08-07-2018, 10:40 PM
Aiden’s heart nearly broke at hearing Sage’s story. His parents had to be horrid people to use their own son, possibly only son, to run their experiments. Sage had seemingly turned out okay, but what about all those emotions, memories, and thoughts Aiden couldn’t see? Sage could very well be broken; still, he smiled. Aiden’s own parents were workaholics, never at home and constantly showering money on Aiden and his sister in an effort to make up for their perpetual absence.
It appeared that Sage was experiencing something no one on this planet had experienced before. Normally that would be something to celebrate and investigate, but Aiden wasn’t sure how to feel about it. On one hand, humanity could very well become something close to walking Gods, a human-computer symbiotic relationship pushing the limits of their bodies well past the established threshold; On the other, Sage didn’t have a normal life. He would never have a normal life. That was something Aiden could understand and relate to.
Aiden’s eyebrows climbed back up his forehead at Sage’s display with the Volkovs. It was an incredibly sweet gesture. He was almost like their Fairy Godfather for the night. Surely the Volkovs would go home with a lovely story to tell their friends and family. Aiden beamed at Sage; he had no words for that. It just made him happy. Aiden was about to reach out and touch Sage’s hand, but he faltered as Sage detailed the fallout with Kyle.
The happiness melted away as memories of that fateful night came crashing back. Kyle had actually hit Aiden after he walked in on him with that dumb, slutty-ass groupie. No one had ever laid hands on Aiden in such a manner. The funny thing was, Aiden just took it. He didn’t raise a hand to Kyle, nor did he defend himself. He deserved it. Oh, things with Kyle had been going downhill for a good 2 years at that point, the band was the only thing keeping them together. It was only a matter of time before they split.
After that night, Aiden made a vow to himself. He’d never cheat again.
“That was a very nice gesture, Sage. I’m sure you made that couple’s night. Seems like you’re on a roll today… Weren’t you calling yourself a good Samaritan earlier? You said there was no price for the info and contact info you gave me, but here we are on a date. I’m beginning to think you set this all up on purpose,” He said to Sage with a wink, “Are you and your parents on good terms? I can’t imagine you would be… I have some connections, you know… I could make a few calls and life could get very hard for them… Just an offer. My parents weren’t that great, but I have no room to bitch. They didn’t stick a motherboard in my brain.”
Aiden finished his beer and cracked open another. He gave Sage a smoldering look, “You know when you cut out the bits about horrific medical experiments and playing God… Your unique situation is… attractive. I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through, but you must be an incredibly strong individual to survive all of that. Now, look at you. Doing what others can’t. It’s almost like you are the internet. My fireballs kinda seem like a cheap party trick in comparison. I better keep you on my good side,” the smoldering look effortlessly turning to a wink.
Aiden was very expressive.
“Now… what don’t you know about me… The fireballs aren’t the only thing weird about me. Sometimes when people piss me off or upset me… things happen. I don’t know what, exactly, but sometimes they are glued to the spot and cannot speak or move, other times they are beaten to a pulp; it’s as if my emotions have invisible hands that act against my will. I don’t ever want these things to happen, but what can you do? I haven’t killed anyone with either of those weird powers, but it’s one more reason to stay home most days. I can be a little sensitive sometimes and I’d rather not assault an innocent because they looked at me funny. Hmmm… I’ve had dreams too. Not normal dreams. I almost think I might be psychic? They started after the coma. Visions of Russia, books, gods, and a man. A man whose face I cannot see, but I know I need him.”
Aiden looked over at the Volkovs again and smiled. He returned his gaze to Sage and continued, “I don’t know if they mean anything. Just a feeling, ya know? My sister had dreams too. She’s a well known Voodoo priestess in New Orleans, a killer with the Tarot. Everyone in the city goes to her for answers. Hell, she’s the reason Blarney Stoned got together in the first place! Saw it all in her cards. Some neighbors found out about that reading after we released our first single and the rest is history. She quit her job as a middle school teacher to focus on Voodoo and divination full time. I hope you get to meet her someday. I really do think that you two would get along; at least from what I’ve learned so far.”
