Metamorphosis Alpha 2 by Craig Martelle (ed)

Author:Craig Martelle (ed) [Martelle, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 37515037
Published: 2017-12-11T00:00:00+00:00

The Greyness

By Scott King

Chapter 1: Judgment

The irises of Bekka’s double-pupiled eyes overlapped, like a single egg, cracked and revealed to have two yolks. Her upper pupils dilated, while her lower ones stayed small, allowing her see in a more dynamic range in the dimly lit room. It wasn’t much of an advantage, but when it came to manipulating the gambling table, any advantage was a bonus.

In almost slow motion she watched as the chubby pureblood across the table brushed the side of his forehead with the back of his pointer finger, clearing away a bit of sweat.

“I’m crossing the stream.” Bekka thwacked her knuckles on the rusted table. What the House Felton Casino lacked in extravagance of decor it made up for with deep pockets. There wasn’t another gambling hole in the city where the bets could be unlimited. It was also the only building that never suffered from a power surges or brownouts, which meant the gambling never ended. “Either break the dam or build a bridge, ‘cause I’m coming.”

The two muttbloods to her right threw down their hands. The dealer raised a brow, and the chunky pureblood narrowed his eyes, as if trying to decide if she was bluffing.

“You are lying or I’m a jeget’s dinner!” The pureblood leaned forward, puffing out his chest, as if such gestures could intimidate Bekka. “I’m building three bridges and demand judgment for the trick. Prove you can back up your bet.”

Bekka rummaged through the hidden pockets of her black cloak. In the third pocket on her left she found what she was looking for. With a bit of melodramatic flair, she slammed a hand onto the table. The metal object tucked into her palm thunked.

Waiting till all eyes were on her, she pulled away her hand revealing a Domar. The practically mythical coins were so rare, she bet no one in the room had ever seen a real one.

The dealer stepped away from the table and the two muttblood gamblers followed his example. The pureblood curled a lip. “It can’t be real,” he said.

“You calling me a skunker?” Bekka practically growled the words, making sure that those sitting at the nearby casino tables could hear. “It’s real. Sow your hand, or water the garden.”

“I demand judgment!” The pureblood cupped his hands and yelled. The casino went silent.

Bekka knew upon serious inspection a judge would declare her Domar a fake. So instead of waiting for her doom, she kicked it in its metaphorical crouch. It’s not that she had to get violent, it’s that violence was a way to hedge her bet and ensure how House Felton would respond. Plus, it was fun.

In a flourish of movement, Bekka threw up her cloak, distracting those watching. With her hands hidden, she drew her sonic dagger and flicked her wrist. A blade of pure white sound came alive.

With her special sight, Bekka watched the other gamblers move to draw their own hidden weapons, but she was ready. Like a dancer crossing the floor, she made her way around the table, jamming her sonic dagger into each of them.

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