Deathstalker 07 - Deathstalker Return

jumped. They'd been so taken up with what they were seeing that they hadn't even seen Finn approaching. The four Paragons fell silent as Finn entered the bar. He smiled on them all, and they looked flatly back at him. There was a sense of Finn's being surrounded by a wolf pack that would turn on him the moment he showed any sign of weakness. Finn knew this, and wasn't in any way disturbed. If anything, he seemed amused.
    "Well, my fine friends," he said calmly. "How are we today? Been having a good time?"
    "Why couldn't we meet in the Sangreal, as usual?" said Grant.
    "Because you've all been very naughty," said Finn. "Reduced poor little Stuart to tears. Can't I leave you people alone for a minute?"
    "You promised us action," snapped Miracle Grant. "You promised us revenge. You promised us blood and slaughter and the evening of scores. We're tired of sitting around, only let out to play bodyguard and run errands for you, like so many puppy dogs."
    "Are you saying you haven't been enjoying yourselves?" said Finn. "Because of me, the ELFs finally got to possess their greatest enemies, the Paragons, and destroy their reputations while indulging yourselves in every vice and whim that comes to you. The Paragons are your slaves, aware of the evil you do with their bodies, but unable to stop you. They suffer the Hell you've made for them, and all because of me.
    There's just no gratitude anymore."
    "We're still waiting for the bill," growled one of the other Paragons. "The ELFs know better than to trust Finn Durandal."
    "You're not still mad at me for betraying you at the Parade of the Paragons, are you? It was all part of the plan. To get you where you are now."
    "We could have done this without you," growled Grant.
    "Could you? Could you really? I don't think so. I gave you the location for each individual Paragon on his quest, so you could get there first and ambush and possess them. No one else could have done that.
    Only I had the information, because I helped plan the quest. You really must be patient. Stick with me, and you'll get everything you ever wanted. Soon enough my position will be unchallengeable, and then I will unleash you on our mutual enemies, and we'll all get to have a little fun, I promise."
    He turned his back on them and headed unhurriedly for the door. He'd almost got there when a voice behind him said, "That esp-blocker won't protect you forever, Durandal."
    Finn left the bar without replying. Out in the street, Emma and Nina watched Finn walk away. Nina shut down her camera, and called it back, and then she and Emma looked at each other.
    "I should have known," said Emma. "I should have known …"
    "ELFs!" Nina said breathlessly. "ELFs possessing Paragons! Story of the century! We've got to get this on the air, Emma."
    "If we'd gone in there ourselves, we'd be dead now," said Emma. "Up close, those telepaths would have identified us immediately."
    Nina looked quickly at the bar, as her camera returned to nestle under her cloak again. She patted it absently, like a good dog. "Can they sense us from in there?"
    "No. Possessing a thrall limits their range considerably."
    "Emma, we have to tell someone!"
    "Hush, girl, and let me think!" Emma scowled fiercely. "We can't just go public with what your camera recorded. Even if we could find someone brave enough to run it, Finn would just say it was faked, a smear job by his enemies. Most people haven't heard what the Paragons are doing. Finn's seen to that.
    And then he'd have ELFs possess us, and we'd stand up and say yes, it was all faked. We'd be very convincing. And then we'd kill ourselves, for shame. And the ELFs would laugh themselves sick. I'd better get esp-blockers for both of us, just in case. We can't afford to have anyone peeking into our thoughts."
    "Isn't private ownership of esp-blockers illegal these days?" said Nina.
    "I have contacts."
    "The great Emma Steel, breaking the law. Now that really would be an exclusive. Pity I'll probably never be able to run it."
    They shared a small smile.
    "There must be someone we can show this to," said Nina. "The people have to know what's going on."
    "The ELFs' involvement changes everything," said Emma. "I don't know who I can trust anymore…
    anyone could be possessed. Anyone. We're going to need allies. Powerful allies. Normally I'd go to the oversoul for help, but Finn's driven them away…" She stopped, and looked at Nina. "Is that why he did
    that? Is he really thinking that far