No Turning Back

by Sharon T. Rose

  Chapter 13

  The Drone's expectations were bizarre, but Sylenn was able to avoid fulfilling them by suiting up and attacking before he could scream. A quick blow to the head rendered him semiconscious, and then it was just a matter of extracting the thing. That took some time, but at least the host wasn't fighting back after the first few minutes. When she finished, the man was still breathing, but she wouldn't swear to him being alive. Let the doctors see to that. She turned to leave the opposite end of the alley-way from where they'd entered and found Konyetta blocking her way.

  "Before you say anything, no, I'm not following you. I told them I would, just to keep you-know-who from charging after you, but I'm not. It's plain as day you need some breathing space, and that's alright. So I'm going shopping (which I really need to do, anyway), and I won't do anything to deliberately cross your path. If we see each other, I will ignore you. Is that alright?" Konyetta looked at her appealingly.

  Fulenthen took a moment before replying. "Fine. But I meant it when I said I don't want any of you around. We cross paths too much, and I'll toss this thing and run." She fingered the tracking device.

  "Sure, I understand," Konyetta hastily replied. "I thought it would be better for me to come since I respect your need for privacy, than one of the others who might not. That's why I made sure to come to you first thing, to let you know. No surprises, alright?" Her smile was tentative.

  "Alright," Fulenthen allowed, dredging up a small smile of her own. Konyetta wasn't so bad, really; she was probably the one Descendant Fulenthen disliked the least. Despite her silly chatter. Unsuiting, Sylenn replied, "You have fun shopping, then. Um, what are you looking to buy?"

  "Oh! Some new clothes, mostly; mine are just so terribly dated. I also wanted to check on the latest fashions, to see what we're missing. It does make us stand out, you have to admit, when we show up in last year's dresses!" She giggled softly.

  "Guess so. I don't pay much attention to fashion or clothes. Unless I'm not wearing any." Sylenn scowled at the ground and scuffed a shoe absently.

  "I know exactly what you mean. According to the Archives, almost none of the women actually enjoyed the suits. We make do as we can. Speaking of which, you know, we might be able to restyle your hair; that could give you a little extra coverage. If we let it down, or some such." Konyetta gazed thoughtfully at Sylenn, who lifted her eyes.

  "You think? Guess we could try it. Um, maybe someplace less ... open?"

  "Oh, of course! Follow me, I know just the place." Konyetta turned to go.

  "Hey, um, what about him?" Sylenn pointed at the unmoving man.

  Konyetta considered. "Well, why don't you go first; you're good at being unnoticed. I'll come out a moment later and draw some attention to him. Then I'll slip off and join you at the intersection of Trivan Avenue and Yissacal."

  "Fine," Sylenn grunted and slouched out of the alley-way.

  Half an hour later, Konyetta passed through the intersection of Yissacal and Trivan, not minding the small shadow that detached from a wall to follow her. After passing through the busy crowds, she turned north and headed for the quieter section of Yissacal Boulevard. A few minutes later, she marched into an alley-way between two shops and entered a door halfway down that. After climbing a short flight of stairs and entering a high-ceiling room, Kiemelen turned around and was not surprised to find Sylenn slouching against the wall by the door.

  "Nice place," Sylenn offered, looking around the unfurnished room. "How'd you find it?"

  "Oh, it's part of my ability. I'm far more limited than Satherlin; he can hear people for up to two leagues. Rather, their heartbeats. I can tell whether or not there's anyone around me for about half a league, but it's not anything I hear or see; I just know. Um, since I can sense them even if they're ... no longer alive, I mostly use it to find people trapped in rubble.

  "I found this place a few years ago when we were tracking a Drone; it had been empty for almost a year (oh, I can also tell how long it's been since anyone was in a place). Afterwards, we came back and rented it so we would have a safe place to retreat to, just in case. There're actually quite a few of these safe-houses around Alluvia."

  Sylenn nodded.

  "Right. Let's see about your hair, then, shall we?" Sylenn shrugged and changed.

  "Good thing the ceilings are so high," Fulenthen commented.

