“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Zoi shouted as she burst into the room, absolutely furious. She was surprised to find though that Phovos had hardly moved. The Raptor glanced up from her book and stared at Zoi.
“Go back outside, close the door behind you, knock and politely wait until I say you can come in.”
Zoi looked at Phovos, hesitated, then did as she was told. She knocked three times, but Phovos was clearly making her wait and cool off. After a fourth knock, Phovos allowed her to re-enter.
“Good afternoon, Zoi. How are you?” Phovos asked, pretending the last few minutes hadn’t happened.
Zoi walked in, slowly this time, and sat down next to Phovos. She noticed that the Raptor was reading something written by a Rethan. An autobiography of a former Vice General. That was an odd thing to be reading.
“I am… frustrated, master…”
“Frustrated about what?”
“About Photios. I… I believe that you suggested that he leave. I think that you are intentionally tearing us apart because you want power now. And that you fancy us and want to sleep with some of us.”
Phovos blinked, then abruptly laughed. It was a loud, deep laugh. She genuinely found Zoi’s statement to be hilarious.
“You what? You think I fancy you miserable lot? And you think I want a part of the ruling pie? What evidence do you have?”
“You went to visit Photios. Almost as soon as news got out, you were there at his temple!” Zoi tried to remain calm but Phovos’s laughter was off-putting. “Surely you were there to congratulate him and work out your next move? And then you… you know?”
Phovos wiped tears from her eyes. The idea of an insane conspiracy involving her fancying some of her nieces and nephews was hilarious. “Heh.. That’s funny… You think I went and… Really, that’s kinda disgusting. And completely against the fact I’ve spent the last five hundred years moving away from you incestuous lot. No, I went to see Photios because five of you called me up and asked me to speak to Photios and get him to rejoin the Sixteen. But I listened to him and I can see why he left.”
“What do you mean?” Zoi asked.
“You’re all fucking retarded.”
“WE ARE NOT RETARDED!” Zoi bellowed as she leaped from her chair, knocking it over. “You constantly call us dumb and stupid!”
“But you are,” Phovos sighed, rolling her eyes. “The Thraki came to warn you about storms and to tell you their grievances and you told them to fuck off.”
“I… I didn’t…”
“Yeah you did.”
Zoi sighed, then picked her chair up and sat back down.
“The Thraki are-”
“They are vital to Thanatian society!” Phovos interrupted. “The same way every Thanatian is. But you never seemed to understand that. You never learned that lesson.”
“Then help me learn!” Zoi protested. “Help the Sixteen!”
Phovos growled, leaning back in her seat. “No.”
“No?”
“Nope. I wasted so many years trying to teach you all. I’m tired. So I built my own little place, which you all excluded me from. I spent all that time over-protecting you. Then I realised that you all need to fuck yourselves up so you can learn properly.”
Zoi sighed. “Are… are you abandoning us?”
Phovos shook her head. “I’m letting you fail on your own for a change. Can’t always prop you up. Now off you go. Go find a way to fix what you have done.”
Zoi said nothing as she got up and left. There was no point trying to argue. She walked out of the room, trying to concentrate. Maybe the Raptor was right. Maybe the Raptor was wrong. She didn’t know.
Maybe she’d have to remove the Raptor somehow…