Lahat ng Kabanata ng Alpha's Dirty Secrets: Kabanata 881 - Kabanata 890

"We were getting a little disappointed then you chose that chokepoint to make your stand. That was clever," she informed me."Actually it was the sight of the chains that set me off," I said. "Against seven of you I had no realistic chance. If I let myself get chained up, I knew I was completely out of options."Several of the women nodded. Were any of them pissed? Apparently not. Even the one I'd cold-conked rubbed her temple and smiled at me. I worked in an insane asylum."Is there any way I could make a video message?" I inquired."No," was the reply."Please. Aya of the Epona is at Summer Camp and I want her to know that I'm okay, but won't be able to see her for a while," I pled my case."You will never be able to see her again, so why bother?" another asked."I love her. Better to give her the illusion I may one day return than the harsh reality that she is doomed to end up like the rest of you," I explained."Save some of that defiance for your relocation," the leader snickered

I'd re-examine how Leona had missed that crucial first shot because Aya had missed hers. Aya herself and the same spiritual twist that caused Oneida to hurl her life into my unsteady hands. I'd like to put that to accident and genetic abnormalities. Then there was Pamela. I'd like to think she was delusional, suffering from an acid flashback, or whatever.Shawnee slid a wooden box - a meter by 70 cm - to me. Whatever parliamentary etiquette Amazons followed was unknown to me. I opened the box. Inside was what looked like a lamb, or sheep, skin pressed in some kind of glass. The artifact looked horribly old and was faded to the stage where it was barely legible.I let the buzz die down around me as I squinted at the picture. There were five figures - from the left was a tall one with a shield and spear, three small figures, and another tall man...with two axes. That was...no I couldn't accept that, not right now. Along both sides and the top were prayers of some kind, though they were

"Buffy, you are the most amazon-Amazon I know," I told her. "You like Helena and she said nice stuff about Daphne which showed her character, so I chose her next.""Hey, this means I can finally slap Fabiola around," Buffy's eyes grew bright."Which reminds me - can I get any volunteers for Old Kingdom Hittite lessons for these two," I begged my 'new hire' companions."I'll take two nights a week," Daphne offered."I'll take one night," Paula added."I'll take a fourth," Violet completed the set."Damn it," Desiree cursed. "This means Buffy must be taught the Prayer of the Ancestors.""You are right," Buffy gasped. "I accompany Cáel to Council meetings now.""One note - I don't vote," I informed them. "I made that decision. House Ishara has never had a male vote for it and I'm keeping that tradition. I can speak, but not vote. When my daughter comes of age, she will have full rights."Desiree, Buffy and Helena were confused. Daphne, Violet and Paula, on the other hand, were enraptured

"Do you think that connection is possible?" St. Marie posed. She meant 'did I believe I had a tie to man who lived 2694 years ago' to the point we both fought with twin axes."I don't want to," I sighed. "I want to live in a sane, scientific world that explains all this.""Go," St. Marie commanded. Then, "Will Constanza regain the sight in her left eye?""No," Pamela shook her head. "She ignored the lesson and the warning. Next time, this will not be an issue." It took my exiting the building to understand what Pamela was saying was 'you won't find the body'. I also realized that Oneida was absent today – groan."Cáel, why don't you come home with me tonight?" Daphne offered. She was proffering her house's protection as well."I'm okay," I grinned. "I'm going to keep to my old schedule as much as possible.""Aren't you worried?" Paula asked."Worried about what? I don't think any of the other Houses are going to kill me until I really screw up," I snorted."He has no idea?" Pamela sco

He snorted, countering with 'If you were an Arab, they'd shoot you.' Not to be outdone, 'I'd claim to be a Syrian anti-government protester – you know, because we all look alike to these Caucasians'. We laughed for a bit then he said he had a younger sister back in the homeland. I insisted I was immoral – a wicked man.'Was I religious?' 'Only when it suited my purposes.' 'Would I consider converting to Sunni Islam?' 'Only if the girl was cute enough.' He showed me her picture – dammit, she had a really beautiful face. I got her name, his name and the name of his mosque. I considered it. Yahweh, Christ, Bacchus (wine, an orgy and 'bull' testicles – long story) and Jehovah all had reasons to barbeque my butt already.Why not add Allah to the mix, besides it being an incredibly stupid thing to do for a man in constant mortal peril like me? In theory, three of the four definitely had the possibility to be the same Omniscient and Omnipotent Galactic Being so the odds were I wouldn't get t