Page 9 of Night's Fall
BeforeCatlacould pretend we were regulars (something she would do),Gaylilielpiped up, “Yes.”
He nodded. “You’llgo in.Tothe left, check your units with the bot on duty.You’llwalk through a scanning tube.Anyweapons, send, receive or recording units will be identified in the tube, so check them before you enter.Ifyou don’t, you’ll be ejected from the club and banned from returning.”
We all nodded, unsurprised that rich people protected their safety and privacy at all costs.
He put his palm to the shiny black façade of the building and an until-then invisible panel shifted inward before it slid to the side.
Nifty.
“Enjoy your evenings, ladies,” he murmured as we trooped in.
I noticed, asGaylemoved at my side, he had his eyes aimed at her behind.ThismeantIfurther noticed he was fae, and he was hot.
Hmm.
The door sealed behind us in a manner that was mildly alarming, butCatwas already handing over herPalmto a bot standing behind a counter in an alcove to the side.Idug mine out of my shimmery pink evening bag, surprised that the bot on duty was not one of the more expensive humanoid ones.
Then again, the polished black metal that made up the body of the machine couldn’t be on theme if it looked like a human.
It took ourPalms, scanning our left retinas for pickup purposes, then we headed into the tube, the blue and green lighting circling the five or so feet of it being the only lighting in the narrow space.
“One at a time,” the bot’s mechanical voice came at us as we moved as a group to the tube.
Cat, as ever, went first.
Gayle pushed me in next.
I lifted an already achy foot (these shoes were fabulous, but they were also torture devices) to step into the tube.
AndIfroze.
I did because a feeling made itself known in my chest.Likea feather fluttering.Almostimperceptible.ButIfelt it.
I felt it.
AndIknew what that feeling was.
Longing and melancholy assailed me.
Gods.
AfterIgot home from the hospital,I’dlooked it up and learned there could be phantom sensations of your beast, even after it was gone.There’dalso been reports of a beast communicating with you, when that could no longer happen.Thisoccurred especially if you elected not to have its essence surgically removed after death, whichIabsolutely elected not to do.
She was lost to me, butIcouldn’t let her go.Evenafter the staff at the hospital, regardless of my fragile state of mind, pressed very strongly for me to make the opposite decision,Irefused.
Very few shifters made this choice, so truly,Iwas surprised how hard my doctor and nurse pushed it.
“Laura?”Gayleasked, concern in her voice.
Okay,Iwas freaking about being out in the world.I’dsuccessfully avoided this by having food delivered and avoiding theSubterraandMonorails, instead springing for private crafts to take me whenIhung out withCat,Gayle,Monique(or any combo of the three).
SometimesI’dhave to hit a work meeting, but since the current gigIwas on hadn’t started production yet, and wouldn’t for at least a few more weeks,Ihadn’t had to worry too much about that.
I’d hit the corner shop, of course, butMr.Tanuguwas more of a father to me than my own, so that didn’t seem like a big adventure or any threat, but instead like going to my pop’s, having a gab at the same time buying bananas.
Therefore, this reaction was not a shocker.Ishould have planned for it.Thelast timeIwas out in the world, truly out in the world,I’dbeen brutally assaulted.Sobrutally, defying my control, my beast had torn out to defend me.
And she had died for me.
