Suddenly, the same woman, that handler, appeared, flaring her teeth, hissing at her. But, instead of one blind-folded woman in her grasp, she held the reins to a long line of women and men. Their eyes were burnt shut, with thick metal rings pierced through their temples. As she pulled the reins back, they flexed forward against the heavy chains, like a grotesque pack of rabid wolves. Jai turned to escape them, but Sean held on to her hand, anchoring her, towing her deeper into the fray. She focused her mind, willing him to let her loose. But, as soon as she willed her thoughts, the creatures began to howl, as if they’d read her mind and sensed her intention to escape. Though deprived of sight, they turned their noses upward. They could smell her desperation, and their mouths began to snarl. Forked tongues flicked in and out between their gnashed teeth. They strained harder to escape the chains attached to their heads. Blood oozed down their temples, like red tears painting all their faces. The more they railed against the chains, trying to attack her, the more Jai’s brain felt like it would implode. She tried to avert her gaze, but everywhere she looked, their monstrous bodies flailed and bled onto the floor. At once, the handler’s eyes turned black, her pupils widening until they became black holes. As the bass quickened to a fever pitch, Jai could feel her heartbeat pound faster and faster. Pain resonated in her mind. And, the handler parted her perfect red lips. Jai watched, amazed by the exquisite beauty of her smile, when, slowly, it began to lengthen. Her mouth opened, the corners ripping wider and wider until her face snapped in half. A manic grimace comprised the majority of her distorted face. And, with a free hand, Jai grabbed hold of her stomach. It was in knots. Jai planted her feet firmly on the ground. She tried to force herself backward, but she was immovable. The throng continued to bark and snap at her.
Jai felt Sean's hand, still gripping hers. He was sinking deeper into the horde until, finally, he let her go. Her hand flew away. But, she couldn’t bear to run or look away from him. Flames had begun to lick his eyes. Horrified, Jai watched as his bright eyes began to fade, blacken, and turn up into his head. Mouth agape, he let loose an agonizing scream. The flames were engulfing him, burning his eyes to a puffy crisp. Jai trembled in terror. He snapped his head back, then fell forward. He looked up. He smiled. Then, opened and closed his mouth. Again and again. He was struggling to accommodate his teeth, which were growing freakishly long, like talons flying out, past his lips. Sean arched his back and leaned, to face the handler. Jai watched, terrified, as she turned to kiss him, twining her serpent’s tongue deep with his. Jai could feel her insides burn as he groveled to the woman’s knees. With a high-pitched yip, he turned to face Jai. The kindness in his face was gone, eviscerated, and a deep growl began to rise, slowly shaking and rattling his body. Slowly, the wolves joined him, harmonizing, then shifting their pitch to match the disjointed music. Jai stared at Sean, or what was left of him, with tears running down her face. Her head was going to explode. She willed herself awake.
Chapter 13
2119
Jai wasn’t able to go back to bed. How could she sleep with the nightmare she’d just had? So many years, she thought. Not knowing what I am. Not knowing anyone like me. And, now, I’m afraid. Unsure of what they are? Am I like them? She knew she wasn’t. She was nothing like those women and men, doing whatever they were doing in the club. She couldn’t imagine herself, leash in hand, walking people around, like animals in chains. She wanted to know what she was. But, at what cost? Maybe she could be sentient, but different, unlike them. Sean and his friends weren’t like those beasts.
Jai hit the slider to the balcony overlooking Madison Square Park, and slid into the glass-encased pool. The sun was barely beginning to rise. She wanted to forget her nightmare and start the day fresh. Joy was right. It had been years since sentients had been discovered. She owed it to herself to learn more about them. They were her kind after all, and she knew next to nothing about them. No matter how many articles or studies she’d read, no book had contained what she'd seen last night. Sentients kept their world private and, if there was any truth to her nightmare, if there was any real reason to be afraid, she needed to find that out now, not later. It’s probably nothing, she thought, picturing the women with the man in the hallway, and the handler grimacing on the dance floor. They were just blips last night. Jai tried to reassure herself. But she couldn't stop wondering, weren’t there many men and women just like them? She'd seen them, scattered throughout the club. Judging from her nightmare, they’d clearly made an impression.
