Page 32 of Neon Flux

Already, I saw men at the bar shifting, deciding their best move.

Maybe tonight wouldn’t be a total bust after all.

CHAPTER 10

EON

We walked toward the bar, jostled every which way by the crowd. I kept my eyes on Mercy but scanned in every direction for a shock of blue hair—for the face I couldn’t get out of my head. I saw men and women staring from all angles, but none of them were mine. Mercy and I made it to the bar. I tried to wave down the bartender and was promptly ignored. Mercy sidled up next to me and gave me side-eye.

“You’re rusty, girl. You sure you’re ready for tonight?” She plopped her breasts down on the sticky, metallic surface in front of us. Immediately, a bartender was there, despite the waiting queue.

“What are you having tonight?” they asked, glowing septum piercing flashing as they grinned at us.

“I’m not rusty!” I protested.

She gave me a knowing look and turned back to the bartender.

“Whiskey on the rocks,” Mercy said.

“Top or bottom shelf?”

“Top,” a deep voice sounded from behind us, “and make it two, my treat.”

We both turned to see the tall, dark man behind us. His Vysor was darkened so I couldn’t see his eyes, and he stood stoically—like a statue. Damn, luck really was on my side tonight.

Mercy eyed him up and down with zero attempt to hide her ogling. “It’s a little dark in here for those Vysor settings. What are you hiding under there?” At that, Maddox stiffened, crossing his arms over his chest, but Mercy was a pro. “Tell you what, handsome—let me see those pretty peepers of yours, and I’ll let you buy me that drink.”

A small grunt escaped Maddox, and he hesitated, but Mercy shifted ever so slightly, opening herself up to him just a bit more—showing him the reward he’d receive—and sealed his fate.

He slowly raised his hand and pressed the tip of one finger into the edge of the glass, pushing it up just enough for an eerie violet glow to emerge from beneath. I thought my eyes were a giveaway for Flux, but his were something else. They almost looked like the blacklights flashing over the dance floor.

Mercy hit him with her beautiful, broad smile. “Stellarium mutation, huh? I like that.” The bartender had come back with the two whiskies, and she scooped them up, handing one to Maddox and immediately looping herself around his arm. She pressed him away from the bar and into the crowd, and I saw a grin crack Maddox’s face.

“Uh, Mercy…” I called after her, pleading.

“You’re on your own now, E. I’ve got bigger and better things to do.” She smiled at Maddox again, and he returned it with interest. Neither of them looked back at me.

A rough-looking guy pushed his way up next to me but said nothing. I scanned the crowd again, but there was too much movement, too much noise.

I took a deep breath, and pushed it all away, focusing inward on the pulse of power in my veins. I couldn’t risk using my Flux,at least not externally, but I was still able to feel every single electric field around me. In a place like Magenta, I had to learn to block that out or I would’ve been overstimulated twenty-four seven. Everything hummed with some power or AI chip here—each its own unique signature. But I recalled that night, and the feeling of him. The scar on my ribs ached as I searched for his signature.

He wasn’t hiding. I felt his field thrumming against the back wall of the club. I looked up and saw his blue hair flash under the bar’s strobe lights as he lingered in the shadows. His hair was shaved on the sides where his Vysor docked, and the rest was wild and unnaturally blue, spilling over the side of his face. I’d been fixated on that face for so long. Only one picture of it existed anywhere—his POM employee profile—but I had seared it into my memory. A lean, angular face with a wicked smile and full lips. But it was those electric eyes I couldn’t escape.

Our gaze locked, and I gave him a demure smile before turning away. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him kick off the wall.Perfect.

I set my hand down on the bar, touching the large man next to me. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t—”

He turned to me. “Oh, it’s no problem, sweetheart. Touch as much as you like.”

I laughed awkwardly and tried to turn away when his massive arm wrapped around me. “Don’t play coy now, sweetheart. Go ahead, touch.” He pressed me into his body, grabbing my wrist and pressing my hand against his lower stomach, forcing it down.

Damn, if I’d known he was going to take this role so seriously, I would’ve paid him double. I struggled against him, weakly. A few of the other patrons averted their eyes as I let tears rise in mine. “Please, I don’t—”

“Looks like the lady isn’t interested, nakayoshi.” A smooth voice rang out over my shoulder.

“Fuck off, man. Can’t you see me and the lady are having a good time?” I turned to Cy and gave him my most pleading eyes. Men—even men like him—couldn’t resist a damsel in distress. Especially one they thought they could take advantage of.

“I said, hands off.” He was so fast I didn’t see it, but I felt him pull the man’s grip off me and shove him back, just a step. His back was to me, so I couldn’t see his face, but I saw genuine fear enter my accomplice’s eyes. He threw his hands up. “Chill, man. She’s all yours.”