Poth takes the last sip of his drink and slams it down audibly.
“I don’t know about who’s driving who, rights or lefts, whatever.. the only thing that drives me is a nice piece of ass and some mighty fine liquor. Let me get two more, Mr. Tallyho!”
“Really dude?” I shake my head in disbelief.
“What? You guys had a head start. What’d Oriyen want anyway? I haven’t seen that guy in years.”
“Just wanted to catch up a little. We used to be pretty close way back in the day.”
“Yeah, before he went full bootlicker.”
“We all have our flaws. Oriyen just wants what’s best for Olympia.”
“The dude wants to be a machine so bad he can’t stand it.”
“I mean can you blame him.. after what happened to Thea?” I reply. “He loved her more than Lethe.”
“Shit happens to all of us. What kind of world would this be if we all went around acting like fucking robots every time life shits in our face?”
He’s got a point. I’ll give him that.
Tal politely delivers our drinks and before it has a chance to hit my tongue, Poth is nudging me with his elbow and nodding in the direction of the door. His drunken excitement nearly sends whiskey all into my lap.
Glancing up, two of the most attractive women I have ever laid eyes on walk in. A twinge of nervousness blindsides me. It’s foreign, something I don’t feel that often.
My eye zooms in. Flawless, pale skin. Long, lavender hair. Violet eyes. A face, so beautiful it could start a war.
She sits right next to me, two stools over. Her friend on the other side of her.
Poth looks like he’s about to erupt if I don’t make a move soon.
I lean towards her. “I’m sorry, but… I don’t think I can live another day without knowing your name,” I say with unrivaled confidence.
Our eyes lock. She smiles.
“It’s Selene, and this is my friend Sophia.”
Sophia extends her hand and instantly Poth is kissing it.
She’s not amused. She looks a little smarter than that.
Selene giggles under her breath as she shoots me a look that screams: Is this guy serious?
“This is.. well, this is Poth.”
He does a little curtsy that lifts all of us to a pleasant smile.
“So, what brings you to my bar?” I ask sliding to the stool next to her. Poth and his nightly muse break off into their own conversation.
“Your bar?” she asks.
“That’s what I said. My bar. One of many. Welcome, by the way. Nice to have you. Make yourself at home.”
“That’s weird because I could have sworn this place is property of Lethe. As a matter of fact, everywhere in Olympia is the property of the Lethe Corporation.”
“Okay, so they do own it I guess.. if we’re trying to be technical, but they let me pretty much run things here. I’m kind of a big deal.”
“Oh, is that right?”
“You’re looking at the two-time DeltaCraft racing champion. Soon to be three-time tomorrow.” I proclaim with pride, dusting my shoulders off.
“Okay flyboy, you gonna order me a drink or just stare at my tits all night?” she asks as my jaw hits the floor. Blindsided. Who is this woman?
We down the first two shots like they were water, then two more after that. I immediately feel the full effect. This is my element.
“How does that thing work?” she asks peering into my eyes like she’s about to kiss me.
“How does what work?” I ask admiring the perfect plushness of her hot pink lips, imagining the head of my dick between them.
“Your eye, silly.”
“Oh, this?” I reply unaware it was even noticeable. “It enhances my vision. A small piece of tech just under the cornea. It helps me see things the naked eye might miss.”
“Like…”
“Like that tiny freckle just under your left ear, or the way the hair on the back of your neck stands every time my hand accidentally brushes yours.”
She’s blushing.
“Some would call it the next level of evolution,” I say a little pompously.
“Oh, is that what the brochure said?” she mocks. “Personally, I don’t see the point. I would never alter my body like that.”
“Yeah. Like that ancient wolf tattoo on your wrist?”
“Well, that’s different,” she interjects. There’s a hint of vexation in her voice. I might have struck a nerve.
“That’s different?” I push.
“Yeah.. there was no surgery.“
“Just needles. You’re quite the naturalist,” I interject.
“Okay. I see your point, asshole. What do your tattoos mean? Anything symbolic?” she asks as she seductively rubs her hand down the arrow tatted down the backside of my right arm.
“I like to think the bow on my other arm represents all of the struggle and pain I’ve been through that propelled me in the direction of where I am today. The arrow your hand is holding is the direction I’m headed. No looking back.”
“You? Struggling?” she bursts into laughter.
“My life hasn’t always been easy.”
“When has your life ever been difficult, Eros?”
“Well, right now for starters.”
“Exactly,” she smiles.
“What’s yours mean?” I ask, stroking my hand over her wrist.
“I just like wolves. I would give nearly anything to see a real one. Not that virtual knock-off. I’m talking about the real thing. It’s a shame Lethe couldn’t save their DNA.”
She looks up at me. Her lips part again. Damn that smile is going to get me in trouble. Glancing over at Poth I see his tongue halfway down Sophia’s throat. How in the...
“Those two seem to hit it off quite nicely,” slurs Selene, leaning on me, staring directly into their performance from her front-row seat.
“The universe works in mysterious ways.”
We finish our drinks and exit the Mug extremely tipsy, the four of us stumbling in the aura of Olympia’s neon lights.
It’s late, even for this city that never sleeps. There’s something nostalgic about her hand in mine as we tread drunkenly down the sidewalk. Strangers mere hours ago, now we stroll together past beautiful towers of glass blooming from fields of asphalt. Music at every turn. A slight breeze from
