NIGHT MOVES

A HIDDEN SLEEVE

"Rayven. My name is Rayven Bloom." I corrected as I stepped further into the room.

"Ah, you've met." Culpepper motioned between us as Harley cleaned up her neck.

"At the diner, Harley was ouh servuh." I answered as I scanned Eira's tattoos.

Eira had an intricate foreign symbol on her sternum. Between her breasts peeked an snake. On the spot on her neck, Harley was cleaning looked to be a flower.

"I hope you had time to write my number down before it fades." Harley glanced my way as she moved from Eira.

"I have an excellent photographic memory." I commented in a factual tone.

"Don't worry I saved it to heuh contacts." Aud piped up from beside me.

"When did you get a hold of my phone?" I turned to the right and scowled at her.

"In the elevatuh. I knew you'd memorize it, but talk yourself out of contactin' heuh." Audrey mirrored the tired glance I often wore around Carver.

"I dig your vibe, and I want to be friends." Harley stuck out a hand to Audrey.

"Audrey Willowbrook, Rayven's soul sistuh and platonic spouse." Audrey stretched heuh hand out to shake Harley's.

"My that's a lead I've never heard before, you must share the deets sometime. It's nice to meet you, Audrey and you are?" She glanced at Carver.

"I'm Cuhvuh, Ray's brothuh." Carv answered as he nervously sat down.

"Nice to meet you, Carver." Harley stretched out a fist to Carver.

"I've appraised Harley of your need, but you'll have to excuse me. We'll talk later, Rayven." Eira announced and briskly departed.

"Oooh, looks like bae has an in with the boss-lady." Harley teased and I blushed in embarrassment.

"Not true, I try to give a nightly report of ouh work progress." I attempted and failed to recover smooth as peanut-butter.

"Anyway, like Miz Culpepper stated I've been informed of your need of my pack's symbol." She rested a booted foot on the bar of her chair.

"You're a membuh of the Full Moon faction?" Carver crossed his arms.

"I am, I'm the pack's tattooist and proprietor of the "Black Rose," as much as I'm Culpepper's. I'm one of the original members of the faction, before we split into factions."

"You know of ouh mission?" Carver commented as he eyed Harley's gear.

"I've been informed you're to infiltrate the pack and I'm here to offer my services. " She motioned to her kit.

"You don't feel you're betrayin' youh pack by helpin' us?" I leaned against the far wall.

"I don't view my aid as betrayal. The factions were created for those who wish to step away from reality. By your need of our mark, you are retreating from reality. Therefore I'm not betraying my pack, neither are you interlopers." She gave a triumphant grin as she tilted her chin upward.

"That's an impressive mind bend. You sound like a philosophy major." The corners of Audrey's mouth curved in pride.

"I think you mean psychology, pretty." She sent Audrey a wink.

"In othuh words, Eira bought youh silence?" Carver pursed his lips.

"Not one coin, except for the retainer fee her and I agreed to for my services." Harley placed a hand on her hip.

"Apologies fouh both of them, they've been raised to be skeptics. I think we have the important answuh then." Audrey stared at Carver then me.

Carver nodded and relaxed his stance. I shrugged and began to inspect Culpepper's books