What is it then!" Glaitis demanded as she angrily slammed her hands onto her desk

"No, Glaitis, It's not because I hate you; I don't hate you," I said, and my face hardened. "How can I hate you when you aren't even worth hating in the first place."

Glaitis' eyes widened, and for a few seconds, we stood silently, our attentions locked.

I smiled about to continue when the Mimic finally chose to intervene.

"Mamzel!" It cried, stepping between us. "W-we have much to report."

That made me grin all the more. "Yes, yes, we do indeed." I agreed.

"Yes, I am...sure, that you have much to say," she said haltingly.

I sighed. "Well, where should we start, eh, Xenos?"

"I-"

"I know," I interrupted. "Let's start right at the top, right at the meat of the issue, shall we?"

"Your theatrics are beginning to get on my nerves, young one," she growled.

I smiled. "Only just now? You truly do have the patience worthy of sainthood."

"Attelus," said the Mimic warningly through clenched teeth.

"You've been outplayed, mamzel," I said.

"What?" Glaitis growled.

"You've been outplayed and betrayed, Glaitis. Inquisitor Edracian is on Omnartus."

Fear slowly crossed her face, which almost took my breath away with its potency.

"He's here? Now? How?" she yelled.

I raised a mocking eyebrow. "You really didn't know?"

"Tell me everything, child, tell me everything you know, now!"

I grinned. "As you wish." Then I told her and enjoyed every second of it.

 

 

"F-Feuilt?" she stammered. "H-he was Edracian's spy?"

"It seems so, yes," I answered.

She sighed heavily and placed her face into the palms of her hands. "How was this not foreseen? I cannot believe this: how?"

I shrugged, unsure what to say, never have I ever seen Glaitis so pale and taken aback before.

"So you must see mamzel," said the Mimic. "We must speak with the captive; we need to find Edracian, even if that means we must release him and ally with Brutis Bones."

"D-do, you really think that he would do that?" asked Glaitis. "He would ally with his enemies?"

"If we can convince him the circumstances have changed," It said. "Maybe."

I frowned and folded my arms on that thought; why didn't we ally with Brutis Bones in the first place? I sighed and shook my head; I could hazard many guesses on that but just couldn't be bothered anymore.

"You-you still have the means to communicate with the Arbites and Magistratum leaders?" said Glaitis.

"Yes, mamzel and so does Karmen Kons."

Glaitis rolled her eyes. "Of course she does."

I furrowed my brow and took a step closer to the desk. "The Adeptus Arbites and the Magistratum?"

"Yes," said Glaitis. "They have been on Taryst's payroll from the very start; that is why we have been able to work without their interference."

The corner of my mouth twitched; I should've guessed that, frig it. Estella mentioned earlier they had intercepted Brutis Bones because of the information given to them from contacts inside the Arbites and Magistratum.

"So what should I do about you, Attelus?" said Glaitis. "You have, for all intents and purposes, betrayed me."

"And you had Elandria killed," I growled. "I think we can just call us even."

She moved so fast I never got any chance to blink, let alone react; she was out of her seat, her fingers wrapped around my throat, and she slammed me against the wall.

"No!" she roared right in my face as I gasped in vain for air and felt the stinging pain of her fingernails digging deep into my skin. "No! We cannot ever 'call it even' child! I have had enough of your newfound insolence! You have betrayed me, you have cooperated with our enemy, and I will not let this pass as I did with your incident with Vex Carpompter. You must face the consequences of your actions."

My teeth clenched as the anger suddenly raged through me, and with one violent tug, I tore her hand from my neck.

"That..." I gasped and clutched the painful, forming bruise on my throat. "That...That is all I have been doing lately, master! Facing the consequences, the consequence of hurting Vex, the consequences of being too over berating to myself and forgetful! In all honesty, if I hadn't cooperated with Edracian, we wouldn't know what we know now."

She just sneered and glared.

"Y-you taught me that I must do what I must to survive until the mission is complete; I was just doing as your teachings demanded; I did what I had to, too survive."

"And that leads us to another question, Attelus," said the Mimic. "Why did Edracian let you live when you know so much? Why didn't he inject you with legitimate poison and just not give you the cure?"

I shrugged and sighed; why hadn't I thought of that? "P-perhaps he's already off-world?" I ventured. "Or perhaps he's just insane, frig. He certainly seemed to be, too me."

"Or who is to say that he didn't just have you injected with another poison?" said Glaitis. "One that is far slower to act."

"Except for the aches and pains from the beating your pet Xenos dealt to me earlier and being barely able to breathe," I said. "I feel fine."

The Xenos' punch came from nowhere, smashing into the side of my face, knocking off Karmen's bandage and sent me stumbling, clutching at my already beaten and bruised face.

"Do not ever call me anyone's 'pet', ever again," It said dangerously. "Or so help me the beating I gave you before will be nothing compared to what I will do to you, you understand, Attelus?"

My smile hidden behind my hand hit the berserk button, did I? I thought if only I'd known of this earlier.

It's certainly something I could exploit in the future.

I slowly picked up my bandage, placed it back, and then stood back up.

"Frig it!" I snarled with feigned anger. "Why is everyone hitting me today!"

"It's because you deserve it, young one," stated Glaitis as she returned to her seat.

I met the Thing's anger ridden attention. "I'm sorry, " I sighed. "I was wrong and idiotic; I shouldn't have called you that; I apologise."

Olinthre's features just sneered and glared in an exact echo of Glaitis before.

"So, you want to talk to the man who named himself No One of Consequence to try and get him to lead us to Brutis Bones. So you can negotiate an alliance to track down Edracian and stop him. Am I correct in that?" She said.

"Essentially, yes," I said. "Assuming, of course, he isn't off-world by now."

She smiled without warmth and curled her fingers together in front of her face.

"He is still here, young one, of that I have no doubt."

I raised an eyebrow and glanced briefly at the Mimic, who looked back just as confused.

"And how the hell do you know that, mamzel?"

She shook her head and reclined back on her seat, now as smug as smug can be.

"It is pretty obvious, child, and explains why he let you live; this, quite simply, is a trap."

My eyes widened. "What?"

Glaitis rolled her eyes and swivelled in her seat. "Both us and Brutis Bones are his main enemies; we are the only ones who know of his conspiracy; we are the only ones trying to hunt him. He, obviously, like us, doesn't know where Brutis Bones is, so he is waiting for us to make an alliance so he can ambush and kill all his enemies while we are