OBSIDIAN: Birth to Venus
Chapter 11

2119

On Friday, Sean parked his LaFerrari and opened its black, wing-like doors. Angling his face downward, he tilted his head, smiled, and motioned for Jai to take his hand. “Shall we?” Jai looked past him, to the unassuming building behind them. A slick, steel gray, it did not appear to have a door. It was an empty facade, except for a small, but shiny number ten affixed to the corner. Jai could feel her belt cinching around her narrow waist, tightening with each of her breaths. She tugged at the zipper on her leather jacket and took Sean’s hand.

They walked past a street light, to a side entrance. It looked more like a dark alleyway than the entrance to an exclusive club, at least until he placed his hand against the wall. At once, it shifted, revealing a biometric scanner. Leaning in, Sean positioned his eye and passed the iris inspection. The system prompted him to choose a second verification. “Question,” it said. He responded with “Answer: two ducks and a moose.”

“Verification confirmed,” the system said, in a soothing male voice.

Jai threw Sean a sideways glance. “Seriously?”

“Answer changes every day. Today’s answer is awfully apt, wouldn’t you say? It is a hunting lodge, after all.” He winked. The wall slid aside to reveal a narrow walkway, fashioned from the same steel, though these walls were covered in holes.

“What’s with the swiss cheese?”

“Butane gas…just enough to throw an unwelcome guest out on the curb.” Jai shook her head, amazed anyone would try so hard to get into this place. She’d had no prior interest in entering it. But, it was, as Sean had said, a hunting lodge of sorts, one of the most prominent sentient clubs in the U.S. “I’m surprised you can even see the holes,” Sean said over his shoulder. “It’s almost pitch black in here.”

Jai didn’t answer and looked down, as if the lights on the pressure-sensitive floor had piqued her interest. She watched Sean’s footsteps glow, then fade, as he led them back to a second door, manned by what could only be described as an old-school butler. “Good evening, Mr. McCarthy,” the butler said. He bent at the waist and handed Sean a neat scotch.

“Thank you, Quaid.”

“You’re welcome, sir. And, for the lady?”

“Dr. Jai Dean,” Sean said, introducing her.

“Pleased to meet you, Dr. Dean. And, what would suit your fancy?”

“Pleasure’s mine,” said Jai. “A sidecar, please.” Quaid bowed, with a smile on his face.

“Of course. I’ll bring it to you shortly,” he said, then stepped aside. As Sean led them through a sliding pane of frosted glass, Jai’s eyes adjusted to the deep red lighting. Like an ember, the lights flickered and moved, a tantric rhythm pulsing with the resounding bass around them. Sean led Jai past many booths and tables, beyond a crowd of dancers. Their arms and legs undulated in and out of the throng, like a creepy puppet show. Music thudding in her eyes, Jai turned. Many narrow hallways fanned out, like a circular labyrinth leading away from the main room. Down each hallway, there were doors, equidistant from each other. Candelabras lit the hallways in a soft glow. She felt strangely drawn to the space, as if the passageways were inviting her, beckoning her, to take a closer look.

Underneath the candlelight, down a hallway to the right, a sudden movement caught her attention. Jai narrowed her eyes and saw two women, a blonde and a brunette, standing above a man. Blindfolded, he was leaning against the wall. The women were taking turns, licking up and down his neck. Without thinking, Jai pulled her head back, as if to avert her gaze, but she found her eyes were caught, transfixed. She couldn’t help but watch the blonde dig her jet black nails deep into the man’s pale skin. He winced, then smiled, as the brunette’s eyes rolled up into her head.

For a moment, Jai forgot where she was until she felt the tug of Sean’s hand. As he led her past the bar, she watched his expression under the red glow of the room. He was unfazed, like he hadn’t noticed what she’d seen, or if he had, he didn’t care. He didn’t stop until they reached a private room in the very back of the club. As soon as he opened the door, Jai threw her jacket off. She had to know, “What kind of weird shit are you into, Sean?”

Sean laughed, his eyes flashing with the realization that she must have glimpsed the threesome in the hall. “Scout’s honor,” he said, signing a half-salute. “I’m not into that.”

“Right,” Jai said, suspiciously.

“A lot of sentients are, but it’s not my thing.”

“What’s not your thing?” someone yelled out. Jai hadn’t realized they were not alone. She turned around to see a lanky man with bright blue hair laying on a sofa. He flicked his tongue at Sean. “I know how you like it, Sean.”

“Shut it,” Sean ordered.

Suddenly, a fair-skinned woman with long red hair flung the door wide open. “I was wondering when you’d get here! Leave it to my brother to take his sweet ass time,” she said, and gave Sean a bear hug. She swung her dainty body around his bulky arms.

“Jai, my sister Avena,” he said, smiling. He patted Avena’s arm, signaling her to let him loose. He flicked his eyes toward the couch. “That nasty piece over there’s Borda. No need to bother with him.” Borda threw a pillow out from under his head, revealing a mechanical sleeve tattooed down the length of his right arm. Sean caught the pillow with his left hand, threw it on a chair, and plopped down for a seat.

Avena jumped to Jai’s side and took her by the hands. “I’m so happy to finally meet you! Sean’s said so much about you.” Jai’s mouth fell agape, not sure what to say. She’d only just met Sean, after all. Avena didn’t seem to notice. “I’m looking forward to having someone sane around here,” she said and motioned back at the two men. She leaned in close and whispered, “Sean’s not joking. Borda’s an ass.”

“I heard that!” Borda leapt up and began to chase Avena around the room.

Avena took off, toward the door. Opening it, she screamed back, “Lunch, tomorrow?” as music spilled into the room.

Jai yelled, “Yea, sure!” and the door swung shut behind them.

