The Preston Six Collection: (Book 1, 2 and 3)

by Ryan, Matt

  A man with a fifties greaser outfit stood in the hallway behind the door. Two knee-high dolls stood next to him. They wore matching black leather jackets, blue jeans and polished black shoes. Poly would’ve thought they were cute, if not for the dagger each one held in its hand, and the tough-guy look each displayed on their faces. Is that a cross-and-bones tattoo on its arm? Okay, maybe they were a bit cute.

  “Travis.” The man raised his arms and gave Travis a big hug. He raised an eyebrow at Poly and Julie.

  “They’re with me.”

  “Of course. Finally bringing in girls for once, huh? Welcome to the Black Hole, ladies.”

  Poly frowned at Travis. He didn’t notice and walked past the doll guards. She stayed on the far side of the dark hallway, keeping her gaze on them. Never trust a living doll. It was something her grandma would have said, she was sure of it.

  “Guido, Carducci, stand down.” The dolls lowered their daggers and put their backs on the wall.

  Sound thumped from the open door and Poly stayed close behind Travis as he made his way toward the oncoming sound. A few people stood in the hallway, some stopping to stare at Travis, others didn’t take notice as they made out against the black walls. Poly kept to the middle and tried not to stare. The hallway opened into a large black room with a crowd of people dancing to thundering loud music.

  The land of beautiful people danced to a techno beat of bass and digital sounds. Each person Travis passed patted him on the shoulder, shook his hand or said unheard words with smiles. Some glanced back at her with a nod.

  Lights dashed around the room and on the ceiling there was a large, swirling, black cloud. Poly stumbled into Travis. He turned and pulled her closer to him. His smooth face brushed hers and it sent chills down her neck. “I have a table for us.” He let go of her and pointed to the round black table in the corner of the Black Hole.

  Poly scooted across the black leather bench on the circular booth. Julie, with her hands on her hips, stood at the end of the table. She shook her dress while pointing to it. She mouthed words, but the beats drowned her out. Travis sidled next to Julie. He took her hand and turned it palm up. He pressed something on her sleeve and the boxes all around her dress flattened out, turning the once strange dress into a simple, beautiful one.

  Julie stared at her new dress for a few seconds, and then punched Travis in the shoulder. Her mouth moved and her finger pointed at him, but Poly couldn’t hear the words.

  Travis raised an eyebrow and shrugged, trying to put on his best “I’m sorry” look before sliding into the booth. Julie plopped down on the other side of the shiny black booth and moved next to Poly. Travis pushed a button on the table and the sound of the room diminished considerably.

  “Can you hear me?” Julie screamed.

  Poly jumped back at the sound of Julie yelling. “Yeah, I can hear you now.”

  “I was saying earlier, I love the music in here,” Julie said. “And Travis, you’re a jerk for not showing me how to . . . deflate this monstrosity.”

  Travis leaned back and a wide grin spread across his face. “I’m sorry, but it was just too funny.”

  “I’m so glad I amused you.” Julie huffed and crossed her arms. She looked around the booth and then put her arms on the table and leaned toward Travis. “Why is it quieter in this booth?”

  Travis set his Panavice on the table and slid his fingers across it. “Atmosphere.”

  The bass thumped and a wave of vibration shimmered in the air above them. Julie pulled out her Panavice and typed into it, holding it close to her face. She sat it on the table and stared at Travis.

  “You have shield technology?”

  “No, we have sound dampening technology.”

  “It has a similar construction to Simon’s,” Julie said as she plowed through the screens. “I thought any shield tech was illegal.”

  “It is, but we got a permit for this one.” Travis ran his fingers on the sound shield surrounding them. It shimmered in his fingers.

  “Can I have the code for the sound shield?” Julie asked, suddenly interested in Travis.

  Travis leaned forward. “And what would a young woman such as yourself do with this information?”

  “It may give me insight on how to disable MM’s personal shields.”

  Travis leaned back on the seat with his Panavice in hand. “Will you two ever stop filling me with surprise?” He studied Julie and for the first time Poly could remember, really looked at her. “Open yours and I can place the file on top.”

