“True. They can also last indefinitely. Omega is interested in the survival of the world and its people. We have that same interest. Omega is our ally in defending Earth against the Vorsook, Fairie, and Hell.”

“The young witch controls the machine,” Tzao said.

“No, Elder Tzao. He doesn’t. Omega is fully independent of anyone’s control. But Declan is Omega’s parent and they have an extremely tight relationship,” Tanya said.

“The witch is your vassal,” Tzao said.

“Again, he works with us. He is not a vassal.”

“If we control the witch, we control the machine,” Tzao persisted.

“Interesting idea, Elder,” Galina broke in. “Elder Mausya, what odds do you give it?”

The youngest Elder frowned at Galina, but then tilted her head and unfocused her eyes. A furrow formed between her eyes. “It does not appear to be a promising avenue.”

“I thought you might say that. The machine is formidable. The young witch is formidable. When I first met him, I counseled my daughter to bind him to her. To lock him into service,” Galina said. Several vampires, Gault and Lison, nodded in agreement. “She refused. She said it wouldn’t work and that it would drive him away. After observing the boy for a much longer period of time, I find myself concurring with her. The boy resists coercion. The computer resists coercion. Vigorously. Yet a politely worded request from my daughter yielded a complete database of virtually all articles, blogs, and media references of the type in your folios. Within minutes. Analyzed and delivered with complete metrics.”

“What is your point, Galina?” Mausya asked.

“My point, Elder Mausya, is that Senka was correct. Leaving Tanya to follow her instincts has resulted in a strong partnership with the world’s most powerful computer and likely its most powerful witch.”

Sun snorted. “You don’t know that. You don’t know what other witches are out there,” she said, very self-assured.

“My pardon, venerable Sun. You are correct. We don’t know. But I will say he is the most powerful seen to date. Perhaps you have another tucked away in the Middle Kingdom?” Galina asked.

“What we have or don’t have is not the purpose of this meeting, Galina,” Sun rebuked.

“True. As I understand it, the purpose is to determine if Elder Senka has engaged in a pattern of decision-making that is detrimental to the Coven. But we were discussing a young male witch of at least above average power and skill. The same witch that is currently teaching other witches from all over the world, including China, skills that no other witch seems to have. Why? Because Tatiana set up a school to help train young supernaturals. How did that happen? Because Elder Senka felt it was important to allow her granddaughter, our first natural born vampire, to operate independently of the Coven. So it does circle back to the problem at hand,” Galina said.