Finishing his beer, Aiden reached for a rib. He flashed another smirk at Sage, “Did you already know that about me? I can tell you something else if you do. And what’s this game you speak of?”
It appeared that Sage was experiencing something no one on this planet had experienced before. Normally that would be something to celebrate and investigate, but Aiden wasn’t sure how to feel about it. On one hand, humanity could very well become something close to walking Gods, a human-computer symbiotic relationship pushing the limits of their bodies well past the established threshold; On the other, Sage didn’t have a normal life. He would never have a normal life. That was something Aiden could understand and relate to.
Aiden’s eyebrows climbed back up his forehead at Sage’s display with the Volkovs. It was an incredibly sweet gesture. He was almost like their Fairy Godfather for the night. Surely the Volkovs would go home with a lovely story to tell their friends and family. Aiden beamed at Sage; he had no words for that. It just made him happy. Aiden was about to reach out and touch Sage’s hand, but he faltered as Sage detailed the fallout with Kyle.
The happiness melted away as memories of that fateful night came crashing back. Kyle had actually hit Aiden after he walked in on him with that dumb, slutty-ass groupie. No one had ever laid hands on Aiden in such a manner. The funny thing was, Aiden just took it. He didn’t raise a hand to Kyle, nor did he defend himself. He deserved it. Oh, things with Kyle had been going downhill for a good 2 years at that point, the band was the only thing keeping them together. It was only a matter of time before they split.
After that night, Aiden made a vow to himself. He’d never cheat again.
“That was a very nice gesture, Sage. I’m sure you made that couple’s night. Seems like you’re on a roll today… Weren’t you calling yourself a good Samaritan earlier? You said there was no price for the info and contact info you gave me, but here we are on a date. I’m beginning to think you set this all up on purpose,” He said to Sage with a wink, “Are you and your parents on good terms? I can’t imagine you would be… I have some connections, you know… I could make a few calls and life could get very hard for them… Just an offer. My parents weren’t that great, but I have no room to bitch. They didn’t stick a motherboard in my brain.”
Aiden finished his beer and cracked open another. He gave Sage a smoldering look, “You know when you cut out the bits about horrific medical experiments and playing God… Your unique situation is… attractive. I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through, but you must be an incredibly strong individual to survive all of that. Now, look at you. Doing what others can’t. It’s almost like you are the internet. My fireballs kinda seem like a cheap party trick in comparison. I better keep you on my good side,” the smoldering look effortlessly turning to a wink.
Aiden was very expressive.
“Now… what don’t you know about me… The fireballs aren’t the only thing weird about me. Sometimes when people piss me off or upset me… things happen. I don’t know what, exactly, but sometimes they are glued to the spot and cannot speak or move, other times they are beaten to a pulp; it’s as if my emotions have invisible hands that act against my will. I don’t ever want these things to happen, but what can you do? I haven’t killed anyone with either of those weird powers, but it’s one more reason to stay home most days. I can be a little sensitive sometimes and I’d rather not assault an innocent because they looked at me funny. Hmmm… I’ve had dreams too. Not normal dreams. I almost think I might be psychic? They started after the coma. Visions of Russia, books, gods, and a man. A man whose face I cannot see, but I know I need him.”
Aiden looked over at the Volkovs again and smiled. He returned his gaze to Sage and continued, “I don’t know if they mean anything. Just a feeling, ya know? My sister had dreams too. She’s a well known Voodoo priestess in New Orleans, a killer with the Tarot. Everyone in the city goes to her for answers. Hell, she’s the reason Blarney Stoned got together in the first place! Saw it all in her cards. Some neighbors found out about that reading after we released our first single and the rest is history. She quit her job as a middle school teacher to focus on Voodoo and divination full time. I hope you get to meet her someday. I really do think that you two would get along; at least from what I’ve learned so far.”
Finishing his beer, Aiden reached for a rib. He flashed another smirk at Sage, “Did you already know that about me? I can tell you something else if you do. And what’s this game you speak of?”
Russian Dolls and Broken Gods, a new Fantasy novel by best-selling author, Aiden Finnegan, out this December! Preorder online and instore today!