Between Rubies and Opals

By Sonja L Myburgh

For five centuries,Vampire-governor Marcus Wasilewski rules Algharakh with a marble fist, as he classifies the vamps as the superior race, which severely oppresses the wolf race. Racism is eminent and the wolves demand justice, as Senator Frank Morton, leader of the political party W.O.L.F, brings Algharakh on the precipice of a political shift. In the midst of all the chaos, a forbidden love blooms between Sam, a werewolf, and Erin, a vampire. The two lovers, even threatened by attacks from their opposing races, do the unthinkable, and the illegal, not knowing the significant impact their decisions will have on the people around them, and on themselves. Will their unique love withstand the cruel prejudice and put an end to the race feud that pumps through the residents of Algharakh's veins, or will they be ripped apart by the very thing that brought them together? "Even in the midst of tragedy, a silver lining managed to crawl out behind the darkness…"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sonja L Myburgh
• Release date: Nov 29, 2017
• ISBN: 9781548891671

Sonja L Myburgh

Sonja L Myburgh lives in Port Elizabeth, South Africa with her husband Mark, and her busy toddler, Aimee. She is the author of romance novels On The Line, A Bullet For You, If You Only Knew, Between Rubies and Opals, and historical fantasy trilogy, Return To Salem.  Her latest release, Waiting On Normal is based on true events and revolves around the diary entries of Callie, a girl with bipolar disorder, documenting her struggles, as well as her accomplishments, with this highly misunderstood disorder. Sonja started writing ever since she could remember, and even from a very young age, she enjoyed writing essays, short stories and enjoyed reading. "I was that kid in class who had their hand up first when it came to oral, and every day I'd pray for an essay assignment. Yeah, I was that kid."  "Writing, to me, is like therapy, which is what all us writers needs! I love writing because it allows me to express myself in words and then ultimately letting others read them." -If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one-eighth of it being underwater. - Ernest Hemingway

Book preview

Chapter One

Erin lay on her back , staring at her ceiling in the darkness. The full moon was bright and shone through her window like a street light against the dark blue velvet sky. A small smile ran across her lips as she relished in the thought that tonight was the last night that she was sleeping in her parents’ house. It was about time too.

Her 300th birthday was coming up in a month and her parents had, after much deliberation and a lot of persuasion from Erin, agreed to allow their only daughter to move into her own apartment on the other side of town with her childhood friend, Alex.

It was a beautiful part of town, called Coldora Heights, and overlooked the whole Coldora, Methys and Delkata area. It was a roomy apartment, with white walls, high ceilings and crystal chandeliers. It was perfect for Erin, not like the 900 year old Manor that her parents called home. She needed to be on her own, and her parents never understood that. They were protective beyond all comparison, and that frustrated Erin to death.

She could hear her parents talking to one another on the other side of the manor, in low and hushed voices.  She rolled over onto her side, gazing out the window. There was loud barking in the distance and it made her sit up in her king-size four-poster bed. Running her fingers through her dark red hair, she slid off the bed and walked over to the window. The moon was full and there were a lot of dark shadows scurrying around. In the light of the beautiful full moon, she could see the masses of wolves frolicking around the streets of Algarakh. Erin sat down on the broad windowsill and brought her knees up to her chin, still staring out the window at the wolves. They weren’t scary, as she was taught to believe. They were beautiful, majestic creatures, with shiny fur and graceful stances. Something that she would never be.

Unlike other vamps, Erin couldn’t even be graceful if she tried. She was as accident prone as a human, and that frustrated her mother.

Erina, you are as ungainly as a mammoth! Your grandmother would be ashamed of me, her mother would say, wrinkling her nose. Raising a daughter as ungraceful as you.

Of course Erin knew that was exactly the type of thing her maternal grandmother would say. She was a 920 year old vamp and very true to her nature; surly, tight-lipped and very graceful. She would often stick her nose high in the air at Erin in her younger days, and a constant look of disapproval would be on her pruned face. Her paternal grandmother, however, was quite the opposite. The old woman loved Erin and her unvamp-like ways. Erin absent-mindedly fingered the emerald necklace around her neck that belonged to her grandmother and realized exactly how much she missed the old bat.

A loud howling made her focus her attention back to the celebration going on outside and a sad smile formed on her small mouth. In a way, Erin envied them, being so free, even if it was for only one night every lunar cycle.

