Ai's POV

"Go on." I say, tense all of sudden; I don't usually like anything my family asks of me. Why should my brother be any different?

Because it's Daemon. Because he's not like the rest of them.

Emotions play across his features. He looks conflicted, and tired – tired of me.

My dashing brother, reduced to trolling in port bars with his delinquent little sister.

"Daemon, whatever it is, just ask me."

"There's someone at her school, a viper who was last seen with her. I need you to get close to him, ask a few questions. They're keeping it within the Establishment, so I have little access, but he'd speak to you."

"I doubt it," I dismiss, making a face. Vipers are just vamps with a pedigree; who take blood with a smile, instead, and through candied drinking straws. "I mean, I don't even live here anymore."

I drain some of my beer and look away.

He's going to ask me to come home, or go back to school. An eventual topic of conversation for us. Always.

"I need you here Ai. Why you ran away..."

"I didn't run away," I cut in, turning my eyes to his.

"Ok, but you leaving the system, caused a scene. Guess who was left to pick up the pieces. Technically, you're still under bio-age. The ESTAS haven't requested your return but they will. It will be me hauling your ass back in."

"This place isn't for me. There's no law now that says I have to stay Inside. I'm old enough to leave it. Shae adores it here, or she did, and you fit right in, brown-nosing the ESTAS all day long."

Dae sighs, used to my quips about his choice of day job.

I love my brother. I just don't know how he works for the system that destroyed my father. How can he stand them – knowing every move he makes, controlling everything he does and will eventually become? The thought makes my skin crawl.

Cal was right; freedom is worth more than walls.

"And the Establishment funds I give you, they're fine to take when your waster boyfriend can't support you?"

I turn away from him biting my lip. I hate it when he's right. We may be elect but our family is also borderline poverty stricken. I never ask for the credit, but usually I find it later, added to my account like an unspoken donation to the runaway fund.

"He's not a waster," I say. At last, defending him.

"Look Ai, think about it. Try a few weeks. You can stay with me. I know you don't want to go home." He runs his hand through his hair, a trait he copied from my father growing up. "You're angry with her fine, but this rebellious act is hurting Dad too."

By her, he means our mother. I think of Dad, broken and drinking alone. Weak genes - that's what she called him. I think that's when I slapped her.

Shae, you owe me.

"Fine, fine, I'll consider it."

"Good. That's all I ask."

"If I do, could you help, you know, hurry along Cal's visa application?" I suggest for the hundredth time.

Dae half frowns, half smirks, then shakes his head.

"You know that's illegal."

"But you're a high ranking enforcer. You hold sway with the Senate."

Daemon's arms start to cross, hailing the end of our conversation. There is part of me that likes how my brother is an unstoppable force for good. Always trying to save me, usually, despite my luck, succeeding. But he's not one to bend the rules. No matter how much I plead.

"Can't you just..." I don't get to finish my non argument.

Instead, he shushes me, holding up one hand. At the same time raising the other to the corner of his eye, activating his bio-visor – a cerebral implant augmenting a user's reality, overlaying air with virtual images and sounds.

He's receiving a call.

One that I can't see or hear unless he wants me to.

Not to be outdone, I lift my wrist and activate my own com.

I have one solitary message, from Cal.

Are you home yet? [sent 21.05]

Outside, coms are the only data transfers that work, and only the older models. Ones that use radio signals, instead of the newer, advanced light wave transmissions.

I much prefer these retro devices.

You can turn them off.

I tap back to the main display and switch it to hibernate, to preserve battery-life, and then finish my beer. I can see Dae's silent facial expressions, though a haze of data screens. He seems riled. Upset.

Finally, he twirls his fingers and the visor disappears, bytes dissolving into nothing, the sound of him coming back with a snap.

"I need to get back, that was the Minister calling."

I raise a brow. My brother is flying high these days.

"I'll be with a team Outside anyway in a day or two. We can talk more then?"

"Sure." We can talk more but nothing will change. Not unless the walls fall down.

I step out the booth eager to be away. Dae stands too, closing down the damper and reaching to straighten my lob-sided cap.

"I'll walk you." I purse my lips and shrug.

"So what's the next step? Is the Academy going to get involved?"

"The board thinks she bailed the system like you. I know Shae. She wouldn't do that, not to us." I wince at the comment, a slight dig at my careless attitude.

"They know you're in contact with me though, right?" I ask.

"I haven't mentioned it but they can check the logs and see we've been in the same place at the same time. Not hard figure out."

"Maybe she did. Maybe she didn't want to bond to a vamp for life."

