The Severed Thread

by Dione C. Suto

  “Stop fidgeting,” Samantha said to me out of the corner of her mouth. “You look great.”

  “I’m not trying to look great.”

  “Yeah, well you should be.” She looked around the line sweeping her hand out as she spoke. “You see anyone in line dressed like a nanny?”

  “I didn’t look like a nanny!” I scoffed, insulted. I did take a look around though. Everyone was dressed to maximize their sex appeal. Thanks to Samantha we blended in perfectly with the other club goers in line. Well almost. I don’t think I saw anyone else with my hair color. Even dressed the same as everyone else, I was destined to stand out with my silver-blond hair. I looked over at Samantha in her tight black pants and tank top. It would have been a casual look in flats but the exaggerated make-up, heels and jewelry took it to a different stratosphere. I envied the way she seemed completely at ease with her body.

  A wave of energy behind me interrupted my thoughts. I turned to find myself face to chest with a mountain. I looked up, way up, into the face of the huge man standing before me.

  “You two – come with me,” he said in a rumbling voice that made me think of the distant sound of thunder before a summer storm. I glanced at Samantha, uncertain why we were being pulled out of line.

  She just shrugged. “Sometimes they cherry-pick who gets to go in when the club starts to fill up.”

  “You want in or not?” he asked again, obviously unused to people hesitating when they were being moved to the front of the incredibly long line.

  I couldn’t help wondering if everyone in line in front of us was going to be pissed off. It didn’t matter though, I realized as I looked again at the bouncer waiting for my answer with raised eyebrows. It was ridiculous to think that anyone was going to say anything. It was obvious that at least one of his parents was a giant and everyone knew that giants were notoriously mean and strong. They also had a really, really long memory. They were the elephant of the supernatural races. If you ever wanted to get inside, it was probably in your best interests not to piss him off. He would likely just keep passing you over until you gave up and went home.

  “We want in,” Samantha said, nodding her head and smiling up at him.

  “Follow me,” he grunted and we did.

  We walked past at least fifty people waiting to get in, and not one made so much as a peep about it. They just watched us with envious eyes. I noticed quite a few attractive women in line and wondered uneasily what had brought the giant past them to us.

  At the door, the throb of the music spilled out onto the pavement. The giant waved us inside. The intensity of the music increased dramatically once we cleared the threshold. I could feel its pulse down to the marrow of my bones.

  There was another bouncer inside to greet us– this guy was only slightly smaller than the mountain outside. I decided this one was more of a butte than a true mountain with his stocky frame, thick neck, and old fashioned military style flat top. I spotted two more mixed race giants looming about the bar area. I was guessing that giants were immune to Sapphire since most of the security staff appeared to have at least some in their ancestry.

  “Twenty,” the butte rumbled, holding out his hand. “Each.”

  “I’ve got this,” I said to Samantha as I fished around in my little bag for two twenties. I didn’t want to make her pay since she was only here because of me. Once the butte was paid we made our way towards the first floor bar area.

  The music was throbbing and the crowd was already feeling the love… or maybe I should say lust. It was just after eleven and the place was packed with Weres and shifters making lots of physical contact. We had to skirt the edge of the dance floor to get to the bar. I could smell the pheromones in the air and they were off the charts. Why would anyone need pharmaceutical stimulus when the air was so thick with musk?

  “What do you want to drink?” Samantha shouted over the music.

  “Just a club soda and cranberry,” I yelled back. At her puzzled look I decided on another avenue of communication. “Just a club soda and cranberry. The pheromones in here are bad enough,” I sent.

  She gave me a thumbs-up to let me know she heard before pushing into the ring of bodies edging the bar. When she finally made it through, she leaned onto the bar in an attempt to catch the bartender’s attention.

  I turned to scan the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of Harvey. I knew he had to be here somewhere. I was swaying to the music when I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Samantha with a frothy looking concoction in a martini glass. I raised my eyebrows.

  “This doesn’t look like what I ordered,” I chided her.

  “Italian pear martini. You’ll love it,” she said right into my ear so I could hear her. I didn’t doubt it would taste good. But was it good for me? That was the real question.

  “You are so not helping,” I sent back as I started looking around the room again. “Let’s walk around a little.”

  She leaned in and spoke into my hair. “Sure, as long as you promise to at least try your drink.”

  I raised the glass in toast to her before taking a sip in response to her taunt. The creamy froth on top was yummy and went nice with the pale green liquor below.

  “Yummy! Now come on,” I sent to her before making my way to the other end of the bar where stairs led up to the balcony. I looked over at Samantha and gestured to the stairs to signal my intention to go up. She nodded. Balancing my drink in my hand, I made my way up the stairs, looking back to make sure Samantha was following. Heels, drinks and stairs were not the best combination.

  We prowled around a bit once we reached the balcony but didn’t have any luck spotting Harvey. Our search went largely unnoticed by the guests taking advantage of the strategically placed couches and clusters of overstuffed chairs. They were too busy getting better acquainted with their fellow partiers.

