She'd applied makeup according to the latest trends. Thankfully, that required only minimalist effort because she would have resisted any attempts to transform her into a peacock. Her scar was again invisible, and her eyes were lined with kohl, enlarging and darkening them. Her lips were the color of a ripe strawberry. Hairpins sharpened into deadly points disappeared in the mass of hair crowning her head, but she knew exactly where each one was located, and the poisoned needles were sewn into the low neckline and single shoulder strap. Cat powdered her exposed flesh with a shimmery mineral which made her skin glow.
Jenira had practiced kicking, walking, and dancing in the four-inch heels of clear plastic. Sparkling silver straps wound up her calves, and tiny, charmed sapphires dripped from her ears. A matching silver and sapphire cuff circled her upper arm, drawing attention away from her well-developed muscles, an unusual attribute among the female Elite. The cuff was spelled with a glamour Jenira had perfected. If someone expressed more than a passing interest in her, it would neatly divert the direction of their thoughts. Cat assured her the cuffs were all the rage with the Elite and spelled ornaments explained magical presence in a tech-heavy environment.
The clothes and jewelry had been expensive, and they’d only confirmed the purchases after receiving electronic assurance that Rennert would not subtract the cost from her final pay. Jenira tore her gaze from her reflection to focus on her sister. Cat was proud and excited but had repeatedly insisted she wasn’t the least bit envious of staying home. Jenira didn't blame her; she imagined descending into a snake pit would be more enjoyable than tonight’s plans.
Cat would monitor the evening through her cameras. She had tapped into the ones at the venue, and a continuous feed already streamed across her monitors. The footage revealed scurrying caterers, security personnel, and last minute event planners. A crowd of media milled around the outside of the building, increasing the danger. The sapphire earrings hid tiny cameras and would feed images to Cat. The electronics cost more money than the dress, and her sister had cooed over them like a mother bird.
“Remember that there won't be any jammers present. It would appear suspicious, and these are the top tech minds in the country. Even a private conversation with Rennert could become public,” Cat reminded Jenira for the tenth time.
Jenira let her sister ramble, swallowing her nerves and muttering a small incantation under her breath. Comforting warmth spread through her limbs as the spell took effect. It was meant to simultaneously increase her alertness while easing her nerves. The spell wouldn't last all night, but it would assist with a smooth start. She tuned back into her sister's words.
“The camera, mic, and audio are state-of-the-art and almost undetectable. I wager you won't be the only one bugged because doing a thorough sweep would piss off the top Elite. I might lose you when you go into Rennert's building, but I'll signal when you're back online.” Cat checked the time. “You should go. Are you ready?”
“I performed a calming spell.” Jenira hugged her sister, pleased when the expensive material of her dress didn't wrinkle.
“Good luck, sis. I'll be watching. If I detect any trouble, I'll tell you. Signal me if something happens on your end. I don't like you going in without your blades.”
“That's why I have these,” Jenira motioned to her upper half where the needles hid. Her confidence was returning with the spell, and she extended her senses to make sure there were no Sniffers in the area. Mages typically stayed away from Washington Quarter, one reason why the sisters had picked it as a home base. The dirty, industrial interference from the nearby factories did not provide a soothing environment for magic, unlike the cleaner tech of the central city. Any tech could be bothersome, but the dirtier or less in tune with nature it was, the worse it could be. Reassured no other mages occupied the vicinity, she grinned at her sister and phased to the roof of the Rialto.
Shaking off the lingering tingles of her phase, she thanked the weather. She might complain about the heat during her runs, but the warmth was welcome when she stood half naked on a rooftop high above the city. She inhaled the sweet scent of Rennert's impressive garden before squaring her shoulders and approaching the seating area. Rennert faced away from her again, dressed in a crisp black suit. A man more concerned with his image might consider the outfit austere, but it suited him. Even without fancy clothes, he wasn’t easily overlooked or forgotten. Every minute since she had met him had taught her that.
