Chapter 71 of 78 · Book 5, The Butcher's Masquerade

Chapter 71 — Jill

Book: The Butcher's Masquerade · Part: The Butchering · Previous: Chapter 70 — Anaconda · Next: Chapter 72 — Cat-nac the Magnificent · Floor: Floor 6 — The Hunting Grounds · Series: the series

Opening

We all turned to see the crocodilian standing over the sobbing form of Lucia.

Summary

Florin comforts the sobbing Lucia, who speaks in a different accent — 'I want my mom' — until the switch flips and the swagger returns: 'She's still dead. No matter what happens. Blood for blood. She killed Cici.' She limps back to the buffet yelling for tequila, with Eva at the bar between the buffets. Florin reports by chat that there are multiple real people in there, mostly kids; the one he spoke to is Jill, ten and Dutch — 'That is no street kid from Ecuador running an op' — and the dog controls her in short bursts, so get the dog, not her. Carl protests that no children crawlers were allowed; Zev: 'It's complicated, Carl […] Heads up.' Ferdinand lands on Carl's shoulder, and Carl sends Samantha while he is distracted.

Characters

• Lucia Mar — Two people at least; Jill inside; Cici's blood price still owed.
• Florin — Recognises a child and protects her.
• Carl — Demands an answer on children; sends Samantha.
• Zev — 'It's complicated.'
• Ferdinand — On Carl's shoulder, mocking.
• Princess Donut — Still marked for death by the Lajabless.
• Samantha — Go, go, go.

Locations

• The high elf castle — Ballroom A, the bar between the buffets.

Motifs

• Lucia's voices — The dog is the controller; the girl a vessel of children.
• The System AI — Carl: 'You guys said there were no children crawlers allowed.' Zev: 'It's complicated.'