“This situation is intolerable.” Ookami flung herself down on an overstuffed sofa in one of the back rooms of the Merovingian’s chalet. As usual, she began inspecting her claws immediately upon settling, though the familiar routine did nothing to lessen her evident tension.

“I’ve lost count of the times you have made that statement, and yet somehow, defying all conventional wisdom, you continue to tolerate the situation,” replied the rather bored voice of her companion, the blood-drinker Malphas, taking his ease in an equally plush armchair while idly thumbing through a large, leather-bound book. His malaise was influenced by yet another recent session of “loyalty adjustment” following the discovery of his memoriam for Feronus in The Sentinel.

“Oh, shut up,” snarled the lupine, fingers flexing restlessly as she continued the examination of her claws. “You weren’t the one on display for the little human pets. You didn’t have to listen to the mockery of that useless fop of a concierge, or the mock-sympathy of Her Ladyship.” A soft snort of distaste served as a sort of audible punctuation in her tirade, “Of course He just ignored me, but that odious, flimsy, sanctimonious Flood went on and on about the death of Morpheus like he had something to do with it. Just to make me look bad, I’m sure.” Looking smug, she conceded after a moment’s thought, “Not that he entirely succeeded. I had humans bowing and scraping all night, eager to pledge their support.”

Malphas turned another page in his book, never bothering to look up. His neck was far too sore for that, though the high collar of his shirt covered the marks. “It was rather disappointing that you were not able to finish the job yourself. How strange that the humans were so impressed with you. ”

Silence reigned for nearly a minute, broken only by the turning of pages, the steady tick of a grandfather clock in the corner, and the barely audible grinding of teeth. “There were too many of the cavedwellers rushing to get in the way. I had him – then that bomb went off. It startled me; I thought he’d rather kill than blind me, but it did no damage at all. While I was distracted he slunk off into the crowd like the coward he is.” Ookami smiled slowly and corrected herself, “Was.”

“Yes, yes. Then the Assassin finished the job for you. A curious creature, that one.” This was not the first time Malphas had been subjected to the lupine’s brooding over recent events. “No doubt we will be called upon to clean up that mess.”

Long claws sliced the air with an audible hiss as Ookami waved away the concern, “The corrupted have been dealt with and the damage to the city has been repaired.” Finally sitting up from her elegant sprawl, she continued with her usual confidence, “The Assassin is still skulking around, but it shouldn’t take long to get rid of it. I’m inclined to be vaguely charitable, anyway – it did us a favor in deleting Skinner. Though I can’t say I much like his replacement: A “more human” Agent. What a ridiculous idea.”

“Trust the Machines to attempt to use math to blend in with their humans. I am more concerned with the likelihood that we will be ordered to shepherd the Frenchman’s followers around to protect them from masked maniacs. That is their own problem, of their own making.” A moment’s pause, then Malphas adds thoughtfully, “I’m certain it was the masked malcontents’ interference that sparked the attacks by Zion and the Machines upon the Merovingian’s servants.” The blood-drinker said nothing of the attacks his brethren had carried out in retaliation. They were, after all, only following orders.

“Just what we need, more annoyances,” Ookami concluded sourly, glaring at the clock tucked away in its corner as though it were personally responsible. “At least it means good hunting.”

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