“Good evening.” His deep voice vibrated through her and caused goosebumps the breeze hadn't. She stepped from the sheltering shadows of the garden and entered the glow of the rooftop lamps. He turned, his eyes caressing her body - from her elegantly coiffed hair to the tips of her toes peeking out of the ridiculous shoes. The heat in his eyes caused a similar reaction within her core.
"You play the part as well as I thought you would.”
Jenira's lips curved, and his bright, amber eyes focused on her mouth. Desire flooded through her, responding to his magic and evident hunger. “I'm glad you're pleased,” she answered, filling the tense silence with words.
“More than pleased.”
Jenira looked away, unable to continue facing the evident appreciation and interest in his tone and gaze. She motioned to the door. “Shall we?”
Rennert preceded her and pushed a sequence of buttons to unlock the door, and Jenira used the moment to regain her composure. After disengaging another panel, he opened the door at the bottom which led into his personal residence.
The lavish apartment was decorated similarly to his office, except in soothing blue tones. The minimalist theme relied on thick marbles, leathers, and natural wood. Just like in his office, huge windows stretched the height of his southern wall. Plants filled the area. Vines hung from the ceiling, small saplings crowded each other with exotic blooms, and fragile buds that would struggle on the rooftop turned part of the penthouse into a garden. The room didn't betray much about the man, except that he was a ridiculously wealthy mage.
Rennert led her across the light blue carpet, pausing before the elevator. His abrupt turn caught her off guard, and Jenira reeled from his closeness. Only inches separated their forms. Even in her four-inch heels, he was taller than her, and his shoulders were so broad, they blocked everything behind him. His eyes re-assessed her with the benefit of better lighting.
“Are you armed?”
Jenira weighed her answer. “Nothing detectable.”
He nodded in satisfaction. “What is the enchantment on your jewelry?”
“The earrings hide cameras, and the cuff contains a simple spell to help shield my magic and prevent anyone from becoming too suspicious of my presence.” She'd guessed he would detect the enchantment and readied the answer in preparation. His beautiful eyes sparked with a burst of magic and it glittered around them for an instant. Her closeness to him revealed the gold starburst around his pupils which blended into the amber brown of his outer irises. At the moment, his power was tightly controlled, and she hoped he maintained that restraint. Her knees might not support her if he didn’t.
“I doubt you need any assistance shielding your magic.” He was amazingly, irritatingly perceptive. “And,” he continued with a quirk of his lips, “a redirection spell won't work on me.” He leaned toward her. Stubbornness, coupled with the fear that she would trip over her dress if she stepped backward, kept her motionless. His eyes memorized her features.
It took every bit of self-control she owned to keep her breathing and heart rate even when he tilted her chin upward. His golden magic caressed her skin in a way his fingers couldn’t, and her magic surged eagerly in response. She could break away, but it would show weakness. She waited, pondering his intent and wondering if she imagined the nervous tremble in his fingers.
“Your partner is watching and listening?” She couldn't identify the undercurrent to his voice, but she nodded. “Good.” She sensed he wanted to say more but didn't. She doubted much stayed hidden from a man like Davin Re
nnert, and her partner's unknown identity irritated him. “You won't be the only attendee wearing surveillance gear so security will ignore it.”
Jenira hid a smile at the resemblance to her sister's words. His fingers still rested lightly under her chin, and Jenira returned the close inspection of his face, noting the fine wrinkles bracketing his eyes. His gaze narrowed on the fake flesh covering her scar, and Jenira again imagined he could see past the expensive putty. She wondered if Rennert would desire her as much if he saw her uncovered face.
“Are you done examining me?” Irritation finally overcame nervousness and desire. His amused gaze met hers.
“For now.” He released his hold on her and turned in one smooth movement. She swallowed tensely when his back turned, cursing her reaction to his magic. Living among techies and mundanes for so long caused unforeseen consequences, and she was still trying to convince herself that it was only his magic that attracted her.
The silence stretched between them as they descended in the elevator which opened into an underground garage. Cat whispered in her ear, reaffirming what they had suspected. Rennert equipped his penthouse suite with powerful jammers, just like his office.
