Page 6 of Flying Blind

Chapter Two

The first week wentfast. Zara had no idea that healers were a thing, but they all took a look at her eyes and pronounced them damaged beyond fixing. Reducing the scarring on her back was all they could do, but they still helped make it feel less like she had something taped to her spine.

Zara’s first visit to the Book Club astonished her. Her body’s desperation for input began to give her an idea of the energy of the women around her. Wren crackled with quiet energy; Luna was a soft snowfall; Roane had the soft rustle of a serpent; Kora smelled like fresh blood; Minnie smelled like wet granite. They all gathered around her and introduced themselves with handshakes, and then the ladies hung around and ate cupcakes.

Karaoke broke out, and Zara laughed as the sounds were truly astonishing.

An older woman sat next to her and introduced herself. “Hello, Zara. My name is Emma Nickelson. I am going to be your tutor and your housemother. Do you want to take a turn singing?”

“Um, I can’t read the words.”

“So, some of the best memories are made by using your own memories to build them.” Emma sounded grandmotherly with a hint of iron.

She laughed.

Emma scooted next to her and read out song title after song title. Zara perked up and said, “I know some of those.”

“You don’t say. Which ones?” Emma asked, and there was a sly note in her voice.

Zara knew what was happening. “Well, at least I can’t see the faces.” She rattled off three, and Emma did something with her hand, and when the last song was done, she was escorted to the mic.

The familiar notes started up. She fumbled for the mic and then hung on as she sang. Her chest expanded, and she felt a rush of joy that she thought wouldn’t come again.

She powered through the song and then went on to the next. When the third had been belted out and the world got quiet, she paused and put the mic back on the stand.

A wave of applause roared out with quite a bit of whistling. Roane came up and said softly, “Zara, may I speak with you?”

“Sure. You have to steer, though. This isn’t my best week,” she murmured. Roane took her arm and led her off to a quiet portion of the club they were in.

“Zara, I work for a video game company, and I work for the marketing department. I was wondering if you could become the voice of one of our games. Not a character voice, but would you sing the songs for the cut scenes?”

“Uh, I don’t know. I don’t know how to read yet. I can’t even guess how it would work. Ask Luna or Wren. Luna appears to be my pimp.”

Roane chuckled. “You and me both. Yeah, I have to go through admin and get a studio to record in for you. Sorry to spring this on you, but your voice is great, and since you have to find a new career path, singing might be something that is profitable. You are certainly good at it.”

Zara smiled. “I will think about it.”

“Minnie, Wren, Luna, and Karo are all really good at playing instruments. I think you guys would make a fun band.”

“I am thinking that my current appearance might be a detriment to popularity.”

“Once your eyes are healed, a strip of lace will make things look nice. Masquerade masks. Since you can’t fix it, have fun with it.”

Zara turned her head toward Roane and said, “Fun with it? I have been blinded. How much fun do you think this is?”

Roane sighed. “I didn’t mean it that way, but at least your situation isn’t advancing. I will get Emma over here. Sorry, I wasted your time.”

Roane remained with her, and then Emma was at her side. Roane left.

Zara was still irritated when Emma asked, “What did she say to you?”

“Oh, she said I could join a band with Minnie, Wren, Karo, and Luna. She said that I could tie a strip of lace over my eyes if it bothered me.”

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