Immortalia

Chapter 3 - The Contract

Chapter 3 – The Contract

Haw Tech was huge. Aurora had only caught a glimpse of the exterior when the car had driven past the massive building. The driver had let them out in some sort of parking basement, and now she was waiting for the elevator to arrive. Zachary was by her side, fumbling with his own luggage as he sniffed.

It hadn’t been easy for him to close up his shop, and a part of Aurora pitied him. The man just left his lifework behind—that could leave a mark on anyone. In Zachary’s case, his reddened eyes and puffy cheeks were a signifier of what just went down. She shuddered at the memory.

A low clang sounded as the elevator arrived. She stepped inside, waiting for the driver to press the buttons.

Music sounded from above them: gentle tones she didn’t recognize, and she found herself swaying from side to side.

“That’s a horrible sound,” Zachary muttered.

His comment surprised Aurora. “Really? I think it’s nice.”

“There’s no rhythm, and it’s making me nervous.” Zachary shifted his luggage between his hands. “I hope it won’t be like this everywhere.”

If Aurora hadn’t known better, she would’ve accused him of deliberately being a sourpuss. But the elevator stopped, and the doors opened, revealing a long white hallway with large windows on each side.

“Follow me, please,” the driver said.

Aurora liked that guy; he wasn’t particularly talkative, but he’d acted polite and had even tipped his hat to her. It wouldn’t have been such a big deal if it weren’t for the fact she was an Immortalia—they were never rewarded respect.

Her eyes moved from side to side, looking through the windows that covered the side of the long hall. The only sound she could hear was the repetitive clatter of shoes hitting the marble floor. The distinctive smell of her kin lingered in the air. This surprised her. 

Inside the rooms, she saw Immortalias laughing and talking to humans as though they were equals. It was a strange sight, and Aurora wasn’t sure what to make of it. In other rooms, humans were typing furiously away on computers.

Near the end of the hall, their driver stopped and gestured to the second-to-last door. “Please go inside then take a seat in there, Miss,” he said, looking at Aurora.

She nodded once and thanked him for everything. Then she entered the room.

As expected, she was greeted with a waiting area, but she was the only one there. She took a seat in the comfortable chairs and waited. Zachary had left her alone for the weekend. She liked to pretend it was a small apology for him selling her to another owner, but she had a hunch that it was more because he was depressed over leaving his shop. Time away from the shop meant less art, and less art meant less livelihood to Zachary.

Aurora crossed her long legs. The only thing Zachary had demanded from her was her outfit. She needed to show off her every asset, and she needed to do this without looking like a whore. Immortalias weren’t always beautiful. Zachary never ceased to remind her that her looks were her defining feature. She wasn’t gullible enough to believe any differently.

As she looked down at her attire, she hoped she’d chosen the right thing. Haw Tech was a respected company, and Daniel Hawkins was an even more respectable man. She’d hate to make the wrong impression on him just because she’d chosen the wrong clothes.

Maybe the shiny wet-look leggings hadn’t been the best idea. Combined with high heels, a green top, and a blazer, she hoped she looked ready for business. Now, she feared that it made her look trashy.