Beyond the Pale Read Online Free Page B

somehow she was still alive. Still in one piece even though she knew that was impossible. The explosion should have killed her.
    Now, standing at the balcony’s railing, Nadja shook her head to clear away the memories. She wiped tears from her face with a handkerchief and stood up straight. Carla hadn’t been able to explain why the explosive blast had been contained, had stopped and reversed itself. That was the only reason that Nadja had survived at all. Carla had found no magical barrier. Nothing simple like that. The best Carla had come up with was that somehow, when the manastorm had been created, the blast energy had been sucked back into the vortex and had vented into astral space and the metaplanes.
    Perhaps it was a lucky accident that Nadja was still alive while Dunkelzahn—the creature who had been her master, her benefactor, and teacher—had been vaporized. Or perhaps whoever had killed Dunkelzahn had wanted to protect those at the inaugural ball—the many powerful people inside the Watergate Hotel.
    Now, Nadja became aware of Gordon Wu’s presence at her side and slightly behind her. Gordon was her aide, extremely reliable, with a perfect sense of etiquette. He waited without sound for Nadja to acknowledge his presence.
    Nadja hardened her will, and turned toward him. Gordon was a short human of Asian heritage outfitted with a simsense rig that recorded everything he experienced while on duty. He also had a separate headcamera as a backup; it could record full-motion video or stills, if necessary.
    Nadja nodded for him to speak.
    “There are two elves here to see you,” Gordon said. “They do not have an appointment, but when I told them this, one of them laughed and the other got angry. They persisted until I promised to announce them. I am supposed to tell you that Aina is here.”
    Nadja felt a thrill of excitement. Aina was in Dunkelzahn’s will and was to be offered a position on the Draco Foundation’s board of directors. Among the various secret documents that had come into Nadja’s possession after Dunkelzahn’s death was a statement regarding Aina, a warning that while her participation in the Draco Foundation was crucial, she would most likely be reluctant to join.
    Nadja had tried to contact Aina many times since the reading of the will, but none of her telecom messages had been answered. Until now.
    Nadja gave Gordon a smile and indicated for him to lead on. She followed him through the double glass doors and into the living room where two elves waited. One stood by the tali windows, and there was a coldness to her stance.
    Distance.
    She wore comfortable blue jeans and a white t-shirt, and her features were striking. Her skin was deep black in tone, her hair shockingly white and very straight, cropped close her skull. She wore no make-up, but her elven features needed no emphasis to enhance their sharpness.
    This is Aina, Nadja thought.
    Aina studied Nadja intently as she walked in, seeming to scrutinize Nadja’s aura as well as her physical body. Aina did not smile; there was a sadness to her expression. Which was to be expected; she had just lost a dear friend in Dunkelzahn.
    The elf sitting on the blond leather couch was a man. Also quite striking, he wore his long auburn hair pulled straight back into a pony tail. His face was painted clown-white and there were diamond shapes done in red make-up over each eye and a smile painted on his face. Like a jester at court.
    Under the make-up, his face seemed weathered and quite handsome, bearing no scars except perhaps the faintest hint of one just next to his left ear. He wore tight-fitting black jeans that were humorously about ten years out of fashion, a Maria Mercurial shirt, and a black leather jacket festooned with assorted pins. Despite the outside heat, he did not seem to be perspiring.
    He smiled at Nadja as she entered the room. “Miss Daviar, so good of you to see us. My name is Harlequin and this is Aina.”
    Nadja returned the