Page 96 of Semblance

“He sure is,” Calisto said. “You see that guy over there?”

My eyes followed the invisible line that her finger pointed to and zeroed in on a man serving sausages from a Bavarian-themed hotdog stand.

“The hot dog guy?”

“That guy is one of the Midnight Society’s most trusted killers,” Calisto said. “He can turn anything in his hands into a weapon, including those bratwurst sausages he’s cooking up.”

“Shadow is having me followed by the hot dog guy?”

“Well, not only the hot dog guy,” Calisto said as her head tilted over to a couple of mean looking sons-of-bitches hanging out in front of an Asian-inspired bubble tea stand. Their eyes were fixated on the two of us.

“Those guys are Society guys as well?” I asked.

“Well they definitely don’t look like bubble tea enthusiasts, do they?” Calisto laughed.

“Point taken,” I said. “Man, I’m suddenly feeling like I’m on the Truman Show, where every move I make is being watched.”

“It probably is,” Calisto said.

“I hate it.”

“Welcome to the lifestyles of the rich and dangerous,” Calisto said. “Let’s roll out before I’m tempted to grab a delicious looking fraternity boy and do some things to them that I’ll most likely regret the next morning.”

I nodded, as Calisto changed the gears on her standard convertible and we sped off from the University like a high end Thelma and Lousie.

I assumed that Calisto was going to take me back to the Tremaine estate, where Shadow was waiting for me.

On the radio, the rich and earthly tones of Regina Spektor were playing and I leaned back in my seat and decided to enjoy the ride. I still wasn’t used to being chauffeured around all the time, but it was nice that I didn’t have to endure a long subway ride back to the estate.

“My brother loves you, you know,” Calisto said, her eyes fixated on the road. “It’s been years since he opened up his heart to anyone.”

I couldn’t help but smile and felt my cheeks grow hot just thinking about him.

“He means a lot to me as well,” I said. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have met him. I guess it’s kind of funny how fate works.”

“Sweetheart, I’m glad that my brother ended up choosing you over all those power hungry bitches—even if it was meant to be a ‘fuck you’ to the entire organization,” Calisto said. “And I’m glad that he’s taken a liking to you. There’s something about you that’s very sweet; very innocent.”

“Something like a virgin?” I laughed.

“Yeah,” she smiled. “If you haven’t noticed by now, I tend to be a story teller when I’m schmoozing the scotch drinking, ass kissing fuckers. Someday, I’m tempted to tell them that sticking their thumb up their asshole is the key to eternal youth, just to see if they’ll try it. I swear they’re all mindless sheep that follow the trends.”

“You dislike the society as much as Shadow?” I asked.

Calisto shrugged her shoulders, while making a left turn onto ninth avenue.

“There are things I like about it—like my massive wardrobe and the luxury of going anywhere in the world as I please—but there’s a lot to it that I’m sick of as well.”

“Such as?”

“The politics,” Calisto replied without hesitation. “Aside from Shadow, there’s not a single person on that council that I feel like I can turn to whenever I need to talk to someone, get things off my chest.”

“You can always talk to me,” I offered. “I’m good for more than just a party.”

Calisto smiled and nodded.

“I’d like that Aria,” she said. “You know, I thought Shadow was being foolish when he named you to the council, but I’m starting to appreciate having someone on there that won’t stab me in the back whenever there’s a bounty on the table.”

“What about Lincoln?” I asked, deciding to slip in another good word for him. I watched Calisto’s expressions carefully.

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