by Y. K. Greene
They were quiet now, almost as still as Mitei was to his left or Aedan on the other side of her. Standing next to those two was more disconcerting than the board before them and Leo took a moment to actually pray that he got the words right.
“We do not dispute the change in leadership of the company Death Inc. so much as declare sovereignty and dispute the claims of the merely mortal to reign over that which the divine lay claim to.”
There it was, the screaming, the absolute upheaval. All of the monitors came alive at once as the board members around the world broke into protest. There were no few exclamations from behind him as well but Leo ignored them all.
Finally Leslie Roth burst forward, gripping him by the arm and forcing Leo to face her as she claimed pride of place in the cameras and slipped nicely into his plan.
“You can’t,” she said a scant inch or so from his face. Leo desperately wanted to wipe the spittle from his chin but restrained himself as she continued. “Death Inc. stands on the lands of every acknowledged country in the world. What lands can they claim? What actual right of sovereignty?”
Leo stayed still, it was finally Mitei’s turn to speak and he didn’t want to step on her toes. It’s not every day that you make a goddess out of a corporate executive after all.
“Do you doubt me, Roth.” Mitei’s voice when it came was soft but not quiet. It carried to the speakers and every inch of the room without any seeming effort on her part. No, Mitei was still, unnaturally still like marble given voice. “The record of my existence goes back as far as this Death Inc. has existed and beyond, do you really doubt the existence of Death?”
Roth rounded on her, eyes wild ready to get as close and menacing with Mitei as she had with Leo but she stopped short. Something stopped her and Leo knew just how hard it was to look Mitei in the eye right now let alone bring yourself within touching distance. Roth, took a single step back and Leo knew they had her.
“Sovereignty can be claimed by divine right,” Leo said into the silence Roth had made, “can’t it Cardinal.”
A man garbed in red on one of the monitors nodded slowly, hesitant, tomorrow or perhaps a few moments hence, he would have to answer to the papal throne himself. Still he could no more deny the tenants that allowed the Papal state to exist than he could admit that the Koran had its good points.
“Is there anyone who doubts the divinity of Mitei’s abilities and continued long life and good health?” It could all end here, Leo thought waiting. If Roth would let it go they could retreat from the board room in pageantry and grace and let the board fight out the details among themselves.
“I can’t dispute some of her abilities but I do dispute this divine right to anything,” Roth turned to the cameras. “What lands, what people will this new country claim? Shall the countries we represent allow Death Inc. to secede? Shall our democracies bow to her rule?”
“Enough Leslie,” Mitei’s voice was firm. Scathing as she replied, “I claim several thousand people, first among them these three who have stood with me through the hardships brought upon me by you and your conspirators. I ask for no more land than those already held by Death Inc. and I plan no wars, no politics, all will be as it has been.” Mitei paused stepping forward and Roth shrank away from her stumbling and falling flat on her self-important ass. Mitei bent to her offering a gleaming hand, “I even have a job for you Leslie, as I have always had a place for you.”
It was over then, Mitei’s victory total, as she helped Roth to her feet and smiled upon her, Leo felt his own heart ache. Never mind that he had orchestrated the entire scene, it was still moving. After that it was just a round of agreement as the board accepted the sovereignty of Death. Having accepted it, their respective countries would find it difficult to revoke and as usual no one actually dared make an enemy of Death.
Mitei stayed only long enough to make sure that she had their agreement then appointed Roth to finalize the details. There was no way the weaseling woman could compete with divinity and ever a pragmatist she was already scrambling to consolidate her remaining power and position. In the commotion none remarked on it when Mitei, Aedan, Leo and Jules left the room and none saw when they linked hands and disappeared in the hallway outside.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to the artists whose stock photos were used in the creation of the cover image: Co2photo stock-d2zelvc, Jgh001a, Stock puka23, Raindroppe and Larry West. Thanks to D.K. who got me started. Thanks, blessings and a big box of imported chocolates to Alnisa, who was my rock and captive audience. Hugs and kisses to National A-1 Advertising, I wouldn’t be where I am now without you guys. Finally much love to Carolyn, for being.
About the Author
Y.K. Greene is a former volunteer worker, teacher’s assistant, tutor, VOD editor, celebrity blogger, porn and sex toy reviewer. Current daughter, sister, wearer of really kick ass boots and novelist. She has weird ideas but she’ll try to keep them on the SFW side this time. Maybe. Probably. For a while anyway. Find more of Y.K. Greene's ebooks here follow her on twitter @sarahakalegion or visit her blog for writerly musings and blather.
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