by Nicky Graves
He puffed out his chest as he recalled the speech he had rehearsed. “We have an enemy, and it will take all reapers to bring her down.”
“Her?” someone said.
Buzzarly turned to glare at the offender. “Yes, her. Riley Graves is a threat to us all. Not only has she broken out of prison, she has also stolen the red stone. With two stones aiding her, her power grows stronger. I heard she attempted to steal the black stone as well. If she succeeds, it means an end for us all. We must take her down now.”
“Do you have proof of these actions?” Elder Rossen asked.
“Both Juliette Villes and a demon from the dark lands has told me it is true.”
“You take the word of a vampire and a demon?” Elder Rossen questioned.
“There is no reason for them to lie about this,” Buzzarly said.
Murmurs sounded throughout the room, and Buzzarly knew now was the time to get the council on his side.
“Riley Graves is not one of us. She is an outsider who will destroy us.”
“She is Azrael’s heir,” Elder Gralis said. “Why would she destroy us?”
“Azrael has made it plain he doesn’t acknowledge her as heir,” Buzzarly said. “But he is unable to kill her, which means she has power beyond even him. And if he can’t control her, how can we?”
“We can’t control Azrael either,” Elder Rufly said.
“We have a mutual understanding with Azrael,” Buzzarly said. “Which is more than we have with the girl who has gone rogue. Do we want to keep the devil we know, or sacrifice everything for the devil who has proved her unworthiness over and over again?”
More murmuring rippled through the council room.
“What do you ask of us?” Elder Rufly asked. “If Azrael can’t control her, how do you think we will?”
“Gentlemen, we have one solution and one solution only,” Buzzarly said. “We must stop her before it’s too late. And to do that, we must destroy her. I call for a vote. Those who wish to see her gone, raise your hand.”
He counted.
“And those who—”
“Wait,” Rossen said. “Before this vote goes through, you need to tell us what method you would use to remove Graves.”
Buzzarly gave a nod. He had hoped he wouldn’t have to divulge details, but leave it to the softer elders to want to know everything.
“Juliette will put me in contact with Bornor,” Buzzarly said. “With his skill, Graves could be gone by tomorrow.”
The murmuring grew. He heard a few gasps. Sure, there would be some who wouldn’t like this approach, but he had faith many elders wanted to safeguard the old ways.
“You can’t be serious,” Rossen said. “That would be a fate no one deserves.”
“There is no other way,” Buzzarly said. “We tried to be tolerant and only imprison her. She broke out. And by doing so, she has bound our hands. This is our only choice. Brothers, I have intel that at this moment she is looking for a weapon we have never heard about until now. The mortal blade. Do you know what that means for us?”
More murmuring.
“So, I shall call for a vote again,” Buzzarly said. “Those who wish her to be dealt with swiftly, raise your hands.”
He counted.
“And those who don’t?”
He counted.
“And those who are abstaining?”
Only one.
“Very good,” he said. “This session is adjourned.”
Buzzarly stormed to his chambers. Once again the council voted against him, but by a very slim margin. It was the newer council members that swayed the vote in the girl’s favor.
He’d just have to call in a few more favors. Buzzarly learned his lesson after the failure with MacLean and the sentencing. This time, there would be no sentencing. Riley Graves would be out of his hair soon enough.
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Books by Nicky Graves
Grim Girl
Grim Life
Grim Lost
More Grim books to come.