Echoes

Fickle Fancies

    "Matt," Jenna cooed, her voice sweet as the cloud of vanilla scent surrounding her. "Mind if I cut in?"
    Without hesitation, she elbowed past Hope and wrapped her arm around Matt's neck. Her body pressed alongside his and swayed to the music.
    Worse than the interruption, Matt grinned and went along with it.
    Hope shrank back, reaching for words that wouldn't come. That Jenna disliked her from their first meeting was obvious. But how much Matt hung on Jenna's every word came as a surprise.
    As Matt's hands slid across Jenna's hips, Hope finally found her nerve.
    "Excuse me," Hope growled, and reached to separate the two.
    "Matt," Jenna said, "she dances alright, sure. But you're not seriously here with Chipotle, are you?" She smirked at Hope, who took the bait.
    "What?"
    "Your dress, dumbass. You look like an overstuffed burrito wrapped in foil," Jenna said. "Maybe put down the fork once in a while."
    Hope stood frozen in shock. She looked from Jenna to Matt to her admittedly tight silver skirt, unwilling to believe this was happening.
    Jenna smirked and reattacked. "Nah, I get it. You're more the 'Haagen-Dazs on the couch watching Netflix on a Friday night' type. Here's a free fitness tip for you: Just because ice cream comes in quarts doesn't mean that's the serving size."
    Matt made a pathetic attempt to cover a chuckle.
    He's letting this happen. Why isn't he saying something?
    Hope's jaw dropped and she stared at him.
    "Oh!" Jenna feigned a scandalized look. "Now I get what you see in her, Matt. Look, honey, so your night's not a complete waste, you can probably make a few bucks out back doing that."
    "Hey Jenna," Claudia broke in. "I can see your dinner bulge in your waistline. Don't you have some fingers to go choke on before that food ruins your precious thigh gap?"
    Jenna's eyes widened and her face paled. She felt at her stomach and stormed off. Matt chased after her, offering reassurances in vain.
    "Sorry, Hope," Claudia said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I knew they had a past but I didn't realize--"
    Hope shook Claudia off and hurried toward the bar.

---

    Within the Hub, the Alphas pulled back in unison from Thriophor as if afraid of a communicable disease.
    Thri shook and gasped in pain, clutching her chest. Wisps of gaseous light wafted off her skin, floating around her in a shimmering cloud.
    Sevnynate's authoritative voice broke the tense silence. "Look, my friends. This is what it's like to rise to a peak of inspiration, only to be struck down from the heights. This pain and suffering is what I strive to protect you from."
    She stepped toward Thriophor and laid a gentle, radiant hand on the hurting Echo's shoulder.
    The curling strands of light surrounding Thriophor streamed toward Sevnynate and vanished into the Chief's glowing skin.  Sevnynate inhaled deeply but seemed otherwise unaffected by the rush of inspiration.
    Thriophor still gleamed. But like a star in daylight, she looked invisible beside Sevnynate and the other Alphas.
    "My dear," Sevnynate said, "you've faded so quickly. It's difficult to say for certain while you're surrounded by these Enlightened ones, but I'd place your current hue at Seventh, perhaps Eighth Caste."
    Thriophor hung her head, still shaking from the loss of inspiration. Her long hair obscured her face from Forsephore's eyes.
    "You should take your new place among your caste now," Sevnynate said. She patted Thriophor's shoulder in a motherly way that fanned the flames of anger in Forsephore's core.
    The wounded Echo rose to her feet with Sicsayto's assistance, then limped toward the rings of seats to find an appropriate spot.
    Sevnynate gestured toward the fallen Alpha. "Be wary, my friends," she said, "the sudden inspiration born in flights of fancy. Humans are often fickle and ultimately half-hearted in their inclinations. But in moments of excitement and passion, they chase all sorts of beliefs and ideals with reckless abandon."
    She scanned the audience with a stern gaze. "Do not let yourself grow too confident, lest you share Thriophor's fate."
    Sicsayto returned to the Alpha platform, her steps graceful yet devoid of the lighthearted joy that moved her to dance moments earlier.
    Sevnynate glanced her way, then addressed the Hub. "We currently lack an Alpha. For your own well-being, heed my warning concerning the dangers of aspiration beyond one's place. But any who dare to bring petitions may now do so, until we find a replacement."
    Forsephore dashed out the doors of the Hub, the reserves of untapped inspiration within her crying for release. Don't worry, Sev... I have a few in mind.