  "I know," Kiemelen smiled in reply, "that's one of the reasons we chose it. Goodness, you brought a lot of storage balls with you. Never mind; let's see your hair. It never ceases to amaze me how our suits are designed; how can so much hair be bound in such a tight little band? And where do these bands come from, anyhow? Hmm, I can't seem to get it to budge. Fulenthen, why don't you try to loosen it? Sometimes suits are made so that only the wearer can change things."

  Fulenthen reached up and slid one finger under the wide band that trapped her hair into the high, poufy tail on top of her head. Sure enough, it immediately loosened. The band glowed softly and slid over her head to settle around her throat, letting her long green hair tumble over her shoulders. Kiemelen gasped, taupe eyes going wide.

  "Where did you go? Fulenthen, where are you?" Panic edged her normally suit-calmed voice.

  "I'm right here, you twit," Fulenthen grumbled.

  Kiemelen didn't seem to hear her. "Fulenthen ... I can't sense you! Are you still there?" She reached out her hand, touching Fulenthen, but seemed not to realize she'd done so.

  "Oh!" Kiemelen exclaimed. "I think we just found your special ability! When you let your hair down, you become completely invisible! Put it back up, please!"

  Fulenthen hooked her finger back under the band at her throat and pulled upward. It shimmered, dragging her hair back into the tail. Kiemelen's eyes found her immediately.

  "Oh, my. Fulenthen, that is just amazing! I couldn’t tell you were there at all! Were you standing in the same place the whole while?"

  "Yes, and I'd appreciate it if you were less familiar with your hands." Fulenthen smiled tightly.

  "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean-- I was just--"

  "I'm teasing." Fulenthen let her off with a softer grin. "So, I can be invisible and undetectable. That's useful. It would even appear that I can bump into people with out them noticing."

  Kiemelen had a grin of her own now. "You do realize that you just made a pun, don't you?"

  Fulenthen started, thought about it, and then smiled sheepishly. "I guess I did."

  "Oh, Fulenthen, this is simply wonderful! I think you're really getting used to all of this. When you first came, you wouldn't smile or laugh or joke at all, and now you can tease me without a second thought. I told you it would get better, didn't I just? I know it's not the best possible life, and I know it's one that you didn't choose, but it can still be an worthwhile one, don't you think?"

  Fulenthen shrugged, looking away. "I guess. It would be better if I had a middle ground between showing everything and showing nothing, though." Her hand strayed to her hair but did not tug the band. Kiemelen narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

  "Perhaps if you tried to direct it to something in the middle? Last time, you simply pulled it, and it went all the way down; I did see the band go around your throat before you vanished. Perhaps you could make it go around your head, instead?"

  "We'll see." Fulenthen reached up again and deliberately pulled on the band, thinking fiercely about having it go halfway between the hair-tail and her throat. Sure enough, the band settled around her forehead, covering her hairline all the way around. Her hair fell again, but this time down her back. Noting how it trailed to her ankles, Fulenthen looked up at Kiemelen enquiringly.

  "No, you didn't disappear, which I'm quite grateful for! That was just a shock! But you are ... hmm, how to say this ... slightly faded, I think. When I'm looking at you, I can see you well enough, but I'm having trouble sensing you. I think that if I were distracted, I would forget you were here."

  Fulenthen grinned again with a predatory edge. "Again, most u
seful. I could be a part of the group, yet forgettable. That could come in very handy at political functions."

  "Have you been listening to Laillmen, again?" Kiemelen demanded. "Honestly, she's so concerned with our public image! Don't tell me you're going to be her spy now!"

  "I can be anyone's spy, now," Fulenthen replied impishly. "I can go anywhere, and no-one will be able to find me or even know I'm there. This will make it so much easier to--" She bit off the rest of the thought.

  "To avoid Vyenthon?" Kiemelen finished for her. At Fulenthen's grudging nod, she sighed. "I understand how you feel. We all know that he clings to you because he cares, because he's worried about you. He lost you and then got you back. I just can't blame him for feeling the way he does, but I do blame him for how he acts, which is why I made sure that I was the one following you today. He needs to learn to let go of you once in a while!" She smiled hugely at Fulenthen and got a shy grin in reply.

  "Thank you, Kiemelen."

  Yes, Konyetta was definitely the Descendant Sylenn disliked the least.