So had Sean. He seemed trustworthy, but she had to admit he was largely a mystery, no matter how many Quasimodo articles she’d read. Clearly, those articles were a subterfuge for the man himself. She'd asked him about what she'd seen in the club. Was he telling the truth? Was that really not his thing? And, what were those sentients doing with, or to, those masked people? She doubted it was some S&M thing. But, it was definitely personal, intimate. Whatever it was, she’d never seen anything like it.
Jai swam her laps, trying to quiet her mind, then lounged on a chair beside the pool. At 7 a.m., Joy came out with the morning coffee. She handed Jai a cup.
“Good morning, Jai. Did you enjoy last night’s festivities?” Joy looked at her with anticipation.
“Sort of. I thought I had a great time…at least until I went to sleep last night.” Jai described the club, Sean’s friends, and her nightmare.
“Well, whatever they were doing, I agree with your decision to delve further into it,” Joy said. “It’s better not to jump to conclusions. Decide later, at least after you’ve learned what that really was.”
Jai shook her head. “I don’t have much choice, anyway. They’ll all be here in an hour.” Joy arched her brows, surprised. “I’m flying them to the Eternal City.”
“Rome!” Joy sighed, stretching her arms up to the sky. “Well, you know what to get me.”
Jai laughed. “Yes, yes, I won’t forget…at least if I want a home to return to.”
They arrived promptly at eight. Jai brought everyone inside her jet and started the day with cappuccinos and cornettos before making her way to the cockpit.
“Check out the panoramic view!” Diana ran her hand lightly over the fuselage, which was one expansive window, offering an unimpeded view of the sky.
“Uh huh,” Mach murmured. He’d barely looked up, he was so busy examining the Polaroid Jai had handed him at boarding. Borda grinned sarcastically as Mach centered him in the view finder, as if framing a shot. Mach shook his head. “Don’t worry your pretty little head, Borda. I wouldn’t waste the expense on you.” Mach patted the film wrapped securely in his pocket.
Borda gave him the middle finger and blocked his face with it. “You should know timeless art when you see it.”
Avena laughed at them, and linked arms with Diana. “Leave the boys to their toys. Let’s enjoy the view.” They fiddled with the passenger controls. The sky view became opaque, shielding the view outside the jet. The scene switched among various vignettes, three-dimensional projections of Caribbean beaches; Hawaii waterfalls; the Eiffel Tower lit at night; and, Earth from outer space, among others.
Sean rounded his head to take it all in, then quickly followed Jai to the cockpit. Looking down at the controls, he let out a sigh. “Now, this is amazing.” With bated breath, he admired the simplicity of the dials, which hovered, lit from below by multiple digitized screens. Relaxing into the co-pilot’s chair, Sean watched as Jai raised her hands. She pulled back the yoke and took off. Its rotating jets allowed for a high precision, vertical take-off and landing, without the need for a runway. Soon, they were flying smoothly in the air. She kicked it to supersonic and switched the jet to auto-pilot. Sean turned, a somewhat petulant look on his face. “Please tell me, why can’t I buy one of these?” He thought he’d already bought the best jet out there.
Jai laughed. “We haven’t brought this model to market yet. I’d still like to add some options and improve the passenger experience.”
Sean smi
rked. “Right. I saw the measly view back there.”
By noon, they were munching on porchetta and chugging Peronis. Jai packed an extra order for Joy. They walked along the banks of the Tiber before making their way to the Trevi Fountain. Sitting in the piazza, they sipped macchiatos and admired the Baroque architecture. Jai looked up at the fountain and gazed at the marble statue of Ocean, with his majestic beard and wand in hand. He was flanked by two tritons on horse-drawn chariots. They were all affixed in time, not unlike Jai and her new friends.
Borda took a drag from his cigarette and broke the silence. “So, what’s your vice, Jai?” Jai stared blankly at him. “Do you like it soft…or hard?”
