by Brey Willows
“I don’t know. If it’s true that this could change my career, then maybe I really should talk to some of these people and see if it’s worth taking the risk. Certainly, there are people here who are way above me in the field, and under different circumstances, I’d love to simply talk to them. But if it’s not worth the risk, and I’m happy where I am, then I can leave and never take one of his phone calls again. I can contact the other people on my own terms.”
Alec frowned. She didn’t like that the man with the horrible dark energy was trying to pull Selene into his frenetic little world. “Just what is this project, anyway?”
*
Selene did her best not to cry. Alec had been silent since they’d left Falconi’s. In fact, she’d been silent since she’d told her about the project Falconi wanted her assistance on. And, looking at it objectively, she could somewhat understand why. Falconi wanted people to stop believing in religion and to start thinking rationally. Alec taught theology and felt people should believe in what made them happy. Naturally, Alec would be against that kind of plan. What she hadn’t considered was that Alec would actually be offended and not want to spend any more time with her. The thought made her achingly sad, and she had to blink back tears.
“Alec—”
“Look, Selene. I’m sorry. I’m not feeling very well. Can I call you in the morning?”
Alec looked straight ahead, and Selene felt bereft. “Sure. Of course. Thank you for coming with me tonight.”
Alec got out and opened Selene’s door for her. After helping her down, she sighed. “I’m sorry. I was a bit thrown. I just need to think.” She kissed Selene’s knuckles, her lips feather light over the sensitive skin. “But I’ll call first thing tomorrow. I promise.”
Chapter Eleven
After a long night spent in the trees outside Selene’s house, just to make certain she was safe, Alec headed home to freshen up, and then hit the boardwalk for a diversion from her swirling thoughts. She hadn’t called Selene yet, because although she wanted to, she needed to sort some things out first. That Selene was contemplating working directly against religion, and on a massive scale, seemed far too coincidental. And that she was doing it with someone whose energy had a signature she couldn’t read made her distinctly uncomfortable. The last thing she wanted to do was drive her in that direction, so she decided to get some perspective before she made her next move. She bought a deep fried croissant-donut covered in chocolate, or a cronut, from the street vendor on the Promenade. She thanked him, and without looking at her, he said in a heavy Irish accent, “No problem, duckie. Enjoy it. There’s less time than you think.”
She nearly choked on her artery-clogging fried dough. “Still dishing out the philosophy to the masses, Fin? You sound like a nutter.”
He looked at her sharply and then broke into a grin. “Alec! Blazes, woman, it’s been a long time. You live and work nearby, and yet I see you once a century. What’s that about?”
She licked chocolate from her fingers, glad she couldn’t actually get diabetes. “If I saw you more than that, I’d be the size of Bacchus.”
He laughed and handed another patron their donut and change. “Nothing wrong with that. At least he’s enjoying the hell out of his existence.” He frowned briefly. “Or is he?”
Alec nodded. “For now, he’s still throwing his famous parties every month. Debauchery and douchery.”
Fin gave her a mildly disapproving look. “So jaded. What brings you to my little sweet stand?”
“I need some advice, and I need it from someone outside the organization. Could we meet up over a drink later?”
“You know I’ll never turn down a drink, lovey. King’s Head at two? I’ll be sold out by then.”
She gave him a hug, glad to feel his solidity. “See you there.”
Alec left him to his line of customers and wandered aimlessly down the Promenade toward the beach. It was crowded with the usual combination of desperately optimistic street performers, tourists, the homeless, and locals ignoring them all. If she closed her eyes, it could almost be her original home, where the marketplace was always abuzz with almost the exact same groupings of people. Minus the occasional royalty. She smiled slightly, trying to picture any of the modern day owners of airlines or fashion designers wandering along Santa Monica Pier. At least in her time, the royalty had occasionally mixed with the rabble, if only to see just how far above it they really were. My time. What does that even mean anymore?
Arcade game music was background to the roller coaster, and as she left it behind to go to the farthest point on the pier, she sighed with relief at the quiet. There was so little of that these days. She could remember when there was true silence. No bells, no whistles. Especially at night, when they’d lived out in the open, perching in trees or cliff tops. Bird cries and animal howls, perhaps. But they were nothing compared to the constant, ever present buzz in this century. At night, when all should have been silent, there was still the zapping of power lines, the ringing of phones, partygoers, and general nightlife. She stood on the end of the pier and watched the waves roll in and crash against the posts. They continued, crash after rolling crash, pounding against all in their path, only to roll back out again, sweeping whatever they covered into the ocean.
She felt the tide in her soul, as though she were being swept to sea, caught in a current there was no swimming against. She rested her chin on the cold metal railing, her arms dangling over the water.
A face appeared below her and shot up out of the water, grinning maniacally.
She jumped back. “For fuck’s sake. Seriously. Do you have to do that?” she snapped at the water nymph. A quick glance around her told her they were covered by their otherworldly cloaking.
“Zed wants you back at the office.”
The creature’s voice was preternaturally high, like that of a bat. Alec winced. “Now?”
“Now. He said to tell you it’s orders. Want a ride?”
