Halo by Viola Grace Page A

testing, so I will be busy when I get back to the office you have offered me.”
    Kalo nodded. “Did any of them ask?”
    Avina laughed and reached into her robes, handing him a coin. “No, they didn’t. Your powers of persuasion are very strong.”
    He puffed up with pride. “I got a lot of practice. I am amazed. Those lenses are rather striking.”
    Laughing, she pulled them off. “Yes, but most who see me consider it either a species-specific uniform or an affectation.”
    Looking around, she sighed with relief. The base was still relatively new and very few auras wandered the grounds. She could also see the souls of the living, beaming out and around their bodies but that was not something that the Aura Speakers shared with the general public. Being living lie detectors made them excellent witnesses. The halos that recorded all of their brain activity didn’t hurt either. You couldn’t lie if they could see that the readout proved your deception.
    Kalo’s soul gleamed out and around him. If he chose to, he would make one hell of a ghost after his demise. That was not something that Avina mentioned in casual conversation. It tended to unnerve people.
    She hooked the lenses to the front of her uniform, one earpiece in her cleavage. It brought back memories of home.
    “Are there a lot of them out here?” Kalo was curious. He was always curious; it was the defining characteristic.
    “Not a lot. Three only.”
    “So, not very taxing?” The tone of his voice was laden with suggestion.
    “What do you need, Kalo?”
    “Turnari would like to see you.” He inclined his head politely.
    “I bet he would.” She sighed and put her lenses back on. “Lead the way.”
    She set her cup down on the table and got to her feet.
    Kalo slugged down his tea and stood immediately. “I didn’t mean to wreck your repose, Avina.”
    “Yes, you did. It is all right. I am only here until Fixer finishes those modifications to my ship. Whatever he needs, he needs to ask now.” She chuckled as he joined her, and they headed for the staircase.
    Kalo left her with the receptionist, and she was shown right in.
    “Hello, Coordinator Turnari?”
    The Dhemon behind the desk got to his feet and smiled. He came around and hugged her, his hands stroking her spine. “You have been avoiding me.”
    Avina was irritated. “I was doing nothing of the sort. I simply gave the lecture and was having a cup of caf when Kalo waylaid me. What do you need?”
    He sighed and rubbed his cheek against her temple. “I need more time.”
    “You can’t have it. We are a horrible match, and you know it.”
    He grunted. “I know nothing of the kind.”
    “Fine. I can see your aura, and it isn’t compatible with mine. There is nothing else that needs to be said. Now, what did you need in a professional capacity?”
    Turnari released her with a sigh and resumed his seat behind the desk. “One of our students is experiencing symptoms of being haunted. We have ruled out all telekinetic or psychic interference. She is simply being followed by something she cannot see.”
    It was a common manifestation of an aura to haunt a loved one. “May I speak with her?”
    “Of course. I will have you know, she is very skeptical of your particular psychic branch.”
    “She doesn’t believe in it?”
    “She doesn’t think that a species like yours could be any good at it.” He opened the com and spoke rapidly to his receptionist.
    A chime sounded on the far side of the room, and a frame in the wall slid aside to show a tea tray, steaming gently. Avina took the hint and brought the tray to the sitting area with the comfortable chairs. She prepared a cup for herself and sat, waiting for the student to enter.
    The young woman that came into the office was a peculiar blend. Her aura showed Enjel, Wyoran, Azon and a smidgen of Nyal. They were not races that usually got into bed together.
    “Yeerin, this is Aura Speaker Avina Jenkins. She has agreed to investigate your