Read Online The Pawn of the Phoenix (The Memory Collector Series Book 2) by Jamie McLachlan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jamie McLachlan
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blockers. We’ll be in the same position as everyone else.”
“I find that hard to believe. I mean you are already house instigator. Clearly, the Elite trust you enough.”
“Trust is a fragile thing.”
I grin, because I’m beginning to like the woman. We think alike, and I’m ashamed to say I had begun to trust the detective and had allowed myself to feel safe in his presence. Things like that don’t come without a price, and people like me can’t afford to trust anyone. Honestly, I don’t even trust myself. It’s astonishing how much the mind is capable of deceiving itself. So even though I like Josephine, I’ll remain suspicious of her. After all, she was a blocker before her promotion.
“And if the Phoenix succeeds?” I ask.
“Then anything is possible, including change.”
“I still fail to see why you’d want change when you’re in a position of authority.”
“Where is a better place to facilitate change?”
My scepticism isn’t easily shaken. “And what changes would you make at the pleasure house? Free all the concubines?” The last part I add in a slightly derisive tone.
Josephine takes a generous taste of her wine and gives me a knowing look. “Hardly. Change requires time; it can’t simply happen overnight. You were a concubine, Moira. So, you know most of the concubines won’t want to leave the pleasure house. Oh sure, they’ll embrace their freedom rather voraciously, but they’ve been concubines all their lives. They won’t know what to do with their freedom.”
Her lips curve upwards. “That’s where I come in. Those who choose to stay at the pleasure house will be welcome to do so and work for me. Not as slaves, but as employees. They will be given wages and have the opportunity to leave whenever they so desire. There will also be rules that govern the clients’ treatment of the concubines.”
“Sounds perfect,” I say thoughtfully. “A little too perfect.”
“With all change there is bound to be a few delays and challenges. But I hope to enforce them as much as I can. If all is successful, you’re more than welcome to return to the pleasure house. That is, if you so desire.”
A short caustic laugh escapes me. “No thanks, Josephine. The pleasure house is the last place I’d like to be when all this is over.”
“I understand,” she says, surprisingly sympathetic. “Then maybe we can at least agree on one thing.”
“What’s that?”
She raises her glass toward me. “To change.”
Her sincerity both baffles and astounds me, but it’s genuine. And I commend her for it. Do I believe she will succeed? Honestly, not really. I suppose I’m too cynical to believe things can change. But I admire her for the thought alone. I just hope she’s not actually involved with the Phoenix, or else she might find herself imprisoned shortly.
Raising my own glass, I speak above the clang of the crystal colliding with one another. “To change.”
We both take a sip of our wine, while our eyes remain locked on one another. A woman approaches us, her head poised high in self-importance. For an empath, she’s quite confident and walks alone, which means she must be a blocker. Her dark, tightly bound curls are pulled back in one of the popular styles worn by other women, and the interlacing colours of cream and yellow in her dress compliments her dark brown complexion. But the most striking quality is her dark eyes framed by long, flattering lashes.
She nods her head at the Pleasure House Instigator in greeting. “Madame Josephine.”
“Alyssa,” acknowledges the blonde beside me. “This is Moira, the empath working with Detective Edwards.” She turns to me and adds, “This is Alyssa Harrison, the new Chief Blocker.”
So, Mr. Harrison did find a new Chief Blocker already. I offer her a tight smile and hold out my hand in greeting. Instead of taking it, Alyssa scrutinizes my face. Her gaze flickers between my different coloured eyes before looking away to
“I find that hard to believe. I mean you are already house instigator. Clearly, the Elite trust you enough.”
“Trust is a fragile thing.”
I grin, because I’m beginning to like the woman. We think alike, and I’m ashamed to say I had begun to trust the detective and had allowed myself to feel safe in his presence. Things like that don’t come without a price, and people like me can’t afford to trust anyone. Honestly, I don’t even trust myself. It’s astonishing how much the mind is capable of deceiving itself. So even though I like Josephine, I’ll remain suspicious of her. After all, she was a blocker before her promotion.
“And if the Phoenix succeeds?” I ask.
“Then anything is possible, including change.”
“I still fail to see why you’d want change when you’re in a position of authority.”
“Where is a better place to facilitate change?”
My scepticism isn’t easily shaken. “And what changes would you make at the pleasure house? Free all the concubines?” The last part I add in a slightly derisive tone.
Josephine takes a generous taste of her wine and gives me a knowing look. “Hardly. Change requires time; it can’t simply happen overnight. You were a concubine, Moira. So, you know most of the concubines won’t want to leave the pleasure house. Oh sure, they’ll embrace their freedom rather voraciously, but they’ve been concubines all their lives. They won’t know what to do with their freedom.”
Her lips curve upwards. “That’s where I come in. Those who choose to stay at the pleasure house will be welcome to do so and work for me. Not as slaves, but as employees. They will be given wages and have the opportunity to leave whenever they so desire. There will also be rules that govern the clients’ treatment of the concubines.”
“Sounds perfect,” I say thoughtfully. “A little too perfect.”
“With all change there is bound to be a few delays and challenges. But I hope to enforce them as much as I can. If all is successful, you’re more than welcome to return to the pleasure house. That is, if you so desire.”
A short caustic laugh escapes me. “No thanks, Josephine. The pleasure house is the last place I’d like to be when all this is over.”
“I understand,” she says, surprisingly sympathetic. “Then maybe we can at least agree on one thing.”
“What’s that?”
She raises her glass toward me. “To change.”
Her sincerity both baffles and astounds me, but it’s genuine. And I commend her for it. Do I believe she will succeed? Honestly, not really. I suppose I’m too cynical to believe things can change. But I admire her for the thought alone. I just hope she’s not actually involved with the Phoenix, or else she might find herself imprisoned shortly.
Raising my own glass, I speak above the clang of the crystal colliding with one another. “To change.”
We both take a sip of our wine, while our eyes remain locked on one another. A woman approaches us, her head poised high in self-importance. For an empath, she’s quite confident and walks alone, which means she must be a blocker. Her dark, tightly bound curls are pulled back in one of the popular styles worn by other women, and the interlacing colours of cream and yellow in her dress compliments her dark brown complexion. But the most striking quality is her dark eyes framed by long, flattering lashes.
She nods her head at the Pleasure House Instigator in greeting. “Madame Josephine.”
“Alyssa,” acknowledges the blonde beside me. “This is Moira, the empath working with Detective Edwards.” She turns to me and adds, “This is Alyssa Harrison, the new Chief Blocker.”
So, Mr. Harrison did find a new Chief Blocker already. I offer her a tight smile and hold out my hand in greeting. Instead of taking it, Alyssa scrutinizes my face. Her gaze flickers between my different coloured eyes before looking away to
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