Did it matter? Chess was going to actually investigate someone, and she was going to do it because of Jillian, so she needed to shut up and be grateful. This was a big deal; this was something that would go in Chesss file. If she did a good job it could affect her placing after she graduated, could put her higher on the list for whatever job she ultimately decided she did want to do.
Goody Byers had encouraged her to go into Liaising after Chess scored pretty well on her Channeling and Reversion exams, but well, she guessed shed find out whether or not that was going to work now, because Jillian parked the car in the Church lot, and Chess was about to visit the City of Eternity for the first time.
Chapter Six
Jillian twisted a key in the lock of one of the half-size lockers lining the wall by the elevators. Ordinarily Id change into a robe, since Id just be going to talk to the Liaisers. But I want to show you the City, so
Chess grasped at that slick, useless straw, even though she knew it was pointless. Hey, I know how busy you are, so theres really no need
Will you stop? Jillians smile was broad, but Chess saw the flash of irritation in her eyes. Right. Turning down Jillians gifts was probably not a great idea. Its not a waste of time and Im happy to take you. But you do need to get those clothes off.
Jillian had already started undressing herself, slipping off the navy blazer she wore and lifting her tailored white T-shirt over her head to reveal a lacy skin-tone bra Chess tried not to look at. She didnt want to see it. She didnt want to see Jillians naked body. She especially didnt want Jillian to see her own naked body, much less the two-dollar panties shed tried to mend herself and the bra held together with a rubber band. Her scholarship covered living expenses, yeah, but there were expenses and then there were expenses. She needed to eat, she needed music and vodka. Who cared about nice underwear? She didnt have anyone to impress.
But just the same, she wished the right bra cups seam hadnt started to split so the thin layer of padding was visible, wished there wasnt a string of elastic dangling from the plain cotton waistband of the panties.
There arent any cameras here. Jillian pulled off her shoes, pushed her navy trousers down to her ankles.
Chess glanced up. Yeah, she knew the cameras had been taken out, but still shit. I just
Oh, damn, where was she supposed to look now, because Jillian stood in front of her stark naked, and Chesss skin felt too warm, her heart pounded too fast, and she tasted fear and pain bitter on her tongue.
As quickly as she could she shucked her clothing, keeping her gaze focused on the floor.
You get used to it. Jillians hand rested on Chesss shoulder for a minute. A brief touch, almost not a touch at all, but somehow more invasive and creepy because there was no cloth covering Chesss skin. It was just Jillians flesh against her flesh, bare skin touching hers when she didnt want it, and there she stood naked and vulnerable in front of another person. Panic swam up from her stomach into her throat to choke her.
She stuffed her clothes into one of the lockers without really seeing what she was doing. Some part of her had left her body the second shed unfastened her jeans; some part of her was used to leaving when her clothes came off, and the rest of her was resigned to just take whatever happened next and get it over with.
Yes, this was different. This was her choice. And yes, Jillian may have weirded her out a little, but Jillian wasnt going to touch her anywhere else, wasnt going to force her to do things she didnt want to do. Chess knew all that.
Too bad knowing it didnt help.
The elevator doors slid open behind them, revealing the enormous interior. The car was designed for forty people or something like that, because ceremonies were sometimes held down there that required all the employees to attend. Another touch, this time an elbow grab, and Jillian smiled at her with her eyes fixed firmly on Chesss own. Nice of her, but not really reassuring. You ready?
I guess so.
The elevator ride took six minutes. Six minutes of being naked next to a naked Jillian. Chess crossed her arms over her chest. Did that look like she was trying to cover up, like she was worried Jillian might be checking her out? Maybe she shouldnt do that. Maybe she should drop her hands to her sides.
But doing that made her feel like she was sticking out her chest or something. Maybe she shouldShit, she had no idea what she should be doing. All she knew was that she shouldnt be looking at Jillian. So she didnt.
The elevator stopped; the doors opened onto a wide cement platform, like a regular train platform. And there was the train, low and sleek, pale blue lights glimmering faintly inside it. This was her last chance to escape, her last chance to tell Jillian that she didnt really feel like doing this, pleading a hangover or whatever and escaping.
Except she couldnt do any of that. Not unless she wanted to basically throw away any chance at actually being something one day.
Jillian spoke again once theyd gotten on the train. Its pretty cool, huh? That they built all of this so fast?