Free.

A feeling that she was not sure she would ever truly feel.

Being born a vamp had its certain advantages, but freedom was not one of them. Being bound by family and by blood – in a very literal sense – never resulted in the euphoria of freedom. Also being born into the Lewandowski vamp family, meant that her whole life was planned out for her, from the day she was conceived, to her true mate who she will marry one day, to the day she will have her own vampire family. That was not something that Erin believed in. The only person that was in charge of her life was herself, but getting that point across to her mother, was a daunting task. Her mother was the most controlling person she knew, aside from her brother of course, and rebelling against her mother and the wishes her mother had for her, was dangerous, and disgraceful towards the family name.

She felt her brother’s presence coming down the hallway and as he entered her room, she frowned slightly.

Those animals are at it again, he muttered.

They’re not animals, Niko.

Carrying on as they do, I’d say so.

Erin looked over at her brother and sighed. His dark amber eyes were glowing ominously and his jaw was clenched. Erin hated the way he looked down on the wolves, but he was as immovable as Telstrofe Mountain.

They’re lucky, being down there without us. Being who they are. Being free.

Nikolai looked over at her, with a look of disgust and disbelief on his face. Do not tell me that you are envious of those mongrels?

Only a little, Erin looked at her brother, standing next to her, his arms crossed and his jaw clenched in disgust.

You are being absurd, Erina. Those mutts need to be euthanized; every last one of them. 

Erin narrowed her eyes and shook her head in disapproval at her brother. I do not understand the condemnation you feel for them.

Much as I do not understand the compassion you feel for them, sister, Nikolai hissed at the wolves outside in repulsion.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, Erin mumbled softly.

He turned towards her with a frown. Then do not force yours onto me, and I won’t force mine onto you.

Yours isn’t an informed opinion-

And yours is?

Niko, I do not wish to bicker with you on the eve of my departure from the manor, Erin’s voice softened and she broke her stare, gazing out the window again.

Erina, you are very dramatic.

Well, that is one of the key traits of our race, Niko.

There were a few moments of silence as the two siblings observed the celebration from the safe confines of the manor. The clouds momentarily darkened the sky as they glided smoothly over the bright full moon and Nikolai turned to Erin, tilting his head.

What? she asked.

I still cannot believe that Mother and Father are permitting you to move out of the manor and into Coldora. What exactly did you tell them?

The truth. That I feel suffocated here, that I need some independence in my life, Erin shrugged nonchalantly.

You cried in front of Father, didn’t you?

Not blatantly, Erin smiled slyly.

You may not be the most graceful vamp in your movements, but you definitely have a well-trained silver tongue, Nikolai frowned. Or should I say silver tear ducts, which might I add, is completely strange, even for you..

Whatever do you mean? Erin giggled and wrapped her arms around herself.  Oh, Niko, I’m as excited as a bite-let before the annual Bloodmoon.

I do not doubt that for a second.

Why have you never considered moving out of this musty old place? She looked over at her brother and he raised a fake offended eyebrow at her.

Musty?

Yes.

I rather like the confines of this fine place of residence. Musty or not.

Erin giggled and looked at her brother. I am going to miss our midnight discourses.

I am merely a whisper away, sister. He placed his hand on her head with a slight smile.

I know the two of us are very different, Niko, and we’ve had our share of petty bickering in the past-

Which usually originates from your radical opinions, Nikolai smirked, interrupting Erin.

Whatever. Erin rolled her eyes and playfully smacked him against the arm. I’m really glad that you’re my brother.

You should get some sleep. You have a big day tomorrow. Nikolai backed away from her and smiled tightly.

A smile that was as fake as they came.

Erin knew that Nikolai was not a very emotional vamp, and any affection from her side would make him retreat into his coffin. Not because he didn’t share his fondness for her, but because he was a self-admitted emotion-phobe, that believed emotions were for the weak and ignorant.

I’ll wait for the festivities to die down, she said with a nod, and turned her back on the window, briefly looking at her room. Even though, I doubt I would be able to fall asleep, the anticipation alone will keep me awake, plus Lex will be here as soon as dawn breaks.

Thank you for the warning. I’ll be sure to make myself scarce before her arrival, Nikolai grimaced.

Wise choice, my dear brother. She’s after your blood.