  “Okay.” The glow of the device lit up the excited features on Julie’s face.

  Travis pressed his screen. “There you go, have fun. But keep it encrypted please, those are my personal files. And if you have any discoveries,” he didn’t look optimistic that she would, “please share.”

  “Yeah, sure. Thanks.” Julie held her Panavice in front of her face, as if it were a newborn baby.

  The only use Poly could think of for the sound dampening technology was at night when Julie wanted to talk about all the advances made by Vanar. The tech-talk didn’t match the gorgeous people dancing nearby, or the deep tones of electric music. She watched the couples flow together in sync with the music. She never imagined yesterday, in the depths of a smoking building, surrounded by dead MM men and grinners, she’d be at a club like this the next day.

  “Would you like to dance, Poly?” Travis must have been watching her.

  She swallowed and nodded. Travis slid out of the booth and extended his hand.

  “You want to come, Julie?” Poly asked.

  Julie never looked up from her Panavice.

  Poly shrugged and took Travis’s hand and he helped lift her from the booth. She felt the shield over her body, vibrating as the sound waves crashed into it. Her ears passed through the shield and the bass hit her like a punch to the gut. She slowed, but Travis didn’t look back and continued pulling her into the throng of dancing people.

  Some patted Travis on the shoulder and said a greeting to him, but he ignored everyone but Poly. The temperature grew hotter as they neared the center of the club and the fruity and flowery scents of people wafted by her. Travis faced her, bent his knees slightly and moved his hips to the music. Of course he was a good dancer. Poly sighed and tried to stop from laughing.

  He leaned in to her ear, and she felt his hot breath on her neck. “Let me show you.” Travis placed a hand on her hip, and stepped into her, his right leg between hers. He guided her with his legs and hand. Soon, she was swaying with him to the beat of the music, her hips moving with his. She giggled and took a step back, her heart beat in her chest and she looked around at the expert dancers, she must have looked like a fool; a lost girl in the big city. Then the thorn dug in, the sick feeling of having fun while her friends might be suffering. She closed her eyes and felt the pain.

  “Here, this will help you loosen up.” Travis held her hand, palm up, and placed a small white pill on her life line. “Crush it in your palm and you’ll feel nothing but good thoughts.”

  She stared at the pill in her palm. Some sort of drug? Travis took a step back and danced in front of her. If she could get rid of the thorn for a little bit, what would be the harm? She pushed on the pill with her thumb and it dissolved in her moist palm, disappearing into her skin.

  Travis raised an eyebrow, as if waiting for something, then his face became fuzzy and the anger slid away. Everything let go. What was she even mad at? She felt the small hair rise on her arm and a warm feeling spread over her body. She was relaxed. The music slowed down, and all she heard was the deep thumps of bass. Her knees loosened and her whole body felt like silk. She moved with the beat, bobbing up and down. Travis moved in close, like before, and intertwined their legs. This time he grabbed her hips and held her firmly against his own. She put her arms around his neck and they moved with each other to the beat of the music.

  AFTER DANCING TO A COUPLE of songs, they made their way back to the table. Poly felt the sweat on
the small of her back and her feet couldn’t wait for a break. Julie stared at her Panavice, fingers sliding viciously over it. Poly slid into the booth and let out a long breath. Her ears ached and thanked her for taking them to a quieter, shielded booth. She loved the way the soft black leather felt. Travis slid in next to her, pushing her down the booth.

  “You’re a great dancer,” he said, smiling. “Do you want to go dancing, Julie?”

  Julie looked up, Poly wasn’t sure if she even noticed they came into the booth. “What? Me, dance? No thanks.” Julie shot Poly a glance.

  Poly frowned, she thought she saw something in that glance. Was it concern?

  “You ladies want something to drink?” Travis asked.

  “I’m so thirsty,” Poly said. She felt the soft skin of her neck with her fingertips. She couldn’t focus on Julie’s stare. She blinked slowly, listening to the music and moved side to side in the booth. Her whole body felt fuzzy. Where was her drink?

  A glass slid in front of her. She wasn’t sure how it got there, but she gulped down the cool liquid contents.

