Phoenix followed him off the bridge and along the passageway to the hatch. Stepping from the ship, she noticed that three men stood waiting for them. One was older and, as he moved forward, she wondered if he might be a soldier because of his stiff, precise posture. The other two, both younger, also looked like soldiers and Phoenix couldn’t help but wonder if maybe Heaven was now some type of military base.
"Greetings, Priestess," the older man said. "My name is Marcus. Mr. Dante, the administrator of our cloud city, extends his welcome and asks for the pleasure of your company. If you will follow me?"
She started to follow, but then noticed that Mr. Zimmers was no longer beside her. Looking around, she spotted him sandwiched between the other two men. She was not so naive as to think they were just ill-mannered, but neither was she experienced enough to know precisely what was happening. For a moment, she considered going to his assistance.
A touch at her elbow, gentle but firm, had her looking up into Marcus' serious expression. "Mr. Zimmers has other business. If you’ll come with me?"
There didn't seem to be much of a choice. Phoenix allowed Marcus to escort her across the landing platform, leading her through floating wisps of clouds that dispersed as they passed through them. There was only the slightest breeze and the surrounding silence gave the place a calm, peaceful feeling. Looking over the side of the platform, Phoenix saw the fuzzy shapes of mountains and mining camps far below. A shiver traveled up her spine and she moved a little more toward the center of the platform.
"Has anyone ever fallen over the edge?" she nervously asked Marcus.
He gave her a steady look. "No one has ever...
fallen...
over the edge."
Phoenix shot him a look, but kept her mouth shut. Sometimes it was better not to know the details.
She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief once they were safely through the doors and walking inside the city's main building. People filled the corridors, going about their business and only occasionally glancing at her.
Marcus led her through a complex pattern of corridors that traveled further into the floating city until he finally stopped before a set of large double-doors. Two very intimidating guards stood on either side, but Marcus paid them no heed as he raised his hand and knocked. From inside, a voice beckoned them to enter.
Marcus ushered her through the door and into a plush room, with crimson carpet and black furniture. Obviously designed for comfort, the room included a sunken pit in the center with cushioned, perimeter seating and low-level lighting. A retractable viewing screen hung from the ceiling near the left wall and a long conference table with chairs stood to the right side of the room.
"Is this the Priestess?"
"Yes, Mr. Dante, this is the Xenobian priestess," Marcus answered, gently urging her forward.
Phoenix looked for the owner of the gravelly voice. The first fine thread of apprehension wove through her consciousness at the sight of him.
Dressed in a black trader's outfit with dark hair streaked with gray, he may have been in his fifties or sixties. His once handsome face was battle worn with a particularly bad scar running down the right side of his forehead, across a patched right eye and across his cheek.
Expensive rings flashed on his fingers, but it was the panther at his feet that really caught her attention. The large cat seemed content to sit and have its head stroked while the man spoke soothing words to it under his breath.
"How...how do you do?” Phoenix instinctively lowered her voice, not wanting to startle either the man or the animal. The thought that she should have taken Adrian's advice flickered through her mind.
"I do fine.” Dante's words sounded calculated, as if polite conversation did not come naturally to him. "It is very nice to meet you, Priestess--?"
"Eemin," she supplied, darting a quick glance around the room. "Phoenix Eemin.”
"You are looking for your father, are you not?"
His tone made her uneasy. "Yes. I was told you might be able to help me?"
"Perhaps. I have many resources, but I'm afraid nothing is free."
"I understand." She tried to sound as if she conducted business of this nature all the time. "What is your fee?"
"To search the entire Outer Rim? Without offending the other underworld leaders who reside here? A million units of exchange, minimum."
Phoenix gasped. A million units? She didn't have that kind of money. She fought her frustration and disappointment. "I'm sorry I wasted your time, Mr. Dante. I'm afraid I can't afford that."
He smiled. "Few can, my dear. Few can. But perhaps we can work out a trade; an exchange of services."
"A trade?” Exactly what did this man have in mind? Stories as old as time of young women sold as sex slave flashed through her mind, but before she could voice concern or protest, Mr. Dante continued.
"In my line of business, I deal with hundreds of traders from all over the galaxy. I am fairly adept at discerning which ones are dealing with me honestly, and which are not. However, over time, many have grown clever in their deceit and, though I loathe admitting it, I am fallible. But you are not."
A slight nervous ringing began in her ears. Exactly what was he suggesting? "I'm not sure I understand."
"You are a Xenobian Priestess, are you not?” He waved his free hand to indicate her outfit.
No, her mind screamed. "Yes."
He smiled. "It is impossible for anyone to hide his or her true nature from a Xenobian Priestess. The entire galaxy knows this."
"Perhaps.” She spoke tentatively, still not sure where this was leading. "I don't see what this has to do with my father."
He'd been looking down to where his fingers stroked the top of the cat's head, but now raised his head until his look met hers. "I'm talking about an exchange of services. You tell me when my business associates are lying to me and I'll expend my personal resources toward finding your father."
Her mind whirled, weighing her options. Could she do it? Without empathic abilities, she'd become adept at reading body language, but was that good enough to pull off such a deception?
"If you’d rather not," Dante continued in her silence, "I will have Marcus make arrangements for your return to Hell's Gate. It is your choice."
She felt trapped. This might be the only way she could find her father. Silently, she cursed Adrian Sun for not helping her and took a deep breath.
“All right. You have a deal.”
In the back of her mind, she heard a door slam shut.
