Page 24 of The Danger Kiss

Perhaps I might tell him later, when the time came.

He nodded silently as I let go of his arm.

I wove through the throng of guests, allowing my instincts to guide me. My ears strained to pick up even the faintest whispers, each snippet of conversation serving as a tantalizing puzzle piece in the mystery that was The Danger Kiss.

"Ah, Miss Zola," a voice purred, drawing my attention.

It was Kallu Kardos, a grey-haired corporate magnate who owned a refinery and one of my occasional but very reliable online clients. He was impeccably dressed in a dark blue suit, with a smile that oozed artificial charm. "It's such a great honor to finally meet you in person. You are even more beautiful in the flesh.”

“Mr. Kardos. Thank you for you kind words.”

I allowed him to press his lips to the back of my gloved hand. “I must say, no electronic feed does your beauty any justice at all, Miss Zola.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Kardos. It’s so lovely to meet you, too. Did you know I am putting up a few of my wares for auction as well? That’s the reason I’m in Asphalt City.”

"Delightful," he crooned, his eyes flickering towards Dalek who just happened to be looking at us from across the room. "And who might that dashing companion of yours be?"

"An old friend," I responded evasively, not willing to reveal any more than necessary. "Please do message me anytime should you have need of my services.”

"Of course.” Kardos inclined his head at me and melted back into the crowd.

As I drifted from one conversation to another, I stumbled upon a man and a woman discussing The Danger Kiss in hushed tones. Their words were laced with caution, the air thick with an unspoken tension, as they conversed in the relative privacy of a balcony overlooking the estate’s gardens.

"Have you heard about its significance?" one man muttered. "They say it could change everything."

“It could also destroy everything.” The other person in the conversation was a woman. Her voice was pitched so dramatically low, it was barely audible. “But we must be careful, Jax. There are those who would kill for such knowledge."

I lingered on the fringes of their exchange, hidden behind a thick bundle of drapes. This was it – the moment I had been waiting for. The answers I sought were within my grasp, and all I had to do was seize them.

"Tell me more," I urged, feigning casual interest as I edged closer to the couple. I tossed my hair over my shoulder and leaned forward in a conspiratorial whisper. “This is a most welcome change of topic from your usual array of crown jewels and pharaoh’s scepters.”

“I never thought I’d hear that from another woman!” The woman, who was dressed in a dazzling gold gown, laughed merrily and extended a hand. “I am Rayne, and this is Jax. We represent the Round Table of Clover City.”

Jax was dressed in black suit, but his tie was the same color and material as his companion’s outfit. I shook his proffered hand after shaking Rayne’s. They both looked very well groomed and shiny.

“Blanca,” I said smoothly. “I have my own laboratories and greenhouses in Steel City. I am a chemical manufacturer. I have special formulations I am offering up for bidding.”

“Nice to meet you, Blanca,” said Jax. “We were just discussing the potential ramifications of The Danger Kiss."

"Of course," I agreed, concealing my eagerness behind a mask of impassive politeness. “Do you mean it really would be put under the hammer during the Prime Auction?”

"Could you even believe it?" Rayne’s eyes were wide with disbelief as she nodded. "The Danger Kiss isn't just some weapon, too; it's a person."

"That’s what we’ve been told," Jax added gravely. "That’s why we’re here, you see. We heard on the networks that Platinum City wants The Danger Kiss to offer at their own auction, but our leaders figured we’d be one step ahead.”

“But who could possess such power?” I looked at each of their excited faces in turn. Inside, their revelation struck me like a venomous bolt, my entire world view shattering into a million fractured shards.

If this were true, my own family had sent me to bid on a person. A human being, traded like cattle or sheep, or pieces of jewelry and weaponry.

I was a Zola. We didn’t trade lives. We took them. It was an art form our family had perfected over many generations.

My thoughts churned with a torrential force, but I kept my attention on the conversation unfolding before me.

Rayne was speaking in her stage whisper again. “Whoever this person is, I’m sure they are kept well hidden. The danger they pose is far too great to risk exposure."

“All that power, in one person?” Jax shook his head disbelievingly. “It’s a wonder they’ve been around for so long without getting caught or Bonded to a corporation. Other organizations wouldn’t even have the money or manpower to try and catch someone so powerful.”

What did this mission really mean for me – and for Rokku? Does my family even know of this?

---