06-08-2015, 10:48 AM
For someone trapped in a cell by the man she was sent to kill Aria certainly seemed cheerful. Even if she hadn't tried to kill Nikolai, he must have known her intentions.
Her glib attitude only served to puzzle him further. What was the purpose of this 'meeting'? It did not seem like she requested it. No doubt she had been made to reveal her associations, which included him. So then, what did Nikolai want from him?
"You make a poor Atharim,"
Michael said to the last. She sought to compare their situations, to taunt him? Inspire friendship? Whatever the case, it fell short. Not for any faith in Nikolai's good will. He had no illusions about the man's priorities. "Do they know of your betrayal?"
"What of your 'friends' who share the same views? Has the Ascendancy made contact?"
If Aria's circumstances came to light, her friends might be at risk. Who knew what the consequences of an Atharim turning to their sworn enemy would do to the order? Would they purge any sign of traitors as ruthlessly as they did with people like him?
There was so much he didn't know of the situation. How on earth had Aria stumbled into Nikolai's hands. She wasn't stupid enough to risk detection unless she was forced to. Yet she said she did not attempt the assassination.
Coincidence? Luck? If so, it was extremely poor.
"Damn... I have been away too long."
He muttered, careful not to expose the nature of his work.
He thought about the Atharim data he kept. If potential allies within the Atharim were unreachable there was no reason to delay. Another problem.
"This changes many things,"
he frowned. "At least your death sentence has been lifted for the time being."
Perhaps it could be used as an incentive to encourage uncertainty among the Atharim. If he recalled correctly, the Sigma Marcus worked in that vein. He doubted the Atharim would see anything but a dog breaking free of it's leash, but the man was talented. Could he produce results?
Lost in his attempt to sift through the situation in his head, Michael had forgotten one important question. He looked up into Aria's eyes. "Or are you still loyal to your former masters?"
Edited by Michael Vellas, Jun 8 2015, 10:54 AM.
Her glib attitude only served to puzzle him further. What was the purpose of this 'meeting'? It did not seem like she requested it. No doubt she had been made to reveal her associations, which included him. So then, what did Nikolai want from him?
"You make a poor Atharim,"
Michael said to the last. She sought to compare their situations, to taunt him? Inspire friendship? Whatever the case, it fell short. Not for any faith in Nikolai's good will. He had no illusions about the man's priorities. "Do they know of your betrayal?"
"What of your 'friends' who share the same views? Has the Ascendancy made contact?"
If Aria's circumstances came to light, her friends might be at risk. Who knew what the consequences of an Atharim turning to their sworn enemy would do to the order? Would they purge any sign of traitors as ruthlessly as they did with people like him?
There was so much he didn't know of the situation. How on earth had Aria stumbled into Nikolai's hands. She wasn't stupid enough to risk detection unless she was forced to. Yet she said she did not attempt the assassination.
Coincidence? Luck? If so, it was extremely poor.
"Damn... I have been away too long."
He muttered, careful not to expose the nature of his work.
He thought about the Atharim data he kept. If potential allies within the Atharim were unreachable there was no reason to delay. Another problem.
"This changes many things,"
he frowned. "At least your death sentence has been lifted for the time being."
Perhaps it could be used as an incentive to encourage uncertainty among the Atharim. If he recalled correctly, the Sigma Marcus worked in that vein. He doubted the Atharim would see anything but a dog breaking free of it's leash, but the man was talented. Could he produce results?
Lost in his attempt to sift through the situation in his head, Michael had forgotten one important question. He looked up into Aria's eyes. "Or are you still loyal to your former masters?"
Edited by Michael Vellas, Jun 8 2015, 10:54 AM.
"She saw a flaring halo around his head, radiant in gold and blue. It shouted of glory and power to come"
"No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it."