"Hold up." Afra scowled, "You're a Crown?"
The cat was out of the bag now.
Allister had geared up the video conference and a very tired crew at the Penthouse responded, most still in their pajamas. Ismene looked to have already gone through several cups of espresso as if she had been working hard to stay awake in anticipation of this conversation.
Leta hoped that it was a sign that what she was doing was right and wouldn't jeopardize the entire team.
After some groggy salutations, Atreus said that he'd gotten a text from Allister that she had some information from everyone, his hard eyes seeming to say 'Don't you dare give me more work to do'.
She took a deep breath and then proceeded to tell him the vision that she'd had when her nanites activated. The crown, the wings, the majesty, all of it.
Everyone was speechless. Even Atreus, whose face had always been frozen in a scowl was wide-eyed in shock.
Leta hadn't gotten into the nanites part of things - still concerned about dumping things on them too quickly - but she told them about her growing abilities and how she commandeered the control of the Thrall.
It was some time before the team had digested the information enough for Afra to break the ice.
"Well, no. Not really. I'm like the Crowns, but different." Leta answered.
Atreus turned his head to look back at Huda and Simon. "Is this truth?"
The Scribe and Judge looked at each other, seeming to share much with their glances before Huda nodded. "Her words taste sweet. She is speaking truth - or as truthful as she can be."
Atreus looked back at her with an angry face which had Leta jumping with hands up in surrender, "Look, man. I'm literally a few days into this craziness. I don't know everything. I don't know why it's just me that has these abilities, but I'm honest when I'm telling you that I'm not corrupted like the Blessed."
The General turned his head back to Simon. The Judge nodded, which had Atreus sighed. "Great. So, you said your class was called 'Monarch', and it's like a Crown but different. You have a lot of very similar abilities to a Crown but you also have a lot of talents that they do not have. You are…"
"A menace." Kaviah quipped, her arms crossed with a sour expression. "I detest cities but at least Athens was manageable. Now it's overrun by thralls and the lackies of the worst kinds of people are coming to visit us." She huffed before growling, "Politicians…"
"Who are going to have some concerns that a new class has appeared that will rival the Crowns once she comes into her power." Simon shook his head like he was already resigned to his fate.
"Leta," Eriene's soft voice broke through the surprise and confusion of the group, "You said you could override the beguiling on the thrall. Can you tell me more about how that works?"
"Um, yeah." Leta pulled her hair back behind her ear, conscious of the hush that had fallen over the group. "It's an offset of the Persuasion skill. Right now, I have to touch and keep eye contact with the thrall, but I persuade them that I am their master and not the vampire. I'm pretty sure that once that's set I can then use the same skill to break them out of the beguiling. At least, that's what I'd hoped with that brawler back there. We'll never know now."
"I wouldn't say that." Simon mused.
Atreus looked back at him, "You have an idea?"
"Like Kaviah said, the city is infested with thralls. How hard would it be to find one and run an experiment?"
Afra frowned in confusion, "Why would we do that?"
"Because as it stands," Allister sighed, "Tha only thing that Govena' will see when he gets here is a young woman with power that can be a threat to his boss's boss if left unchecked. We need a way to convince them that Leta's a boon and not a burden. She can't be controlled by the vampire - he's tried that once. If she can remove the beguiling, she can purge the thralls in this city faster and with less security needed than if we get tha' Priests involved."
"Which will show that Leta is a tool that can be used for good." Afra nodded along.
Leta raised her hand, "Question, how is removing the beguiling on the thralls going to convince them that I'm not a threat to their power?"
"You've signed a contract," Huda spoke up. "And the Chosen are contractually inclined to protect you and your family. Also, you're contract was notarized by a Judge, which means that there's some divine retribution involved if the Governor or the Crowns break it. Theoretically, they could toss you and your family in a cell and deem it protection, but by proving your usefulness to the Crowns - as Afra said - you are a tool that can be exceedingly useful in the fight against the Blessed."
Leta pursed her lips. The idea of being called a 'tool' rubbed her the wrong way, "That's fair, I guess."
"Hayoto. Allister. Think you can manage a quick hunt for a thrall in the next hour?"
The red-haired Hunter gave an almost manic smile. "I'll do ya one better and get it delivered to the Holding in half that time."
"Good man." Atreus nodded before turning back to Ismene, whose eyes were half-lidded with sleep. "Anything we should be aware of?"
"Hm… what can I give you without too many spoilers?" She tapped her lip in thought, mumbling, "Whelp, Leta's going to get stronger, that's a given… Oh!" She shouted, startling Huda and Simon who nearly lost control of his teacup, "Don't turn left."
Atreus blinked. "I need something a little bit more specific than that, Priestess."
"Don't hop a train?"
Atreus motioned with his hand to continue.
Ismene huffed as if she was repeating herself to a naughty toddler, "You're gonna be tempted to nab a homeless thrall right out the gate. Don't. It's a trap. There's several waiting for you to pounce and ambush you. You've got two options that at least end well for us. One's a petrol attendant located across the road from the abandoned water park. The other is a little old lady sitting at the ratty bus stop in front of the entrance to the municipal cemetery. Don't be fulled by the old lady, she means business."
Allister looked back to Hayoto. "Which ya think?"
The Assassin shrugged, "Attendant will probably be the easiest grab but they'll most likely have cameras. Old lady will be the hardest to ambush on a busy street." He pursed his lips in contemplation before answering, "Let's do Attendant."
"Ya have yer answer, sir." Allister turned to the TV, "We'll leave at once."
Atreus nodded, "Good. In the meantime, General Gutierrez and her small army are on their way. The last communications that I received was that there had been some issues on the road out of North Micronesia but have left the Governor's Mansion. They should have crossed into Greece…" He paused to look at his antique wristwatch, "Right now, which means we have at least four hours until they arrive in Athens."
"Koa, Afra, you will be with and assist her in training. Leta, you will do what work you can and be prepared to prove that you are an asset to the mission. If not, I cannot save you from whatever fate the Ruling classes will have in store. Do I make myself clear?"
For once, his expression wasn't that of a man annoyed at the inconvenience of a novice on his team but of the seriousness that a father has for a child going to war. It was both stern and fearful, his almost pleading with her to return in once piece.
Leta gulped, nodding her head. "Aye, sir."
He tilted his head, "Alright. Everyone, you have your orders. Let's do what must be done."