  “I thought this was a tour of the city?” Julie asked.

  “You ready for the next stop?”

  “Let’s do it,” Poly cheered on.

  Leaving the club, the parked car waited for them at the curb. Travis laughed with Poly, as they ran to the car. Travis opened the door, but held Poly back to let Julie in first. After Julie entered, Travis took her hand, palm up, and pushed a red pill into her hand. She felt a burning sensation move through her arm and over her body. Her eyes shot open and she saw everything clearly. The fuzz was gone, the clouds disappeared.

  “It’s completely harmless, just gives you a little fun feeling for when you want it.” He fished something from his pants. “And as soon as you don’t.” He displayed a tiny red pill between his finger and thumb.

  Anger swept over her and she opened her mouth to let out a verbal assault, when Julie poked her head out of the open door.

  “We leaving?” she asked, before disappearing back into the car.

  Poly bit her tongue, she didn’t want Julie knowing what she took and how much she liked it. If Julie got even a whiff of it, she would have blown the whole operation, keeping Poly further away from Joey. Besides, under the pill she felt lighter; she could forget about the grinners and all the people she let down. The ghosts went away.

  Driving on the dark streets made the lights all the more appealing as they streaked by in different hues.

  “Where are we going now?” Julie asked.

  “We’re here.”

  The car stopped and Travis stepped from the vehicle. A bright sign displayed Frank’s above a small red building with clay roof tile and cracked stucco arches.

  “Hello, Travis, party of three?” A man in a bowtie asked at the door.

  “Yes.”

  “Right this way.” The man led them through the restaurant, bustling with conversation and the clatter of silverware. Two men finished cleaning the table as they walked up.

  “Is this adequate?”

  “Yes,” Travis said.

  “Thanks,” Poly said.

  “Certainly, Madame.”

  The dimly lit area around the table masked the red wallpaper and the strangely dressed people daring glances in their direction. She watched the man that seated them arguing with a couple. She could only make out a few words “that was our table.” Did they kick someone from this table?

  “What would you ladies like to drink?” Travis asked.

  “Water would be great,” Poly said.

  “Same,” Julie agreed. “We would like to discuss how you can help us with MM.”

  Travis shushed Julie. “You can’t talk about stuff like that here,” he whispered.

  Julie pursed her lips.

  They didn’t speak about MM as the Italian meal came out. It was like lasagna, but with a few crispy layers added. Poly wasn’t thinking about the club anymore as she finished her plate.“Have you always lived here?” Julie asked.

  “No, I used to live in Capital, but my dad wanted me to get into the family biz. So we moved to the country.” Travis moved his arms out and looked around.

  “This is the country?” Poly asked.

  Travis laughed. “Not anymore. When my parents passed away, I finished what they started—building this city.” He took a tiny bite from his steak. “What about you two. Small town girls?”

  Poly lowered her head, she didn’t know why it was embarrassing to talk about herself, but she wasn’t comfortable with it.

  “Yeah, we’re from a small town, Preston,” Julie said.

  “Small town girls are fun.”

  Poly laughed, she didn’t know exactly what he meant by “fun,” but the look on his face told her he wasn’t thinking of a miniature golf partner.

  “What do you do for fun?” Julie asked.

  “Me?” Travis pointed at his chest. “I exercise. We don’t need to because of all the genetic engineering. It’s actually hard to get bulky, like your friend Hank.” He laughed and then cleared his throat when they didn’t join in. “But my favorite thing is blades. Collecting them and using them. It’s a lost art. I can rarely find a person to even compete against.”

  “Compry never visited?” Poly asked.

  Travis closed his eyes and lowered his head. “No, not after Harris got a hold of her.” He looked up and met Poly’s eyes. “Maybe we can have a sporting match.”

  “I think we already did.” Poly rubbed her arm where he struck her.

  “I would have never done that, if I had known the type of people you were. I considered you and Harris as one and the same.”

  “Is that why you sold us out?” Julie asked.

  “I’m under incredible pressure from MM. Don’t think a day goes by they don’t try and set up shop here. Recruiting booths, propaganda, money, influence, it’s only a matter of time.” He stopped talking and brushed back his hair.