My brother sighs, sounding exasperated. I'm not sure if he's upset with me for playing devil's advocate or for the use of the word vamp.

"A hundred years of fast forwarded evolution and you're name-calling from the dark ages."

I sigh "You're one to talk. It's not like you don't have our genes. What happened to your bios, brother?" My comeback is met with silence, which continues as we walk back to the Gate.

Dae doesn't like to talk about why he never formed a bond with a viper. He was certainly in demand.

Still is, I hear.

Before we get to the end of the bridge, he hands me a pistol from inside his jacket. Its standard issue, enforcer type A, coded to him only. He opens a device and reprograms the weapon in two clicks. After a few minutes, the illuminating slash turns from white to blue.

"There, it will recognise you in addition to me. Handy, we're related, your DNA was quick to re-construct. Remember our lessons. Take the safety off before use. And don't, for Eve's sake, shoot yourself in the foot."

I take the piece holding it awkwardly. I said guns were useless but this is an enforcer model. It shoots a conducting ionized track of plasma, formed like lightening, with the options from stun or kill. I notice it also has a PEP option.

I grin. My brother just gave me a laser gun.

"I thought you didn't break rules?" I mock, slipping it into my pocket.

Dae shakes his head. "You're my sister and I know what's out there. It kills me every time you disappear into the Ruined City. Anyway, I managed to find a spare."

"Do you think Shae's in trouble?"

"There's nothing to say she is, at this stage. She took her belongings, no one saw or heard a struggle, usually that's a good sign."

The rumble of a vehicle brings me back to the bridge. An enforcer cracker pulls up alongside, midnight black and all wheels. I notice Jax in the driver seat - my brother's second.

"Change of plans?" He asks my brother,

Daemon nods. "Take her home. Go scout, but don't interfere. Even if you find her. We're not meant to be in the vicinity without a warrant. I'll meet you, later, after I meet with the Minister."

Then he looks at me. "J will take you home."

"What's going on?" I ask my brother.

"Ai go home, it's late. I'll explain later."

"Daemon. Tell me or I'll tail Jax and find out anyway."

"I doubt you'd be able to keep up."

I glare at my brother. Jax clears his throat behind me. "If it's about Shae you'd better tell me."

He looks at me for a long minute then sighs. "It might be. I want to check it out first."

"Check out what?" I ask.

"Rumours of an EVe. Outside. Other than you of course. It could be nothing. There's a slim chance it might be Shae." He looks over at his second in command. "Jax is going to check it out. I'll let you know if we find anything."

"I want to go." If it's my sister I should be the one to find her.

"No."

Everything about that 'no' says there is no negotiation.

"Daemon. She's my sister too. I've just stabbed a vamp in the eye I think I'm good. And Jax will be there, to back me up. Right?" I smile at Jax, who looks away refusing to be part of the discussion.

Daemon frowns and then rubs his temples, his green and blue eyes closed. He looks harassed. I guess that's my fault.

"Will you really tail J?" He asks.

I think he knows the answer. I smile.

"Fine. Observation only, the both of you. Then J will take you home."

"Got it." I swing myself into the cab, seating myself in the front next to Jax, I'll have to give him the slip later. If my brother knew where our place was he'd be showing up at my door every morning with breakfast.

"Watch her, like a hawk."

I grit my teeth.

Jax looks slightly pissed off but he acknowledges my brother in that silent comrade way I'll never understand.

"I'll send you a com tomorrow. And get that kid to look at your bike. Isn't that his job?"

"Yes, you said." I reply tersely. "But it's my bike. I'll fix it." By kid I assume he means Cal. How Dae found out Cal is our fixer is beyond me.

"Tell him, out of the credit I've given you, his half is payment for the work." I throw Daemon an evil look and catch a small smile at the corner of his lips. I flip him the finger. Out the corner of my eye I see Jax bowing his head, shoulders shaking.

I've no idea what credit Daemon is talking about but he must have sent some over recently. I'll check later.

Dae shuts the door and bangs on the roof. Time to move.

"Let me know when you get in." He asks. Not home, in.

I wave goodbye through the window.

The last thing I hear, an echo inside my own thoughts, is the Gate's valediction chiming in our wake.

Ai van Rosedal, have a safe journey onward.

***

Author's Note - 

Thank you so much for reading, commenting, and liking so far. I truly appreciate your support. You know who you are :) You are awesome.

So how do you like it up til now?

Any theories on what's happened to Shae, their sister? Do you think she's Outside, like Ai? Or something else?

Oh and, who is your favourite character? ☺

p.s. if you're enjoying the story, don't forget to ♥!