by Anthea Sharp
So, what to do? Was there something different about his particular version of Feyland? Or was there something tweaked about him that enabled him to carry things out of the game into the real world?
He shivered at the idea. None of it made sense.
Part of him thought he should tell his parents, maybe even get in contact with someone at VirtuMax, but then what? They’d confiscate his sim system for sure, and he might end up being the subject of weird experiments and testing. No thanks.
Mom and Dad would make him stop, and no doubt take away the game. Although, since he’d just turned eighteen, they couldn’t legally control his actions. They could kick him out, though, and he didn’t even want to start going down that road.
Silence seemed the best course. He’d discovered this ability, whatever it was, and he should be the one who decided how to use it.
The club idea had come to him one morning as he woke up and watched the enchanted forest fade away. Why not share it with other people? It was amazingly cool, harmless, and like nothing anyone had ever seen.
If he set things up right, people would think it was just an incredible simulation, the way Emmie had at first. Nobody could possibly guess the truth, and anyway, people wanted to believe things that didn’t shake their worldview too much.
The more he thought about it, the more the idea felt right. He’d been needing something to do, and with Durham heading off to college in the fall, their Flail stream days were coming to an end. Plus, Nyx wasn’t blind to the financial opportunities. He’d run with the concept until it was played out, or he lost the ability to bring items out of Feyland to create the bubble worlds.
So here he was, nervously pacing the warehouse floor two nights before the grand opening, and hoping he hadn’t screwed up.
“I think we’re done for the night,” Emmie said, giving the juice bar counter a final swipe with a clean bar towel.
“Tomorrow afternoon we can write the menu up on the chalkboard,” her friend Sula said. “This is going to be prime!”
“We hope,” Emmie said. “Let’s head—and get some good rest tonight.”
She sounded so mature. Nyx gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Want me to come wait at the bus stop with you?”
“Nah.” She shook her head. “It’s still early enough that the skanks aren’t out, and you’re not the only one with the karate moves.”
“Big talk for a blue belt.” He sank into horse stance and lifted his hands. “Bring it.”
“I’m not sparring with you.” She tossed her teal-dipped blonde hair back, then rolled her eyes at Sula. “Ready?”
“Message me when you get home,” Nyx said.
He wasn’t that worried—Emmie and Sula had taken the bus all over Newpoint for years, but it was a little later than he’d like. And his parents had given him the stern lecture about looking after his little sister whenever she was down at the club.
“Will do. Good night, bro.” She gave him a jaunty wave as she and Sula left.
He went to the door and stood outside, watching until the girls settled at the bus stop two blocks away. Lights were on in the tall skyscrapers, squares of yellow extending up into the twilight sky. He couldn’t see any stars.
The bus roared past, Sula and Emmie got on, and Nyx went inside and locked the warehouse door behind him. He made sure everything was secure, then went to fire up one of the sim systems in his spare room. Time to get to work gathering leaves. The enchanted forest wasn’t going to summon itself, and the clock was ticking down to the grand opening of Club Mysteria.
CHAPTER TEN
June 26
For the next couple days, Marny tried not to constantly look over her shoulder for Mr. von Coburg’s guards. None of her supervisors said anything or treated her any differently, which suggested that her conversation with the CEO was just between the two of them. So far.
At least she finally had her duffel, but she wasn’t sure she’d be able to forgive Anjah for how that had happened.
The morning of her third day of work, her luggage still hadn’t shown up. She’d stared at her one outfit, then shook her head. Two days of wearing sweaty office clothing she could deal with, but she couldn’t stand the thought of putting the blouse and slacks back on yet again. Even if it meant another scary interview with Mr. von Coburg.
If Intertech wanted to kick her out for breaking the dress code, fine. Though her stomach knotted at the idea of going back to Crestview in disgrace.
But if the company booted her, who said she had to go home right away? Newpoint was a big city and she could probably find temporary work. She would get Brenna to help her, if it came to that. Failing her internship didn’t mean she was failing her life, right? Still, the thought made her feel sick inside.