Damn. If shed had her bag with her, she could have had a drink. Of water. Of water, because her throat was dry. She only needed a drink of water, not anything else. I thought the City was already here.
Well, yeah, the cavern was. But the train and everything, they had to ship all of that down specially. Pretty amazing, if you ask me.
Chess opened her mouth to reply, but Jillian cut her off. Shit! I need to mark you. Why didnt you say something?
What? Ioh.
Oh was right, because Jillian got up and reached for the bin full of black chalk molded into one of the trains walls. The tattoos across her bare shoulders and down her arms shifted with the movement, so runes and sigils, hafurans and hex signs, planetary symbols and protective letters in ancient alphabets seemed to slide over her skin. Those symbols awarded her extra protection, extra power to keep her safe from the Citys ravenous dead.
But Chess didnt have her tattoos yet; she wouldnt until shed graduated and was officially hired. Until then she was reliant on an employee to mark her, and Jillian was right. Entering the City was dangerous enough; entering it unmarked was not a good idea.
Here. Look up. Jillian leaned over; for an uncomfortable second or two her full breasts hung right before Chesss eyes, before Chess obeyed with an inner squirm. Not comfortable. She was not comfortable and she was not happy, no no no.
The chalk slid over Chesss forehead, a prickly tingly sort of feeling like a bug crawling across her face. Energy radiated from it, spreading from Chesss head to her throat and down. Like a rash. Like sweat breaking out on her skin.
Sorry I didnt think of this sooner, Jillian said. Her fingertips urged Chesss head to the side, brushed Chesss hair off her shoulder so her throat was visible. Guess getting marked by a naked woman isnt what you thought youd be doing today.
Its okay. She tried to sound like it was okay. She was pretty sure she failed. The rocking of the train beneath her and the energy slithering along her body, her own discomfort, made her queasy; she swallowed hard, swallowed again in an attempt not to be sick. Jillian wasnt threatening her, wasnt coming on to her, wasnt trying to ask her to do anything or make her do anything Swallow, swallow, swallow. Swallow the saliva, swallow the fear, swallow the memories.
And get it the fuck together. Chess cleared her throatshe barely heard the sound of it over the pounding of her heart, the blood rushing in her earsand straightened her spine.
It didnt help much. By the time Jillian finished a few minutes later Chess felt like shed spent several hours jogging in a sauna, and all she wanted to do was get the hell out of there. Screw the Church, screw her potential jobshe wanted out. Or at the very least she wanted a drink. Maybe even a cigarette. Something to help her calm down, help her move on. Why couldnt she just move on?
The train stopped. Jillian stood up and stepped back, admiring her handiwork. Her hand brushed Chesss cheek. Okay. You should be good now.
Thanks.
Jillian acknowledged her with a nod and put the chalk back. You know the rules?
Dont look them in the eye. Dont talk to them. Dont make any moves toward them, theyll see it as a challenge. Dont try to touch them. Dont raise your arms above your shoulders, theyll think its an attack. Dont run. Dont raise your voice. Dont show any emotion, but especially not fear.
Jillians eyebrows rose. Youve been studying.
Jillians eyebrows rose. Youve been studying.
Chess shrugged. Of course shed been studying. Did she ever do anything else?
Jillian bent over slightly in front of the lock to look at it as she did whatever she was doing to it. Chess turned away, examining the ceiling and the blank walls around her like the unwilling witness she was, ostentatiously not looking at Jillian. The procedure to enter the City was privileged to full Church employees only, and Chess wasnt one of those yet.
Maybe Jillian would forget the procedure, maybe it wouldnt work maybe they could just turn around and leave. Those silent dark walls, musty and cold, looming over her to the ceiling she could barely see Chess felt the weight of the earth above, all six hundred feet or whatever it was that could fall at any second, felt that heaviness like a block of ice sitting on her heart. So far underground, they were, so far that help couldnt possibly reach them in time if something went wrong. So far that no one would hear them scream.
She heard, though, when the lock gave. Felt it, too, like a snap inside her, a click as the energy shifted. Jillian glanced back at her, smiling, and opened the door to the City of Eternity. The city of the dead.
It wasnt a city. Not at all. No buildings, no roads, no trees orwell, no anything. Nothing but blank space as far as Chess could see. Nothing but the pale blue glow of the magic sigils covering every inch of the craggy ceiling, every inch of the rough-hewn stone-and-dirt walls, shiny-bright lines of magic through solid rock like veins of silver in a mine.