Evigheden

by S King

  Laughing, I nodded again and said goodnight to my friend. We had made plans for meeting up for daytime lunch tomorrow, but I wasn’t ready to go to bed. In fact, I was more in the mood to get out of my house for a few hours.

  I cleaned up my mess, turned off my TV and went to the closet for a change of clothes. Sometimes I loved being able to sleep the day away but other times, like right now, I needed to see someone from the daytime hours, if only for a minute.

  Instead of opting for my usual denim jeans, fitted long sleeve t-shirt and leather duster, I grabbed a black strapless accent party dress and a red long sleeve mock neck cut out dress. Up until tonight I didn’t know when I was going to wear either garment, but now I was torn between the two dresses. Looking at either of the dresses in the closet, I finally decided I needed to see my reflection in order to make a sound decision.

  Standing in front of the mirror, thankful I had chosen to stay in my thin pajamas, I held up the black dress. Where I was going would be up for debate, but I knew the temperature outside was going to freeze me to the bone. Considering the strapless dress, I twisted my mouth and tilted my head. I’d have to wear two coats in order to knock off the chill and then I wouldn’t be able to focus on having fun.

  I tossed the black dress on my bed and held the red dress up. Sure, I had long sleeves, but half of my chest and midriff was going to be exposed. Not to mention both dresses were cut to mid-thigh and the fabric was not suitable for the winter months. Staring between the two dresses, I decided to live dangerously for the night with less skin out in the open.

  Carefully, I hung up the red dress, grabbed the black one from the bed and hurried to the bathroom. Unfortunately, Karina was on duty tonight and there was no way in hell I was going to let Lovett know about my plans to go to a club dressed like some socialite from a reality show. So, I was left to my own devices by my little lonesome.

  By the time I got out of the shower and did my hair and makeup, I was shimmying into the tight black dress an hour later.

  The spray paint hair dye was gone, and my zircon gray ombre locks were back and laying in waves to the bottom of my ribs. I decided on a smokey eye look, forcing the slate gray color of my irises to pop even more than it already did. Couple it with the short dress and my black, lace up peep toe thigh high stiletto boots, I looked like a god damned bombshell. The thought brought a smile to my face as I spun around in the mirror.

  “Get em girl,” I whispered to my reflection as I gave myself a seductive wink and grabbed my clutch purse from the bed. Of course, I wasn’t carrying lipstick or a compact in the black bag. Instead, I had two daggers, my ID and my keys. No matter if I were going out by myself or with a group of people, I wasn’t about to be caught off guard without a weapon of some form.

  I grabbed my waist length leather jacket and headed out of my house. No sooner did I get out of my building, turned the corner and headed for Nine Lives Nightclub did my phone ring and stopped me in my tracks.

  “Hello?”

  “Miss. River, this is Judge Fleur Kemph Sooter, do you have a moment to speak?”

  My heart didn’t just skip a beat, the damned thing stopped as soon as she started speaking. Swallowing hard, I didn’t move from my position on the sidewalk and nodded—as if she could really see me.

  “Yes, your honor.”

  I didn’t know whether or not they had someone watching me and if they did, I was not about to show any form of attitude or disrespect that could get me killed. Hell, I wasn’t so oblivious to ignore the reach of Onyx Elite and how they had HG in their back pocket for such occasions.

  “I just have a few inquiries about several different subjects, if that’s ok?”

  Mentally, I was racing through all of the faces of the BC’s judges. Trying to put her voice on one of the faces. She didn’t sound old or full of snooty attitude, so she had to be the youngest judge on the panel. At least, that’s what my mind concluded to make me feel a little better.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Perfect,” I heard papers shuffling around before she cleared her throat. “Are you currently able to tell me what the status is on gathering information for the defense of Demir Losett, sect leader of Gold Guard?”

  I wanted to tell her, I hadn’t even gotten a head start on getting anything for his defense case or my own. But doing that would only lead to another round of questioning and I wasn’t in the mood to play chess with the judge tonight.