She pulled on the jeans and T-shirt she’d arrived in, but could only find one sock. Frustration grated through her, but she made herself slow down and check all the usual places—under the bed, balled up under her jacket. Nothing.
Marny padded barefoot to the front closet. Maybe she’d left a sock inside her Converse. She poked through the closet and finally discovered her sock lying under one of Wil’s enormous, grubby athletic shoes. Thank goodness.
As she shut the door, a flash of familiar green caught her eye. Senses prickling, she leaned in and peered into the corner of the closet. Her duffel bag lay there, crammed behind a bunch of Anjah’s coats.
What the actual hell? Nostrils flaring, she hauled her bag out. It was her duffel, no question. She unzipped it and gave a quick check of the contents, but everything seemed to be there.
How long had it been in the apartment, and who had stuck it in the closet and not bothered mentioning it to her? There were only two possibilities, and their names were Wil and Anjah.
“Morning,” Wil said, ambling into the kitchen to start the coffee brewing.
Anger sizzling just under her skin, Marny grabbed her duffel and stalked over.
“Do you know anything about this?” she asked, hefting the green bag.
He blinked at it a second with sleepy eyes. “Hey—your luggage came? Congrats.”
“Apparently it’s been here a while—I just found my bag in the front closet. Any idea how it happened to get there?”
“No, that’s weird. But at least you got it back, right?”
She watched him closely, but he didn’t seem to be lying. Wil might be thoughtless and bumbling, but he wasn’t malicious. Anjah, on the other hand…
“Right,” Marny said.
She went to the bathroom door and opened it without knocking. The steamy air smelled like flowers and cream.
“Hey! Is respecting my privacy too much to ask?” Anjah turned from putting on her makeup and scowled.
She had a pink towel turban-wrapped on her head, and wore a fluffy white bathrobe, so it wasn’t like Marny had walked in on her at an awkward moment. Though it would serve Anjah right if she had.
“Right now,” Marny said, “I’m not sure you deserve any respect. I just discovered my duffel crammed into the hall closet.”
Guilt flickered over Anjah’s expression, and then she lifted one shoulder in an elaborate shrug. “I stowed it there while you waited for the rest of your bags to come, and must have forgotten to tell you.”
Forgotten, her ass.
“There aren’t any more bags,” Marny said.
Anjah’s perfect mouth opened a little in surprise. “That’s all the luggage you have?”
“Unlike some people, I don’t require an enormous wardrobe and tons of makeup to feel good about myself.” It was mean of her, but Marny’s temper was turned up way past simmer.
Anjah narrowed her eyes. “At least I have something worth showing off.”
“It’s too bad you’re not proud of what’s inside. I thought you were smarter than that. Shallowness is such an unattractive quality.”
Marny didn’t wait for Anjah to reply, but closed the door loudly, just short of a slam. She blew a breath out her nostrils, th
en went to change into something that wouldn’t raise Intertech’s eyebrows or make her a target for the CEO.
For the rest of the week, Anjah had pointedly ignored her, which was fine with Marny. Wil either didn’t notice, or wisely didn’t comment. They went to the dining room at different times, and Marny was glad she didn’t have to sit with her roommates. Intertech was filled with interesting people, and she ended up hearing some fascinating conversations—stuff she probably wouldn’t have otherwise been exposed to about future trends in media consumption and what was going on with Intertech’s projects.
On Friday after work, Anjah was sitting in the living room when Marny came in.
“There you are,” she said, flashing her tablet at Marny. “Have you seen this?”
Marny slipped her shoes off, then cautiously padded over to the couch. She drew the line at sitting next to Anjah, though. As far as she was concerned, the girl still owed her a serious apology.
“What?” she asked, keeping her voice neutral.
“This ad for the new all-ages club opening tonight. It looks amazing.”
Anjah held up her tablet so Marny could read the screen.
“Club Mysteria, where enchanted wonders await.” Marny shook her head. “I’m not really into the party scene.”