She tapped her hidden mic to let Cat know she copied. The brightly lit garage housed vehicles of all kinds, and she wagered each one of them cost more than a steamboat ticket to Europe. Sleek sports cars, long limos, and bulky SUV's shared the space. Every one of them was electric-powered, an added expense only the Elite could afford. A movement in recent decades pushed to diminish fossil fuel usage when it became clear the pollution damaged the environment. Cat had mentioned Rennert Industries was one of the biggest proponents of the shift, and now that Jenira knew Rennert possessed magic, she understood why. Fossil fuels contributed to dirty interference which weakened a mage’s power. She moved her head as she studied the cars, giving Cat a broad view on the cameras so she could drool at the impressive tech filling the garage.
Rennert led her to a sleek, cherry red sports car Jenira didn't know the name of. Cat had probably already catalogued the vehicle and downloaded its specs, though. He stopped at her door, his lips curved. “Keep your magic cloaked; I don't want my favorite car fried.”
She struggled with his assumption that she possessed enough power to keep her magic from interfering with the car's engine. More ignorant mages and techies might think her mere presence would cause issues. It was those unfounded fears that formed the core of many battles between techies and mages and provided an excuse for the extreme separatism.
She didn't respond as she slipped into the embracing leather seats. Her fingers twitched to caress the buttery fabric and moan with pleasure at the sheer elegance of the machine. She might be a mage, but her closeness to Cat and her time in the East had taught her appreciation for specific inventions. A vehicle would have been a welcome extravagance when they'd spent weeks roaming the countryside in search of a new home.
Rennert slipped behind the wheel, and she swallowed a laugh when he had to fold his bulk to fit into the small cab. Once his arm was brushing hers though, she had to exert more effort to leash her magic and ignore the sensations his nearness caused. Her life in the East forced her to exist in a perpetual state of restraint, though; she’d had lots of practice.
The car purred quietly, and the sounds of the city pressed upon them the moment the reinforced door to the garage rose. Jenira didn't spend much time in this part of Brenville. Office buildings and facilities catering to the Elite dominated the quarter. Oxygen bars, expensive restaurants, electronic sales spaces, and repair storefronts were frequented by fashionable techies chatting on mobile phones or jabbing keys on their PDA's. The cars sharing the roadway were almost as beautiful as Rennert's; sleek sports machines mingled with limousines and public buses. Even the buses were clean and not covered in graffiti or belching fossil fuels like they did in the factory section. She didn't see any homeless beggars, either; a common sight in the Washington Quarter.
The elevated train buzzed overhead as they arrived at the venue. They could have walked from the Rialto, but Jenira appreciated the drive despite its wastefulness. Her shoes would have caused her to limp within a block. The Brenville Technology Society was a huge, extravagant building the Elite used for parties and gatherings. A handful of the city's more exclusive organizations also met inside.
Jenira inhaled deeply, her nerves jumping again; she wanted to renew her calming spell but couldn't risk frying Rennert's expensive car. Smartly dressed men and women with cameras and audio recording devices clustered within the media section, which was closed off by a thick red rope. Armed security personnel occupied even intervals both inside and outside the building. The cars, most driven via chauffeur, queued in the circular drive and stopped one at a time. Chauffeurs or valets in smart red suits drove them away. Rennert glanced at her as they passed through the towering wrought iron gates.
“Remember to smile. I'll make sure our images don't remain on any feed, but we need to play the role of the billionaire and his empty-headed escort. Don't ask too many questions; just use your beautiful mind to observe anything I might not. Low-level magic won't be detected due to the Elite's love of charms. I'll introduce you as Jen Dering and say you're new to town. People rarely ask questions if I don't want them to.” He flashed a feral grin, and she smiled tightly in return. She didn’t appreciate feeling weak; the unfamiliar emotion sparked a simmer of anger in her chest. His smile softened as if he knew what she was thinking. “You'll do wonderfully.”
“You got this, Jen,” Cat whispered in her ear, and her sister's gentle words and confidence helped dissolve her nerves. Rennert stopped the car, and she remembered to wait until he opened her door. He stood over her, his eyes dark. She grasped his extended hand confidently and stepped from the car, smiling for the benefit of the crowd. Cameras flashed around her, and her nose lifted into the air as she tucked her arm into Rennert's. His muscular body pressed against her side lent her a comfort she appreciated for the moment. Even with both of their magic contained, she was irritated to find that her body still craved his.