  If I were being honest with myself, I didn’t think about my defense or Demir’s since the last time I had spoken with Onyx Elite. Afterall, both of our orders were on a hold and we had more important things to worry about other than trying to prove the obvious to a bunch of know-it-all judges. Still, I couldn’t show my resentment and dislike for the task assigned to me.

  Clearing my own throat, I stared down at the cement sidewalk, “I’m working diligently on gathering evidence for the defense.”

  “Have you obtained any evidence for your own defense?”

  “Not as of yet, no ma’am.” My throat was becoming tight with emotion as I continued to stare at the ground.

  Verbalizing my downfalls was like lashing myself with my own whip. Not mention the worry filling my head for telling the judge the truth was like drinking poison from the bottle. In truth, I was more worried about the consequences should the judge decide my lack of ambition to prove mine and Demir’s innocence wasn’t satisfactory. I didn’t know how much clout she had within the courts and didn’t want to push my hand on testing her limits.

  She made a noncommittal noise before continuing, “something that came to the attention of the courts is your engagement announcement.”

  Maybe I wouldn’t go out tonight. At the mention of my engagement to Lovett, I chewed on my lip while the cold breeze brushed up against my exposed flesh. This conversation was taking a turn for the worse and I wasn’t about to try to drowned my sorrows in a shot glass. Or worse, get into a fight with some drunk at the club. One more hit on my already fragile record with the courts would be the ultimate downfall for me. A fatal downfall.

  “Is this a legitimate announcement, Miss. River?”

  I frowned, trying to find something else to focus my sights on. What kind of question was that? The Royal Sapphire Courts had signed off on the announcement, they had even released an official notice to the guards. So, why was a prominent judge of BC asking me if the announcement was legitimate? Wasn’t it apart of her job title to know what was true and what wasn’t?

  I shook my head, banishing the snarky comments to the back of my mind and took another deep breath before answering her.

  “I’m not sure I understand what you mean, your honor.”

  “Allow me to clarify,” the gentleness of her voice was like silk falling in the rain. You knew something was behind the fabric once it landed on the ground. “Yours as well as Mr. Joker O’Qhuinn’s announcement came to the courts…in an unusual manner. After further review, it was determined according to Onyx Elite bylaws and guidelines, a sect leader and an elite member are not to marry. Under any circumstance.”

  “May I ask who brought this to the court’s attention?”

  “Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to disclose such information.”

  I nodded and waited for her to continue. There was no purpose in trying to pry information from her when I wasn’t going to get anywhere with it.

  “What the courts would like to know is simple, is your engagement a farce?”

  “No ma’am.”

  “You love this elite member?”

  I stalled. I loved Lovett as a brother at least, a dear friend at most but beyond either of those titles? I knew the answer in my heart and knew from the subtle curiosity in Judge Sooter’s voice she was aware of my true feelings too.

  “You are aware, Miss. River, the implications of knowingly entering into a ruse marriage, correct?”

  I swallowed hard, “with all due respect, your honor, we’re…I…this is all so new to me and
I don’t know how to describe the situation. But I do know that neither I nor Mr. Joker O’Qhuinn would make a ruse of either of the courts or of our guard.”

  She was silent for a moment, obviously considering my answer. If she didn’t believe me, I wouldn’t need to worry about finding evidence for my innocence because I’d be dead for lying to the courts and my guard faster than I could blink.

  “A final question,” she said and paused for a moment. “This matter is to strictly stay between the two of us, Miss. River and I will make the suggestion you keep this topic to yourself. Is that clear?”

  I nodded, frowning as I stared at my apartment building, “yes, your honor.”

  “I have been informed you were told to seek a scientist by the name of Inara Rasmussen. Is that correct?”

  The memory of Heinz’s final statement, telling me to find the scientist who could give me the answers to my adolescent questions played on hyper speed through my mind.

