Page 7 of Half Dead

“There must be somewhere for you to keep your undesirables, or do you simply lock them in a storage unit and forget about them?”

“Ah, yes. I almost forgot about your involvement in the release of seven of our special guests. You have been a busy goddess, haven’t you?”

The waiter returned with a tray. He set a dainty porcelain cup of hot water in front of me, along with a selection of teabags in brightly colored foil wrappers. He served Posy next, setting a small white cup in front of her teeming with foam.

“Thank you,” I said. I tore open the wrapper for the hibiscus tea bag and dunked it in the water.

Posy sipped her cappuccino. “Perfect, as always.”

“Doesn’t it get boring?”

She seemed genuinely surprised by my comment. “Why would perfection be boring?”

“Flaws are what make people and things interesting, gives them character.”

Posy wrinkled her nose. “To each her own, I suppose.”

I held out my hand and wriggled my fingers. “While we’re still on the subject of flaws, I’d like to see my file.”

“Not so fast.” Posy angled her head toward the silver platter. “Another donut?”

As tempting as the offer was, my stomach was now too twisted with knots to fit a second donut. “One is enough, thank you.”

She ran her thumb along the pages of the file. “What is it you’d like to know?”

“Nothing in particular. It’s my file. I’d like to know what’s in it. I was an orphan, remember? Maybe there’s information about me that I don’t know.”

“Is ityourinformation that you’re truly interested in or information about your parents?”

“Can’t it be both?”

Her eyes turned downcast. “I never knew my parents.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize this meeting was about you. Should we add your file to the collection? I’d love to see it.”

A scowl twisted her features. “And here I was under the impression you’re compassionate.”

“Oh, please. We both know that bit about your parents isn’t true.”

“No, but I haven’t spoken to them in decades. Does that count for anything?”

“Doesn’t make you an orphan,” I said. “Why try to emotionally manipulate me? You’ve got me right where you want me.”

A shadow passed over her features so quickly, I thought I might have imagined it. “Before we get sidetracked, I’d like to mention there’s a mix and mingle cocktail hour later. We’d be honored if you’d attend.”

“What’s the occasion?”

“A promotion.”

“Whose?”

She beamed. “Mine. A promotion was promised to whichever one of us could get you here.” She lifted her cup. “I won, which is no easy feat considering I’m not a deity. Thecorporate ceiling is much lower for those of us without natural immortality.”

“So there was a bounty on my head.”

She tilted her head and smiled demurely. “Not a bounty, a boon. It seems appropriate to invite you to partake in the celebration. It would also give you a chance to meet others like us.”

“You think sticking me in a room with a bunch of egotistical, all-powerful beings might persuade me to join your ranks?” I scoffed. “File or not, you don’t know me at all.”

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