They Meet

She pushed open the door and entered the cool, brightly lit building. Her best friend followed her, uncharacteristically chatty. She didn’t pay much attention to the surroundings as she walked in, but made straight for the long, low counter at the back of the front room, not bothering to take off her darkly tinted sunglasses.

The man sitting behind the counter was unfamiliar; obviously the new artist. Other than that, she didn’t pay much attention to him. He wasn’t aware of them, his head was bent and a magazine was open in his lap.

“Shin, shut up a minute.” The man looked up at the sound of her voice, setting the magazine on the counter. “Hi. I have an appointment with Pete.”

“You must be Em. I’m Zi. Pete had to leave – his wife was having the baby.” He stood up and smiled.

“Oh! How nice.” Her expression belied her statement; a stab of wistfulness and sadness crossed across her face. “But damn.”

“So he told me to work on your piece. If you have no objections,” he added.

“Well… I don’t know.” Em frowned.

“I can show you my portfolio, if you’d like,” the man offered. She considered a moment, then nodded. He reached under the counter and brought out a thick binder, setting it in front of her. She opened it, and with the other woman looking over her shoulder, started going through it.

He sat and watched them. He was damn good at his skill, and he knew it. She shouldn’t have a problem with him working on her back piece. Then he looked her over.

Her hair was long and silky, falling over her shoulders; black with a red streak down one side. Her skin, despite the perpetual summer of the Death Realm, was milky white. Her eyes were obscured by expensive looking sunglasses, as black as her hair. There was a small teardrop shaped ruby resting between her eyebrows. It was odd, but somehow suited her.

There was a ring through her septum, and one in the centre of her full bottom lip. Three studs graced the curve of her left eyebrow. He couldn’t see her ears, but was willing to bet there were a fair number of piercings there as well.

She wore a simple black shirt with the sleeves cut off, and black trousers with numerous pockets. Her only jewellery was a small plain silver band on the ring finger of her left hand. Was she married? He saw a delicate silver chain around her neck, but whatever hung from it was underneath her shirt.

He’d noticed when she spoke that her accent was foreign. It was slightly British, with a hint of smoke. Kinda sexy.

Her arms were ablaze with colour. Both were tattooed with three quarter sleeves, and whoever had done them, probably Pete, was amazing. Her left arm was done in a celestial theme, with brightly coloured planets, shooting stars, and a ring of exquisite moonflowers at the bottom. Her right arm was only one colour – a beautiful faded red – but it was stunning. It was made of swirls and points, precisely done and very cohesive. There was a symbol worked into it on her bicep, which he vaguely recognised. It would come to him.

She spoke, breaking his reverie. “Thanks, but I think I’ll wait until Pete gets back. Can you have him give me a call?”

“Uh, yeah. It should be sometime next week. Have a good day,” he called after her as she walked towards the door, the other woman following her.

As the door shut behind her, he let out a breath and noticed that his skin was tingling. The woman had power, he thought as he rubbed his suddenly chilled arms.