  I clenched my teeth and started walking for the club. After this conversation, I was not going to wallow in my apartment or pace the floor trying to figure out the purpose behind her phone call. Besides, a stiff drink, good dance, and maybe a hookup in one of the back rooms of the exclusive club is what I needed. Although the latter was clearly a maybe and truthfully an unlikely possibility.

  “Yes, your honor.”

  There was no sense in lying to her because it was obvious, she knew something I didn’t. Better yet, if I were a gambling woman, I’d almost be tempted to say she knew exactly what I was up to. She was just waiting for me to dig my own grave so she could push me in.

  “May I inquire to why you are looking for the prominent scientist?” Judge Sooter was the type of woman who made a simple question seem like a normal conversation. Yet and still, I knew the underlying warning behind her inquiry.

  Choosing my words wisely would be in my best interest and more importantly, not showing my hand would play off in my favor. Eventually.

  Opting for the safest—least traceable—option I tipped my chin up in defiance and leveled my tone, “scientist Heinz said to look for him. I was simply trying to figure out why she would say something like that and what the reason was for her final statement.”

  The two of us were silent for a moment; she was probably debating with herself to not call the dogs on me for lying.

  “Very well, Miss. River.” She finally said and if we were face to face, I knew she would probably be smirking at me right now in a way only she could.

  I may not have known the judge like the back of my hand, but I knew—after talking to her for this long—she was the judge who found humor in the defiant and determined nature of the guard members who were stupid enough to confront the courts in such a blasé manner.

  Her parting sentiments forced me to tamper down my thoughts about the how’s and whys she became a judge.

  “Thank you for your time and please do your best to obtain the evidence for both yours and Mr. Losett’s cases.”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  We disconnected the call, leaving me to stand outside of Nine Lives Nightclub with trembling hands, a worried heart and a muddled mind. I had never heard of the judges of BC calling anyone. Everything had always been face to face and never once did any discussion happen without the panel present to hear. But I didn’t hear any hushed whispers or paper rustling in the background. Maybe Sooter was a judge of an unconventional nature, I thought to myself. Yet and still, bending the rules—in her own position—was stupid on her part.

  Pushing my hair from my face, I took in a deep breath; my life was beginning to feel like something out ofa movie and more importantly, I was starting to see how the ending was going to play out before it even happened.

  Shoving my phone in the clutch bag, I shook my head, I was not going to deal with the aftermath of the phone call right now. Nor was I going to worry about the evidence for mine or Demir’s case; it had waited this long, it can wait one more night.

  I pulled my emotions together, straightened my back and nodded to the retired guard members standing on either side of the door as I walked into Nine Lives. Either way, I was not going to allow the last thirty minutes to ruin my night or force me into a miserable mood I couldn’t get out of.

  I had never been to Nine Lives—when did I have the time? Staying on duty around the clock and fighting for my sect and my guard as a whole to have the same jobs as Gold didn’t allow me to find the hottest new spot for letting loose. However with one look around the packed building I was beginning to question my decision. I’m sure I looked like an idiot in comparison to everyone else already enthralled in a good time, but I was going to own my idiocy. At least I was for a few hours.

  Flashing strobe lights, pounding bass, and thrashing bodies filled my sense as I looked around the building. A bar that seemed like it was a mile long stretched from one end of the building to the next, filled with thirsty patrons shouting their orders over the music to the rushing bartenders.

  Tonight, I guess, was a special night in the club. Yes, the women were scantily dressed, and more skin was visible than on a nudist beach. But everyone—the bartenders and DJ included—wore masks. Some fully covered the owner’s faces while others were covering just the top half, allowing their mouths to be exposed. Easier access to getting drunk, I reasoned with myself.

  I stepped back, unable to fit into the crowd and thought about just hightailing my ass back to my apartment.

  “Hey, Luminous, right?” I looked to my left toward the small alcove that housed the owner’s offices behind the wall to find a short, elderly woman standing beside me.

