Blood Prize Read Online Free PDF Page B

mess.”
    The three men nodded and exchanged parting pleasantries without conviction.
     
     
    _____________
     
     
    Vogel scrutinised his two superiors as they left the room. He despised them, particularly the priest. He knew both of these men served only themselves. Like him, each grasped at this unprecedented opportunity. Tom Fox remained a treasure beyond reckoning. If he could capture him without the Assembly’s knowledge, it would only be a matter of time before he forced the truth out of him.
    As he pondered this, a flutter of movement broke his concentration. A Red Admiral Butterfly floated to a stop on the table in front of him.
    “How-the-hell …?”
    He watched with amusement, as it flew toward him and landed on the back of his hand. Without any fear, it opened and closed its wings and Vogel noticed the deception in colour; dull brown on the underside, yet the upper portions portrayed markings of white and black, and glowed with vivid red and orange. He coughed out a rasping laugh of appreciation. Like him, this organism chose what personality it presented to its enemies.
    “You’ve defeated my entire security network, little one.”
    With exceptional speed, he flipped his hand in a clockwise direction and caught the butterfly between his thumb and forefinger. He squeezed and smiled, as the tiny creature’s life oozed out between his fingers.
    “Nobody defeats me.”
    He laughed again.
    Fools.
    They thought they owned this game, but he refused to be a servant. When Fox became his, then no-one could stop him … He’d own it all.

Chapter Five
    T om noticed the dilapidated state of the bookshop as he edged his way in past the proprietor. A thick layer of dust covered every surface including the floor, which carried so much grime that it appeared to be natural earth. He couldn’t see anyone else inside the building, so he pretended to fill in time, searching through the mishmash of bookshelves that stretched up all the way to the roof.
    “Tom.”
    As Tom tried to turn, he stumbled and pulled several books from the shelf in an effort to rebalance; one striking the new arrival in the side of the head. He looked back at the man as he brushed the dust from his clothing. He expected him to be white. In this world, black men rarely held positions of power.
    “You’re Noah?”
    The man nodded towards the rear of the building.
    “Follow me.”
    Noah turned, swinging his powerful shoulders around in the opposite direction. He moved quickly, despite the beer belly that hung over his bandy legs.
    Tom felt anger redden his face.
    “No. Not before you tell me who killed her.”
    The man turned back and frowned.
    “Don’t stop. Just keep moving to the back. Then I’ll tell you as much as I can.”
    “Yeah, like I’m not supposed to be Tom McKnight?”
    “We can give you back your true identity, but from here on your choices become difficult.”
    “This is such bullshit. My parents aren’t real and I’m not who I think I am?”
    “Yes.”
    “Hey look, I’m not worth ripping off, alright. I don’t have anything you’d want.”
    Their conversation ceased, as several people entered the store and sidled their way into the adventure section.
    A tense silence fell between them.
    Tom held Noah’s steady gaze, but allowed his peripheral vision the opportunity to scrutinise the shorter, stockier man. He seemed likable. Streaks of grey coloured his dark hair, which receded above the temples, making his jovial looking face appear bulky. A prominent beak-like nose dominated his features, with large black eyes and long feminine lashes adding a softer contrast. Tom discerned a gentle nature, yet the man’s entire persona conveyed strength.
    “Alright, lad, let’s get to the point. The people you know as your parents are impostors. They’re not your real family. You were born in Australia. Your mother’s an Aussie and your father’s a Yank.”
    Smiling, he held up both of his hands with the palms up and shrugged