Ch 3.16: ❤ Even

Elaina couldn’t help but be a little distracted as Shein’s tight blue dress swayed back and forth. That was most certainly not the reason Elaina had decided to come to Mirage, but it wasn’t helping her keep her mind on business either. The stares weren’t either, neither the daggers coming from Mille’s eyes or the astounded and sometimes lustful stares from the other employees.

But Elaina had to focus. Shein wasn’t someone she could afford to let her guard down around, much less in Shein’s own domain.

Shein opened the door and moved to the side, motioning for Elaina to go in first with a smile. It was impossible not to cringe when she noticed the boards on the wall, a hastily done job after Elaina and her friends had burst through it and into the bar on the other side. “Sorry about that,” Elaina said instinctively.

“I would say not to mind it,” Shein replied as she closed the door and slipped in behind Elaina, walking over to her desk, pulling out the guest seat in front of it before sitting in her own, “however, it does still sting that you told the bar owner next door I was the one responsible.”

Elaina rolled her eyes, regretting saying anything at all, but Shein just gave her a wink and pulled a bottle and glasses out of her desk. “Now, what brings you to my humble establishment this afternoon, business or pleasure?”

“I couldn’t be here for pleasure; you’re not open for hours.”

“The facilities aren’t open yet, true, but I myself could be persuaded to open up just for you, my dear.”

Whatever words Elaina had planned on saying next caught in her throat, trapped by both Shein’s answer and the sly grin she wore.

Shein let out a laugh as she poured a glass of the same fire-liquid her and Elaina had drank together the last time they were in the office together, not even asking if Elaina wanted one before pouring the second and sliding it over. “So, not here for pleasure, unfortunately, but you are here alone. Strange, that. I would’ve been certain you’d have at least one of the other four with you.”

“Three,” Elaina said, “but that’s not important. Have you heard anything from the capital since we last talked?”

“It’s been a week, darling,” Shein said as she took a sip from the clear liquid, letting a relaxed breath as she did. “These things take time.”

“Yeah, sure.” Elaina reached out for her own glass, taking a drink she wasn’t entirely excited for, but one that she felt she needed to take steel her nerves. It burned going down just as before, and she coughed just as before as well, bringing another round of laughter out from Shein.

“So, what are you actually here for? You’re smart enough to know I don’t have any new info, but you’re here anyway. “

Elaina nodded, knowing there was no use in hiding it. “We’re being sent away in about three weeks. I can take one of our Temmie’s, but I need some place to hide the other.” There wasn’t a reason to tell Shein there was a third subcore locked away in the cave.

Shein eyed Elaina with suspicion, taking another sip before placing her cup down and plopping her elbows on the table. “Well, I could always take it for a little bit. Just until you got back, of course.”

“Not happening,” Elaina said. She was already hesitant about telling Shein they’d be leaving one behind at all, certainly not trusting enough to leave one in her care. “But I still don’t know what to do with it. I just need advice.”

Shein shrugged, sinking back into her chair. “Worth a shot, I guess. Still, I’m not sure why you came to me if you aren’t going to let me hold onto it. Just telling me you’re leaving it behind is dangerous enough if you’re worried I’d run off with it.”

“I needed to tell you we’re leaving anyway,” Elaina said. “And if I didn’t, I’m sure you’d find out somehow with whatever connections you have.”

“True. I’m surprised I didn’t already know, actually.”

“But what would you do? How do you… hide something illegal?”

“I mean, unless you want to bury it, the only thing to do is give it to someone you can trust.”

“All four of us are going, though,” Elaina said with a sigh, swirling the liquid in her cup around. “I can sneak in just one by wrapping it up probably, but two giant crystal orbs… Not to mention, if someone searches our luggage and finds both, they’re going to have both. That can’t happen.”

Elaina thought over everything, hiding it in the cave, leaving it in her room, leaving it in Tira’s room, taking both. None really seemed safe at this point. She cursed herself for having left Temmie alone in their room for as long as they had, but that was only a couple weeks, and at least she was at school. However long they were going to be gone, she knew she couldn’t leave them unattended. She looked back up, defeated, and saw a face that confused her. Shein looked annoyed. Not in the, “I’m gonna hurt you,” way, more in the, “are you fucking serious right now?” way.

“What?” Elaina said, pulling away slightly.

“Do I really need to say it?”

“Say what? I already told you, I’m not giving it to you, even to hold on to. I’ll take it myself before that.”

“Fireguard? You said the four of you are going, is she?”

Elaina froze. She hadn’t even considered Prisma, had been doing everything she could to not think about her. It hadn’t been perfect of course, seeing her in the handful of classes they had together, but with all the geopolitical and moral issues it had been easier to ignore one of Elaina’s more personal problems.

“I don’t even know if she would do it…”

“She hasn’t spilled the secret so far, so it’s worth asking at least.” Shein downed the rest of her drink and slammed it on the table, standing up and walking to the sole painting on the wall, the one that had hidden the subcore when she’d still been in possession. “No matter how secure a hiding place you think something may be, there’s always a chance someone can find it, and once they do then that’s that. If you give the thing to someone you trust though, they can be reactive, change to evolving circumstances. It’s far more effective than any safe.”

Elaina nodded. It was better than anything she’d come up with, if she could get Prisma to agree anyway. Still not perfect since Prisma would have a roommate who wasn’t in on everything, unlike Carly, but better than nothing. “I guess I’ll have to ask her.”

“Good,” Shein said, placing a hand on Elaina’s shoulder, squeezing her fingers into Elaina’s muscle and causing the girl to let out a quiet yelp.

“What’re you—”

“I’ll stop if you want me to. Just say the word,” Shein whispered in her ear. “But if you want me to keep going, want to get back at me, just let it happen.”

Shein slipped her other hand underneath the strap of Elaina’s dress, continuing the massage. It was a small gesture, barely touching any more skin on that side, but the act of her hand going under the thing piece of clothing sent waves of tingles across Elaina’s body.

“What— what do you mean get back at you?”

Shein didn’t answer at first, pulling her hands away and then maneuvering around Elaina’s chair, sitting on her own desk as she looked down. “Well, I made you strip down naked once. To it even, why don’t you try to make me?”