When she turned back, Sean was smiling at her. And, with a shake of the head, he said, “Wish I could say they’re not normally like that, but those two fight like they’re the ones who are related.” Jai laughed. She took a deep breath and looked uneasily around her. A tray of tapas and three types of Hennessy adorned the table. The butler Quaid entered the room. “Your drink,” he said, as he delivered Jai’s sidecar. She took a sip and watched as he checked the candles before departing.

Jai looked back at Sean, who hadn’t stopped staring at her with those deep, green eyes. He clenched his jaw, and the stubble on his face looked blonde in the candlelight. She averted her gaze and sat at the table, tracing the rim of her glass with a finger. Moments passed before she said, “I didn’t realize you had a sister.” The news had never mentioned Quasimodo’s family or upbringing; his appearance was already a captivating mystery.

“My twin, actually. She’s a dancer, the principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre, the ABT.”

“I’m not surprised. Seeing Borda chase her, she doesn’t run, she floats.” And, not without power. Jai could sense the enormous strength in her limbs, like an engine revving at the starting line, ready to take off with a hair trigger.

The door swung open again. This time, a tall blonde walked in, her delicate shoulders wrapped in a fur stole. Her body moved slowly, as if there were no other speed for her slender 5′10" frame. Her eyes were quick, though. She said Jai’s name immediately. As she walked toward the table, her face brightened. “I’m Diana,” she said, running her hand along Jai’s bare shoulder. “It’s wonderful to meet you.” The only thing more shocking than the light-blue in her eyes was the mink fur caressing her collarbone. She smiled at Jai’s wide-eyed stare. “I assure you, it’s faux. Glad to see I’m doing something right, though,” she said, a proud look on her face.

Sean explained, “Diana runs a top fashion house, and her company’s developed faux furs to wage off animal extinction. Bleeding heart, this one.”

“Oh, I see.” Jai shook her head, relieved. The world had already lost so many species to deforestation and climate change, she thought fur production of every kind was illegal.

“What else can one do?” Diana asked. “You know how the black market is. You’d think we’d be more evolved, but there’s always room for demand. Would you believe, a short wrap sold for a half a million last month? My sources are never wrong.” She ran her long fingers through the plush, mink fur. “I’m gonna flood the market with these. Force the demand to die down.”

“The more indistinguishable they are, the better,” Jai finished her thought.

“Precisely.” Diana flashed a knowing smile.

A tall man with perfectly coiffed black hair traipsed in, his square jaw mirrored by dark square spectacles.

“Jai, this is Mach, my fiancé,” Diana said. “If only I could convince him to stop with the glasses.” She faced him, shaking her head. “A sentient wearing glasses…It’s not like anyone believes you need them,” she said to him.

“So not the point,” he said. “I like myself a little nostalgia; that’s all.”

“That’s for sure.” Diana laughed, and explained he was on the hunt for an antique instant-print Polaroid.

“Oh, I’ve got one of those,” Jai volunteered.

“Don’t pull my leg,” Mach said, wide-eyed.

Diana pleaded, “Jai, don’t give me any false hope. What I’d give for this search to be over! You have no idea how long he — and, that unfortunately means we — have been searching. A polaroid? It’s an ancient artifact. I can’t even begin to understand it. Why he’d even want such fuzzy photos, on purpose…photos you’d have to digitize to keep for any meaningful amount of time.”

“Jai, are you serious?” Mach asked, dismissing Diana entirely. He smiled excitedly, revealing two perfect dimples on his cheeks.

Jai laughed. “Yes, I have one.” Mach choked. “I’ve collected some photographs and cameras over the years. The Polaroid’s one of the earliest I have. Avena and I are going to do lunch tomorrow. You should all come to my place. I’ll show it to you.” Mach pretended to faint into the winged chair by the table.

They all laughed, as Diana gave the obvious answer. “We’ll be there.”

A few minutes later, Avena and Borda rejoined them. They enjoyed the food and Hennessy, and went out to the dance floor. Having sparred, Jai knew Sean could move his body, but nothing could have prepared her for his sense of rhythm. His movements were agile, moving in unison with the music. The crowd parted, clearing the way for him to enter the center of the floor. He was a sight to be seen, but all Jai could feel were the eyes on her. Women and even some men had turned to stare at her. Immediately, she sensed she was unwelcome. Who does she think she is? a woman thought, as she glared at Jai. He won’t dance with me, but he dances with her? Their thoughts filled Jai’s head. Jai watched, amazed as one woman had the gall to flare her teeth at her. Like a handler, the woman turned a leash around her wrist, pulling another masked woman’s mouth to hers. The leashed woman kissed the handler, like an obedient dog. And, all the while, the handler glared at Jai, more focused on Jai than on kissing her masked hound. Jai didn’t flinch, her pupils contracting as she stared back at them.

Sean interrupted, tracing Jai’s chin with his finger. He guided her gaze back to him. “Eyes on me,” he said by her ear, his voice deep like the bass blasting around them. He placed his hands along the base of her spine, pulling her close to his body. The smile in his eyes amplified, as he watched the lines of Jai’s body move with the music. Avena and Borda joined them, as Diana and Mach boxed the onlookers out.

By the time Sean took Jai back home, the sun was creeping into the horizon. She took the elevator to the rooftop garden, and looked at the tall buildings across the skyline. It felt like a million miles from the underbelly she’d just seen. An hour later, she showered, then lay in bed, dozing in and out of sleep, not knowing what to think. Her first foray into the sentient world. It was immediately foreign, but she couldn’t help but feel the closeness Sean had with his friends. She curled inside a down blanket, and lay on her side until, finally, she fell asleep.

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