The Descent into the Maelstrom (The Phantom of the Earth Book 4) by Raeden Zen Page A

around her head, down her shoulders, and over her black and orange gown, which matched her eyes. Oriana marveled at her slender, muscular body, a body Oriana noticed caught Pasha’s attention as well.
    The lounge was less crowded than the spherical hall, not at all similar to the scientific cafés that Oriana discovered during her research into Beimenian architecture. This one had circular booths, waiter bots, and a dizzying silver-and-blue ambiance, with colorful laser lights that streamed from a central orb and struck the dark ceiling in time with the music, a combination of jazz and electronica. Desaray waved to a waiter bot as if she’d done this a million times before.
    “Six glasses of Loverealan wine and six shots of the finest cinnamon rum this establishment offers,” Desaray said next to the bot’s audio capture. The bot flashed its eye slit as if to indicate its understanding, then it scurried away.
    “I hope you ordered me sparkling water,” Oriana said.
    Duccio laughed. Desaray grinned. “Relax,” she said, “a glass of wine makes you feel fine.” She giggled, pushing Duccio’s hand away from hers. “That’s what Lady California says—”
    “We’re not supposed to drink that stuff, even if it’s virtual,” Pasha said, sliding in beside Desaray, “and I’m not letting my sister get sick—”
    “Oh, pul-ease , cut the bullshit,” Desaray interrupted. Her forefingers crawled over Pasha’s arm. “We’re in the virtual Candidate Café, Mr. Hero.”
    Nathan gave Desaray a cautious nod, and he smiled at Oriana, who felt her body turn hotter than the sun. “There’s a reason the chancellor outlawed VR outside the Harpoons,” Nathan told Oriana. “No consequences in here. No worries. No hassles.” He leaned closer, his nose nearly touching hers. He moved his lips near her ear, and she could feel his warm exhalation. “Just … discovery …”
    Oriana struggled to draw breath, and part of her, not an insignificant part, wanted to pull Nathan closer, but instead she pushed him away. “Just … forget it.”
    “We’re not breaking any rules,” Gaia insisted.
    A boy Oriana didn’t recognize whispered in Gaia’s ear. His groomed sideburns looked like claws; his eyebrows, too perfect, angled up at the sides. Gaia ignored him. The boy closed his eyes, sniffing her hair. He whispered in her ear again. Gaia turned away, cringing.
    The boy persisted. “You don’t look like you’re having any fun,” he said. He nodded awkwardly to his table. “I’ll give you a night you’ll never forget.” On the boy’s table, surrounded by candidates, stood five bottles of Dunamisian liqueur that glowed with white phosphorescent light.
    “You won’t survive a night with her!” Duccio said.
    Gaia glared at him, twisting her lips.
    “Don’t do it! Don’t do it! Don’t do it!”
    Nathan laughed, and Oriana with him, though she didn’t find Duccio amusing at all.
    Gaia ignored her annoying brother. She tugged on the boy’s shirt, undoing his buttons with practiced fingers. She pouted with her naughtiest grin. The boy moved closer to her as if to kiss her. He closed his eyes. Just before his lips touched hers, she pushed away from him and spun elegantly, sitting beside Nathan in the booth.
    Duccio laughed obnoxiously at the boy, who weaved into the flow of candidates through the lounge. Soon Oriana could no longer see him. When she looked down, she noticed Gaia’s hand resting on Nathan’s thigh.
    “Where were we?” Gaia asked.
    “Breaking the rules,” Desaray said, and when Pasha tried to interrupt, she put up her hand, “all part of the preparation.” She slid away from Duccio, closer to Pasha. “We work with the developers for what, six-hour increments?” A group of rowdy candidates roared nearby, and Desaray smiled their way. “Six hours on, three hours off. Six on, three off. Train, stimulate, train, grow, stimulate, learn, and the problem with that is we aren’t like the bots, you