Jenira repeated an internal mantra until she believed it - she was simply another spoiled daughter of the Elite. She had every right to be here, and she looked gorgeous on Rennert's arm. Her anxiety slipped away, and Rennert smiled approvingly when her form loosened against his. They strode arm in arm up the stairs and into the glittering ballroom.
The security guards stationed in the foyer recognized Rennert because they waved him on without a second glance. Their eyes skipped over Jenira as if she were a non-entity, and the irony of their assumptions amused her. Their bodies joined the crush of sparkling dresses and dark suits. Crystal cut chandeliers cast rainbows about the room and mingled with a profusion of jewels and sequins. The colorful array dazzled the eye.
Rennert paused a moment in the raised entrance, allowing every curious person below to note their arrival. She was on display. Any man would want to show her off, and Rennert played the part to a tee. She was sure this was not his first time playing the act. She forced her muscles to relax and retained a smug, vacuous expression on her face as they descended the three stairs to the ballroom.
Once they were no longer the center of attention, she braced herself for the inevitable onslaught as she released a trickle of magic to assess the surrounding emotions. Controlling its flow into her consciousness, she found greed, lust, envy, shrewd calculation, and varying levels of interest directed toward them. The mix was embarrassingly predictable. Rennert's emotional state stayed calm; intense observation operated under unshakeable confidence. He was a man in his element, and being on his arm steadied her.
She studied the Elite and mentally diagrammed the positions of the guards. The security personnel wore dark suits and black earpieces; their weapons were visible to offer comfort, but invisible enough they didn’t inspire fear. Several patrolled among the partygoers while others stood at intervals around the room. Their eyes were careful, assessing, and experie
nced. Extending the range of her empathy spell, she noted half were focused solely on their job, and the other half observed the women more than necessary. The realization didn't surprise her.
As their trajectory took them by mingling groups of people, Rennert nodded or spoke quiet greetings. The eyes of the Elite followed him and Jenira. Lust and curiosity tainted the men while most of the women allowed jealousy and judgment to rule their thoughts. Several were mundanes, and Jenira knew their lives weren't secure; their resentment was understandable. They might have done terrible things to reach this point, and they knew they could be discarded at any minute.
Jenira catalogued the locations of cameras and audio devices, assessed the cost of jewels and dresses, and identified which partygoers wore spelled accessories. Nothing but stale magic reached her senses, meaning no one was actively employing abilities. Rennert's power remained tightly leashed, and his eyes were devoid of their magical spark. Jenira reevaluated whether she should use magic, but Rennert's words in the car had been an obtuse direction. If someone accused her of magework by some freak of chance, it would not be as damaging as if he faced detection.
A few of the Elite paid for surgical alterations; their perfect skin was creaseless and shiny from recent operations. Several women displayed assets that couldn't be natural. One such woman, a redhead with a neckline so low it barely confined her fake breasts, approached them on heels twice the height of Jenira's. The ridiculous shoes caused her to waddle like a newborn calf. Jenira hid her amusement when she realized the woman intended on intercepting them. Rennert's forearm tensed beneath her hand, irritation spiking his emotions.
“Davin, darling, such a surprise,” the beautiful woman drawled, her voice louder than necessary. She didn't look at Jenira, batting false eyelashes in Rennert's direction. Jenira wondered if any of her body parts were real.
“Eloise.” A more intelligent woman would have walked away at Rennert's tone, but this Eloise lacked self-preservation. Jenira untangled the redhead's emotional state while maintaining a close eye on the people around them. The redhead was a jumble of greed, lust, and jealousy with an undercurrent of anger. She leaned forward, a dark nipple peeking from her plunging neckline. Jenira had considered herself underdressed, but this woman challenged public decency. If Rennert noticed, he gave no indication; she sensed nothing but complete indifference and impatience.
Worlds Collide (Magitech Book 1) Page 8