Page 36 of Kintolf Rising

Tia pulls out some folded clothes, heads toward another door on the far side of the room, and waves me inside when it slides open.

“Oh!” I glance around, wide-eyed.

Why didn’t I think of this?

“You want me to shower?” I ask like a half-wit.

“Well, yeah. You smell bad.” Tia holds her hands up and hastens to add, “No offense.”

“None taken,” I murmur, relieved to be pulling the ugly sack dress off for the last time.

“It’s a sonic shower…”

“A what?”

“Sonic shower. Go on, step inside.”

Tia grins, then presses a small green button located just inside the shower opening. A glass door incases the shower in a circle. Warmth surrounds me as a yellow light shines up from the floor and down from the ceiling. It only lasts a few minutes and then the glass recedes, and Tia is standing there, smiling at me.

My hair…everything…feels fresh as I step out.

“That was certainly different, and yet I feel so clean.”

“Yep.” She hands me the folded clothes. “Get dressed and we’ll go grab something to eat.”

“Sounds good to me.” When she leaves, I slide on a green t-shirt and pull on a pair of pants. They’re a little loose, but soft to the touch, and it feels so good to wear real clothes again.

14

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Myla

Sitting in a restaurant (or maybe it’s a bar?), Tia smiles at some large tattooed guy and says, “Hey Jax, can you bring us something to eat?”

He grins as his eyes linger on me for a moment, making me feel uncomfortable.

“I see you have a new friend with you,” Jax comments.

“Yes.” Tia snaps her fingers, and his eyes slide back to her. “Food?” It sounds like a question and a demand rolled into one.

“Anything in particular?”

Tia glances my way and waits for me to answer. When I think about food, the raw succulent meat of a fresh kills spring to mind. I don’t think I can ask for that so instead of answering, I give a quick shake of my head.

Jax grins. “Okay then. I’ll bring you my favorite.”

My eyes linger on his confident gait as he disappears through a door.

Tia drums her fingers on the table. “Now, tell me about you.”

Swallowing hard, I ask, “What do you want to know?”

“Where did you come from? How did the Acradidia catch you? Tell me your story.”

Tia radiates confidence and I know she’s someone who takes charge. I wish I could be more like her.

“Here you go.” Jax plants two fruity-looking drinks on the table, sliding one in front of me. “I thought that might help.”

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