  “Well hello, Travis.” A man stood next to the table wearing a dark blue jacket with gold embroidery. He didn’t look at Travis, but split his attention between Julie and Poly.

  “Hello, Jonathan,” Travis said, annoyed.

  “It’s rude not to introduce me to the new faces here.”

  “Poly, Julie, meet Jonathan.”

  Jonathan grabbed a chair from a nearby table—completely neglecting to ask the people who sat there, if he could use it—and slid it over to sit with them. “So very nice to meet a fresh face. Where are you from? Wait, let me see your hands and I will try to guess.”

  Jonathan placed his hand on the table. Julie rolled her eyes and placed her hand on the table. He took it and pulled it closer, studying it like a palm reader. “Interesting, you don’t seem to use any products at all, so definitely not Capital. Your nails aren’t manicured, hmm very interesting. Poly, may I see yours?”

  Poly slapped her hand on the table, wanting it to be over with. If the man had any clue where they really came from, he would probably stop with his stupid little show and find a way to leave. Half wanting to tell him the truth, she grinned at his face as he studied her hands.

  He pushed against her calluses, perplexed. He looked at her and back to her hand, turning it over and then back to the palm. “You have rough hands. I would hate to make my guess, over fear of insult, but I must know your story. What guild are you in?”

  “Guild?” Poly asked.

  “Yeah, from the strength in your hands. . . .” He tapped his chin with a charming smile. “Equestrian guild?”

  “My guild is Preston Six.”

  Jonathan shook his head. “Never heard of it. You fascinate me, with your soft face, and your innocent, yet sharp eyes.”

  Poly pulled her hand back and wasn’t sure how to take what Jonathan told her. “I’m just Poly.”

  “I doubt that,” Jonathan said, staring at her. He made her uncomfortable, like he was searching for her every secret and if he stared long enough they would be revealed.

&
nbsp; “We must get going,” Travis said and stood.

  “Oh no,” Jonathan said.

  “I’m afraid so, but it’s been a pleasure to see you, as always.” Travis shook Jonathan’s hand.

  “Goodbye,” Poly said and turned, walking away.

  “Nice meeting you,” Julie said and caught up to Poly.

  They entered the car and drove away from Frank’s.

  “Sorry about Jonathan,” Travis said in the limo.

  “No biggie,” Poly said.

  “Who is that guy?” Julie asked.

  “He’s the local TV star, has a weekly show.”

  That made sense to Poly, his inflated ego, flamboyant style, the arrogance . . . Did that hand trick work on girls? She hoped it didn’t.

  “I think I’m ready to head back to our room,” Julie said.

  Poly felt the fatigue setting in as well. The mention of her room made her eyes heavy.

  “Oh, one more place. I think you’ll like this one, Julie.”

  Julie raised an eyebrow. “Where?”

  “The Citadel,” Travis said.

  Julie’s face lit up with excitement. “Yes, I saw it on the city information page. Some kind of amusement park or something like that.”

  “Yeah, something like that,” Travis said. “There it is.” He pointed out the window.

  The car rounded a curve and a large, white, square building, glowing like an illuminated ice cube, appeared ahead. The green grass, divided into nice square chunks, held many people. Some were sitting, while others were walking, or laying down.

  Their car drove down a ramp and into an underground parking lot beneath the greenery. Poly’s heart raced, thinking of the last time they were in a parking garage.

  Julie grabbed her arm and she saw the nervous look in her eyes. The car stopped and Travis opened the door.

  “You two coming?”

  Julie moved first and Poly followed her. It was only a few feet to the elevator. She rushed into it with Julie and Travis. Poly let out a long breath when the doors closed and the elevator rose.

  The doors slid open, revealing the inside of the glowing cube. The tall ceiling lit with the same soft, white light as the outside. The whole building buzzed with power. Julie stepped out, looking up and around the large main room with big eyes. People sat in front of screens along the walls. In the center of the room stood a black square the size of a car. Metal fins protruded each side. At the rear of the building, a long line of people formed.