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Miss Tarabotti wracked her brain and finally caious text in her father’s library "An automaton?"

"Exactly! They have existed before"

Miss Tarabotti’s generous end, like unicorns: freaks of a purely mythical nature The scientific side of her intellect was intrigued "But, what is it made of? How does it work? It seems so very much alive!"

Lord Akelda, animated, and active, yes But, my dear bluebell, alive it most certainly is not"

"Yes, but how?"

"Who knohat dastardly science went into its creation--a ine of soineer to know the truth of it"

"But why should anyone wish to build such a creature?"

"You are asking me to explain the actions of a scientist? I hardly kno to put it, petunia petal Your friend there would appear to be the perfect servant: unflagging and loyal to the last Of course, one would suppose all orders must be very precise" He would have continued, but Miss Tarabotti interrupted hi theht for the heart of the matter Really, she quite adored Lord Akeldama, but he did tend to blather on

Lord Akeldaly "Now, do not be too hasty, ood tirumbled Miss Tarabotti "You are a vampire; all you have is time"

"Apparently not I need hardly re back for me Shortly Or so they implied"

"You were awake the entire time" Miss Tarabotti was soe on the way here I feigned sleep, as there see the affordedinfor of any consequence Those"-- he paused as though searching for the right way to describe the enerates are mere minions They know only what they have been told to do, not why they were told to do it Just as bad as the auto this business, whatever it is, aold--"

Miss Tarabotti interrupted hiain "Please, Lord Akeldama, I do not ht, my dear If I am to be taken off presently, you should have as much information as I can relay In my limited experience, auto that is not alive? The hoh"

Miss Tarabotti, who had developed rather unladylike ho, asked eagerly, "How?"

"Well," said Lord Akeldama, "activation and control is usually in the form of a word or phrase If one can find a way to undo that phrase, one can, in effect, turn the homunculus simulacruested Alexia

"Very like You have seen it?"

"Written across its forehead, in sonetized iron dust, I would hazard a guess, aligned to the doh an aetheric connection You must find a way to undo it"

"Undo what?" she asked "The VIXI"

"Ah" Miss Tarabotti pretended to understand "That simple, is it?"

In the darkness of their lonely cell, Lord Akelda me for a lark, my sweet I am sorry I do not know any more I have never had to deal with a homunculus simulacrum personally Alchemic sciences have never been my forte"

Alexia wondered as his forte but asked, "What else do you think they are doing at this club? Aside froed as much as his handcuffs would allow "Whatever they do must, perforce, involve experi ofto suspect that rove you killed--as it, a week or so ago?--was not actually made supernatural at all but was manufactured as a counterfeit of so loner olves too Professor Lyall found out about it," Alexia told him

"Really? I did not know that" Lord Akeldama sounded more disappointed in his own abilities than surprised at the news "Stands to reason, I suppose;I assure you, even these scientists cannot figure out a way to cut open or replicate a ghost The real question is, what are they doing with all of us in the end?"

Miss Tarabotti shuddered, re that Countess Nadasdy had said the new vampires rarely lived beyond a few days "It cannot be pleasant, whatever it is"

"No," Lord Akelda moment, and then he said soberly, "My dear child, , in all seriousness?"

Alexia raised her eyebrows "I do not know Can you? I did not think you actually possessed the capacity for seriousness, reat care to cultivate" The vaive it my best attempt this once It seems unlikely that I will survive this little misadventure of ours But if I do, I should like to ask a favor of you"

Miss Tarabotti did not knohat to say at that She was struck by how bleak her life suddenly looked without Lord Akeldama to color it She was also a demise She supposed that after so

He continued "It has been a very, very long tiht wake , with contact, so that I could see it set?"

Miss Tarabotti was touched by such a request It would be a very dangerous endeavor for hio If they broke contact for even a moment, he would immolate instantly

"Are you certain?"

He breathed out acknowledgh it were a benediction "Absolutely positive" Just then, the door to the cell banged open One of the flunkies came in and unceremoniously lifted Lord Akeldama over one bulky shoulder