Apparently that is not the only thing she is after.

Erin giggled and her brother paused by the door. She’s a good person, Niko.

A good person would never do to you, what she did.  I know I wouldn’t want her anywhere near me.

That was a long time ago-

I can see it still pains you, sister.

It does not.

You are a terrible liar, Erina, Nikolai frowned. Unlike Alex.

Maybe that’s what makes us get along so well because we are so different, Erin shrugged. She makes up for the things I lack, and I make up for all those that she lacks.

Which may be a lot more.

Careful with your words, Niko, she is still my best friend, Erin warned, narrowing her glowing green eyes.

You know I don’t apologize.

It won’t kill you, you know.

I know, Nikolai nodded slightly. Dobrej nocy, Erina.

Good night, Niko.

Erin watched her brother disappear into the night and looked out of the window again. A deep, lonely howl came from Almedor Heights and Erin looked out through the window, spotting a single wolf with snow white fur, sitting on the apex of the hill, howling at the moon.

A deep and raw sadness filled her heart as she could feel the loneliness enveloping her and as she went back to bed, she wished for the dawn to approach, before her heart broke from the heart-rending weeping of the lone white wolf.

Sam stared out at the wolves, hounding around in the streets, clambering up trees and barking incoherently at one another. At least they were behaving themselves tonight. No damage to property, and no fires. Not like last time.

The mutts nearly burned down the entire Waterfront, along with a section of the boardwalk with the previous lunar cycle. This time, however, there were helicopters circling every now and then, making sure that it didn’t happen again.

There you are, I’ve been looking everywhere for you, a voice behind him said.

Sam looked over his shoulder at his best friend Gowan, clambering up the hill on his all-fours, his black fur extra fuzzy and his pink tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.

One of the good things of being an Algharakhian wolf was the ability to communicate in exactly the same way as they would if they were not in their wolf form. They still spoke clearly to one another in their ‘human voice’, making verbal conversation easier. They had no telepathic abilities of communication while in their wolf form, and only individuals with the telepathic ability could read others’ mind. Each wolf, from the day that they are born, are bestowed a special ability, ranging from telepathy, to telekinesis, to invisibility, and is not hereditary in any way. Special abilities are based solely on the individual, and their personality traits.

I needed to get away for a bit. It was getting too rowdy down there, Sam answered.

Judging by your expression, you’re not feeling any better then.

What do you think, Gowan?

You shouldn’t allow her to have such an effect on you, Sam.

Easier said than done.

I hear you, Sam, I hear you. Gowan sat down next to his best friend and stared out into the darkness. But she was the one that was playing hard to get.

I’m tired of games, Sam sighed miserably and stared out into the darkness.

I know.

I’m getting too old for this crap, Gow.

Oh please, you’re still a pup, Sammy.

It doesn’t always feel like it.

You age gracefully, like we all do.

Another good thing about their race was that they aged at a much slower rate than usual. They aged 12 times slower than the normal aging rate, as a century to a human was twelve years to a wolf, and a vampire for that matter. So even though Sam and Gowan were more than 300 years old, they still looked like they were in their late 20’s.

There were a few seconds of silence between them as they watched the organized chaos down below.

Fool Moon sucks, Sam eventually muttered.

The name sucks more than anything. It leaves the door wide open so that everyone thinks that we are the fools.

They’re definitely acting like a bunch of fools.

I hate this depression that you’re in, Sam.

Dude, I would do anything to get rid of it, trust me.

Want to go for a splurge?

I doubt that is going to help me feel better, Sam frowned, placing his paw on Gowan’s shoulder. But thanks for the effort.

I’m here, whatever you need, my friend.

Sam looked at his friend and sighed drearily. I’m so over this, Gowan. All of it. What’s the point in this so-called celebration? To show the world how free we are? How liberated we are? That’s bullshit. Everyone knows we’re not free. We’re not liberated, Sam snarled and motioned to the rows of dark estates on the left side of him. Why do you think they’re locked up in their castles? Because they’re scared of us, they know we’d kill them in a heartbeat. Those damn vamps are the fools, they should be down here. Fucking cowards-

Ease up, Sam. You know what happens when you get hostile, Gowan warned. It took us almost a week to find you last time.

