Free It's Hell To Choose (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 9) by Michael Anderle Page B

It was during one of these episodes that Bethany Anne came in and teamed up to help us out of a well-executed ambush.”
     
    He looked over the audience, “It will be my responsibility to implement the tactics and strategies to accomplish the priorities Bethany Anne puts in front of me. Understand this,” his mouth turned grim, “I will be implementing efforts that will put you in harm’s way. Some of you will die attempting to attain these goals. Every one of these aims will contribute to eventually keep all of us free. Some of them will be focused on making sure ‘we’ are free. Free to proceed with our own plans to be prepared for the future. I will be around to talk with your teams over the next couple of days. Use this time wisely so you know what your leadership is like.”
     
    He stepped back into the group.
     
    “My name…” came a voice like death floating on a volcanoes hot sulphurous exhaust. Jennifer jerked her head towards the Vampires because where they had been almost statues this whole time, now every one of them looked around with their heads. She saw at least a couple of Wechselbalg in every line physically turn around to try and find the source of the voice. The voice reverberated in her ears, in her mind.
     
    It felt of power, of age, of command.
     
    “…Is Michael.”
     
    “Ohhh, SHIT!” Jennifer checked her mouth, thank god it wasn’t her talking! She caught the guy next to her putting a hand over his own mouth.
     
    She wanted to laugh in her fright.
     
    The Vampires seemed to struggle to keep themselves standing as they were. She was told Michael was part of this group; she had even ’seen’ pictures and video of a guy they were saying was Michael with Bethany Anne around the world. But most people just figured it was a model. The ‘boogeyman’ of the UnknownWorld seemed too young, too fun and frankly too happy to be the Michael from the stories.
     
    Everyone was wrong. Jennifer could ‘feel’ him around her, speaking to everyone and no one all at the same time.
     
    Then, suddenly he was at the front of the stage with his hands tucked behind his back, looking out over the audience. He turned to face the Vampires and bowed ever so slightly in response to their bows. “Please, attend.” He spoke, and every pair of eyes obeyed.
     
    “I have heard the gossip regarding my activities with Bethany Anne and how they are occasionally captured by camera and other means. Because of this, the thought was that I could not possibly be who I was rumored to be. I would tell you to ask those who have dishonored me in the past if I am who I say I am…”
     
    He smiled grimly as he continued, “But they are all dead.”  

    For a quick moment, a wave of fear went out from him and it was all Jennifer could do to lock her knees and stand still.
     
    Suddenly, the fear and desire to run away evaporated, and Michael smiled broadly. “My apologies, I’ve been told by Bethany Anne that I should stop being a ‘Royal Asshat’.” He looked around, “After a thousand years, old habits are hard to break.” The smile stayed on his face, but everyone noticed the quick visage change with the glaring red eyes.
     
    It was a warning, and everyone watching ‘received’ his warning.
     
    “You know…” came a contralto voice from behind those on the floor. She noticed Michael look up behind them, so everyone turned to see a woman with dark hair up on the catwalk. She was wearing black leather pants, strapped on pistols and had a Katana as well. “I could let Michael continue his usual method of …” Then she disappeared, and Jennifer heard the rest of the sentence from the front again.
     
    She turned to see Bethany Anne on the stage looking out over the audience, “…intimidation. However, suffice it to say that you do not want to piss him off. He is trying hard to learn the new reality, but he does occasionally slip.” She looked over at him with a small grimace on her face, “Like