Anjah gave her a little pout. “We should go together, to celebrate your first weekend in the city. Girls’ night out.”
“I don’t think so.” Marny wanted to make a cup of tea, watch some vids, and go to bed early. It had been a severe week.
“Please,” Anjah said, sounding like she meant it. “My treat.”
Marny studied her a moment. It was a peace offering, and the closest thing she’d get to Anjah saying she was sorry. Was she willing to accept?
“Is this a setup or prank of some kind?”
Anjah flushed. “I know you think I hate you—but this is real. I swear.”
Marny glanced at the screen again, noting the little winged creatures dancing around Club Mysteria’s logo. Faeries.
“Okay,” she said. “But I don’t want to stay out too late.”
“Great.” Anjah smiled, and it looked genuine. “We should leave around eight—I’ll arrange for a cab.”
“How far is it?” Maybe agreeing to go hadn’t been such a good idea.
“Oh, the address is just south of downtown.” Anjah waved her hand. “But I couldn’t walk that far in my silver sandals.”
Anjah’s idea of sandals likely involved three-inch heels.
“I’m not getting dressed up,” Marny warned.
“That’s all right. I’ll glitter enough for both of us.” Anjah rose. “I better start getting ready. See you downstairs in the lobby at eight.”
Marny stood in the living room, staring out at the sunlit rooftops and trying not to feel nervous. What had she just gotten herself into?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Despite her assertion she wasn’t planning to get all fancy, that evening Marny donned one of her nicer outfits. If black jeans and a top with a little lace around the edges counted as nice. But they were going to a club, it would be dark inside, and who really cared what she wore? Anjah would draw everybody’s gaze in whatever outrageous dress she had on, anyway.
Marny laced up her high tops, then grabbed her red coat, Intertech ID, and debit card. If she couldn’t stand Club Mysteria, she’d just walk back to Intertech or grab a cab. Anjah could look after herself.
Downstairs, Anjah hovered inside the front doors—and she hadn’t been kidding about the glitter. Her dress was made of green and blue sequins that caught the light with every movement.
Marny glanced down at her basic outfit, then gave a mental shrug. She had no desire to dazzle.
“Oh, you did come,” Anjah said, clacking over to meet her. Even in her heels, she didn’t come up to Marny’s chin. “I’m so glad. Come on, the cab’s waiting.”
Her evident relief made Marny warm to her a touch more. At least Anjah was making an effort to be nice.
“You went for the mermaid look tonight?” Marny said as she slid into the back seat of the cab after Anjah.
“This club we’re going to is supposed to be magical,” Anjah said. “I had to dress the part.”
Magical. The word made the hairs on the back of Marny’s neck prickle.
“How do you know about this place?” she asked. “Club Mysteria, right?”
“There’s been serious buzz about it on the social webs. Plus all those ads.” Anjah inspected her silver-flecked turquoise nail polish. “A local Flail channel star is supposedly involved—Nyx Spenser.”
Marny shrugged. “Haven’t heard of him.”
“I hadn’t, either—but then, I’m not a big gamer. He looks cute in the vids, though. See?”
Anjah flipped open her tablet and scrolled through a few pics, pausing when she got to a shot of a guy with dark blond hair. He seemed familiar. Marny studied his face.
“Wait,” she said. “Isn’t that one of the Retro Game-a-Thon guys?” She’d watched their channel a bit, two summers ago, before things started getting strange in Crestview.
“I think that’s the name of their stream,” Anjah said. “Anyway, isn’t he prime? Apparently he does martial arts, too. A multiple black belt or whatever. I wonder if he has a girlfriend.”
“I thought you liked that guy at Intertech.”
Anjah shrugged, and her entire dress shimmered. “He’s moving a little too slow for my tastes. Oh look, we’re here.”