Maybe I didn’t want to be found, Sam muttered. My fur is just disrupted, Gow. I got a text from Selena-

Don’t even say that name. Gowan stood up with a growl and grabbed the loose skin between Sam’s shoulders, pulling him up from the grass. Sam let out a yelp and shook his fur, straightening himself out. I hope you didn’t reply to that text, and deleted it.

She’s told me that she was sorry. That she never meant for it to end like this.

Vampshit, Gowan growled and spat onto the grass. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Gowan, you don’t know her like I do.

Oh, so she’s not a two-timing whore that played you like a fiddle? Gowan frowned. Seems like I had it all wrong, Sammy.

Sam glanced at his friend for a few moments and shook his head with a sad whimper.

Enough with this moping about. You and I are going to do something crazy, even if it kills you. Gowan looked at him, his eyes sparkling.

Remember; don’t upset the senator with any erratic behavior, Sam mimicked his father’s deep voice, rolling his eyes.

Fuck that! Nothing you do is going to taint his perfect image.

You’d be surprised.

Okay, tell you what. If there’s trouble, then I’ll explain to the old dog. Gowan held out his paw at Sam.

Sam narrowed his eyes momentarily at Gowan, and then pounded his paw against Gowan’s. Deal.

Sam was the only child of Senator Franklin Morton, leader of the Worldwide Organization for Lycan Freedom political party, appropriately also known as W.O.L.F. The city of Algharakh was at the dawn of a political shift that will change everything and Senator Morton was determined to give wolves the same rights as the rights given to vamps.

As they headed down the hill, they passed a sign on a lamppost, with a campaign poster of W.O.L.F.

Fucking vamps... Sam muttered angrily, and looked up at the smiling face of his father on the poster, thinking about all the discrimination that occurred in Algharakh, and the injustice that there was in the city. A deep growl came from inside him as he crossed the street, following Gowan into The Water Bowl, the local bar on the corner of Elemad and Tolodok Street.

A few hours, and more than a few drinks later, Sam and Gowan stumbled out of the bar, with wolfish grins on their faces.

You know what, Gowan? Sam leaned against the pole of a nearby traffic light.

What, Sammy? Gowan eyed him with narrow slivers of brown.

I’ve realized something.

And what is that?

If you can’t be happy, at least you can be drunk, right?

Drunk with your best friend.

Absolutely. Sam pointed a drunken paw at Gowan. You’re my best friend, Gowan.

And you’re my best friend, Sammy.

The two wolves drunkenly embraced one another and Sam chuckled to himself.

What’s so funny? Gowan slurred.

I’ve realized another thing, Gow. Sam looked at Gowan and his smile faded slightly. If Selena-

Hold up, do you really want to go there?

Hear me out. Sam held up his paws in defense and let out a wolfish laugh.

Okay, okay.

If Selena had the choice between me and him, and she chose him, which she obviously did, then she never really loved me in the first place.

Because if she did love you, then there wouldn’t be a choice in the first place.

Exactly, Sam slurred with an exaggerated nod and pointed a shaky paw at Gowan. You are the best mind-reader ever.

True, but that’s logical, Sammy.

You think?

I know. You deserve someone better than her, buddy. Someone that brings out the hunter in you, not the predator.

Aren’t they the same thing? Sam frowned, the skin between his eyes crinkling deeply.

Predators are ruthless, pitiless and cold-blooded; hunters are compassionate, kind-hearted and humane.

I don’t feel very humane.

You won’t, you’re totally legless.

Sam frowned and stared down at his hind legs. The white fur on his feet was covered in mud, resembling his brown boots and he chuckled to himself, clearly amused. After a few seconds he looked back at Gowan. You want to go do something fun?

What did you have in mind?

Sam pointed to the darkened estates in the distance and smirked. Let’s go rustle some vamp fuckers’ feathers.

Don’t you mean ruffle? Gowan burst out laughing, but Sam looked at him, a serious expression on his wolf face.

I’m serious, Gow.

Gowan stopped laughing abruptly and looked at Sam with wide eyes. But Sammy, we could get arrested.

Only if we get caught.

Let’s do it, Gowan smirked and Sam put his paw on his best friend’s shoulder, and the two of them walked across the street.

Two wolves on a mission.