“I’ll pass, thanks. Tell him I’m on my way.” Alec rolled her eyes and waved the mischievous little creature away. While it wouldn’t kill her, being under water without gills wasn’t pleasant for anyone, and the nymph knew that well. It gave her a pouty look before diving back into the water.
She closed her eyes and spread her wings, basking in the feeling of stretching them wide open in the sea air. The ocean seemed to race beneath her as she flew over the waves, unable to resist diving toward them and then up again, into the salty winter air. I’d forgotten what freedom it is to fly. The thought sobered her, and she headed back inland to the office.
Once there, she folded her wings but didn’t tuck them away. It felt too good to have them out. She knocked on Zed’s door and poked her head in. “You wanted me?”
He waved her in, and she thought she saw his hand flicker slightly, but when she looked again, it seemed normal. A tremor of fear rushed through her. He looked so tired.
“Sit.”
She sat.
“How is it going?”
She sighed. “Well, we’re getting along. I’m learning about her, and she seems to trust me.” She hated to lay another thing on his shoulders, but he needed to know. “Zed, what do you know about Frey Falconi?”
He looked lost in thought for a moment. “The philosopher? He’s a bit of a Socrates of his day, isn’t he? Lots of questions and no answers, with the hordes of pseudo-intellectuals flocking to his sock-and-sandal feet?”
She laughed. “Kind of, yeah. But he’s got money. And people are listening, Zed. They’re planning on putting him on TV, so he can tell the masses that believing in a deity is wrong. But he’ll say it in ways that even the good ol’ boys will understand. He might not get the hardcore believers, but he’ll get the ones on the fence. And there are a hell of a lot more of those than there used to be.”
Zed paled, and she nearly reached out to him, but quickly thought better of it. He might be old, and he might be fragile, but he was also proud.
“Could h
e be the reason the rate of nonbelievers has gone up?” He pointed to the holographic map he had of the building. “Sectors seven and twelve have had mass fades. Nearly fifty percent of their workforce is gone.”
“It could be, but I doubt it. He doesn’t seem to be working in other languages yet, which has restricted him to English-speaking countries. But once he goes on TV, or if his plan to go viral works, then we’re going to see some drastic changes.”
Zed got up and closed his door. “Remember the old days?”
Alec had a feeling she knew what was coming. She inclined her head for him to continue.
“If someone behaved irresponsibly, or if we just didn’t like someone, we took care of them. We made sure things went the way they were supposed to.”
“I don’t think turning him into a tree or a cow is going to work this time. He’s too well known to just disappear.” She shifted her wings away from the uncomfortable chair. “Different times, different measures, old man.”
He pointed a finger at her and a bolt of lightning shot from it, sizzling the air next to her head. She laughed.
“Don’t call me an old man. I’m ageless. As are you. What are we going to do about him?”
“I think Selene may be the key to dealing with him too. He seems to have made her a major part of his plan, although I admit I’m not sure why. His energy was off, like he’d been hanging out with a bad crowd. I’ll need to convince her, somehow, that Falconi isn’t the way to go. If we get her where we need her, maybe we can turn the tide in our direction.”
Zed looked thoughtful for a long moment. “I want to know who he is. If he’s using the same wild card we are, I think there’s more to this than we can see. I’ll see if one of the other sectors has a spy they can spare. In the meantime, focus on Selene. I’ll keep you in the loop if I find anything out. You do the same.”
She got up, aware she’d been dismissed.
“Oh, and, Alec?”
She stopped. “Yeah, Zed?”
“Tell Fin I said hello, and to come have a drink with me sometime. I miss our old poker nights.”
She shook her head. It shouldn’t surprise her Zed knew. He was omniscient when it came to his own sector, so it was obvious he’d know where she was and who she was talking to, especially if it was one of the company. “Will do.”
*
She entered the King’s Head just before two. She despised being late, as it was an indication she thought her time was more valuable than someone else’s. While there had been times in the past that was true, particularly during an especially narcissistic phase in the sixteen hundreds, it was rarely true now. She spotted Fin at a table in the corner and waved to him, motioning to the bar to see if he wanted a drink. He held up his glass and grinned.
She ordered a Guinness for him and a Diet Coke for herself. She’d learned long ago not to try to keep up with a Celt when it came to alcohol. And right now, she felt like she needed her wits about her more than ever before. The little Irish Pub was nearly empty this early in the afternoon, which was perfect. The feeling of being watched the last few days had made her edgy.
“One for you, none for me.” Alec set their drinks on the table and returned his one-armed hug.
“You’re a good one, lass.”
They clinked glasses and sipped in silence for a moment.
“So? Tell me what’s going on.”
She ran a hand through her hair. “Where do I start? You know about the fadings?”
He nodded. “The grapevine is as fruitful as ever. I’ve heard it’s getting bad.”
“Bad doesn’t cover it. Worse by the day.” She wiped the condensation on her glass with her thumb, watching a tiny bit of steam rise from her hand. “The thing is, Fin, I’m the one tasked with stopping it. Because an oracle said so. And you know what that means.”
He laughed and took a drink of beer. “It means you don’t know your ass from your head right now, and it won’t matter in the long run because you’ll do what you’re supposed to do, no matter what you do.” He shrugged. “So, why worry about it? Do your best, because whatever you’re doing is the right thing. The only thing you can do.”
