The first thing Valerya noticed as she entered the club was the blinding lights. It wasn't the first time she had been to a club, as she had headed several busts in clubs, but this was the first time she was there to party. It seemed oddly exciting.
The second thing Valerya noted was Davys Marjan's face on almost every possible surface. She assessed almost immediately that it was to honour his return.
She casually strolled into the club on her six-inch heels, pretending she was looking at her surroundings to cover up the fact that she could barely walk in her shoes. The lights were blinding and the music from the invisible speakers in the walls was so loud, it almost made her deaf.
Dancing holograms whizzed past her with drinks, while most enjoyed themselves on the dance floor. They were almost indistinguishable from humans, except for the faint whirring noises they emitted. And also the fact that their dance moves were so good, they seemed inhuman. Robot-like.
Lilliban squeezed Valerya's hand briefly and disappeared into the dance floor without so much as a backward glance. Valerya tried to search for her with her eyes but she had vanished in the throng of bodies. Her sister certainly knew her way around.
The music slowed, and a mechanical voice announced from the speakers.
"For repeated announcement number 19. Today's bash is sponsored by the one and only, fuckboy extraordinaire and future president, Davys Marjan. All drinks and whores have been paid for by him, and the partying would of course last the week." The mechanical voice became inaudible and the music went back on to more cheering.
Valerya rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe someone like Davys could be their future president, but it was the law. The presidency passed from father to son. It had been that way for the last millennium. Davys was destined to become president, just like his father before him, and his father before him. The Volyrts decided that a long time ago, and who was she to question the empire?
As she sat on a tall rotating stool at the bar, a perfumed dark monogram with purple-lined eyes and red braids welcomed her with a smile. "Let me guess, a beer," he said. Valerya nodded. He could probably tell because of his advanced artificial intelligence. He served her a chilled beer and went off to attend to a couple who had just come.
"You're a very beer-uriful woman, milady," came an unruly voice to her left. Her hand automatically went to the holster for her gun, but she remembered with dismay that she left it at home.
"Should I get you a mojito with a shot of dick?" the drunk asked. Valerya turned to assess him. Human. He looked like he had been partying for days, even without Davys's offer.
"The only thing getting shot would be your dick if I can still see you after five seconds," she responded. The man paused for a minute, assessing her. But on seeing the cold look in her eyes, decided it wasn't worth the trouble. He shrugged and walked off.
"Is that how you chase potential suitors away?" a man asked as he took a seat beside her. Valerya wouldn't have admitted it, but she took a deeper breath unconsciously. His cologne was amazing. Rare. His voice, even more so.
"Can't say I blame you though. With the beer line, even I would have shot him," the man continued. Valerya turned to look at him. "Davys Marjan. Can't say it's a pleasure," she said.
Davys looked baffled. "Aren't you supposed to be starstruck or at the very least, pretend not to know me to hold my interest?"
"Only a dumbass would pretend not to know you. Your picture is literally everywhere in the club. And I can't be starstruck if you aren't a star, now can I?" she asked as she took a gulp of her beer.
"You're right. I was born into Daddy's money. And spend it, I shall," he took a sip of his drink. A Shirley, Valerya could see. Davys looked at her for a long time. "You haven't smiled since you walked in, I've been watching. You certainly don't have a career as an entertainer. You're beautiful, but not tall enough to be a model, I'm afraid. That also strikes being an actress out."
Valerya turned to face him fully, and that seemed to be all the encouragement he needed to continue.
"You reached for where your gun should be, that means you have a career in law enforcement. Not a soldier, because I can't find a visible scar. That just leaves the police. You're high up, but not too high up, if not I would know you." He reached out and pinched her lightly on her arm. "You're not a hologram, that's a relief. It would have broken my heart to think I was attracted to a machine," he laughed.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"It's none of your business."
"I could find out literally five minutes after this conversation."
"Valerya," she said hesitatingly.
"Thank you," he said with a smile as Valerya bit back hers. He wasn't seeming as bad as she had assumed. "You're welcome," she replied.
"What would you say about taking this conversation upstairs? I'll pay anything," he said. Valerya's brief smile turned into a glare. She was right about him; she knew she should have trusted her instincts. For the second time that evening, Valerya really wished she had brought her gun. She stood up slowly, fed up with the night's festivities.
"Where are you going?" he asked surprised. "I hear they pay the police peanuts. I could literally change your lif-," but his self-assured remark was cut short by a swing to the jaw.
"I'm not a whore, you must have me confused for your mother. And don't ever talk to me," she spat as she walked hurriedly out of the club. He was stunned for almost a full minute before following her out the door.
She was halfway through the dark alleyway when he viciously pulled her back.
"How dare you walk out on me? No one has ever done that," he said.
"If you don't let go of me, I'll break your jaw this time," she said. Before he could respond, she held up her free arm as a gesture to keep quiet.
"What?" he asked irritably but Valerya wasn't listening. She was certain she had heard something. Davys was stunned when Valerya pushed him out of the way as a bullet pierced the air and hit her. A bullet meant for him.