  At the far end of the balcony there was a roped off section with another half giant guard standing next to a sign that read ‘VIP’ in a blocky black font. This guy looked a bit surlier than the fellows downstairs. I don’t think I had ever seen so many giant offspring in one place in my entire life. I knew I needed to get past the bouncer to check out the VIP area but I didn’t feel very hopeful that he would let me pass. Still, I had to try.

  I pushed out my meager chest, squared my shoulders and did a slow lazy walk towards the cordoned off area. Just when I thought he was going to let me pass, he reached out and grabbed my arm.

  “This is the VIP lounge,” he informed me with a stony expression.

  “Yes and I’d like to go in.”

  “You’re not a VIP,” he stated intractably.

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Okay, so how do I become a VIP?”

  “Invitation.”

  “You couldn’t make an exception?” I asked with a coy smile. Maybe a little sex appeal would work. “I just want to look around.”

  “That’s why it’s the VIP area. So no one can take a look around,” he smiled meanly, showing lots of blocky teeth and one large golden canine. “Now beat it.” Well so much for my sexual magnetism when it came to giants. I should have brought Samantha with me.

  “Alright, alright, I’m going,” I assured him, hands raised in surrender.

  I walked back to Samantha who shot me a questioning look. “VIP area apparently,” I explained. “Not getting in there anytime soon.”

  Sam touched my arm and pointed to the edge of the balcony before heading over there with me in her wake. You could easily see all of the dancers on the floor below, as well as quite a chunk of the patrons milling around the end of the bar.

  We stood there for a moment trying to spot Harvey’s mousey brown head. “I don’t think he’s here,” Samantha said. The music was a little less intense up here and I could hear her better. “We should go dance and try to have some fun. He might show up later.”

  It had only been a week since Jason’s death, I wasn’t sure I was really up
for dancing. Some of what I was thinking must have shown on my face because Samantha said gently, “It isn’t betraying Jason to have a little fun, you know.”

  “Logically I know that,” I sighed, “but it still feels wrong.”

  “I understand,” she nodded sympathetically before hooking her arm in mind and tugging me towards the stairs. “But I think it could be cathartic. Just let the pheromones wash over you and you will relax. Between that and the dancing, I think you will feel better.”

  I looked at her doubtfully. “Really! Scouts honor,” she said holding up two fingers like some tall, scantily clad Girl Scout.

  I rolled my eyes, “I think Girl Scouts usually hold up three fingers when they make a pledge, not two.”

  She looked at her fingers and shrugged, “I never said I was a Girl Scout,” she yelled over the din with a silly smile. “Now come on, let’s get down there!”

  Chapter 26

  It took a while to find a place on the dance floor but we finally managed to squeeze our way into a spot. I felt stiff and awkward but Samantha was not having any problems. She moved effortlessly to the music, energized by a combination of the strident dance beat and pheromones. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, trying to let go of all the unpleasant things in my life. Sam was right, the pheromones helped. Little by little I could feel them starting to work their magic. I wasn’t able to completely relax but it was a start. I opened my eyes to see Samantha smiling at me as she danced.

  I tensed as two masculine hands settled on my hips. “Don’t worry little elf, I just want to move with you,” a voice rumbled from over my left shoulder. I turned to find the hands belonged to a black haired Were with twinkling hazel eyes and a warm smile. He leaned down to speak in order to be heard over the music.

  “You look a little lost. I think I can help.” He glanced over my shoulder at Samantha and smiled before blasting me with a concentrated stream of pheromones. I felt as if I rocked back into the heels of my shoes even though I logically knew I hadn’t physically moved. I had only a moment to marvel at Weres and their crazy pheromones before a languid comfort settled into my bones. The sensation was so powerful that even my berserker sighed contentedly within the confines of her cell.

  “What…?” I started to ask.

  “Shh” he interrupted in my mind as he placed a quieting finger over my lips. “Just move with me. I’ve got you.”

  He pulled me in close, wrapping his arms around me as he nudged us into the music. I cannot describe it any better. It was like we became a part of the very essence of the sound waves themselves as they pulsed in the air around us. The experience was even more intense than my Sapphire encounter out on the docks just without the overt sexual intent. This was about comfort and caring, not crazed longing and over-heated bodies. Was I acting outside my normal comfort zone? Absolutely. Did I want to end the encounter? Hell no! I liked to think what was happening was taking place with my full consent because on some primal level I sensed that his intentions were pure. I could wonder later if this wasn’t some sort of bizarre werewolf compulsion but for right now I was very, very happy to do as he suggested and just move with him. Hell, I didn’t even know what his name was, but I trusted him, at least with this.

  “Brant,” his voice was like a sigh in my mind. As the whisper of his name faded, I marveled at his many gifts – an empath and telepath with what I suspected was some sort of healing ability.

  My ruminations were quickly forgotten as the sounds in the room became quickly shifting colors throbbing in the air. I could feel Sam at my back, dancing in sync with us, her breath and heartbeat another shimmering mote poised within the vibrant colors of the music. I glance up at Brant to find him watching me, a knowing smile on his face.

  “Can you see the colors?” I asked in awe.

  “Of course,” he replied simply, as if seeing vibrantly hued music were the norm. “Now, just relax,” he encouraged, giving me a reassuring squeeze. “Close your eyes and let the beat heal you as much as it is able.”