“That’s the thing, Fin. What if I shouldn’t be doing anything? What if we ignore the Fates and just see what happens?”
“And leave people to fade?”
He didn’t look judgmental, just interested. She sighed. “Maybe some want to, now that things are so different. Maybe I shouldn’t be making that choice for them.”
He held up a hand. “Wait a minute. Hold on to your white horses and put down your shield. You’re not making a choice for anyone. We can all choose whether or not to stay.” He shrugged. “Well, maybe not all. Not the big boys. But the rest of us? We can trade in our cloud shoes for rubber soles anytime, sugar. Look at me. I wanted out of the game, and now I bake and sell, and no one tells me what to do, and the only thing people want from me are thick pieces of bread slathered in sugar. I come and go when I please, and I still have the benefit of traveling back to Ireland whenever I want. That’s a choice almost everyone there has, kid.”
Alec grinned at his endearment. She was older by a good thousand years. “I hadn’t thought of it that way. But what about those who don’t want to fade? Who blink out because they aren’t given a choice?”
He scoffed. “Please. Like that happens. We all get a little less substantial when it comes down to it, so we know it’s coming. They had a chance, and they didn’t take it.” He took her hands in his. “Don’t let Zed tell you otherwise. Yeah, do what you can. We all have to do what we can.” He let go of her hands and picked up his drink. “Until we can’t. And then we choose.”
“What if I let people down, Fin? What if I can’t do it?”
“Don’t do it alone, Alec. Reach out. Hell, I’ll gladly place some ears in walls for you. Do this your way.”
She rolled her glass between her hands. What is my way? She started to consider the people at the company and all they could offer. Fin was right. She might be the one to make things happen, but maybe she didn’t have to be the only one.
“One more question. Have you heard of Frey Falconi?”
He frowned slightly. “Who hasn’t? But I can’t get a feel for him. He seems to really believe in what he’s spouting, and truth be told, he’s got some valid points. But there’s something about him that doesn’t sit right.”
“Any chance you could get some ears in that direction too? Find out who he associates with? I could really use some more info.”
He nodded. “Zed doesn’t have what you need these days, huh? The higher-ups don’t get their hands dirty. Not the way they used to.”
He said it with such wistfulness it made Alec laugh. “Different times indeed, old friend.” She finished her drink and stood. “I’ve got a task to get back to. Thanks for your input, Fin. I needed it.”
He got up and gave her a tight hug. “Don’t forget your friends are different from those who give you shit to do, Alec. Sometimes they’re the same, but in your situation…well, be discerning, lass. And if you need anything, shout. You know where to find me. And if I hear anything, I’ll send it your way.”
Alec hugged him fiercely. She’d forgotten what it was to have a conversation outside the company, with someone who knew the ins and outs of the operation. She felt lighter, and more determined than she had in a long while. She’d do this, but it was time to take control, whether anyone else approved or not. It was time to call Selene and move things forward.
Chapter Twelve
Selene lay on her stomach on the couch, reading from Rousseau’s Confessions. Guilt niggled at her slightly, since she should have been grading papers. But it had been so long since she’d simply relaxed on a weekend and taken the time to read, she couldn’t resist. She read the many confessions of a man baring his not-inconsiderable misdeeds to the world and felt strangely moved by it. There were plenty of times she’d had to choose between doing the right thing because it was right, and d
oing the wrong thing because it had a better outcome, or was more interesting. Life in foster care often meant making those sorts of choices. Although she’d almost always chosen the high road, she’d lost plenty of nights of sleep over making the choice. She often wondered if other people had the same dilemma.
The phone rang, and she nearly fell off the couch leaning for it, and it made her giggle. “Hello?” she said somewhat breathlessly.
“Sorry, sounds like you’re not alone. I’ll call later.”
“Mika, wait. I’m alone. I just did something silly. I’m surprised to hear your voice.”
Mika hesitated. “Yes. Well. I find myself missing your company, and I thought perhaps we could have dinner.”
“Oh? What is it about me you miss?”
“Come on, Selene. Don’t be narcissistic. It’s unbecoming.”
Selene had to fight the urge to hang up. “It’s not narcissism, Mika. It’s a genuine question, as I don’t feel compelled to have dinner with the woman who broke up with me.”
“I told you, I wasn’t breaking up with you. We just needed some time—”
“No, you needed time. I was fine, but that didn’t matter.” Selene took a steadying breath. “You should know, I’m seeing someone.” I think I am, anyway. Alec hadn’t called that morning like she’d said she would, but Selene had decided she wouldn’t freak out about it until the following day.
The silence stretched so long she almost thought Mika had hung up.
“Oh. Who?”
“Another professor.”
“Of?”
Selene grimaced, knowing what was coming. “Theology.”
Mika’s laughter sounded both forced and sarcastic, if laughter could sound sarcastic. “Religion? Seriously, Selene. Why on earth would you date someone like that?”
“She’s not religious, exactly. And you know I’m open to belief.”
“Open to the idea of belief is different from believing, and you’re no believer.”
