Page 45 of Becoming One
“So if you are not part of Heskel’s coven, how are you getting in and out of his Coven house?” Orion asked.
“It’s kind of my specialty,” Strife muttered, then went back to eating.
“Your specialty?” Ezra asked.
Sabien sighed, saying, “Just tell them, Strife. They’re going to find out sooner or later.”
Strife finished his food, wiped his mouth, then replied, “Thank you. I really needed that.” Looking at Ezra, Strife said, “I met Sabien about a hundred years ago. We became friends. I had no family and no home. Sabien took me in. I didn’t have a pot to piss in for a really long time. Then I got my first computer and my world changed. Now, I’m a hacker for hire, I guess you would say. My code name is Strife.”
“And you work for Heskel?” Ezra asked.
Strife’s features contorted in anger. “Never! I have hated Heskel since he was a Dire and I saw the fucker beating the shit out of Sabien for no reason other than he was walking a child who had got lost, home.”
“Okay so I’m lost. If you don’t work for Heskel, how the hell did you get into his computer?” Orion asked.
“About two years ago, I got a call. Heskel was looking for Strife. He wanted to hire me. I wasn’t going to do it, but Sabien and Radeem thought it might be a good way to find some information we had been looking a long time for. I was scared, but I went and was glad all he wanted from me was to get into the Cyprian coven files. Now in my defense I didn’t know who you were until I was already in. Understand, an Oryx has a fantastic sense of smell. I smelled the lies Heskel was trying to shovel at me like shit in a cow stall. When I got in and saw who you were, I knew that I couldn’t give him the information I found. Luckily enough, he just wanted dates of some meeting the Re at the time was having. I got him the information he wanted, then spent a few minutes to do some digging for what Sabien, Radeem, and I wanted, then I got the fuck out of there.”
“You mean info about the meeting my father had with his inner circle?” Ezra asked.
Shrugging, Strife replied, “I guess so. A lot of top people were going to the thing. I only know that because Heskel got real excited. Then he paid up and kicked me out fast.”
“Okay, so when did you get back inside the coven house and get your hands on Heskel’s computer again?” Orion asked.
“Heskel called me again about three months later. I wasn’t going to do it, but Radeem thought it would be a great way to get a look into Heskel’s computer again. I hadn’t been able to get anything I was looking for the last time, so we wanted another try. If not, maybe I could find some proof of what was going on at Heskel’s coven and get it to the Re. I was scared shitless. The man is not one to fuck over, you know what I mean? Lucky enough, all Heskel asked me for were the files to the past Re and your disciplinary records. I pulled them and also one of your daily reports for just a short time. Then I created a firewall for your side of the computer, so no other hacker could get in. I gave him what he asked for, got my money, and I left.”
“This is when you did some snooping into his computer as well?” Ezra asked.
Strife’s fear ranked up, but he answered, “Yes. Like I said, we had our own agenda that didn’t have anything to do with you or Heskel. However, I found some files I hadn’t planned on. Heskel is working with someone he calls the boss man. I don’t know who he is, but he refers to the guy a lot. When I found the other file, I was working on the encryption when Heskel’s man started getting antsy and I had to shut it down. I planned on getting the information and giving it to you. If I had about five more minutes I would have had it, too.”
Ezra looked at Strife. “Would you be willing to go to Heskel’s coven with Sabien and some others and have another crack at it?”
Strife sighed, looking at Sabien then back to Ezra. “I guess.”
“I’m not going to force you, Strife. As a matter of fact, I was curious if you might be interested in a job. I’m talking about a real one. One that you will be expected to follow laws and rules, but it will pay very well. You will become a member of my coven if you accept my offer. You will be given a home to call your own as well. If you do not choose to accept my offer, you can live in Kaliss, but again, you will be expected to follow the laws. Otherwise, you can return to your home on Heskel’s lands and I will give you the rights of passage. This will allow you to live on coven land without fear of eviction,” Ezra stated.
Strife gasped, “You would do that for me? But what about Sabien? I can’t leave Sabien. And what is this job? I mean I really have no skills other than on a computer, but I would do whatever you need, but again only if it includes Sabien.”
“Strife! Stop talking and let the Re answer you. As for me, I’ve already accepted the Re’s offer to be the new Police Chief when we return from Heskel’s coven,” Sabien said with a smile.
“Oh, Police Chief! That’s fantastic, Sabe. I’m so happy for you. You’ll make a great cop and damn who doesn’t love a man in uniform. Not that I look at you that way, cause eww, that would be like looking at my brother…”
“Strife! Stop talking,” Sabien insisted.
Nelson laughed along with Jewel, both men saying, “I like him.”
Ezra laughed with them both, agreeing, “Me too.” Ezra continued, “The job is with computers, Strife. As you said, my system isn’t the best and as Re I have a lot of responsibilities that many times need to be kept confidential. I want an entire database created for not just my covens but for my responsibilities with the Paranormal Council.”
“I’ll take it,” Strife said.
Smiling, Ezra replied, “Good.”
Ezra then stood and looked around the room. “Let’s get to the Ranking Ceremony. I’ll let my Scions know of their plans for the next week or so and you guys get ready for your trip. I want daily reports, Orion.”
“Yes, Re,” Orion stated.
“Okay, let’s do this,” Ezra said, as he left the room.
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