Red Widow (Vivian Xu, Book 1) by Nathan Wilson

know about me? About Red Widow?”
    “ How could I forget one of
my brightest pupils? Your rabid curiosity to learn was surpassed
only by the intensity of your eyes. Always staring me down when I
explained things you didn’t understand, marveling at specimens
through the microscope. You possessed all of the qualities of a
hungry learner. Too many students throw in the towel on anatomy and
physiology because it’s too hard. You, on the other hand, never
surrendered. But that day came when you no longer showed up to
class. I thought you might be sick. Then you failed to show up
again and again. After the next three weeks passed by, I knew you
had left.”
    “ Believe me, I wish I had
stayed.”
    “ Well, there’s no reversing
the past for either of us now. We have to fight our way through
what fate has dealt us.”
    Vivian nodded, looking around the
conclave of lost souls in the club setting.
    “ So how did you wind up in
the bowels of The Toxic Mistress? Did you teach a bit too much
anatomy to your female students?”
    Gavin released a harsh
chuckle.
    “ I’ve always hungered for
an escape from the mundane in life. The eclectic mix of raw energy,
creativity, and darkness in cyberpunk began eating away at me.
Before my tragic accident, I always regarded the cyberpunk culture
as a festering sore on the face of our community. I refused to
understand it. Now I feel like I see through new eyes. The contrast
between grunge and technology entices me. It’s a shame it took a
blade to the head to help me realize this. As I delved deeper into
cyberpunk, I learned about Red Widow, somewhat of an icon for this
community. You seemed so familiar, yet I couldn’t imagine why. I
felt compelled to seek you out and learn the truth.
    “ Besides, when the school
board lost confidence in my teaching skills, they stripped me of my
license. It’s a shame because my injury did not impair my knowledge
whatsoever. But let’s not focus on what has brought me here; I’m
more interested in hearing your story. How did you come to haunt
the alleys as the Red Widow? One day you vanished from class, and
months went by without a word from you. I almost wondered if you
were dead until I saw the newspaper article.”
    “ What
article ?” Vivian said, slapping her hand on
the counter.
    “ Calm down.” Vivian stared
at the glass of absinthe he slid in her direction as nausea began
to roil in her stomach. “You weren’t identified by your name, only
by your moniker. But ever since I saw the article, I’ve been
consumed by a rabid curiosity to meet this Red Widow. I wondered
how she could look so similar to my prodigal student. I wanted to
know if it really was you.”
    “ Nice to know I have fans,”
she murmured.
    “ You might be surprised.
The cyberpunk community has taken a liking to you. Pleasantries
aside, what brings the Red Widow to our notorious establishment?”
Vivian’s eyes flickered across the drinks collected behind
him.
    “ I’m thinking about turning
over a new leaf, maybe finding employment here.” Gavin shot her a
curious look.
    “ A job? Here? Surely you must be making three
or four times as much as a mistress than you would fetching drinks.
Since when has the Red Widow considered submitting to
others?”
    “ Believe me, it’s not my
first choice. The police have been crawling around my domain
lately, making it more difficult for me to conduct my business. I
thought I could lie low for a while until things calm
down.”
    “ I must admit, you have
gleaned the attention of these sordid patrons with your appearance.
Not to mention your taboo connection to dominance and submission.
Yes, I may be able to pull some strings and open up a position for
you.”
    “ That would be wonderful.
You wouldn’t happen to have time for an interview today, would you?
The sooner I get off the streets, the better.”
    “ Why not?” Gavin smiled
wistfully. “Although, I hardly think you should squander a mind
like yours in a club for