Chapter Two

Erin was standing in the middle of her fully decorated bedroom, feeling a new sense of pride in her bones. She and Alex had spent a little over a week moving all their new furniture into their newly renovated apartment and trying to get everything in their right places. Erin was kind of a perfectionist when it came to her living space, which is why it took her almost a week to be completely satisfied. The walls were painted a pristine white – to Erin’s request – and the wood floors were a light oak color. Erin loved light and open spaces, especially in her bedroom. When she grew up in the family manor, her parents regularly had to paint the walls of her room either white or eggshell white, as opposed to the rest of the manor, that was – according to Erin – very doom and gloom. Her white sleigh bed with light beige padding was adjacent to the large windows on the east side of the building, overlooking Methys Park and the beachfront.  She tilted her head as she looked at her bed and walked over to it. She ran her fingers along the white bed-covers and adjusted the pewter colored fur scatter pillow.

There, she whispered with a smile and stood back, admiring her handiwork.

Against the other wall was a built in bookshelf with a beautifully crafted desk and desk chair. Her room was done, and it was perfect.

She slowly backed out of her room and took one last look before she made her way down the hallway, her boots crunching along the wooden floors.

It’s done, Erin smiled happily. Everything is where it should be.

Well, it took you over a week, so I should hope so, Alex retorted.

Erin laughed at the thought, but as soon as she saw Alex in the living room, she stopped abruptly. Alex was shaking out a fur rug in front of the large fireplace and Erin frowned.

Look what I found!

What is that? Erin asked with a horrified look on her face.

Oh, let it go, Erin.

I wasn’t contending, I just asked a simple question, Erin shrugged, pretending not to be too fazed.

Alex turned around and glanced over at Erin. You know exactly what this is and I know exactly what you’re thinking.

Then why did you bring it?

Alex stood up and flicked her long blonde hair over her shoulder. It was her usual I-always-get-what-I-want tactic. It worked on everyone, except Erin.

Because my dad gave it to me before he died, Alex pouted, her big blue-green eyes flickering. It’s all I have of him.

Liar, Erin objected, raising an unimpressed eyebrow at Alex.

Oh, drowned rat. Alex immediately dropped the doe-eyed damsel in distress façade and put her hands on her hips. Oh Erin, come on. Can you honestly tell me that you don’t like it?

Whether or not I like it is not the issue here. It’s got to go.

It’s just a rug.

That is not just a rug. Erin pointed to the fur rug on the floor. Your father callously and tactlessly murdered a wolf to make that rug. It’s a grotesque reminder of our incivility.

Well, when you put it that way, my dad was a hero then, and as a tribute to him, this grotesque reminder of our incivility, as you gallantly called it, stays. Alex gave Erin a toothy grin and smoothed out the light gray fur on the rug.

Just don’t ask me what happened to it when it’s missing one day... Erin narrowed her eyes, turned on her heel and walked to the kitchen. She only caved because she didn’t want to get into another heated argument with Alex today.

Alexandra Muldovan was a tall blonde, with blue-green eyes, a loud mouth and a zero bullshit tolerance. She was very aloof, she liked to party, pretended that she had no responsibilities or that she cared  for the ones that she did have, and she came across as a very tough vamp.

Erina Lewandowski - Erin to her friends - on the other hand, had dark red hair, a darker skin tone than Alex, and bright green eyes. She was more responsible, didn’t care much for partying like Alex, could get lost in a good book, and was a dreamer. Always seeing the positive in every situation, and even though she liked to bottle things up and avoid them, she was a sensitive soul, with ideals she knew that could never extend the confines of her mind.

Erin let out a deep and miserable sigh and plopped down onto the couch, grabbing one of her favorite books. As she stared at the cover of the book, she could not help feeling helpless all of a sudden. Not even the pages of her adored literary novel could ease the heartache she was feeling and she placed the book on the table next to her. She thought of the lone wolf with the sad howl from a week before and for the oddest reason, she felt a tear ran down her cheek. Swiftly wiping it, she stared at the wetness on her skin with a frown.

I see you’re being emotional again. Alex’s voice was pitchy next to her and Erin looked at her friend. She had completely forgotten that Alex was there.

You know, it’s not the first time this has happened, Erin sniffed and shook her head.

You should really get it checked out. There might be something seriously wrong with you. Alex knew Erin was not like the average vamp, but never actually pondered what the reason behind it might be. She was too enthralled with her own existence.

