Page 13 of Veiled Vixen

Move along, little bird. She is not the bloom you’re looking for.

It does. And Veila turns back to me. “Did Lyra, or Nyleena, or any of them tell you what it’s like back in the Cygnian System?”

“What?” I frown at her. “No. Not that I ever asked. Not that I ever cared. But I imagine it’s terrible.”

“It is,” she says, then turns her head away to stare out the window. “It was… horrific.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to work,” I say. “I don’t give two fucks how awful your childhood was, OK? I’m not going to talk to Luck. I’m not going to do any favors for you no matter what sob story you tell. So just save your breath.”

“I’d heard about you guys. You’re all pretty famous in the home system.” She turns to look at me. Smiles. Glows pink. Her true color, I remind myself. “But we only had mock-up representations of you on the magazine covers.”

“What?” I ask, confused.

“You Harem boys. I’m sure they had pictures.” She waves her hand through the air again, like she wants to dismiss that thought. But then she continues anyway. “And video. I mean, how could they not?”

I’m not sure if that’s a real question. So I say nothing.

“You boys were all over the galaxy having all your adventures. They knew who you were. Well, hell, of course they did. They knew you boys long before you came here to Harem. Did Crux ever tell you about his initial meeting with Corla?”

“I heard parts.”

“Doesn’t matter. My point is… you boys didn’t realize it, but you were famous in the home system. But now that I think about it, the pictures on the covers of the magazines might’ve just represented all of the Akeelian boys. Not you Harem boys specifically. They made you look like monsters. Sexy monsters, for sure. But still.”

I scoff. “God, you people are sick. I don’t think ‘sexy’ and ‘monsters’ go together. Not even a little bit.”

“No?” She looks puzzled. “Well, the princesses. Not me specifically, but all of us. We’re all sexy. And we’re all monsters. So I think you’re wrong there.”

Can’t really argue with that.

“So… were the stories true?”

“What?” I ask. “What stories?”

“Every month they put out a magazine called Akeelian Adventures. It was more of a graphic novel. Like I said, they portrayed you Akeelians as… kind of the ideal monster. But they did use your real names. So, for instance, one month would be about you and Luck. And the next month would be about Jimmy and Xyla. Tray and ALCOR. I never understood why ALCOR was in the comics. Maybe just as your supreme leader?”

“They… wrote comics about us?”

“After you boys came here to ALCOR Station they were about you specifically. Before that they were different. Just kind of generic names. There was AI-Man, and Bounty Hunter, and Bot Boy.” She laughs. Glows a little brighter too. “Stupid kind of superhero names like that. But then after Corla, you know… Once you guys left the station they used your real names.”

“What were the comics about?” I’m intrigued now. I hate to admit that, but it’s sorta creepy and flattering at the same time.

She does that hand wave again. And I’m starting to wonder what’s behind that gesture. Is she dismissing things? Or something else?

Regardless, she continues. “You and Luck were always doing crazy things on ancient stations. Looking for AI parts and old tech. Salvaging things.”

“Hmm,” I hum. “That’s what we really did.”

“I know that now. But I didn’t back then. I didn’t think you were real at all. Not until I left the system and found out for myself. So I wonder how much was true?”

“No clue, lady. And this subject change you’re doing right now? What do you take me for? Some two-cocked fool? I mean, look. You’re the most accomplished liar I know, Veila. Congrats, by the way. I mean, I’ve met all kinds here on Harem. It’s nothing but liars and cheaters all day long. You’re the best. But here’s the thing about being a liar, Veila. Eventually no one believes you. So I don’t know what you’re trying to pull with this whole pregnancy thing, but leading me down this little path of childhood myths and comics to gain my trust or lower my defenses is just—well, insulting. OK? It is. I’m happy to go down to the lower levels to see Luck. I miss him. So I’ll do that. But here’s something you should know about me, OK? I’m not one of those people who give a lot of fucks. I’m not someone who eats the guilt of others. So if you think you can talk me into believing that suffocating those three point seven million people here on Harem will be my fault?”

I pause to guffaw out a, “Ha!” which elicits a scowl from her.

“It’s not gonna work. I don’t operate like that. I’m not a guilt eater. I don’t have this inner desire to fix things, or save people, or whatever. And Luck isn’t like that either. He’ll come save your ass if he’s your friend or whatever. Like he did Jimmy. But that’s because he’s arrogant. Really. That’s all it is. He’s just an arrogant asshole who likes to swoop in and be heroic because it makes him look good. So you threatening him, or me, with this ‘gotta save the station’ bullshit? No, Veila. It won’t work on us. Crux?” I nod my head. “Yeah. That’s more his style. But the rest of us? We’re just a bunch of outlaws. So if you want to kill everyone on this station?” I shrug with my hands. “That’s all you, baby.”

She inhales deeply and again, she glows a little. Rose gold. Not silver. Which I kind of hate and love at the same time because the silvers remind me of cold. Like cold, dark space. And the golds are like warm blankets in a drafty stargazing room. They have heat to them.

Even Nyleena creeps me out with her silver persona. I know she can’t help it, but I just don’t see the attraction.