Deathstalker 05 - Deathstalker Destiny

almost too much to bear. They retreated to the fringes of the crowd, well away
    from the cameras and interviewers, to weep bitter tears and plan future revenges. Chantelle allowed herself just a few appearances with some of the more important interviewers, where she was immediately humble, self-effacing, and just delighted to be able to do her small bit to make this very special day a success. She was beautiful and charming, and the huge watching audience ate it all up with spoons. Unheard in the background was a mass grinding of teeth as all the other celebrities hated her silently. Chantelle smiled victoriously upon them all.
    Back on the floor of the House, Toby Shreck and his cameraman Flynn moved purposefully among the chaos, getting it all on film. Toby should have been up in the director's gallery on the next floor, watching over the dozen cameramen under his command, and following their incoming footage on the banks of monitors provided, but he hadn't been able to resist coming down onto the floor himself, just to feel the atmosphere in person. Flynn understood. Imperial News had put Toby in charge of their entire exclusive coverage of the great day, and nothing made Toby more jittery than responsibility. So Toby's long suffering second-in-command was currently manning the director's gallery, while Toby and Flynn bustled back and forth on the floor, hunting down news like the remorseless predators they were.
    "That gallery was driving me crazy," said Toby, as he scanned the people around him for someone worth interviewing or terrorizing. "Half the cameramen I've been supplied with don't seem to know the servants from the celebrities without checking their guest list first, the other half are social crawlers afraid to film anything interesting in case it upsets someone, and one damned pervert keeps zooming in on the bridesmaids' legs and cleavage. I wouldn't mind, but so
    far he's getting the highest individual ratings. When the ceremony proper starts, I want at least one cameraman right there with the happy couple when they take their vows, and that had better be you, Flynn, if you know what's good for you. I am relying on you to get me award-winning footage of today's great event, even if you have to nudge the best man out of the way to get it."
    "Don't worry, Boss. I'll stick so close to the bride she'll think I'm an extra bustle."
    "Hold everything," said Toby suddenly, in his best wolf-stalking-a-wounded-deer voice. "I have just spotted someone we absolutely have to interview. Donna Silvestri her own slippery self. Usually she has enough sense to avoid me."
    Flynn looked across at the calm, matronly figure. "What's so special about her?
    Clan Silvestri has been strictly minor league for ages now."
    "Shows how much you know. Dear sweet, humble, butter-wouldn't-melt-in-her-ass Donna is rumored by those in the know to be Blue Block. Hard-core. And just lately, wherever there's been trouble, there's our Donna, ever ready to pour oil on burning waters. I've never known anyone with such a gift for saying just the right thing guaranteed to have people throwing themselves at each other's throats. And she's been remarkably camera shy of late. Oh, we have got to talk to her. Stick close, Flynn, and make sure you record everything."
    "Boss, we're supposed to be covering the buildup to the ceremony," Flynn protested in vain as he followed Toby through the milling crowd. "Not harassing the guests to make them incriminate themselves on camera."
    "Don't be silly, Flynn. That's what I do best. Ah, Lady Silvestri; perhaps you could spare us a few moments of your no doubt valuable time to speak to our audience?"
    Donna looked quickly about her, but there was no escape route, so she put on her
    best motherly visage, and smiled warmly for Flynn's camera. "And what can I do for such a celebrated muck raker as yourself, Shreck?"
    "See, Boss; she's heard of you."
    "Shut up, Flynn. My dear Lady Donna, I just thought you might favor our massive audience with a few words on how you see this auspicious occasion."
    "It's a very happy day, of course. I'm honored to be here."
    "I'm sure you are. Perhaps you might care to share with us which particular quality it was that earned you your invitation, and indeed access to the backstage preparations? I mean, since Clan Silvestri is these days quite a minor Family, how is that you are back here when so many other more… deserving cases were denied access? Are you perhaps a close friend of