  “Yes?”

  She was cute in the old lady type of way. Wry white hair pinned in a tight bun at the base of her neck shined as the light caught the strands. Wrinkles marred her once supple skin but her bright gold eyes remained watchful and alert; she was shorter than I was—standing at an even five-foot, she had gained elderly weight since her years with the guard. But something told me she was still able to kick ass if need be.

  A genteel smile covered her thin lips, “I know your parents very well, your sister also. Whatever are you doing here?”

  I searched my memory bank as I tried to remember her name. I’d never seen this woman a day in my life; then again, I wasn’t the social butterfly either. Maybe she was one of the few guard members who walked around during the day. Still, I put on an easy smile and answered her.

  “I just needed a little break from my responsibilities.”

  She nodded, looking around the club for a moment, “I’ve never heard anything truer.” With a sobering sigh, she smiled and turned to me again, “tonight is a special night, a mask ball. For those that missed the official ball.”

  I made a noise in my throat as I took another look around the room.

  “Do you need a mask dear?”

  I glanced around the room again and smiled sheepishly, “if you don’t mind.”

  “I’ve got just the thing.” She shook a permanently stiff finger at me and disappeared back into her office for a second. When she came back, she held a white porcelain mask with black intricate designs spanning from the top of the mask and down to the nose. It was only a half mask, but it looked exactly like the one I had worn to the ball that night.

  “Oh no, I couldn’t.”

  The mask I had worn was just as fragile and had been kept in a thick case with velvet plush lining just to make sure it didn’t shatter. But I didn’t know how well it would hold up to all of the movement within the club.

  She shoved the thing into my hand and smiled, “it’ll be fine, I have plenty. Enjoy your night off, Luminous and don’t forget to tell your parents, Maggie said hi.”

  I nodded to her, finally catching her name and put on the mask, “thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, now go.” She shooed me to the fray of the club and smiled as she went back to the office.

  I nodded, turning my attention back to the club. To say I wasn’t a party a
nimal would be putting it mildly; the most going out I had done in the past three years was Karina’s annual bonfire. Outside of that? I had no experience in YOLO or whatever it was nowadays.

  With a deep breath, I checked my mask a final time before putting my shoulders back and walked to the bar. A drink. I needed alcohol to drowned out the nerves and the conversation I had had with Sooter. Not to mention, maybe getting drunk—or at the very least a slight buzz—may make my nerves settle enough to get some sleep.

  “What can I get ya, pretty lady?” A male bartender leaned against the crystal glass of the bar top and eyed me through his Zorro mask with a wicked smile covering his lips.

  Putting my polite voice on, I leaned toward him and tapped a finger on my chin, “gin and tonic.” I slid the cash across the smooth surface and smiled flirtatiously at him.

  With a wink and another seductive look toward my breasts, he swiped the twenty from the bar, “you got it.”

  If he thought I was going to bang him in the employee room on his ten-minute break he had another thing coming. Then again, it would get my mind off Mr. Phantom. I entertained the thought as I turned around to face the dancefloor.

  Maybe I should’ve invited Karina. God knows she didn’t have any problems telling Rocks where to get off and went against the rules constantly. Besides that, at least with her here she would’ve kept me company and provided some form of commentary to the scene unfolding on the dancefloor.

  “Here ya go,” the bartender slid the glass across the bar and winked at me before pushing off the edge with his hip to take more orders.

  Strangely enough he had written his number down on a black napkin with metallic ink. As if he truly thought I was going to utilize the thing after tonight. Yeah, because I was really going to do that, let alone have the time for such things.

  Rolling my eyes at the notion, I took my drink and scoped out the empty booths along the back wall. Thanks to the masks—like at the ball—I didn’t recognize anyone within the club. Still, I wasn’t going to let that stop me from having a good time.

  One drink and then I would get on the dancefloor and let the beat take me, I had bargained with myself, moving toward an empty booth.