Silver Lining | Book #1

-Beyound the Horizon-

Outlined, Written, and Revised by tamtam778

Edited and Beata Read by RujulaSachiradha
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The doors creaked, but those residing inside didn't mind who was entering. Flickering chandelier lights dim the huge hall, giving it more of a haunting appeal with the still-clothed cushions. Ahead is a huge concrete vault staircase leading to the next floor, covered in a rough red carpet. Windows entangled in the long silk sheets, it blew gently with the wind. And to complete it all, dust on furniture. There were gens occupying boxes and trolleys. Most pushing them from one corner to another, others inspecting goods, while some stack to the edge. They all wore similar baggy jackets as Del. The back was embedded with a crescent moon and three diamonds within, a font curving the opposite way. The Crimson Bond.

Del took the lead of the group, and with him in front, his underlings all around made a clear path for them to walk. Lilith steps beside him, recognizing some of his subordinates. There still seem to be new faces popping in the mix, and it wasn't hard to find them. Those who remembered her nodded off in approval, while others stopped and stared at both of them. Lilith didn't mind the stares, she didn't care much. Her focus was elsewhere than the new attention they all brought to themselves, as she sneaked a peek behind her.

"Here," Del pushed a glass jar into her hands, a slime substance slushing inside. "I'm sorry for what happened earlier."

"Don't blame yourself, I barged in anyway." She flips the lid open and her nose is immediately attacked by the odour.

It was a serum. One of Ernest's great discoveries in battling pure silver marks, she constantly used it when she worked at the Glamor. It stings like hitting her elbow against the corner of a table. But it works effectively enough to get rid of those black scars, overtime. She dips her fingers into the jell, feeling the coldness bite into her skin, and slaps it on. Rubbing her arms together, sticking like glue on a charted paper. It then bunches together on the wounds and bubbles the scabs, she shivers. Steam started to puff when her limbs shook unconditionally. Feeling the heat from her fingertips all the way to her armpits, she bites in any protest. Paralyzed, she let her arms hang from their sockets, keeping her back straight as it swayed with her every step.

"Better?"

"If you can say that," Her eyes wandered down to her hands, but back to him. "Then, yeah. Good as new."

"Ah, don't worry, you'll just be hanging around for a while." He shrugs, his smile trembles from the pressure not to laugh. And Lilith sheepishly smiled, knowing well his joke didn't stick the landing.

He instead hacks, looking ahead. "Hopefully, your arms will heal after your presentation."

"You think it'll take that long?"

His eyes met hers guilty. Compared to the one-eyed gen, he stands probably a few inches shorter than him. Still, a lot taller than her. Just from the way his eyes mirrored some doubt, she felt as if he was staring at a child unsure of revealing a relative's death. And the height difference isn't making her feel any better.

She frowned her eyebrows, "You don't think I can convince him?"

"That's not it," He admitted, shaking his head. "I don't think he's the type to be convinced."

"Then why-"

"Because I thought I could convince him, so we don't have this problem."

Her gut began to twist unnaturally, suppressing any uncertainty that could arise from her. "Did it work then?"

From the corner of his eye, he looked back and Lilith followed too. She saw Espoin folding her arms, aggressively murmuring to herself, she avoided any eye contact with her. But as soon as she met the two other genes in the back, the long-haired one gently waved without letting loose to his poker face. While the one beside him copied his action but with more enthusiasm. Before realizing how awkward it became.

"Let's just say I tried," His nose wrinkled, glaring at the unknown. "It was hard enough to sit in the same room as him."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you later." Even with that reassurance, all Lilith could see was his face painted in anger before simmering when they reached the stairs.

He skips a couple of steps ahead to stop Gen from above. This one was another unfamiliar face she couldn't recognize. They wore a pointy hat that folded to its side, decorated with black pens around the hems. Their zipped jackets snugged their body but left a bit more air on their hips. Wearing circle-rimmed glasses and keeping a clipboard close to their chest. Lilith assumes that was Del's new information seeker. Not sure of why he replaced his last one, but she felt sure that was another story he will tell later. Both quickly exchange words, keeping it to a low whisper, enough for Lilith to catch wind of what they were saying. She decided to ignore them, being in her own thoughts about what he said earlier.