Kinsmen 01 - Silver Shark

her.
    "No," she said sharply. Now wasn't the time for mind scans. If he discovered her shell, he would put two and two together. He still didn't know if he wanted to hire or to kill the mysterious psycher. Venturo was proud. If he realized how thoroughly she tricked him, he would feel extremely foolish. The choice between kill and hire wouldn't be so difficult then. If he fought with her, one of them would not survive. She didn't want to die and she didn't want to hurt him.
    Venturo peered at her. "How did you know I wanted to scan your mind?"
    She gave him a cold look. "I guessed. You have difficulty taking no for an answer."
    "Does this mean you didn't really want to come with me?"
    "That's not what I meant."
    "Claire, I told you, you didn't have to accept my invitation if you didn't want to."
    "I wanted to come," she said.
    She could tell by the look on his face that he didn't believe her. "I think it's better I take you home," he said. "After all, I promised to return you to your life at midnight."
    He strode back inside the house. She wanted to scream, but venting her frustration in a loud shriek was out of the question, so she clenched her fist and smashed it into the rail.

Chapter Seven
    Claire awoke instantly. Someone's mind had brushed against hers. She could still feel the traces of the foreign presence.
    Claire rolled out of bed. The owner of the mind waited outside. It wasn't Venturo. His mind felt differently. Besides, after their silence-filled flight back to the city, a visit from him was highly unlikely.
    She pulled a pair of pants over her underwear and stepped out onto the balcony.
    The light-eyed DDS psycher stood on the ground below her windows. His name surfaced from her memory: Pelori.
    He tossed back his long hair, jumped, and scrambled up the wall, swinging himself up to crouch on the rail of her balcony. A combat agility implant. Nice.
    A thought zinged to her. "I know you are not what you seem."
    She'd thought as much. He had touched her mind and sensed the shell.
    "Escana doesn't deserve you. He doesn't even know and he is too blind to see it."
    Ven would know, but he was too polite to go ruffling through her thoughts. It was a courtesy she treasured.
    "Join us. We will give you things. Money. Prestige. Respect. Safety. Better house."
    "You're wasting your time," she said aloud.
    "Why do you stay with him? What has he done that we can't duplicate?"
    "He brings me tea."
    "What?"
    "When I hit rock bottom and needed help, he gave it to me expecting nothing in return. He takes interest in me. He cares about my welfare. He is kind to me."
    Pelori turned his head, like a bird examining an interesting time. "Castilla will give you enough money to buy all the kindness you want."
    "No."
    " What if I make you come with me?"
    Claire laughed. "If you touch me, I will take your mind apart."
    "You don't have the power."
    "Try me."
    He pondered it for a long moment. He had no way of gauging her power or guessing at how fast she could dismantle the shell.
    Pelori dropped off the balcony, landing in an easy crouch. "I will return."
    Claire went inside. She was watched. She wasn't sure if he had contacted Castilla or if his visit was an independent effort. Either way, it would end badly.
    Her magic dream of happy life was beginning to unravel at the seams. If she let herself get caught up in mourning the unfairness of it, she would fail to hold it together. The mere possibility of losing everything filled her with fear.
    Claire crossed her arms. She had to keep it together. She had to function and she would fight for her dream.
    *** *** ***

    Monday came too fast. She had arrived at her regular time and sank into work, refusing to permit any distractions, including Ven's mind in the nearby office.
    The digital screen in her desk chimed, sending a glowing pulse of pale blue through her screen. She checked the origin. Calena, Building Security. Now what?
    She took the call. Calena's face filled the screen. "Claire, there are people here to see you," she said. "They say it's an emergency. They seem agitated."
    Calena panned the camera to the side. Tonya, Charles, and Doreem Nagi leaning on a teenager who had to be Edu for support. Her stomach lurched. Something bad had happened. "I'm coming down."
    Claire hurried to the elevator, her heels clicking on the transparent floor. A few seconds later the elevator spat her into the lobby. She crossed the tiled space.
    Tonya saw her and would've ran forward if Charles