The door swung open once more, and a stunning young woman with long, flowing black hair entered, radiating an aura of effortless elegance.
She wore a futuristic dress that hugged her curves, showcasing her impressive figure. She glided into the room, holding a long, thin pipe from which wisps of fragrant smoke curled.
Wow… talk about making an entrance.
"Ooh, my, my… what treasures have the winds blown in? Such… interesting wares." The woman’s perfectly manicured finger traced a line across one of the furs, pausing just before me.
"So, you''re the one who brought these little beauties to my attention? How… fortunate." Her gaze met mine, a look that felt both mesmerizing and, well, a little dangerous.
“Boss!” Theo scurried to her side and began whispering urgently into her ear. “Genuine. Absolutely genuine. Hide and fur from a live Oroskaros. At least three centuries old. Teeth, some bone fragments as well. All from the same beast. Without a doubt. We…” The young lady abruptly pushed Theo away with a delicate hand.
“I must say, I''m simply thrilled you''ve chosen to grace my humble establishment with such… exquisite rarities," the young lady said, a flirtatious smile playing on her lips.
“Allow me to present our proprietor, the esteemed Miss Raven Jin,” Wilfred announced. She casually sat down across the table and crossed her legs, resting her feet on the tabletop.
“Great to meet you,” I said, leaning back in my chair, trying to project an air of nonchalant confidence.
These hides and bones are seriously rare and valuable, I see. Too bad I couldn’t lug back more of the carcass. That thing was huge!
“Can you spit that creature back out?” I whispered to Rexy, nestled in my hair. I could feel it furiously shaking its tiny head. Too bad…
Raven exhaled a few more puffs of fragrant smoke, her eyes continuing their thorough assessment. It felt like being examined under a microscope, a very stylish, expensive microscope.
I sat across from her, putting on the performance of a lifetime, pretending to be utterly at ease in this bizarre, high-stakes situation.
Hopefully, she doesn’t notice I’m winging this. Smooth moves, Val. Real smooth.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
Raven gave Wilfred a subtle nod. "Allow me to present the contract and the particulars of the auction proceedings." Wilfred announced, as if on cue. He dutifully pulled out a stack of paperwork.
I casually tossed the stack back at Wilfred. “Look, if I trust you, these won’t matter. If you try to scam me, these won’t help either. So, they’re basically just useless trash. Just tell me how you’re going to collect your fees.”
Raven’s lips curved into a sly smile. "Val, you say? A name that suits you… it has a certain… ring to it. I have a feeling we''re going to be very good for each other." She puffed a perfect ring of smoke, aiming it rather precisely at my face.
"Now, honey bun," she drawled, leaning forward, "let''s talk business, shall we? I offer two delightful options. The first: I make you a… generous offer for these lovelies," she gestured towards the table laden with my finds, "and they become… mine to do with as I please. The second, and perhaps more… exciting option: we auction them off, and I simply take a small… token of appreciation for my… invaluable services." She winked, the smoke from her pipe curling around her face like a playful phantom.
“I’ll go with the auction then,” I said. I needed to get a sense of the market value of… well, whatever these were. Besides, an auction sounded way more entertaining than a simple sale.
"But… for you, Val…" Raven leaned closer, her eyes glittering with an almost predatory gleam. “I might be persuaded to make an… exception. Let''s just say… if you promise to bring me more of these… rare and exotic wares, I might just… forget about my usual… fees. Wouldn''t that be… intriguing?" She trailed off, her voice a silken whisper that seemed to slither into my ears.
“I can’t promise I can get more. If I do, I’ll auction them with you guys,” I said, crossing my arms. “But I don’t like owing favors. Since you offered such goodwill, I’ll offer something for you as well.”
Glancing down at my decidedly unfashionable attire. “These rugs aren’t exactly haute couture. If you can get me some decent quality clothes. I’ll trade these… outfits, to you guys for them.” I gestured at my current attire. “These rugs aren’t exactly haute couture. If you can get me some decent quality fashion, I’ll trade these… outfits, to you guys for them.”
Theo practically launched himself across the table, grabbing my arms with an almost desperate fervor. "Are you certain?!" His eyes were wide with a mix of excitement and disbelief.
"Oh, Theo… you''re such a… delight. Now, run along and… charm someone else," Raven purred, smoothly detaching Theo’s hands from my person with a practiced flick of her wrist. "Wilfred, my dear, do see to it that our… fascinating guest receives the full… royal treatment."
Raven stood, executing a little catwalk as she sauntered towards the exit. It was a performance, every step calculated to draw attention. As she reached the door, she paused, glancing back over her shoulder, a sly smile playing on her lips.
She whispered just loud enough for me to hear over the general hubbub of the room, "Val… ''Vitruvian Artificial Life''… such an intriguing being. I have a feeling our paths are destined to… cross again.” She punctuated the statement with another puff of perfumed smoke, which lingered in the air like a ghostly echo of her presence.
I stood abruptly, nearly toppling my chair in my haste. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end, if they could. As Raven vanished through the doorway, I turned to Rexy, my voice a low hiss. "Do you recognize her?" I felt Rexy’s familiar head shake against my shoulders, the movement a clear negative.