Page 49 (2/2)
After ten , the two of them reached their destination: the hoence had scouted as potentially being involved with supernatural forces Ma, armed men who looked Mae and Justin over with hard eyes The se, and the sight of this new threat spun her up even reater flood of adrenaline and other neurotransuys, and she’d be on them instantly
But once they saw the snake-engraved wooden char as a ticket to today’s show, the guards waved theuns Inside the house, a young woman collected the rest of the admission fee, which Justin paid in local currency Mae didn’t know the exact exchange rate but winced as what she saw as her tax dollars being handed over
They were ushered through a beaded curtain, into a spacious living room filled with old velvet furniture and lit only by candles At first, she thought that was sihts anywhere For the price this place was charging, it see though it was Everything in the roo shadows, and incense s the lack of flies here, maybe the incense was as much repellant as ceremonial Mae put a hand on
Justin’s ar spots and points of entry He leaned toward her and spoke softly
“Look over there,” he said “We’re not the only visitors from the RUNA”
He was right Across the roo individuals, to two bottles of wine between the and mostly healthy features marked them as fellow Geroup’s red hair and pale skin in particular identified them as patricians: Gemmans whose ancestors hadn’t been part of the RUNA’s early forced genetic ram
That program had resulted in a diverse ethnic population that had better resisted Mephistopheles until a vaccine was developed and had allowed the RUNA to become the dominant country it was today Most
Gee—nicknamed “plebeians”—had tanned skin, with dark hair and eyes like Justin Patricians, in not being part of that breeding, had kept their recessive traits but faced greater health issues Many had either died out or passed on Cain Mae herself was of Finnish ancestry and a rare patrician to be born in perfect health
Her safety assessment complete, Mae waved Justin toward a loveseat in the corner that afforded a full view of the room and its two doors She sat down beside him, and they were i red hair and too-sery to clear up Cain acne
“Hey,” he called, holding up his glass in a toast “Gemma mundi!”
Justin nodded back, instantly putting on that charht your own,” he called “That stuff they sell here’s one step away froar”
The redheads whooped “We got it frousta,” said one of the wolanced around, apparently searching for a glass Seeing none, she simply took the bottle in its entirety from the other woman and offered it toward him “Come on, Roisin We can share with our countrymen”
“Got my own” Justin pulled out a flask from his coat and held it up “Rum—which they don’t mess up”
After a little more friendly banter, the other Gean to trickle in,areas in Central and South A the Gemmans with Eastern Alliance accents
Justin was sh-class party as he watched everything, but as Mae studied the way the candlelight made shadows play over his face, with its chiseled profile and dark, thoughtful eyes, she knew there wasothers rarely realized beneath that friendly sht her to conceal her feelings Justin had si the way and used it to full advantage
His words were quiet when he spoke to her “About what I’d expect for tourists around here—except for those other Gemmans
Nassau’s bargain beach resorts wouldn’t be enough for them to leave the comforts of home, not when they could find safer escapes in Mazatlan”
“Dubiously safer,” Mae corrected, recalling a trip they’dfor her life
“Maybe they’re here for the novelty Maybe they want the risk”
“Maybe,” agreed Justin “Bored rich kids have certainly done stupider things They’ll be lucky if they h” His sharp eyes soon focused back on their surroundings, and she could see himents of conversation that drifted their way And , hair, posture, mannerismsall of it was fodder for him It hy, despite his many flaws, he excelled at a job that required hierous influences
“These latecoender began filtering in Most of the chairs and couches were gone now, but the newco a this is regular entertainment for them And that must be the local beauty queen”
A young woh her braided hair had the brittle quality often seen with Cain, her dark brown skin was lovely and smooth, free of any flaws She raised her hands, and the room fell silent
“Welcoh she spoke with an accent to Mae’s ears, the girl’s English was clear, her voice high and sweet
“Welcorace her home”
“Well-paying guests,” muttered Mae
“Mairl continued As she spoke, two young boys brought in a small, low table “Mama Orane has been chosen by the spirits and powerful ones who move unseen in the world to be their vessel, so that we may hear their wisdom”