“Cut it out, Borda.” Avena smacked him across the chest, then patted Jai on the forearm. “Don’t let him get to you, Jai. Even though he's sentient, he’s less evolved.”
Borda didn’t let up. His eyes were fixed on Jai. “Don’t tell me you didn’t see them…the blindfolded women and men?”
“Here we go again,” Sean said.
Mach tilted his head, explaining, “Borda loves to get a rise out of newborns.”
“Newborns?” Jai laughed.
“Newbs, newbies, babes," Borda said. "You know, anyone new to the scene, the Sentient Life.” He squinted his smoky eyes, piercing Jai with his gaze. It was hard to take him too seriously, given his electric blue hair. The flat line of his lips erupted into a playful smile.
Sean rested his hand on Jai’s, and turned to her. “What Borda means to say is you’re welcome to ask us any questions.” He threw Borda a brutal look. “I mean, really, Borda. Stop giving her a hard time. And, what a stupid question. How could anyone not see them?” Sean said it, more like a statement. “They’re exhibitionists. Siphoning’s not enough; they’ve got to siphon and be seen doing it.”
Siphoning. Jai had never heard the phrase, never read about it anywhere. She heard herself repeat the word in her mind. “What’s siphoning?” she asked.
Diana explained. “Siphoning’s what those sentients were doing. There are only a few sentient scientists in our community, and they coined the phrase. Siphoning's the best-kept secret in our community. Even our scientists haven't published about it. The intricacies remain unexplained, but, basically, sentients can feed on other people’s energy.”
Sean said, “It’s true. We can siphon without even touching. Or, we can siphon significant amounts of energy if we do it with purpose and skill, if we’re physically close or if we’re particularly attuned to the person.”
Diana jumped back in. “More studies need to be done, but our scientists think it’s how we don’t age like humans. The luckiest sentients can even appear younger as the years pass.” Diana paused and smiled at Jai. “You may have siphoned, without even realizing it.”
Jai stared blankly, not saying a word. Inside, she wondered, Maybe that’s what I’ve been doing with Joy, all these years?
Borda broke the silence, and threw his hands up in the air. “Oh, come on, Jai!” Sean tried to stop him, but Borda talked over the interruption and scooted his chair, clanging it against Jai's. “It’s obvious Sean trusts you. He brought you in. And, it’s not like you came in blindfolded like our prey.”
Sean’s anger flared. “Really, Borda. Prey? If you’re going to tell Jai how things work in our world, at least try to get it right.” Sean turned to Jai. “‘Prey’ is a derogatory term,” Sean said, tilting his head at Borda, “that some jaded sentients like to use for the humans who let us feed on their energy. An apt term would be a ‘human offering.’”
Mach tried to read the stoic expression on Jai's face. “Rest assured, Jai. These humans want us to feed off their energy. They want to be siphoned.”
Jai blinked twice. “You mean, humans know sentients are siphoning them?” She just assumed sentients would siphon in secret. She didn’t think sentients would let humans know it. The idea that a human would willingly offer him- or herself was a shock. “But, if humans know, how can sentients keep it under wraps?”
“Easily.” Borda said. “Supply and demand. We hold the supply, and the humans demand it." She looked at him confused, thinking humans were the supply. "I know what you're thinking,” Borda said, “but, no. Sentients hold the supply. When we siphon humans, it’s like a drug for them. Humans get off on it." He leaned in closer to Jai. “See, the siphoning you saw in the club is not the same as siphoning from a distance. No, we’re talking about the second type of siphoning Sean just described. Siphoning in close range, with physical contact. To a human, close-range siphoning is stronger than any psychotropic drug that’s out there. It’s the best, the purest, high that’s ever existed, without any of the deleterious effects. That’s why so many humans place their names on a waiting list. They’re all vying for a spot in the club. We don’t even consider them unless they pass a year of medical tests to prove they’re healthy, and not addicted to any drugs, not even pain meds. Then, there’s a rigorous interview process, to make sure they aren’t psycho. Once vetted, they pledge themselves to the hunt.” He paused, glaring defiantly at Sean. "Yes, the hunt, as we jaded sentients like to call it." Sean rolled his eyes, as Borda continued. “For a lot of sentients, snaring prey has a unique allure." Borda looked at Jai, a look of determination on his face. "But, my guess is, being our prey’s not your cup of tea. No, you came in like one of us.” He stared her up and down, scrutinizing her. “You’re no prey. You weren’t afraid. Besides, look at you. Just look at you,” he said, waving his hand up and down Jai's perfect body. “You’ve got to be sentient!”
