“Yeah, Papa says their chip was disabled at the point of abduction,” she confirmed. Tess’s father was ushering the field of technological advancements into a new era, and was often called upon for assistance when things took an unprecedented turn, such as tamper-proof chips suddenly failing. Over the last few decades it became required to be able to identify people, species, and track movements to ensure compliance to the new preternaturals laws. It was as much for protection as it was a deterrent. Normally, when someone went missing they could be located within minutes.
The chips contained all of a person’s data, from blood type and inoculations, to location tracking and personal details. They were even used to provide secure access to accounts and emails, ensuring hacking data and identity theft became a thing of the past. There had been much protest at first, but now it had become a natural part of society, especially after being readily embraced by the students and trend setters due to the scan and pay functions reducing the need to carry currency, and the cross-compatibility meaning anything they needed was at their fingertips, as forgotten assignments saved on the home network could be accessed as easily as lecture schedules. All you needed to do was pick up and access any device. Ashley found herself unconsciously rubbing her wrist, where even now the faint scar from the implant she received at the time of adoption was visible.
“How’s that even possible? Didn’t you say your dad thought they were hack-proof?”
“That’s why he’s been working late. They are trying to ascertain what it would take for the tracker to be corrupted. That’s just between us though, okay?” she whispered, learning in towards them.
“You know it,” Ashley and Jack agreed in unison.
“Speaking of secrets,” Jack began, his gaze flicking to Ashley, “I hear our territory’s PB affliction rate is far below the prediction. Do you really think they don’t know what’s causing it? I mean, we can’t be the only ones who’ve figured it out, right?” Jack hooked a chair with his foot, pulling it out to join them sitting. “I understand why they can’t announce the reasons, it would cause unrest among the population, but I hear it’s got pretty bad in other places.”
“They might not know,” Ashley intervened. “The Atelís don’t really cause much harm and, aside from some flu-like symptoms for the first week or so, they go on as normal. It’s when they’re awakened they’ll see a problem, and one thing our chips don’t do is update our blood status. They may genuinely believe it’s a virus. Besides, it’s not like I can just go to someone and say, ‘Hey did you know PB is actually caused by the vampires expanding their sleeper ranks?’ I have no way of explaining how I know. The factions could be unaware that it is even happening, and there’s no way to know if it is a rogue clan or a precision movement.”
“But you can see it.”
“I still can’t explain how, I just…” Ashley shuddered, her gaze panning across the cafeteria until her eyes rested on a blond-haired young man who was casting his lecherous gaze in their direction. “Want to place a bet?” Ashley asked—loud enough for those around to overhear—while rubbing her arms in an attempt to dispel the goose pimples which had chased across her flesh when her eyes had met with the distant figure’s.
“Him?” Jack announced, nodding his head towards the place her eyes strayed to. With an exhausted sigh, she nodded, pushing herself to stand. “I’ve got a five if you’re successful,” he offered, producing the note.
With a nod of acceptance, she smartened her appearance and sauntered, as best she could on weary limbs, towards the crowd. She hated this part, but it was necessary. She didn’t care what people said about her behind her back. None of them realised what it was like to be her. When she saw the young man again, his gaze followed her every move, his eyes raking her from hips to lips, pausing there as she drew her tongue seductively across them. As their eyes met he stood wordlessly, invading her space. With a glance back towards her friends, she noticed Will had joined them and was watching her intently with a dark expression. Turning her gaze away quickly, she grabbed the man’s collar, pulling him down to meet her lips in a sultry kiss that was met by the sound of wolf whistles from his friends. She felt heat ripple from her core, turning the cool metal of her necklace warm, as he became consumed by the kiss. Releasing him, she placed her hand on his chest, easing him away as the all too familiar look of confusion washed over his features. Before a word could be spoken, she had once more vanished into the cafeteria crowd and knew neither he, nor those in proximity to him, would recall what she looked like.
Lowering herself back into her seat, she turned her gaze towards the soft glow of the lighting above, aware that the pale shade would highlight her washed-out pallor even more than it had before, when she had been merely tired. Jack, in a flamboyant gesture designed to attract the attention of those who had just witnessed her act, presented the note. She snatched it from him unceremoniously, tucking it in her pocket, knowing he would get it back later, and the near silence around them returned to normal volume.
“Alright, you win again,” he acknowledged. Ashley flashed him a smile before resting her head on her arms as fatigue caught up with
