Here's the next installment of our Metallum Nocturne story. If you need to catch up on any of the previous episodes, click here.
Episode Forty-Eight
The next morning her phone rang before she was about to leave the Hall.
"Hey Elle."
"Doing okay?"
"I've had worse weeks," said Claire, rubbing the back of her neck. "I can't talk long. Headed out to meet the Blocks. I think they're going to offer another deal."
"That's great?"
"We'll see," said Claire with a heavy heart.
"I didn't find anything out talking with Mara's friends in your Hall. They suspected she was dating someone, but no one knew, or would say who it was."
"The phone?"
"I gave it to a friend from Cybermagics, but it's going to take a few days. I wish I could get an answer before your meeting, or your trial, but he said these things are tricky." She paused. "There's a secondary problem with the phone. Even if he gets into it, and the person she was sleeping with was significant, you can't use that as evidence."
"I understand. But if we know who faked my signature, maybe we can find another way to get that information to the court."
"I'm not giving up on you," said Elle.
She wanted to tell Elle about getting kicked out of Metallum Nocturne, but couldn't muster the words.
"You still there?" asked Elle.
"I am."
"You gonna be okay meeting with Annette, you know, on account of the Night Mother?"
Claire bit her lower lip. "I'm not doing that. I don't care if it means I get dragged back to Umbra, but that's not who I am."
"I know, but things got a little weird in the Undercity."
"I know what's happening now. I think I can control it better."
"You think?"
"I will," said Claire. "She's there watching in the back of my head, I can feel that much, but I won't let her take control. I won't listen to those voices."
"Claire..."
"I know, I know. But what choice do I have? I need to talk to Annette. Maybe this deal will be worth taking." She saw the clock. "I have to go. Thanks, Elle."
Claire threw on the heavy hoodie that she hoped would hide her form. She'd stolen it out of the laundry. With hands shoved into her pockets, she hurried out of the Hall, using a group of second-years going for coffee as her shield. When she hit the street, she didn't see any one following, or strange cars lurking nearby. Claire hurried down the sidewalk. The Blocks had picked a nearby Italian restaurant called Giotti's.
A bodyguard in mirrored sunglasses and a wire in his ear let her through the door and patted her down after she removed the hoodie. The restaurant had been closed for the meeting. Claire guessed the owner was a supporter. A second bodyguard let her into a private room where she found the Blocks seated at a table while a third bodyguard lurked to the side. The Blocks looked like they were headed to a campaign event. As Claire stared back at Annette the voice in her head whispered cruel thoughts.
Kill her for me.
"You're going to lose the trial," said Annette, pushing the chair back and standing up.
"I didn't do it."
Annette's face broke with anger, but her husband reached out and clutched her hand.
"I came here ready to offer a deal and you start by spitting in my face."
"Annette," said her husband, shaking her arm. She yanked away and shot him a searing glance.
"He doesn't want me to make this offer, but I have no choice. I can't fix this city and your wretched school unless I win. It's the only way. I have to win," said Annette with uncharacteristic desperation.
Claire remained silent as the voice continue to whisper in her head, but she didn't hate Annette, despite everything that had happened.
"Why aren't you speaking?" asked the older woman.
"You've heard everything. What more is there to say?"
"You let my daughter die and then mock me?"
Claire squeezed her eyes shut momentarily. "You've destroyed my life. I know you believe you're right. I might in your shoes, given the evidence, but I assure you that you've got it all wrong."
For a moment, Claire wondered if Annette would march over and punch her. The older woman's hands squeezed to fists and her expression was close to breaking. Righteous fury consumed her. The woman believed she was on a mission.
"I want, no I need the Halls to take the blame for your mistakes. I'm willing to drop the amount down to paying our legal fees, which are still considerable, in exchange for your cooperation. I will need you to write an article and appear for interviews so you can explain how your Hall pushed you to cut corners and put my daughter's life in danger."
The fact that her patron had just kicked her out of the Hall was rich. She had no loyalty to Metallum Nocturne anymore.
"Why are you smirking? Can't you take anything seriously?" asked Annette.
"The world is a ludicrous place," said Claire, mostly to herself as Nocturna's voice continued its murderous refrain. A life for a life. Kill her for me. I will protect you. Your life is mine.
Claire let out a short laugh though she found nothing about the situation funny.
"Have you gone mad, girl?"
Kill her, or take the deal. Claire was screwed no matter which choice she made though the consequences were much worse for not doing the first.
"If you're going to take the deal, you have to decide now. We brought contracts. You can walk out of this room a free woman without the life-crushing debts that you deserve for killing my sweet Maya."
The photo in Maya's dresser showing her in bed with a boy, the drugs, and the half empty box of condoms—they were a sign Annette didn't know her daughter at all.
"You don't care about her. I didn't know Maya, but you didn't either," said Claire.
"How dare you. How dare!"
Annette marched around the table, getting in Claire's face while her husband struggled to catch up.
"I should take the deal," said Claire. "It makes sense on the surface. But it would be completely humiliating. To take the blame for something I didn't do. My life has been defined for choices I didn't make. I was just the one left to clean up the pieces. Do you know the real reason why I was so angry in high school after my parents' death? You might even know because some of your asshole journalist buddies were pushing it in the Herald, but I think you just made it up, without knowing it was really true. The truth was that they were drunk. It's not in the records. They'd gone to school with the sheriff and he hid the toxicology report, but everyone knew. Everyone knew. How could you not?"
"So you'll take the deal?" asked Annette.
The anticipation in her gaze, the victory she thought would put her over the finish line and give her the position of power she'd long sought, was palpable. It reminded Claire of her own anger towards her parents for their selfishness.
"No."
"No? Why would you not? This is a chance at freedom from crushing debt. All for a few articles and interviews. The price is miniscule."
"Maybe for you, but for me, my life is all I have. You can take my livelihood, but I'm not giving you my reputation. I'd rather be poor than be a part of your power grab."
Annette jabbed a finger in her face. "I don't even need you. I'm going to win anyway. This will just make it a sure thing and give me the leverage I need once I'm in office. Things can get much worse for you."
"You're no different than her," said Claire.
Annette reacted as if she'd been slapped. "You did know my daughter."
Claire didn't bother explaining that wasn't who she was talking about. She'd meant Nocturna. The goddess of Umbra saw people as things. People's lives were merely pieces to move about the board. She didn't say anything more because a tingle formed between her shoulder blades. The guard at the door put a hand to his ear and the other on his gun as muffled shouting from the restaurant had everyone but Annette turning.
"Don't you look away from me! Don’t you look away!" screamed Annette right before the door exploded open, revealing a group of men with guns.
