Stacia Kane - City of Ghosts стр 5.

Chapter Two

I dont understand how it could have happened, Elder Griffin said again. Theyd returned to his office, the welcoming, soothing room full of skulls and books. For once the television mounted by the ceiling was off; usually the Elder kept it on all the time to keep him company.

Apparently he didnt feel much like companionship at the moment. Neither did Chess, but then, she never did. What was the point? You let people into your life and you ended up getting hurt. Or hurting them. Either way, the road to pain was paved with other people, and she wanted no part of it anymore.

At least thats what she kept telling herself. Just then it worked. Usually of late it didnt. Once the decision was made to open up to someone, to welcome them  it wasnt so easy to accept that the place shed opened for them was empty. And always would be.

Especially when it was her fault.

I dont see how she could have made it past the detectors, Dana said, echoing something Chess herself had wondered earlier but without providing the answer Chess had come up with.

She gave it now. She didnt. She wasnt Hosting when we busted her.

She gave it now. She didnt. She wasnt Hosting when we busted her.

But that isnt

I was there, Dana. Chess paused, gave the other woman a small smile in an attempt to make her words less harsh. Shed never had a problem with Dana and wasnt interested in starting one. I mean, I know you were there too, but I felt her energy. She stole mine, remember? So I know she wasnt Hosting. There was nothing inside that woman but Dumpster cag-mag and that awful tea.

Cag-mag? Elder Griffin looked puzzled. Shit. She shouldnt have said that. He knew she lived in Downside, of course, but didnt really know what that meant. Nobody did. And that was the way she liked it.

Its aIt just means, scraps of whatever meats about to go off. Like you get in the butchers Dumpster.

The Elders eyebrows rose; his shoulders relaxed. Like shed said something that pleased him.

Which made no sense at all. Why would that make him happy?

So you have managed to learn something about the area, he said. Youre not so isolated from your neighbors there as I had assumed.

For the first time in a while, Chess felt almost like laughing. Yeah, shed found a way to fit in with the rest of Downside. That was one way to look at it.

Yes, she said finally, dragging her tired mind back to Elder Griffin. Shit. Only ten at night and she was exhausted. She had more speed in her bag; hopefully theyd be done with this soon and she could go bump up.

Or, fuck that. She could go sleep. Drop an Oozer, drift away  Maybe shed even get lucky and not dream. Her dreams didnt tend to be cheerful these days. But then they never really had been.

Elder Griffin smiled, the kind of smile that made Chess wonder even more what exactly he was up to, but he didnt speak. Muffled voices came through the door, the scuffle of feet on the shiny wide floor of the hall outside the office.

Dana shivered. I still cant believe it, she said. Elder Murray  It doesnt seem real.

Elder Griffins face rearranged itself into more sympathetic lines, but when he spoke, Chess heard the steel beneath his bland tone. It made her own eyes widen. She didnt think shed ever heard him speak to anyone like thatat least, not anyone still living. Remember, Dana, Elder Murray will still be with us in spirit. There is no reason to mourn.

Of course not. Dana straightened in her seat, pushed her light hair back from her face. I wasntI wasnt implying anything. Im just shocked. I liked Elder Murray.

I liked him as well. And for that reason, Dana, and because I know the Truth, I rejoice for Elder Murray. The peace hes found in the City, the quiet  Elder Griffin shook his head. I envy him.

With difficulty Chess suppressed a shudder. The Cityugh. What Elder Griffin thought was peace, she thought was emptiness. What he thought was quiet, she thought was horrifying loneliness, with no pills or anything to make it bearable.

Well set the ceremony forhe flipped the pages in the daily calendar sitting on the shiny wide desktop before himSaturday. Yes. Five days from now is Saturdaytis so late I forgot for a moment what day it was. Saturday, Dana, you shall have your chance to see Elder Murrays happiness for yourself.

Dana nodded, her expression cleared. Meanwhile Chess felt as if someone had shoved a blender into her gut. With everything else, the deaths and the wondering where that damned wolf had come from andokay, and her stupid babyish whining about her personal life, what a fucking jokeshed forgotten about the Dedication ceremony. About what the death of an Elder would entail.

Cesaria? Are you well?

Chess nodded, opened her eyes wide and met Elder Griffins blue ones with as much innocence as she could muster. Fine, sir. Fine. Just a little tired.

You do look tired.