A short time later, she was at her destination.
The columbarium, where the ashes of her dad were. She swiped her wristcon, paying the fee to enter—because everything on Elyria demanded a fee—and made her way down the stark aisles of slots where urns of the dead rested. Thepoordead. Flowers and stacks of mementos dirtied the ground, and she had to pick her way through.
Resting two feet above her, she stopped at her dad’s slot. Alexa stared at the nameplate.
The sun lowered as she stood there, darkening the aisles to gray, shifting the shadows to elongate the lettering.
She parted her lips to speak but quickly closed them.
She tried again and failed. Again.
I’m sorry.The words whispered through her mind.
I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I’m sorry you were alone. I’m sorry I…
She trembled.I’m sorry I fell in love with your murderer.
Alexa reached up and flattened her palm to her dad’s slot and closed her eyes.May you be with Xanteaus in the halls of rebirth. May your next life be better. May I not be in it.
She turned away and left.
* * *
Later that night,she was dressed in clubwear, wearing a little dress she’d found in one of the local thrift shops, watching the crowds gather outside Dimes. Strangely enough, most of the crowd were made up of androids and sentient robots. She thanked the odds because it would only make it easier for her. Her gun was strapped to her thigh, under the folds of her dress, giving her even more courage. She loaded the mirror on her wristcon and checked her makeup.
She had stripped the remaining black dye from her hair, and the translucent strands, which were still drying, clung to her shoulders. Humans may openly hate her kind, but in the dark, they fantasized about them. Especially the men. Trentian women were so rare now, if a half-breed or even a human could pass off as one, you’d get noticed.
People noticed her.
Her hair had always been a curse, but tonight? It was a blessing.
She didn’t have to wait in the lines outside the club long. One of the bouncers pulling real women from the lines saw and came directly for her, shuffling her in.
“Master Raphael awaits you inside,” he said, eyeing her.
She tensed, waiting for the bouncer to check her for weapons.
Instead, he flicked his gaze over her several times. Alexa smiled to distract him. He eventually shook his head, and she walked where he indicated for her to go, following several other women who’d been pulled from the lines by other bouncers.
Alexa held her breath until she was inside.
She’d never been inside Dimes before. Someone thrust a drink at her, and she offhandedly took it, captivated by the vibrancy of the party raging before her. It was big, bigger than it seemed outside even, with a huge open center and floors upon floors above. People, androids, and guards walked the rails, talking, dancing, and laughing. The guards wore large black wings and carried guns.
Fallen angels.
Like Hysterian.
She shook her head, dropping her eyes from the rails.
A cold sweat broke out on her skin as pounding music blared and switched. Someone pushed her toward the dance floor. Hands grabbed and groped, and she fought her way out of the moving thrall of people. Someone pinched her ass, and she nearly lost it, dropping her cup and fleeing.
When she made it out from the crush, she tugged her dress down and caught her breath.
She couldn’t fail. She couldn’t let her nerves get to her. Not again.
Alexa swallowed, letting her heart settle, and searched for Raphael. She walked toward the stairs since the glass elevators were thronged with patrons.
I wish Hysterian were here. She stamped out the wish as soon as she’d thought it.
