Destroy

Machiavelli:

Machiavelli:

Virginia’s delicate fingers moved swiftly across the flute and the anpu danced. The creatures rose up on their toes and staggered left and right, crashing into each other, armor clashing and ringing. The immortal laughed, the sound high-pitched, uncomfortably close to hysterical. “I think I will dance them all right into the canal.”

“Virginia,” Sophie snapped. “No!”

“No? It’s what I usually do.”

“It’s not necessary,” Sophie said. “Kill them and you become just like them. And you aren’t like them, are you?”

“You have no idea what I am,” Virginia whispered, but she lifted her fingers off the flute.

...

Virginia smiled at the creatures and twirled her flute, leaving a shimmering note hanging in the air. The creatures dropped their spears, lowered the bridge and then turned and scampered on all fours into a low hutch hidden in the undergrowth. Bloodred eyes regarded the immortal with something like awe as she passed by.

“It is better to be feared than loved,” Virginia said lightly. “I believe Machiavelli said that.”