Jai didn’t know what to say. She didn’t expect to be called out, and she didn’t realize a night of clubbing could be interpreted this way. But, she didn’t want to lie either. For the first time in many years, she was beginning to feel like she belonged. As if on cue, Avena took Jai’s hand in hers. “The first time I saw you,” she said, “you immediately struck me as special…and uniquely beautiful.”
Mach gave Jai a warm smile. “Don’t get us wrong. Please, ignore Borda. We’re not forcing you to come out in any way. What the tactless guy really wants to say is, we want to welcome you, whether you’re one of us…or not.”
Avena explained, “When we’re born, that’s what we call ‘First Light.’ When you discover you’re sentient, and you enter the sentient life, that’s your ‘Awakening.’ And, trust me, Jai, Awakening can comfort you. If you are sentient, Awakening is about being seen (being known as sentient, by another sentient). It has great meaning. That’s why the closer we sentients are, the more likely we’ll greet each other with a bow of the head, a look in the eyes. You’re immediately given a place, a home. So, if you’re one of us, all the better. This can be your community to share.” Jai looked at Avena, her red curls cascading gently along her delicate face. A profound sense of pain began to ache in Jai’s bones, as tears began to well in Avena's green eyes.
Sean held Avena’s hand. “It’s true, Jai. Not everyone is lucky. When Avena and I awakened to the sentient life, the news had only just broken out. People barely knew what sentients were, but Avena and I…we long sensed something different between us. There’s something special about twins, has been for decades. But, it was more than that. We appeared to be more in sync than most. We took the test together. When we found out we were sentient positive, we told our parents. They’d always been proud of us, especially when it came to Avena's dance or my martial arts. You could even say our Mom and Dad were overzealous. At times, it got overwhelming when we were younger. But, they were always there for us; they always seemed to have our best interest at heart. So we weren’t prepared for what happened when we told them.”
Avena’s voice cracked. “They rejected us. They pulled our college tuition. We lost our housing and they ceased all contact. It was a complete one-eighty. They’d cheered us on all those years, through high school and college, forcing us to train and study, never letting us work to earn our own money. But, once they learned we were sentient, they thought we’d somehow cheated t
he system or rigged the game. They pulled all their support, emotionally and financially. We went from being under a microscope, to being out on the street, with no where to go.” Diana wiped the tears from Avena's face. “It didn’t matter that their DNA was in us. We were an abomination to them. I don’t know what I would’ve done, had I not had Sean. Together, we moved into a temporary shelter and applied for sports and dance scholarships. Eventually, it led to room and board and we finished college. We worked our way out of poverty.”
Jai admired their strength. They’ve been through so much and, now, Avena’s the premier prima ballerina, and Sean's built a defense empire.
Sean had his eyes trained on her. Jai’s one of us, he suspected, but he kept quiet. He would never force anyone to identify herself. Voice deep and steady, he said, “We just want you to know, if you ever decide to be tested, if you ever find out you’re sentient, you have a home.”
Jai took a deep breath and looked at them all. There was nothing else to say. “I am. I am sentient.”
Chapter 14
2119
The trip home seemed faster than any flight Jai had flown in the past. From the cockpit, she watched the clouds pass by, the tension melting away from her shoulders as the jet surfed through the sky. She couldn’t believe it. In just two days, her family had grown from a family of two, to a family of seven. They had already planned a few trips, to Chicago and New Orleans, to visit their friends in the clubs there; and, Sean had promised to introduce Jai to everything she’d missed so far. It was a brave new world, foreign, with so much to discover. But, for the first time in her life, a life that would span the lifetime of many humans, Jai knew she wouldn’t have to make the journey alone.
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