After we said our goodbyes to the others, Nell and I took a stroll around campus as I tried to explain a TV show that Kay had mentioned at lunch.
“So they’re constantly being watched?” Nell asked incredulously. “They sign up for this?”
“That’s the impression I got,” I said, realizing that this line of conversation was potentially bringing up some bad memories for Nell. “My mom watches it religiously.”
“And then they just, what, socialize? Play games? What’s the point?”
“Romance. Dating.”
Nell blew a leaf away that had gotten caught in her hair. “Is that how they escape?”
I chuckled. “Kind of the opposite. Usually if two people hit it off it means more scrutiny from the audience.”
“It’s all so… voyeuristic. Imagine if in Snow White, the Queen just wanted to watch.”
“I guess she wouldn’t be delivering poison apples then, so maybe that’s a better outcome?”
Nell shivered. “I just don’t think people understand what it feels like to be constantly observed. It fucks with your mind. I…” she trailed off and glanced at me as I stifled my amusement. “Oh, I see why that’s funny.”
“It’s fine. It’s just our new normal, right? I don’t mind anymore.”
“Stockholm Syndrome.”
I closed my eyes and tilted my face towards the sun. “Perhaps.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket and I reached for it, annoyed. My heart sank as I saw who the phone call was from. I tapped answer.
“Yes?” I asked tiredly.
“Nick, I require you for a job tonight.” Sullivan’s crisp and formal tone came through clearly.
“I’m not sure I can handle another job back-to-back,” I said honestly. “My nerves are getting fried.”
“We are at a pivotal point in Sillwood’s history,” he said. “I’m meeting with the Rings and some other powerful people. I hope to come to an agreement about the imminent threat of the Jiezhi and Fedyaev alliance. I simply need you both to be there as a display of what we are capable of.”
The grass at my feet began to bend unnaturally, becoming a spiral pattern. I looked up to meet Nell’s eyes. “I’m not going to hurt people just because you said so, Sullivan.”
“Even if more harm will befall the city if you do nothing? The status quo is beneficial to everyone, not just us criminals. The ones that want to upend the playing table just to gather up the spilled coins are the true evil here.” Sullivan said coldly. “Regardless, I’m not asking you to do anything but stand there. You and your Witch being present will put pressure on the other Rings in a meeting where conventional weapons are disallowed.”
“Get Alek to do it then,” I said.
“He isn’t answering communications and my men have not seen him for weeks.”
That’s cause he switched sides, I thought. I hadn’t brought up that particular tidbit up to Graham. It wouldn’t make a difference. Sullivan knew my distaste for the man. He would think I was just trying to poison the well further. I secretly hoped that it would come back to bite him eventually.
“I’ll do it,” I said. “But only if you can convince Nell. She’s who you really want there, isn’t it?”
Sullivan was silent for a moment. “I was under the impression that you spoke for the both of you. Regardless, this isn’t a request. I require this to be done.”
“She’s her own person. If this is important, you can ask her yourself,” I said and hung up before Sullivan could respond.
Nell raised an eyebrow. “Feisty.”
“I’m getting frustrated with how much we’re getting used without getting any useful information on Organ.”
Nell pulsed approval as she held up her phone, finger hovering over the answer call button. “That’s fine with me. Let’s get a little more heavy handed.” She tapped it and spoke immediately, “Hello, Sullivan. I need to be honest with you. The benefits of our arrangement are not meeting the costs.”
The phone buzzed with static for a moment before Sullivan responded, “Oh? I’ve been sure to compensate you handsomely for the troubles you’ve encountered under my employment.”
That much was true. The money sat in my bank account with a heavy weight. I hadn’t spent a dime as of yet, but it was more money than I’d ever seen, even after being a frugal spender at my previous part-time jobs.
“Do you recall our initial agreement? After that unfortunate night of our first encounter?” Nell asked, voice brimming with a haughty lilt.
