4. Vesper #2
“Now where were we?” Oberon asks, adjusting his shirt and pretending like nothing happened. “Oh, yes. The predictions.” He moves over to a cluttered makeshift table and shuffles through the papers. “Here it is.”
He hands the paper to Dox and she takes it with a smile. She looks down at it, reads the information there, and hands it over to me. I look down at the paper and read what it says.
DISTRICT TWENTY, SECTOR 5 IN THE WAKING HOUR
My eyes widen. That’s close. Only one sector over. And it’s going to be opening within the next two hours.
“You did so good, Obbie,” Dox says, dragging my attention back to her as she touches his arm. “Thank you. About the payment—”
“You don’t have much time,” Oberon says, looking at her throat. I watch, entranced, as he slowly looks up into her eyes. “You must go.”
“But—”
He leans in and presses his lips to hers. It’s brief and gentle and so unlike any kiss I’ve ever witnessed in Dross, I’m struck dumb. Dox blushes at the chaste kiss and pulls him into a hug.
“I’ll miss you, Obbie.”
He stiffens and then hugs her back. “When you make it to Luxe, make sure to come back and see me every now and then.” He steps back and takes her hand in his.
When he pulls it back, her necklace is sitting in her palm.
She gasps, but he curls her fingers around the necklace and makes sure she has a good hold on it.
“See you around, Paradox. May you make the Harrow your bitch.”
“Deal,” she says, grinning, her eyes misting just a little. She chucks him on the chin and steps back, her knuckles white around her necklace. “See you around, Obbie.”
And then she turns to me.
I clamp my lips shut even though there are about a thousand questions bouncing around in my head. I can see her answers swirling in her eyes, but I understand now isn’t the time, not here in this Chronal Mapper’s apartment, not when we’re limited on time.
“It was nice to meet you, Oberon,” I croak, trying my hardest not to seem awkward. This man adores my best friend. And he’d returned her necklace. Which means he’s earned all of my respect and then some. If we make it to Luxe, I’ll have to make sure to come back and thank him.
“As it was you, Vesper,” Oberon says. “Please, take care of Paradox. She’s a bright flame I’d like to see keep burning.”
His eyes don’t meet mine, but I nod my head just the same. “I will.”
We move through his apartment fast, careful not to knock anything over, and only once we’re out of the door and in the first stairway do I break the dam.
“What in the ever loving fuck is going on?” I ask, grabbing Dox and stopping her before she goes too far.
“We’re limited on time—”
“Dox,” I say, leveling her with my gaze. “Be honest with me. Why is it I don’t know anything about this guy, but the two of you looked extremely cozy together?”
She flushes and looks away. “It’s not what you’re thinking. I’m not in love with him.”
My brows shoot up. “You’re not?”
“I’m not,” she reiterates and tugs my arm. When I don’t move, she sighs. “Look, I didn’t have the money for a Chronal Mapper.”
“I got that.”
“And so . . . I may or may not have hatched a plan to get what we needed.” She looks around and lowers her voice. “I figured out the places he frequented and kind of . . . just . . . ran into him.”
My eyes widen. “You seduced him?”
“No.” She winces. “Yes. Look, it wasn’t too difficult. It was clear he took a liking to me and the information was important.” She looks down at the necklace clutched in her hands before putting it back on. “I didn’t expect him to . . . well, I didn’t expect to actually like him.”
“So, you do love him!” I accuse.
“No,” she reiterates, looking back up the stairs. “But I could have.” She sighs and rolls her shoulders. “Anyways, we’ve gotta move. You saw the prediction—”
“How was it?” I interrupt, wiggling my brows. “He’s weird. Did he use his machines on you?”
“Vesper!” she gasps. “A lady has to keep her secrets.” At my incredulous look, she rolls her eyes. “Fine. He’s the best I’ve ever had. The man licked me for hours, Ves. Hours! I thought I was going to explode and I couldn’t walk for at least an hour after.”
“Wow,” I say, looking back up the landing. “Maybe we’ve got a little time—”
Dox bursts out laughing and tugs me to follow her down the stairs. “We don’t, you harlot. We’ve gotta hurry if we have any hope of being high enough in the line to make it.”
We’re still laughing when we make it to the lobby with all the Breathers. She’s shouldering me through the door when I realize we’d made a mistake.
We’d taken off our hoods while still on the stairs. And someone must have seen us.
“Well look what we have here,” the man says as he stands with his legs apart and his arms crossed. I’ve never seen him before, but I’d recognize that black U patch anywhere. “The boss is paying a pretty penny for you two,” he continues, grinning. “Looks like we get to deliver.”
There are a handful of men around him, each holding some form of weapon. Bits of metal sharpened to a point, pipes with pieces melted onto them, what looks like a sharpened metal post. I count six total.
“This all of you?” I ask, looking around. “Six men? I’m insulted.”
The man snorts. “And why is that, bitch?”
Dox straightens, preparing for a fight, but I stay loose and calm. The grin that splits my lips makes the man take a step back in confusion.
“Because,” I say, tipping up my chin, “you should have brought more.”