The Winter Table

[Jia Xin Kao]

Konstantin Vasiliev

Though he was not impressed to be presented with a fucking Volthström, for the first time this evening Kostya found himself paying true attention. The flat planes of his features did not reveal much of his thoughts, but he was rarely expressive anyway. That this was a viper’s nest of a deal was not in dispute, though neither was the choice of the matter. Ultimately, Konstantin would always act in the best interests of his family. And he’d smile and clap hands with anyone he had to in order to do it.

The tile he did look at after it was slid across to him. A leash and an opportunity. But to win in this world, one must make bed with the Ascendancy. That had always been true.

He was the first to stand when business concluded, the men he had brought shifting behind him like a well oiled machine without his having to glance in their direction. A subtle look encompassed Gregor, Valeska, and Rodian in turn, but it was Zixin he approached like a magnanimous father. He slapped the man’s shoulder in apparent praise for having chaired this new… Covenant.

“At last, the offer of some proper hospitality,” he said. “Now we will show you how to seal the deal the Russian way.”

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Jia Xin

The suite was lavish and beautiful, but the silence was disconcerting. Jia Xin spent her every hour surrounded by others all too eager to cater to her every need, whim and desire. Even fetching herself her own glass of water was novel, though one that quickly wore through the shine. In fact she couldn’t remember the last time she had actually been alone.

She had showered and slept some since arriving. Darkness streamed through the windows when she woke, offering a city glow ambiance, though not even the noise of traffic below penetrated any sound. Since she’d travelled without entourage her luggage had been light and arrangements had been made prior to her arrival for her comfort. Dressed in one of the hotel’s monogrammed robes she ran her fingers over the rails of clothes, eyeing the velvet lined jewellery cases and boxes of shoes, but her interest waned quickly. Tomorrow she would meet the security organised by Pervaya Liniya, and then with that protection in place, the contact she had travelled to Moscow for.

For that she felt a burn of anticipation. Tonight, though, she found herself at a strange loss.

In the end she dressed sharply; a silken black jumpsuit, formfitting tailored in a twist on a man’s suit. Heels from her favourite designer, high and slender enough to take an eye out. Her hair was a simple river of black, smoothed back from her temples, and in the deep V of the neckline hung a serpentine necklace, wrought with diamond scales and twin eyes of emeralds. Nothing she considered extravagant. Then she left the safety of her rooms. Seeking dinner perhaps, or a drink at the bar. Some company, certainly.

Jia Xin was not staying officially as a Kao, of course, but Radiance came with such high credentials she did not worry over the discretion of its staff, and did not plan to leave its grounds. It was unlikely she’d be recognised as Singapore’s darling so far from home, and her socials would never report this trip, so none of her most loyal kistune followers would be looking for her here. Yeye himself would never be any the wiser – not that she would not ultimately be forgiven should cousin Liyana squeal and betray where she went. It was not like she intended to interfere in the family’s expansion abroad. But she needed to be here.

It was pure chance that brought the whisper of a name to her attention. Kao. Not something she should have heard, but of course her ears attuned to it perfectly. Jia Xin had directed her people to book the best accommodations in Moscow, but she had presumed Zixin would have set himself up with something more permanent for his work here. Normally she would have sent someone to discover more to sate her curiosity, but of course she had no one to send. She was not without cunning of her own, though, and an enquiry over the coincidentally closed roof-top bar later she was making her way up to it. She doubted Zixin would be mad, and didn’t care even if he was. He wouldn’t tell their Yeye either. Not if he wanted her to behave while they were both in Moscow.

She was stopped before she got there, of course. That was novel too, though even less welcome than tending to her own thirst. Usually her security dealt with any such issues, and the problem never reached Jia Xin in her bubble at all. She floated through all such obstacles in her life that way. The man who barred her entrance was dressed smartly, and seemed apologetic for turning her way at least, but she stared a long time at his immovable form before she spoke.

“Jia Xin Kao,” she told him. Her eyes were amused. The smile on her lips feline. Doubtless the man only thought she spoke Zixin’s name – foreigners could never fully distinguish the differences in pronunciation. Not until they saw it written down using their own letters anyway. “His sister,” she clarified. Expectation lifted her chin, not haughty, just waiting. He pursed his lips and disappeared, leaving her instead to wonder uncomfortably whether he would come back.

He did though, after a few moments, and this time he only inclined his head and told her, “Welcome, Ms Kao.”

She expected Zixin to be there to greet her like a gentleman, the sha bi, but he wasn’t. Her first glance of the elegant rooftop bar was a veritable sea of mostly old, mostly white men. Servers brandishing expensive food and drink wove through seats and tables, and there was a hint of early debauchery. Definitely business, then.