  I closed my eyes, feeling the music begin to settle into the cracks in my psyche like a salve, healing, repairing. I really needed to get Brant’s number before the night was over. This. Felt. Awesome. I sighed and let go a bit further, feeling more buoyant and awash with hope than I had since before Jason’s death. I don’t know how long we danced but it was cathartic in a way I had not realized possible. When I was fully engaged in the beat of the music and the movements of my body, I felt rather than heard him chuckle.

  “My work here appears to be done,” he declared with a smile. He gave my hand a final squeeze before turning to Samantha and mouthing, “See you at the gym?”

  “Definitely,” she pantomimed back with a thumbs-up that was quickly followed by a guilty glance at me as he melted into the crowd.

  “You arranged that?” I asked, mouth agape.

  “Me?” she mouthed, her face set in an expression of false innocence.

  “What am I, a charity case?” I asked, putting my fists on my hips, elbows out. I wasn’t really mad but I still didn’t like being circumvented. She shook her head, looking exasperated as she pulled me off the dance floor to a more quiet area near the hallway that led to the restrooms.

  “You’re my friend and your soul needed a little TLC. Brant has healing skills. I told him we would be here tonight and asked if he might be able to patch you up a bit. He wouldn’t make any promises, only saying that he would try if he thought he could help. He obviously took a look and decided that he could do you some good. He would never have even approached you otherwise.”

  “Thank you.”

  She looked surprised. “You’re not mad?”

  “No, not really. I mean, how could I be?” I placed my hand on her forearm. “I feel great. It just felt a little weird that you had asked him to help me and I didn’t know.”

  “Would you have said yes?”

  I had the grace to look chagrined and be honest. “No, probably not. ”

  “Well, at least you can admit it,” she said with a laugh. “Now, I really need another drink. How about you?”

  “I’m thirsty too but I need to use the restroom first, can you get me something?”

  “Sure. Meet you over near the bar where we were earlier.”

  “Got it,” I said, giving her a thumbs-up before I headed down the hall behind me. When I emerged from the restroom a few minutes later, a familiar figure was waiting for me at the end of the hall. Harvey.

  I had a momentary pang of regret that he was here even though finding him was what I had set out to do tonight. Any conversation we had was sure to ruin some of the peace Brant had settled within me. I braced myself before I reached him at the end of the hall.

  “So, what brings you to my little corner of the world?” he asked. His normal obsequious demeanor seemed a tad more aggressive than usual. He was standing confidently, his face portraying an unusual arrogance.

  “I didn’t know it was your corner of the world,” I shrugged with a smile. “But since you’re here, there is something I wanted to talk with you about.”

  His eyes narrowed for the briefest of seconds before a beatific smile spread across his pug-like features.

  “Alright, let’s go up to the VIP area,” he stressed the VIP part, obviously proud he was one. “We can talk better there.” I knew we needed to look in that damn VIP area earlier, although I had to admit this worked better. It seemed less like I was seeking him out.

  “Alright...,” I hesitated. I had told Samantha I would meet her near the bar. When I looked over there I didn't see her. “Just let me text Sam.” I was afraid to rely on telepathy. She couldn’t reply and I wouldn’t know if she was too far away to hear. Harvey waited while I slipped out my phone and sent the text – ‘Going to VIP area with Harvey to talk’. I didn’t wait for a reply since it would probably be few minutes after I didn’t show up at the bar before she thought to look at her phone. And she would definitely not hear the text coming in with the le
vel of noise.

  I gave Harvey the best smile I could muster and said, “Lead the way.” He took my hand, which I didn’t love, and led me through the bar and up the stairs. The same stony faced giant was still on duty.

  “Mr. Keltan,” he said, surprising me with his deference. I apparently didn’t warrant the same treatment since he just gave me the hairy-eyeball.

  “Hi big guy,” I said brightly, causing him to stiffen as I passed. I guess he didn’t like my little, err… I mean big nickname.

  The VIP area was screened from the rest of the balcony by a partition that looked like a wall on the balcony side and a long billowy curtain from the other. Here, like on the balcony, there were artfully placed chair and sofa groupings with the odd settee thrown in. The real difference on this side was the number of servers present and the level of noise. Here you could speak and be heard without yelling and there was an overabundance of staff.

  “So, what is it you wanted to talk about?” Harvey asked as we found a place to sit. He still had a somewhat proprietary hand on my arm which I looked at pointedly.

  “You appeared to be enjoying the attentions of that big oaf you were dancing with a few minutes ago,” he said stiffly as he removed his hand.

  “He’s just a friend,” I replied with a wave, even though it was a stretch to say a guy I just met tonight was a friend. I realized too late the implication of my words. Harvey’s face darkened.

  “And I’m not, is that it?” he hissed. I wasn’t sure if it was his stance or his expression, but I sensed that there was a barely contained, gleeful violence lurking just out of sight. I understood in that instant that my previous estimation of him had been way off base. Before me wasn’t the Harvey that I knew. This was the real man, the one he kept hidden behind the oily mask of an obsequious toady – someone who was always trying to be noticed and get ahead, no matter who he had to step on along the way.