Redemption

Redemption Part 11

The elevator halted at Floor 50 and a woman stepped inside, the hem of her white gown brushing the floor, her copper curls swirling past her shoulders. Her intense green eyes mirrored Sol's.

"Hi, I'm Tansy Meridian." She gave me a warm smile. She looked in her late twenties, too young to have a boy of seventeen. "Sol met you last week, at the party?"

"Well, it was really afterwards. What did he tell you?"

"Just that you were in some trouble and he had to help."

"He rescued me. He and Sym. From Dazzle." I wasn't sure how much I should tell her.

"Ah, that sounds like him. The only reason he probably told me was because I was worried sick when he came home late. He's...always out, rescuing lost erlinehs, even at the expense of himself. But I suppose... it's just that it tears me apart, when he gets hurt. At least he didn't get hurt when he rescued you. Not that I would've begrudged you if he had... it's who he is. I can't stop him. I can mourn his pain...."

"He seemed so brave—I had no idea, when he flew me from Dazzle's house, what he'd been through."

She looked surprised. "How much did he tell you?"

"Not much. He was beaten for helping a little girl, Sym said."

"It was by far the worst that's happened.... before, he's been able to talk his way out of most things. But this time...." She closed her eyes, drew a shaky breath. "Each time he goes out, I can't breathe for hours, until he returns. And now—" She shook her head, her face filling with guilt. "It was me who put my son in danger."

"How?"

"I didn't see...worst of all, I didn't listen to my son, when he saw the warning signs." She let out a mirthless laugh. "Now—I don't see how I could've possibly loved that man."

"I've heard...abusers can be charming."

"He was that. He only showed one side of himself. But Sol could sense another....." Her eyes softened. "You and Sym—we need people like you around us. Maybe if we'd have had more, instead of being ostracized, I wouldn't have...been so desperate." Pain etched her face, and her beauty was drawn by weariness.

The doors opened and we stepped into a dining room with the chaotic remnants of a breakfast table. Donita and Sharlee were tossing a holoball across the table, Tania was spinning through her holofeed, Cade was flipping through diagrams of tailored shirts, Rhyth was in a heated argument with Sym, and Sol was speaking to Euphoria. At the head of the table sat a woman with long blond hair, looking through holos of different kinds of birds. As we entered, she turned, and I recognized Sym's mom from the night I'd met her briefly on the rooftop.

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Jet!" She dashed over to me and gave me a deep bow. "And your beautiful cat!" Sabra slunk into the room, her tail twitching, as if not sure how to react to all these strangers. Behind her strode Lacy, looking alert and rather suspicious.

"Hi, Mrs. Savannah."

"Oh, you don't need to be so formal. Call me Fancy. I can't begin to say how sorry I am for not greeting you last night. It's unforgivable."

"That's okay."

"To neglect a guest! And such an important one. Please, just let me know if you need anything—whatever it is, I'll accommodate you. If there's anything I can do to make this up to you—"

"It's okay. You were busy."

She blushed. "Not really...just passing the time...nothing that warrants not greeting a Royal March."