Shadowydreamer’s Scribbles
A Place where a Dreamer throws up stories.
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Arrival
Jaana stood at the border and looked towards the horizon and it’s lights. She could see a group of teenagers around a bon fire on the desert floor. Wasn’t that against the eco rules? Didn’t fires on the sand leave marks that would be there for hundreds of years? She shook her head, raven hair settling in the still air, it wasn’t as if she followed the latest round of ’save the planet’ the breathing were so fond of. The world seemed to get smaller and smaller, perhaps her own kind just needed to start feeding more often.
The form that came out of the night’s shadow was big, very big. Jaana had been considered short when she alive in an era where malnutrition was common and height rare. She was used to looking up at people of the newer generations, but at this new comer she wanted to take a step back to get a feel for all of his being. She wondered if he were playing intimidation mind games, she would no longer be able to sense them. His skin was similar to her’s in that it was pale under colour, but where her’s was a light olive, his was the red of the native people of this continent. Ancient times past, their people may have been cousins, but it was a distant relation now.
He seemed perfectly happy to stand under the starlight and stare at her. Was this some sort of status game of chicken? She’d never been good at politics. “I’m guessing you’re the representative from the ruling Lord?”
“Sometimes.” The deep voice rumbled. “Tonight I am. Tomorrow I might not be.”
~That’s bloody helpful.~ Jaana thought darkly, probably not hiding her irritation any. She was a dancer, not an actress. She was supposed to show others the joy she felt, not hide it away behind false personalities and created roles. “I’m Jaana.” she finally said into the silence.
“John.” came the reply.
Silence ruled once more, Jaana could almost imagine she could hear the music from the party below.
“What do I have to do to get permission to enter his domain?” She finally asked, giving up on her limited abilities at tact and subtly.
White teeth gleemed in the darkness, the shadow shifted to remove a pair of sunglasses, revealing pale blue eyes that gleamed red in the pupil. “Ask nice. Which you did. Promise to behave. Which you will.”
“I promise to obey the laws of our kind and the laws of the city as given to me. If I disagree with said laws, I shall leave before the next sunrise.” She agreed.
“And if you break those laws, you’ll leave with a hunt on your tail to the next domain. If you’re coming from the north and you leave friends at your back, that’d be your best way to go. Of course, I’d know that and it’d be to your disadavantage to have me know where you’re going.”
His voice seemed to fill her bones with its vibrations. “You’re the huntmaster.” It wasn’t really a question.
“I’m the huntmaster.” He agreed. “Welcome to Las Vegas.” He turned to walk away then turned to look back, “If you ever need me, I can be found at the Cafe’ Loco, most nights.”
“Right.” she echoed and watched the dark shadow disappear into the ink of the desert at night. She was jealous of his night sight. Her new father had the gift, but she’d yet to learn it yet herself. Complications, complications.
She turned back to her bike and kicked off the stand before wheeling it back across the sand. Probably a good thing there wasn’t a mortal anywhere nearby, that even the highway was empty, a four eleven little thing pushing a Triumph Bonneville across sand without breaking a sweat would probably come under the heading of ‘things not credible.’ It wasn’t a big bike, but it was still big for her.
Soon enough she was on the black top and braiding her hair. She dragged leathers out of the saddlebags and untied the helmet. The full face had a few advantages over those that had the ‘cool factor’. No bugs in her teeth, harder to recognize her facial features, and the cops were less likely to hassle her. Though, she still seemed to get pulled over by the bored bike cops wanting to talk shop. They were always in for disappointment, she liked her ride, but she couldn’t quote stats or name parts. But then, they probably couldn’t name the parts of the boots on their feet. Swinging into the saddle was always more of a hop than a smooth operation, but soon enough the engine was purring and she was on her way.
City of lights, city of nights, city of sin, city of .. well, who knew what really. She had permission to be here, but she still had to earn her way. As long as she managed to avoid Reynald, all would be golden. She didn’t think the Lord of the City would be particularly happy with her if she started a full out fight with a Mage in his city.