Chapter 18 of 78 · Book 5, The Butcher's Masquerade

Chapter 18 — Ten minutes, Odette

Book: The Butcher's Masquerade · Part: The Vengeance of the Daughter · Previous: Chapter 17 — The security checkpoint · Next: Chapter 19 — Miss Beatrice · Floor: Floor 6 — The Hunting Grounds · Series: the series

Opening

“It’s true. She survived the initial collection.

Summary

Odette's account: Bea survived the collection, bounty hunters were hunting her to sell her illegally to Borant as a country boss — 'a very specific one if they found her in time' — and Odette had her taken off the planet. Why: 'to protect my investment in you. Both of you'; there were only four fates for Bea, and in three of them she would have been used against them, 'For one of you, at least.' 'Then why didn't you just kill her?' 'The thought entered my mind.' The real explanation, Odette says, is the thing she did to Mordecai, which Carl must get from him. Zev, exasperated, adds the rest: Odette is using Bea to blackmail Borant — everyone will pretend Borant did something noble and Odette gets a higher revenue share, a contract signed minutes ago — and the Platinum Fan Box Carl has not opened will whisk him alone to a fan event where another program planned to ambush him with the story. Bea is off planet, on her way to the inner system, and standing by; Odette wants permission to bring her on. 'Go fuck yourself, Odette […] This is what you wanted all along.' Donut decides: 'It's my decision, and I'm saying we'll do it […] it's time for you to trust me.' She thanks Odette for saving Bea from becoming a boss, sets the running order, and finds the treats in the pink bag under the counter. Carl promises Odette that if this is a trick he will kill her himself; 'I would expect nothing less of you, Carl.' Zev is trembling — 'This is too big to be happening now' — and when Carl presses her she whispers 'Donut is going to need you. Focus on that' and tells him to close his yap.

Characters

• Carl — Demands motives; threatens Odette; is told to shut up by Zev.
• Princess Donut — 'It's my decision'; the treats in the pink bag.
• Odette — Saved Bea to protect an investment and to blackmail Borant; points at what she did to Mordecai.
• Zev — Tells the parts Odette left out; trembling about something else.
• Lexis — 'Ten minutes, Odette.'
• Bea — Off planet, in the inner system, standing by.
• Mordecai — What Odette did to him is the key to her motives.

Locations

• Production trailers — The green room; a contract signed minutes before.

Motifs

• The Walk-On List — Bounty hunters selling survivors to Borant as bosses.
• The show — A story poached from Odette; a fan event as an ambush; a revenue share.
• Borant — Blackmailed with Bea into looking noble.
• Staying human — 'It's time for you to trust me.'