I know what’s wrong with me, Lex, Erin said, and broke Alex’s train of thought.

And what is that?

I’m sad, and when you’re sad, you cry.

Vamps don’t cry, Erin.

It was far from normal for Algharakhian vamps to cry, or get emotional. Sure, they were theatrical and extremely dramatic, but not emotional. They kept their emotions to themselves, except rage and anger. They wore those emotions proudly on their sleeves, especially when it came to the wolf race.

Stefan cries all the time, Erin muttered and pointed to her book.

Stefan’s a pussy. Real vamp men don’t cry.

Sometimes I wish that vamp men could be like that, it would be a change from all the brutes and testosterone-overloaded thugs we have here in Algharakh. Erin shook her head at Alex and rested her head on the pillow next to her.

For the rest of the night, she spent it on the couch, thinking about the white wolf of a week ago. Its snow white fur, the sadness that radiated from those heartbreaking howls, and she wondered what exactly the cause of its sadness was. Much like her own, she hoped that it would have a speedy resolution, but at the moment she didn’t feel too optimistic about that.

Senator Frank Morton stared out the window of his office at his son, with a pensive and worried look on his face, still clutching the telephone receiver against his ear.

Senator? Are you there?

Frank snapped out of his semi-trance-like state and turned away from the window. Yes, Roland. I’m still here.

Your son is out of control, Frank. He, along with that friend of his, was purposely vandalizing vamp property.

Do you have sufficient evidence to back up that accusation? Frank asked.

Frank, we’ve got them both on tape. They were intoxicated, and taunting the camera. They knew exactly what they were doing.

Frank let out a miserable and irritated sigh, and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. I’ll talk to him.

Frank, this is not the first time this has happened-

I said I’ll talk to him, Roland.

Alright, Frank. If it happens again, I am not held responsible for what happens to him. The board isn’t going to tolerate any more incidents from him. Especially not like these ones.

I understand.

Good. I’ll see you next week. The call ended and Frank looked out the window at Sam again.

He was sitting out on the grass in the large backyard of the manor, chewing on a long piece of grass, looking as miserable as ever, staring out into the distance. Frank had not been this worried about his son in a very long time, in fact, the last time Frank saw him like this was when his mother died, which was over two centuries ago. Sam had been in a very melancholic mood for the last two weeks. Even though Frank knew that Sam had always been a serious boy, he also knew that there was a big difference between being naturally serious and melancholy, especially to this extent.

A knock on the door made Frank turn towards the desk and watched as Gowan entered his office.

Gowan Ondruska had been Sam’s best friend ever since they were pups. In fact, since Sam was an only child, Gowan had been like an older brother to him. Gowan was only two decades older than Sam, but the two men were like brothers, inseparable and did everything together.

You wanted to see me, sir? Gowan cleared his throat and looked at the senator. He was a tall man, with broad shoulders, a clenched jaw, but a calm and placid demeanor.

Gowan, enough with the sir. You can call me Frank, Frank shook his head lightly and looked at Gowan.

I prefer to call you sir, sir.

Very well then, Frank nodded and looked briefly out the window again at his son. I’m worried about Samuel.

You and me both, sir, but there is nothing any of us can do for a pining mutt.

Very true, Frank nodded and cleared his throat. What has that girl done to him now?

Long story, sir.

With her, it’s always a long story. Frank rolled his eyes and looked out the window. Why he still attempts to pursue such a fruitless road, is something that I cannot fathom.

Nor can I, sir. Gowan nodded and walked closer to the window, glancing briefly at Sam on the grass.

Sam had a faraway look on his face and he seemed lost, and completely submerged in sadness.

Do you know what happened between them? Frank asked.

Long story short, she only opted for Sam when she had no more options.

So the bitch played him?

Something like that. Gowan nodded, an amused smile on his lips. His demeanor changed instantly after that, and his shoulders slumped fractionally. Sir, about the other night-

Don’t even bother, Gowan. Roland already told me about it.

He did?

Yes, he told me about the spray-painting the two of you did on the Estate walls, as well as the target practice on the penthouse windows, Frank said, his voice thick with disapproval.

Sir, about that, that was purely my idea, Gowan defended, but Frank shook his head.

"You and Sam are making things very difficult for me. How am I supposed to convince the government that we are to be treated as equal when