A Son of the Shadows by Steven Bissett

Author:Steven Bissett [Bissett, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-10T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

That evening Tselitel was laying on her bed looking up at the ceiling, her mind wandering over the events of the day. Wellesley had been silent ever since they’d reached her apartment, processing what he’d learned and leaving her to her thoughts.

Standing up and ambling into the living room, she looked over the empty space and sighed, her mood turning melancholy.

“You know, you and Rex are my only friends,” she said.

“I’d say Rex is more than just a friend,” Wellesley replied. “He’s got to count for at least two.”

She chuckled.

“Okay, I’ve got three friends: you and Rex. But that’s all. I always thought there’d be more people in my life.”

“Well, you’ve got to have some family offworld, right?”

“Nope. I was an only child. Mom and dad have been gone for years.”

“And no chums of any kind?” probed the AI.

“I don’t know, too much of a loner, I guess,” she replied, filling up the teapot and setting it on the stove. "Even in school I didn't really socialize. I didn't really know how."

“Well, you’re unique,” Wellesley said. “It makes it hard to fit in.”

“I suppose so,” she said, walking to the little window and opening the blinds to look out. “It’s funny, the nights don’t seem so cold now, since I know Rex could be out there.”

“He probably is. He’s not much of one for sitting still. Not if he can help it.”

She gazed out of the window until the teapot started to sound. Just as she turned away something caught her eye and she looked back.

“Did you see that, Wellesley?” she asked eagerly, straining to penetrate the darkness.

“I didn’t notice anything,” he replied casually.

“Look, right there!” she said, pointing at a dark outline. “I think it’s Rex.”

“Shouldn’t be,” uttered the AI cautiously. “He wouldn’t try to make contact without getting the signal first. There’d be too much risk involved.”

“Love can make you do dangerous things, Wellesley,” she said, pulling up the blinds and unlatching the window.

“Yes, for himself. But not dangerous for you,” he replied. “He’d never do anything that would put you at risk.”

She was about to thrust the window upward when he said this. Pausing momentarily, she looked once again and saw the figure approaching. Suddenly a chill seized her, and she felt afraid.

“Lock the window, Lily,” Wellesley said slowly. “And pull the blinds down.”

She followed his instructions and then moved to the middle of the living room, feeling alone and insecure. Eyeing the window for a few moments, she wrapped her arms around herself and wished Rex was there.

“What now?” she asked quietly.

“Now we go about life,” the AI said, trying to sound casual but his tone betraying tension.

“But...what about…” she began.

“He can’t get in here. For starters, the window is too small, as you proved only last night. And he won’t try to force his way past the guard to batter down your door. He’d have a dozen security agents on him in half a minute.”

“But who is he?” she asked in a quiet voice.

“Hard to say,” Wellesley replied.

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