black eyes smoldering.
“I met with my mark. He denied the offer.”
“And?”
“The time wasn’t right.”
“Take him out, Melia. Don’t fuck around. I have orders on your next hit when you finish up in Taraf. Hicklan is anxious to replant and set in roots. The Empire has a representative to send once you’ve disposed of your mark.” His expression remained unreadable as ever.
“Yes, sir.”
She closed the sharer and leaned back against the pillows beside Collin. He reached for her, his fingers nestling over her left breast. His green eyes opened a crack. Smiling, he closed them once more. “Morning,” he muttered. “Sleep good ?”
“Actually, I did.” She kissed his forehead. “But I have to go out for a while.” She shimmied toward the side of the bed. He moaned. “Can’t you stay a little longer? I was having a good dream.”
“It shouldn’t take long.” She turned on the TV and found the local news, listening as she rifled through her bag for something suitable to wear. “Just a small errand.” She chose fresh undergarments, a blouse and pants for ease of movement and paused. Collin was snoring again.
…a benefit for the Habiri Church of Taraf, Shiemir Alonwei will speak as well as three officiates from the Trade Council. Also appearing today…”
Scanning the image of a gigantic church with high walls and pristine landscaping, Melia set it to memory. “Perfect.” She gathered her clothes, noting the time of the scheduled speech and hurried to shower and get ready. If all went well, she could send Enrue to the next life and be back before midday for lunch with her shuttle steward.
She rushed through her shower, soaping and rinsing in record time, refusing to allow herself to think too much, a trick she’d learned in training. ”Shut off your emotions. There’s no place for regret in this line of work, Mel.” It was her teacher’s dry voice as devoid of compassion as her boss. She turned off the water, toweled dry and glared at her reflection in the mirror.
The cat-eyed woman staring back at her looked just like her mother did the day before she killed herself. “Shit.” She touched the glass and frowned. “Who am I?” She swiped a line across the edge of mist on the mirror. “This is crap. I’m killing him and getting out. Last hit, last one, Mel. I swear.”
She reached back and braided her wet hair, tied it off and sprayed a single shot of her favorite perfume on herself. She rubbed her wrists together and touched her neck at either side. “Gonna need a new bottle.”
Satisfied, she strode out of the bathroom, blew Collin a kiss where he slept on the bed, and left the hotel to hail a shuttle for the church. The sky harbored gray clouds, and lightning stuttered across the orange skyline in snaking shockwaves. Thunder boomed in the distance, almost drowned out by the hum of hovercrafts. She climbed aboard the first shuttle to stop, gave directions and sat back in the black vinyl seat, letting the cold seep into her veins.
The driver spoke scarcely a word, a gray-haired gentlemen intent on the windshield. It was for the best. She was in no mood for idle conversation. Melia inhaled , picking up the stench of Hemec, the old, stale odor of tota smoke and something sweeter, flowers? Juice? She glanced at the empty front seat and noticed a package there. Grader’s Nursery. Flowers. She wondered if the old man had a wife. Maybe he’d gotten them for her.
Seconds ticked into a half-hour. The shuttle eased into a spot at the rear of the church parking lot. It drifted in midair, droned and slowly touched down. “Five shens,” the cabbie sputtered. “You’re early for worship.”
“Yes. I know. I want the tour.” She didn’t feel like smiling. Melia fished in her purse and tossed the man the money.
“May the light of Habiri guide you. ” The cabbie nodded in her direction, his warm brown eyes twinkling.
“Yeah. Right.” She opened the door and almost spilled out
“I met with my mark. He denied the offer.”
“And?”
“The time wasn’t right.”
“Take him out, Melia. Don’t fuck around. I have orders on your next hit when you finish up in Taraf. Hicklan is anxious to replant and set in roots. The Empire has a representative to send once you’ve disposed of your mark.” His expression remained unreadable as ever.
“Yes, sir.”
She closed the sharer and leaned back against the pillows beside Collin. He reached for her, his fingers nestling over her left breast. His green eyes opened a crack. Smiling, he closed them once more. “Morning,” he muttered. “Sleep good ?”
“Actually, I did.” She kissed his forehead. “But I have to go out for a while.” She shimmied toward the side of the bed. He moaned. “Can’t you stay a little longer? I was having a good dream.”
“It shouldn’t take long.” She turned on the TV and found the local news, listening as she rifled through her bag for something suitable to wear. “Just a small errand.” She chose fresh undergarments, a blouse and pants for ease of movement and paused. Collin was snoring again.
…a benefit for the Habiri Church of Taraf, Shiemir Alonwei will speak as well as three officiates from the Trade Council. Also appearing today…”
Scanning the image of a gigantic church with high walls and pristine landscaping, Melia set it to memory. “Perfect.” She gathered her clothes, noting the time of the scheduled speech and hurried to shower and get ready. If all went well, she could send Enrue to the next life and be back before midday for lunch with her shuttle steward.
She rushed through her shower, soaping and rinsing in record time, refusing to allow herself to think too much, a trick she’d learned in training. ”Shut off your emotions. There’s no place for regret in this line of work, Mel.” It was her teacher’s dry voice as devoid of compassion as her boss. She turned off the water, toweled dry and glared at her reflection in the mirror.
The cat-eyed woman staring back at her looked just like her mother did the day before she killed herself. “Shit.” She touched the glass and frowned. “Who am I?” She swiped a line across the edge of mist on the mirror. “This is crap. I’m killing him and getting out. Last hit, last one, Mel. I swear.”
She reached back and braided her wet hair, tied it off and sprayed a single shot of her favorite perfume on herself. She rubbed her wrists together and touched her neck at either side. “Gonna need a new bottle.”
Satisfied, she strode out of the bathroom, blew Collin a kiss where he slept on the bed, and left the hotel to hail a shuttle for the church. The sky harbored gray clouds, and lightning stuttered across the orange skyline in snaking shockwaves. Thunder boomed in the distance, almost drowned out by the hum of hovercrafts. She climbed aboard the first shuttle to stop, gave directions and sat back in the black vinyl seat, letting the cold seep into her veins.
The driver spoke scarcely a word, a gray-haired gentlemen intent on the windshield. It was for the best. She was in no mood for idle conversation. Melia inhaled , picking up the stench of Hemec, the old, stale odor of tota smoke and something sweeter, flowers? Juice? She glanced at the empty front seat and noticed a package there. Grader’s Nursery. Flowers. She wondered if the old man had a wife. Maybe he’d gotten them for her.
Seconds ticked into a half-hour. The shuttle eased into a spot at the rear of the church parking lot. It drifted in midair, droned and slowly touched down. “Five shens,” the cabbie sputtered. “You’re early for worship.”
“Yes. I know. I want the tour.” She didn’t feel like smiling. Melia fished in her purse and tossed the man the money.
“May the light of Habiri guide you. ” The cabbie nodded in her direction, his warm brown eyes twinkling.
“Yeah. Right.” She opened the door and almost spilled out
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