The cab pulled up in front of what seemed to be a warehouse. The high upper windows were lit from inside, showing flashes of flickering green and gold. A heavy bass beat throbbed through the air, supporting a swirling synth and wild-sounding fiddle. Above the battered metal door the words Club Mysteria were written in curling gold script. And there was a line to get in.
“Maybe there won’t be room for us.” Marny wouldn’t mind if they were refused entry at the door.
Anjah paid their fare and motioned her to step out. “I’m certain they won’t turn us away.”
“You, maybe. Me, I’m not so sure I’m their type.”
Marny got out of the cab and scanned the people standing in front of the building. Some wore elaborate costumes complete with wings, while others had on outfits that would fit right in at a royal ball. That said, there were a few normally dressed people, too. They were just in the minority.
“Follow me,” Anjah said, striding up to the door like she was queen of the world.
She headed for the front of the line, cutting a couple guys wearing hologram dragon shirts. Marny gave them an apologetic glance, but they seemed more bemused than offended.
“Hi,” Anjah said to the big, brown-haired man manning the door. “I’m Anjah Lee. I reserved ahead.”
“One sec.” The guy consulted his tablet, then nodded. “Ms. Lee and guest. Go on in.”
“How did you do that?” Marny asked in a low voice as the crowd shifted so she and Anjah could get to the door. “I didn’t know clubs took reservations.”
Anjah looked smug. “Everything’s possible if you know what kind of leverage to apply. In this case, a few extra credits and sweet words did the trick. They usually do, you know.”
Marny lifted one brow. She’d never had extra money lying around to use as bribes, and using sweet talk to get her way wasn’t in her repertoire. Nor did she want it to be.
“And guest?” she asked her roommate.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come.” Anjah’s veneer of confidence slipped a notch.
“Well…” Marny lost her thought as they stepped into Club Mysteria.
Past the twinkling lights strung from the ceiling, past the gauzy hangings and juice bar on one side, past the colors strobing over the dance floor, lay the Realm of Faerie.
The sight of it stole her breath, and she stopped dead.
“Hey there.” Anjah nudged her arm. “Haven’t you ever been in a club before, small-town girl?”
Marny had to swallow
to get her voice working. “It’s not that. Just a second of déjà vu.”
She was lying, though. That gut-stabbing familiarity wasn’t a momentary sensation.
“Ooh.” Anjah glanced around, a smile lighting her face. “It’s so pretty. And that forest! What an incredible installation. I knew this place was going to be amazing.”
Installation. Right. Marny blinked a few times, but there was no denying that the pale-barked trees were directly out of the Realm.
What the hell was going on here?
Panic scrabbled at the back of her mind, but she pushed it down. The Feyguard wouldn’t let the Dark Queen come striding out of those woods and into the mortal world. Things were under control. Right?
“Let’s go order something to drink,” Anjah said, misreading Marny’s shock. “You’ll get used to this place in a minute. I’m dying to explore that forest, though.”
That was what Marny was afraid of—but she couldn’t voice her fears to Anjah. Nobody else would understand, except Tam and Jennet. She had to get a message to them right away.
Anjah towed her up to the polished wooden juice bar, where a couple girls in crazy makeup manned the machines.
“What’ll you have?” the shorter girl with teal-edged blonde hair asked. Her blue eyeliner extended into feathers at the corners of her eyes, and tiny lights blinked in her hair.
“I’ll take a Pixie Dust,” Anjah said, then turned to Marny with an expectant look.
“Sure.” Marny forced herself to concentrate. “Sounds good. Hey, is there a restroom nearby?”
“Through that doorway, then take a right.” The server pointed to an opening draped with more of the green gauze.
“Be right back,” Marny said.
She skirted the dance floor filled with stomping, gyrating bodies, and ducked through the doorway. The pounding beat muffled down, and she took a deep breath.
In the privacy of the bathroom stall, she pulled out her messager. She needed to try and reach all of the Feyguard. Even Jennet’s dad. Maybe someone had pirated Feyland’s sim code, and that was what she was seeing out there, not the Realm of Faerie. It was a thin hope, but she clung to it.