War of Praisers

Chapter 12:

I never realized how boring these gathering, or balls if you wan to call them, were. For the past hour I had been tailing behind Lord Oskana through the big ballroom. It was filled with many bright clothed people who wore expensive looking jewelry.

Lord Oskana spent his time greeting people and holding many different conversations, some political and some not. Not one person bothered to ask about me or even acknowledged me. Which is exactly the Facility taught me and prepared me for. To be a shadow is what I was meant to be. It thank my excellent hearing as I listen to a few men speak a couple of paces from us in lowered voices about some attacks that have been going on. Murders to be precise, most of royal or lords. I list the names in my head as the mention them and as they continue to speak of those horrible attacks I link that many of these names are those of heirs of important positions, mostly the heirs of the Clear Court. An assassin is clearly planning something against the Clear Court. As if the assassin is trying to rid of the competition.

As the hours continue I notice that Lord Oskana avoids the Automations like the plague. I dislike the Automations as much as he seems to, but I don't understand why he of all people would dislike them, and mostly only because of this Lord Kane who made them. I almost feel a little anger when I think of Lord Oskana disliking the Automations because of that reason, I on the other hand have a reason to dislike them. Though I feel comfortable with them I can clearly see that he doesn't. As usual they remain emotionless and unmoving. They are positioned along the walls of the big hall and it surprises me when I see Praisers standing among them as well. I haven't seen any so far and I am frustrated that I hadn't noticed them before. I recognize some of them but the most I have never seen before.

I slowly depart from Lord Oskana and the people he was talking to. I swiftly dance through flowing skirts and big hairdos towards the closest wall and stand along the wall where I could keep him in sight. I walk along the walls when I needed to keep up with Lord Oskana.

I see him look franctically for me when he realized that I had disappeared. He calms down quickly when he spots me standing next to a nearby Automation.

Another figure in dark blue approaches my side with dirty blond hair, and I watch him from the corner of my eye still trying to concentrate on Lord Oskana. I do a double take when the tall figure speaks my name.

"Jade."

I whip my head towards him. And I can't keep the small glare that graces my face when I see him.

"Well, It definitely hasn't been long since we had seen each other last."

Mike only nods and inspects me.

"I didn't expect to see you here. Or even at all." His statement wasn't sour as mine was but he held surprise and joy in his voice.

"I'm sure."

"Look, I know you are angry that I was chosen and you weren't. But it wasn't my fault." He looks straight ahead into the crowd of people.

I know it wasn't his fault but that is what made it all the more insulting. I was clearly better than him and therefore should have been the one who was chosen.

"But if it makes you feel better the woman who bought us is a bit of a nut job." He says it with a straight face. Us as in him and Barrett.

"How so?" he has captured my interest.

"She has a thing for the hardcore." He spits out the word 'thing' and I am almost intrigued at what he was saying.

"She has been taking all of the advantage of us as she can get." His voice was impassive but I spotted slight disgust in his voice and expression.