"Very good. It pleases me that you've accepted my offer. Let's start immediately, shall we? Marcus, please show in Mr. Zimmers.” Dante's voice filled the room as Phoenix tried to gather her scattered thoughts. Exactly what
had
she gotten herself into?
Marcus crossed the room and opened the door. He nodded his head and then stood back while Mr. Zimmers, escorted by the two men she'd seen earlier, entered the room. The portly little man's eyes scanned the area, resting briefly on her before darting away.
"Mr. Zimmers," Dante began pleasantly, still stroking the big cat. "Please, come in.” He gestured with his free hand to indicate that Mr. Zimmers should stand before him.
"I thank you for bringing Priestess Eemin to me. We will be working together for the next little while, to our mutual benefit.”
"You're welcome, Mr. Dante. I knew," Mr. Zimmers shot her another glance, "I mean, I'd hoped, um, well... glad I could help.” His words trailed off and he fell silent.
The smile on Dante's face grew cooler. "Yes, well...there is one other matter I wish to discuss with you. Tell me - the shipment you delivered to Kathgar for me, did you encounter any problems?"
"No, Mr. Dante.” Mr. Zimmers spoke in a carefully controlled tone of voice. "The trip went smoothly."
"That's good to hear. And the shipment of stones was delivered in full?"
"Yes, Mr. Dante. I delivered it myself."
It suddenly occurred to Phoenix that Dante was testing her as much as he was testing Mr. Zimmers. He wanted to know if the little man was lying, so she turned her head to study him. She watched the way he played with his hands and never fully looked Dante in the face. She noticed the rapid blinking of his eyes and the way he leaned back, trying to put as much distance has he could between Dante and himself without actually stepping back.
Everything about him reeked of duplicity; it didn't take a full Xenobian Priestess to know the man was lying. Phoenix felt certain that Dante knew that as well as she did, but she shook her head anyway.
Dante gestured to Marcus, who led the two guards from the room. The door closed after them with an ominous click that echoed in the quiet.
Dante seemed satisfied to let the silence go uninterrupted while Mr. Zimmers shifted his weight back and forth from one foot to the other.
After several long minutes, the door to the room reopened and Marcus walked in. Behind him followed the two guards carrying something between them, though what it was, Phoenix couldn't see. The men stepped into the pit, between Dante and Mr. Zimmers, and let the item slide to the floor.
"What the hell?” Mr. Zimmers jumped back, almost tripping over his own feet.
"Oh m--," Phoenix gasped, clamping a hand over her mouth and nose as she pushed herself back into her chair. She turned her head so she wouldn’t see the dead man's torso, but the acrid stench of rotting flesh assaulted her senses, forcing her to breathe in shallow gasps. Never before had she been exposed to anything so horrific and she fought the bile rising in her throat. She tried to keep her eyes averted from the sight, but morbid curiosity won out.
The man, whoever he was, had obviously suffered a gruesome death, judging from the raw stubs where arms and legs had once been attached.
The panther stood on all fours, a soft, deep growl vibrating in its throat, its tail twitching.
"Sh-sh-sh," Dante soothed the beast, seemingly unaffected. "Mr. Zimmers, do you recognize him?"
The little man looked confused. Out of the corner of her eye, Phoenix saw him take a closer look.
"No, I don't. I mean, it's hard to tell."
"Rogers," Dante said in a voice that sounded tight. "His name was Rogers. He was one of my men. Kathgar's people intercepted him on a recent flight. Apparently they were not happy with the shipment of gemstones they received; the shipment
you
delivered."
Even without empathic powers, Phoenix felt the level of tension in the room rise a notch. Unable to turn away, she watched the interplay between the two men.
"I don't understand. I delivered the stones.” His tone wavered.
"It seems that while they paid for one hundred stones, they received only ninety-nine. As I personally placed the stones in the bag, I know that
I
did not short the count. Someone is lying - is it you? Or Kathgar?"
Phoenix knew Mr. Zimmers had realized her purpose there when he shot her a desperate look. His face grew pale and his breathing became rapid.
Finally, he spoke, his voice almost a whisper. "It was a very small stone.” His eyes darted back and forth between Phoenix, Dante and Marcus, as if wondering where in the room he might find an ally. He turned to Dante. "Please, Your Eminence. I’m sorry. I didn't mean any harm. I didn't think anyone would notice."
“I’m sure Rogers will understand.” Dante’s tone dripped with sarcasm. "I made a deal with Kathgar, Mr. Zimmers," he continued in precise, well enunciated words. "In this business, we live, and die, by the deals we make."
Phoenix saw raw fear leech the color from Mr. Zimmers' face.
"Please, Mr. Dante. I'll give the stone back."
Dante seemed to consider. "You still have it?"
Mr. Zimmers cast a nervous glance at the door. "Yes, yes. I could go get it now, if you want."
"Marcus will accompany you.” Dante gestured for Marcus to step forward. "To ensure there are no further m
isunderstandings
."
"Oh, thank you, Your Benevolence.”
At Dante's dismissive nod, Marcus escorted Mr. Zimmers from the room. Unbidden, an image formed in Phoenix's mind of the landing pad's rail-free walkway and the long fall to the surface below. She shuddered, shaking off the image. She was being fanciful. Dante would not kill Mr. Zimmers over something as minor as a missing gemstone. Would he?
Dante pointed to the dead man's remains and the two guards came forward. They lifted the torso between them with no outward sign that the task, the odor, or the sight bothered them, and carried it from the room. Phoenix felt the aftermath of the emotionally charged session in the ebb of her own energy level and slumped back in her seat.