“I do,” Sullivan’s disembodied voice responded in kind. “I recall that I made it clear that I would be asking for unwavering obedience in the face of unreasonable demands.”
“What was that in exchange for?”
“Protection from your enemies. Have I not been meeting that end? Say the word and I will dispatch my loyal men to your whereabouts.”
Nell tsked. “That wasn’t all, Sullivan. You also promised to help us find the truth about who is behind the distribution of Dice in Sillwood.”
“There are more pressing matters at the moment,” Sullivan said dismissively.
“Not to us,” Nell answered firmly. “Those two things: protection and information. If you can’t provide that, then as far as I’m concerned, the deal isn’t beneficial to us.”
Sullivan’s voice dripped with condescension. “Do you really think that you will last a week on your own?”
Nell didn’t flinch. “We’ve been growing stronger with every shitty mission you’ve sent us on. At this point, we’ve experienced more danger just from the petty squabbles of the Rings than from the Dice distributor’s malice. And you’re practically admitting that you don’t have any info to offer us.”
Sullivan was silent, yet it felt like the phone was radiating his displeasure.
“You’re a capable businessman, Sullivan. I’m not trying to discredit that. And I understand that the current situation is taking up your resources. But we need assurances. Give me them and I’ll promise to be as intimidating as you need me to be.”
“So name them.”
Nell smiled. “Two things: After this mission, you don’t call us unless you have no other option. We’re not going to throw ourselves into the frontline of any conflict that you decide to start. Remember, our protection is a top priority for us. We’ll simply leave you hanging if you abuse that. And then secondly, once this situation resolves itself, you give us Graham’s crew for a month to do with as we see fit. We’ll inform you of any leads we find, of course, but we get to decide the missions for a bit.”
I was in awe of Nell’s performance in the conversation. I could never speak with such confidence. We awaited Sullivan’s response tensely.
“Very well,” he finally responded. “A small price to pay if it changes the outcome. Be at the Bourrasque night club at 11pm tonight.” With that he ended the call.
There was an implication to the agreement. That it would only hold true if the current structures of power still existed after.
I matched Nell’s infectious grin as she let her hand drop to her side.
“That was awesome,” I said, raising my hand for a high five.
Nell slapped her palm against mine and held it there. “I figured Sullivan’s protection was tenuous as it is. He might not have the manpower to send our way once the fighting gets going.”
“Do you think it will come to that?” I asked.
Nell’s expression grew serious. “I don’t see it going any other way. Do you? Those were a lot of printers. I feel like they’re committed to whatever their plan is. Too much investment to just let it be resolved by negotiation.”
I was surprised she could say that without any obvious tremor in our connection. That she could accept that there would be a conflict that would probably get innocent civilians hurt. But I supposed my reaction didn’t change the reality of the situation.
“I’ve never been to a nightclub,” Nell said ponderously. “It’s for dancing, right?”
I snorted. “You are such a strange mix of innocence and confidence.”
—
That night, we arrived at the nightclub. The music pulsed like blood through the walls of the establishment, spilling out onto the street where people waited to be let in. The outfits of the people outside seemed to share a theme: gold accents, metallic makeup, sleek and shiny accessories, it all gave an opulent cyberpunk vibe mixed with neon glowsticks and revealing outfits.
“I feel a little out of place,” Nell murmured. She was wearing a plain tee and jean shorts.
“Same here,” I responded.
A bone white luxury car pulled up to the nightclub. Sullivan emerged, surrounded by a contingent of beautiful women and tough-looking men who scanned the surroundings.
Sullivan spotted us and approached. He gave me an uncharacteristic smile that made me tense.
“Confidence, you two. That is all I require from you. No matter the hand dealt, never let it show.”
He strode forward to the doorman who quickly opened it for him.
The music grew louder, the chopped vocals rising up the stairs that led downwards. The inside was lit with a gentle green glow.
I knew what was promised in this kind of party. Bodies pressed up against each other, a total lack of personal space, music and voices drowning out any chance at a coherent thought.
Ugh. I hate this already.