Redemption

Redemption Part 28

We stopped in front of another identical pewter tower. The ground floor had a café with a few white tables out front under an awning. I double checked the map on my com, and it confirmed it was the right place.

Inside, the woman behind the counter greeted us and asked if we wanted anything. Sym shook her head and pointed toward the door at the back. The woman nodded and went back to her work of cleaning the empty counter.

We pushed through a manual door into smoky dimness. Lights strobed through the mist, which smelled Flicker-laced.

Sym nodded. "Another reason to get in and out fast," she said over the thrum of the music from the stage.

We walked across the back third of the room, which was scattered with tables where people talked and drank and ate. Beyond the railing was a sunken floor where writhing bodies danced to the rhythm of the rather cacophonous music of the holographic band.

"Hope she's not down there," said Sym.

I looked at the people at the tables as we passed, trying not to be too conspicuous. Most ignored me; some looked up with bored curiosity, others had more hostile gazes. None of them matched the description of Essim.

Finally, we spotted her at the far end near the wall. She was tall and willowy, like most eclipses. She almost looked pureblooded, which would be impossible on this world; her bones would have snapped under our heavier gravity. However, her back was bowed slightly, and a red-jeweled cane rested against the railing, which hinted that she was probably closer to pureblooded eclipse than most.

She had long white hair which fell past her shoulders, bangs cropped straight across like Dazzle's. Her eyes were dark, shimmering green, betraying the fact she was probably part Mirage. Her eyes snapped with inner fire as we neared, and they zeroed in on me. Her gaze was so piercing it made me feel uncomfortable. Almost as if she were a reverse image of Dazzle.

I shoved away that feeling. Not everyone was a predator. Not everyone wanted to possess me. And of course, I wasn't me at the moment. I was... what was my name again? Jahari... Jahari Lalapana of Mirage...

Essim stood, her back ramrod straight, as if she were pushing with all her soul against the gravity that pressed her down. Her three part-eclipse companions stood as well, glaring at us, their hands slipping subtly toward the sheaths at their belts.

Essim raised a hand. "It's all right. These don't look like much of a threat. I am curious what they want. Why they'd risk accosting me when I'm in the middle of enjoying a meal."

I stepped closer. "I think we have a mutual enemy."

"Oh? Who is that?"

"Hale."

Her eyes sparked with surprise. "And what could you three have possibly done to earn Hale's enmity? Without being immediately crushed that is." She laughed, a musical sound like the ring of far-off bells.

"There's more to us than there appears."

"Really? Maybe I should get a closer look."

She snatched up her cane and walked slowly and deliberately around the table. Then she stood in front of me and leaned on the cane, looking me up and down. "I am intrigued by mirages, especially invisibles like you. Even though I'm on a quest to create the perfect race, which is of course lightside eclipses strengthened with the ability to endure all gravity, your race has enough of the essential shimmer to be beautiful, without any of that glowing eyed nonsense of the Nobility. Nobility may be strong, but I don't want a hint of glow if I can help it." She grimaced.