The Lycan Collapse (The Flux Age Book 2) by Steven J Shelley Page A
Authors: Steven J Shelley
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Florence said with a knowing grin.
Julian played dumb as they stepped into an elevator and rode it to the roof.
“Just one thing,” Florence murmured as they stood facing each other. “You said you were from the Vevestri line. Why is your surname Banes?”
“My mother’s maiden name,” Julian explained. “The Vevestri name is something I’m proud of. But my family had a lot of enemies. My parents were killed by a ruthless man in 1976. A German. One day I’ll find him and I’ll kill him.”
Florence stared at Julian and he realized he sounded like a crazed obsessive all of a sudden. He didn’t know where that had come from, only that it had been bubbling away in his mind for some time now. What a moment to let it all gush out! But Florence didn’t seem put off by Julian’s admission. On the contrary, she stepped forward and looked at Julian with emotion.
“After today, I think I know a thing or two about loss,” she said. “Those lycans down in the sewers were my friends. Cassia and Dalton. Emerson, Lorenzo and Ash. Paul, Cole. Amelia. I feel your pain, Julian.”
Florence stepped into Julian and wrapped him in a tight embrace. She felt warm and smelled like juniper. Must be her perfume. The elevator dinged and the pair headed out to an observation deck. This was where VIPs came to smoke and drink during stadium events. Currently it was deserted.
“Man, it’s cold,” Florence said, hugging herself for warmth.
“Then we’d better fly,” Julian said lightly, shifting into his spirit creature with only a slight wince. Within seconds his wings were extended to either side, bright and pure against the winter dark.
“You lose points for the bad pun,” Florence said. “But this sure beats a taxi.”
Julian crouched low and grinned as Florence climbed onto his back.
“Ready?
“As I’ll ever be.”
Florence gasped as Julian took a running jump off the top of the stadium. He banked against a frigid wall of air and swooped low over the throng of departing fans on the lower boardwalk.
Florence whooped with delight as they passed as close as they dared to the crowd. At the end of the boardwalk they spiraled into a steep climb. Florence remained so quiet that Julian began to wonder whether she had passed out. When he reached the top of his climb and leveled out over the city he looked over his shoulder. Florence was flushed with adrenalin, her eyes alive with joy.
“Can we do that again?” she asked. Julian almost laughed - she sounded like a child in a candy store. It was so endearing that Julian could’ve given her a bear hug right there.
“Why not?” Julian said, swooping at high speed into Columbus Avenue and passing in between all the colored lanterns. The whir of color and noise was intoxicating.
“Shit, yeah!” Florence shouted, hammering Julian’s shoulders with delight. “Uh, sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Julian said above the whistling wind. “I actually love it when you do that.”
“I can’t help it, I’ve never seen the city like this,” Florence said. “This is fucking brilliant.”
“My uncle once said to me, ‘Never argue with a foul-mouthed woman’, and I think I’ll heed that advice tonight.”
A glance over his shoulder told Julian that Florence was beaming. He climbed again, this time more gently, and cruised high over the twinkling cityscape.
“Just think of all the stories unfolding down there,” Julian said.
“It’s so peaceful from this distance,” Florence replied. “You’d hardly guess what lies under that serene surface.”
“A world of trouble,” Julian said soberly. “Which is why friends need to stick together.”
“I agree, Julian,” Florence said meaningfully. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Julian smiled to himself - finally he was making progress. The night had taken on a magical quality, and his careful planning seemed to be bearing fruit. The bonus? He was having the time of his life.
Once Florence had seen
Julian played dumb as they stepped into an elevator and rode it to the roof.
“Just one thing,” Florence murmured as they stood facing each other. “You said you were from the Vevestri line. Why is your surname Banes?”
“My mother’s maiden name,” Julian explained. “The Vevestri name is something I’m proud of. But my family had a lot of enemies. My parents were killed by a ruthless man in 1976. A German. One day I’ll find him and I’ll kill him.”
Florence stared at Julian and he realized he sounded like a crazed obsessive all of a sudden. He didn’t know where that had come from, only that it had been bubbling away in his mind for some time now. What a moment to let it all gush out! But Florence didn’t seem put off by Julian’s admission. On the contrary, she stepped forward and looked at Julian with emotion.
“After today, I think I know a thing or two about loss,” she said. “Those lycans down in the sewers were my friends. Cassia and Dalton. Emerson, Lorenzo and Ash. Paul, Cole. Amelia. I feel your pain, Julian.”
Florence stepped into Julian and wrapped him in a tight embrace. She felt warm and smelled like juniper. Must be her perfume. The elevator dinged and the pair headed out to an observation deck. This was where VIPs came to smoke and drink during stadium events. Currently it was deserted.
“Man, it’s cold,” Florence said, hugging herself for warmth.
“Then we’d better fly,” Julian said lightly, shifting into his spirit creature with only a slight wince. Within seconds his wings were extended to either side, bright and pure against the winter dark.
“You lose points for the bad pun,” Florence said. “But this sure beats a taxi.”
Julian crouched low and grinned as Florence climbed onto his back.
“Ready?
“As I’ll ever be.”
Florence gasped as Julian took a running jump off the top of the stadium. He banked against a frigid wall of air and swooped low over the throng of departing fans on the lower boardwalk.
Florence whooped with delight as they passed as close as they dared to the crowd. At the end of the boardwalk they spiraled into a steep climb. Florence remained so quiet that Julian began to wonder whether she had passed out. When he reached the top of his climb and leveled out over the city he looked over his shoulder. Florence was flushed with adrenalin, her eyes alive with joy.
“Can we do that again?” she asked. Julian almost laughed - she sounded like a child in a candy store. It was so endearing that Julian could’ve given her a bear hug right there.
“Why not?” Julian said, swooping at high speed into Columbus Avenue and passing in between all the colored lanterns. The whir of color and noise was intoxicating.
“Shit, yeah!” Florence shouted, hammering Julian’s shoulders with delight. “Uh, sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Julian said above the whistling wind. “I actually love it when you do that.”
“I can’t help it, I’ve never seen the city like this,” Florence said. “This is fucking brilliant.”
“My uncle once said to me, ‘Never argue with a foul-mouthed woman’, and I think I’ll heed that advice tonight.”
A glance over his shoulder told Julian that Florence was beaming. He climbed again, this time more gently, and cruised high over the twinkling cityscape.
“Just think of all the stories unfolding down there,” Julian said.
“It’s so peaceful from this distance,” Florence replied. “You’d hardly guess what lies under that serene surface.”
“A world of trouble,” Julian said soberly. “Which is why friends need to stick together.”
“I agree, Julian,” Florence said meaningfully. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Julian smiled to himself - finally he was making progress. The night had taken on a magical quality, and his careful planning seemed to be bearing fruit. The bonus? He was having the time of his life.
Once Florence had seen
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