Using Fejo: The Clecanian Series Book 5 by Victoria Aveline

Author:Victoria Aveline [Aveline, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-01-12T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Vanessa was panting, bobbing and weaving through the crowds and glancing up occasionally to make sure she was going the right way. Left at the roasted meat stand. Left at the roasted meat stand. Left at the roasted meat stand. She smelled the meat before she saw it and hurried forward. Turning left, she paused. The bakery should be somewhere on this street. In the distance, on the far corner of the block, she spotted a yellow door.

“Vanessa,” a deep angry voice called from behind her.

She froze, turning, though she already knew exactly who’d spoken. There was Fejo at the end of the street, hands in his pockets, staring at her as if this was the most casual thing he’d ever done.

Vanessa bolted. Maybe if she got into the bakery and spoke to Sulo, she could hide. Maybe the woman would help her. Alien women supporting alien women and all that.

She reached the door and pounded on it, heart beating out of her chest and skin buzzing. A burly woman with an extended nose and pointed ears greeted her. Her bushy tail flicked behind her, and Vanessa couldn’t help but think she looked like a mutant squirrel. The furry brown woman surveyed Vanessa up and down and twitched her nose.

“I need some place to hide, and I need a ride to a Class Four planet,” Vanessa blurted. There was no time for subtlety. She was surprised Fejo wasn’t here already, knowing how fast he could move when he wanted to.

The woman looked at her again, studied her face and her heaving chest. “I can’t understand you, girl.”

Shit! Vanessa took in a breath and peered over her shoulder. Fejo was sauntering down the street toward her, his steps slow and deliberate. His icy gaze bore into her.

With a weak nod, she faced the woman. Charades it is. She pointed to herself, then to the woman, and swept her hand around like a plane, hoping she’d understand.

Sulo seemed in sync with her because she nodded and said, “Credits?”

Vanessa let out a relieved breath and reached into her pocket. Her stomach dropped. She patted down her pocket again, digging through the fabric and turning it inside out. Nothing.

She looked in the lining and saw a thick silver sticker that hadn’t been there before. Lifting her head, realization dawned. Dread curling in her belly, she spun and found Fejo six feet away, grinning and holding up the credits Luka and Alice had given her between his middle and pointer fingers. He gave the black rectangle a small shake and canted his head.

He’d stolen it from her somehow. She thought back to the entrance of the tavern when he’d pulled her in close to ask about Uja. He’d straight-up picked her pocket! And she wouldn’t be surprised if the little sticker he’d put in her jacket was actually a tracker.

Apparently realizing she didn’t have any credits, Sulo silently stepped into her home and closed the door in Vanessa’s face. She stared at the yellow wood for a moment, blinking.

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