Read Online Holier Than Thou (The Tome of Bill) by Rick Gualtieri - Free Book Online Page A

example of me. It would be even worse for Sally. The elders wouldn’t think twice about dusting her and then pissing on the ashes.
    At last, she finished with her account and then came the anticipated Q&A.
    “Are you sure it was the mages who did this?” James asked.
    “We didn’t see them,” Sally admitted, “but the green fire was definitely not natural.”
    “No doubt. I just find it odd.”
    “I don’t,” I said. “They haven’t really gotten over wanting me dead.”
    “I had thought, based on your associations up in the Woods of Mourning, you had perhaps come to a measure of peace with them.”
    “That was Christy,” I replied. “She’s just one member of that group. The rest...well, not so much. If we hadn’t been under a state of truce up there, I don’t doubt they would’ve tried to blast the shit out of me.”
    “Thank you for the colorful observation, Dr. Death. Still, the Magi’s feud is known to be primarily with you, not vampire kind in general.”
    “I’m well aware,” I said, an edge to my voice.
    “Please know I’m not trying to downplay this,” James said in a conciliatory tone. “Even so, personal vendettas are considered exactly that - personal. If a force attacks us en masse, we respond in kind. However, a lone vampire...”
    “I get it. We’re expected to deal with our own crap.”
    “In a word, precisely.”
    “But they didn’t go after just me.”
    “I know and, assuming it was them, that’s troubling. A skilled Magi is more like a surgeon than a child with a hammer. Such an act of... terrorism ...is unlike them.”
    “Know anyone else who can level a building full of vampires in the middle of Manhattan while keeping it hidden from everyone more than twenty feet away?”
    “Some entities come to mind, but none who have any motive.”
    That was a scary thought, although it wasn’t particularly surprising. I had seen enough in Canada not to be overly shocked should Godzilla, Mothra, and the Old Ones rise out of the East River and start smashing shit. It was nearly terrifying to know that as powerful as vampires are, there were beings out there to whom we’re little more than bugs.
    “The thing is,” James continued, “the Magi have already indicated they prefer to remain neutral in the coming conflict. They have no love of us, but likewise, they have never counted the Alma as allies...nor do I see that changing. The Alma aren’t particularly fond of anything in human guise, vampire or otherwise.”
    “Yet, despite all that, we have a brand new parking lot only a few blocks away.”
    “I don’t dispute that. I’m just trying to find sense in the motives here.”
    “They have that stupid prophesy of theirs,” Sally commented.
    “We’re aware of that. The logic of their reasoning is dubious at best, unless perhaps they are, for some reason, convinced that the rise of the Icon is imminent.”
    Sally and I locked eyes. Oh crap. She shook her head. Her meaning was clear...shut the fuck up. I didn’t need to be told twice. Jesus Christ, what a fucking minefield.
    “I’m afraid there are too many questions on the table,” James said. “The loss of one coven is of little consequence to the First’s plans, no offense intended. However, considering your role in the coming conflict...”
    “Oh fuck,” I muttered under my breath, forgetting James’s hearing was supernaturally acute.
    “In this, sadly, I have no say. Lord Alexander was quite adamant on this point. Your involvement raises this incident’s priority.”
    “Go me,” I sighed as Sally kicked me from under the table.
    “Based on what we know, or more precisely what we don’t, I see only one course of action...”
    That didn’t sound promising. Tom was definitely not going to be pleased if I’d put a giant crosshairs on his girlfriend.”
    “...we need to set up a conference call with the Magi.”
    “What?!”
    Whatever the hell had happened to nuking it from orbit?
    A friendly chat with