T
alia stepped into the shower.The last tendrils of red whirlpooled the drain.The last of herself.
The Talia that had stolen into Callum Black’s office.The Talia that had overheard the paranoid CEO order his men to alert him the instant the biosig sensors went down.The men that had no idea what to do without their CSO.The Talia that had laughed when they informed him that they were already down.The Talia that had met his DocPod blue eyes, wide in shock, savoured the subtle shift into terror.Watched them follow the repeater she threw and then, the slack as the bodies hit the floor with a dull thud.The Talia that had carved him up as he lay helpless, but alive – his men holding an involuntary vigil just beyond the radius of the repeater signal.They drew their IntelArms pistols too late.An EMP grenade took out the repeater, the guards and everything else.She was already gone.
That Talia followed his blood down the drain.
The new Talia would have to clean up the mess, starting with herself.
Unnaturally thin legs, clutched to her chest, Talia wept along with the spray of the showerhead, drilling into her hair.Her spikes dissolving in the warmth, along with the rest of her, but it could not stop her from shivering.
Sesi padded back into the bathroom, followed closely by Callie.She rushed toward her, but Sesi barred Callie with her arm and guided her to sit on the floor in the corner.
She had teased Talia once about her tarot cards.How she didn’t believe in it, but kept using the deck anyway.Sesi had done some reading, but didn’t dare tell her.If she had to choose, Callie would be her Queen of Cups, Talia her Knight of Swords.She would be Temperance, or at least, she aspired to it.
But this spread was over.Change was coming.Sometimes the card reverses.Sometimes you draw a new card.Sometimes the whole deck needs to be reshuffled.Sesi hoped Talia’s next card would bring her happiness.
Callie curled against Sesi’s chest, absorbing every drop of anguish in the throes of Talia’s catharsis.All of Talia’s defences would need to come down before Callie could intervene, and even then, she would need to be careful.Like a moulting insect, she needed time.
After several minutes, Talia released her legs and placed her arm on the rim of the tub.The tiniest act of vulnerability.Sesi allowed Callie to go to her.
Talia shifted forward.Callie slid behind her and held her against her chest until the water ran cold.They would never speak of this moment, but the knowledge that she would always be her comfort was enough.
Sesi arrived with towels.
“Why are they so big?”asked Callie.
“Because I want them that way.”Sesi looked at her like it was a stupid question.
Talia laughed to herself.She had once asked the same thing.She slipped her arm around Callie, pulling her close.
“So, what happens now?”Callie spoke into Talia’s towel.
Sesi sighed.“You’re staying here.”She caught Talia’s eyes steeling, but she held up a finger to halt it.She didn’t want to break the tenuous spell taking hold over these two.“There’s no mess to clean up.”Sesi cupped Talia’s jaw and stood on her tiptoes to reach her lips.“It’s just other things I need to take care of.And your arms still aren’t fully healed,” she pointed at Callie.
Callie flexed her fingers and twisted her forearms.“Nothing’s bleeding.It’s your miracle ointment.”Callie grinned, but Sesi caught the slight wince.
“No, it’s the nanoids in your system.”Sesi scolded.“Behave,” she smirked before she left.
Callie hung up the towel and sat on the edge of the bed, dragging Talia along with her.“Sit,” she ordered.Talia raised an eyebrow.“Please,” Callie added.Talia sat on the floor between Callie’s dangling legs.She was tall enough that Callie could easily reach her hair.
Talia leaned back into Callie’s brush, stiff lines raking across her scalp.She exhaled, releasing the ghost of who she was only hours ago.Callie kissed the top of her head.“Thank you,” she breathed.Talia turned to kiss her calf, but she didn’t respond.
Callie massaged Talia’s temples.She moved to her cheekbones.Her jaw.Her forehead.Talia let her neck relax against the edge of the mattress.“Will you tell me about Elena?”
Her muscles clenched.That part still caused pain.Callie slipped away and buried herself under the covers.Talia hadn’t been expecting that.She had expected Callie to push or worse, tell her that she didn’t have to, like she was broken.Talia felt the absence acutely.The message was clear.
Talia slid under the covers with her and pulled Callie to her chest.She still held the power.She still controlled what happened.“I don’t want sympathy,” she managed.
Callie burrowed her face against Talia’s breast.“Then don’t tell me any of those parts.”
That seemed reasonable.“Elena was younger than me.”That was a decent start.
“Were you the good daughter, or the bad one?”Callie smiled against her skin.She felt Talia give a small laugh.
“I was the bad one at first.”She left out the beatings.The regular tours of mutilated women.The smell.That was the worst part.The part that seared itself into your brain so you could never forget.Talia would carry it for as long as she lived.
She inhaled sharply.“Our parents were almost celebrities.Two children was almost unheard of.Twodaughterswas a miracle.”
