Legacy of the Mind by H.R. Moore

she said slowly, ‘outside.’
    Cleo looked worried.  ‘Is everything alright?’
    ‘Yep, just something I want to talk to you about, but it’s a bit crowded in here.’
    ‘Okay,’ Cleo said as they picked up their drinks and headed out the back door.  They sat down on a bench overlooking the river and Anita took a sip of her toxic drink.
    ‘The cocktail is delicious, as always,’ she said.
    ‘You didn’t bring me out here to talk about cocktails,’ replied Cleo, anxious to find out what Anita wanted to talk about, she could practically smell the gossip.
    ‘No,’ said Anita, wondering how to approach this.  ‘You know the other week when I turned down Marcus’ offer to go back to his with the others?’
    ‘No,’ gasped Cleo, ‘you went?!’
    Anita smirked and shook her head, ‘no.’
    ‘Oh.  Sorry, carry on.’
    ‘The following day I was running by the river when Marcus ran up behind me.  He asked if he could join me for a run, so obviously I put him through his paces.’ Now Cleo smirked.  ‘We got a fair distance before he wanted to stop for a break and we chatted for a bit.’  Cleo’s face was frozen in a look of open-mouthed disbelief and Anita had to stifle a laugh as she continued. ‘And he asked me to go to the ball with him.  Well it was more of a command really than a question…’
    ‘…so you’re the one he is taking to the ball?’
    ‘Well, I’m not sure.’
    ‘You’re not sure?  What do you mean you’re not sure?  Presumably you said yes?’
    ‘Um.’
    ‘Um?’
    ‘Well I told him ‘maybe’.’
    ‘You told him ‘maybe’?’  Cleo repeated in a disgusted voice.
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Right.’
    They sat there in dumbfounded silence for a minute before Cleo piped up again, ‘as you know, this doesn’t normally happen to me, but I’m basically speechless.  You’ve got to go to the ball with him.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Why?!  Because he’s a Descendant and can you imagine the look on bitch face Gwyneth’s face if you do?’
    ‘Well that’s probably the best reason I’ve thought of so far,’ laughed Anita. ‘But other than that I just don’t know if it’s a good idea.’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘I don’t really want to draw attention to myself.’
    ‘You didn’t stop to consider that when you won the Chase this morning.’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘Even so, why not?  A bit of attention can be fun you know.’
    ‘Hmmm.’
    ‘And you have to lead the first dance, so it may as well be with someone who will look good, and by the relic, he looks good.’
    ‘That makes it even worse.  Everyone is going to be looking at me leading the first dance anyway, but if I’m dancing with him, everyone will be looking at me and speculating what is going on between us and why he chose me.’
    ‘Let them speculate and enjoy the attention.  That’s what I’d do.’
    ‘Yes well you’ve always been better than I have at that.’
    ‘You should go with him.  Enjoy it.  Put two fingers up to bitch-face Gwyn.  I saw her shove you at the start of the Chase.  You know you want to.’
    ‘I’m still thinking about it.  Don’t worry, you’ll be the first to know what I decide.  But in the meantime don’t you dare tell anyone.’
    Cleo looked hurt.  ‘Me? Gossip? Never.’
    ‘Come on, let’s go back inside.  I think I need another drink.’
     

CHAPTER 6
     
    The following day was Christiana’s funeral and Anita walked to the Temple of the Body with Cordelia, Alastair and Bas.  When they got to the Temple, Cordelia and Anita found seats in the open section at the back and Alastair and Bas walked the seemingly endless distance to the front, where they had seats reserved for them with the rest of the Councillors and their families.  As was customary, those belonging to the Temple of the Body were given first priority over the newly laid out seats and those belonging to the other Temples took any seats left over, or stood at the back.  The Body Temple didn’t have the same