Enchanted Ever After. Robin D. Owens

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      Chapter 7

      HALF AN HOUR later, she was the only one in the elevator rising to Eight Corp’s floor, although the huge lobby of the building had bustled with other people. She adjusted her hoodie and her workbag—this one a pristine bright red Fairies and Dragons carryall—over her shoulder, and did a few deep breaths as she watched the floor numbers light.

      The door opened and she was met by Jenni and Lathyr. Jenni wore casual, too, but Lathyr had on a pale gray silk suit.

      No one sat at the receptionist’s desk—odd, because Kiri had only worked places where the receptionist had the earliest hours. With her first step, Kiri’s feet literally sank into a deep green rug. She got the impression of elegant luxury before Jenni held out both her hands with a big smile. “Glad to see you again.”

      Once more, the woman’s hands were warmer than her own. Damn nerves. “Yes. I’m excited.”

      “We are, too.” Jenni beamed.

      Lathyr offered his own hand, and Kiri shook it, ignoring how nice it felt. Firm grip, meet his eyes—gorgeous deep blue. Breathe, because the initial greeting went okay.

      “A pleasure,” Lathyr said.

      “For me, too,” Kiri said.

      Jenni turned and moved around a huge freestanding wall of granite. “Let’s head to the room where the game server is set up.”

      “Sounds fine to me,” Kiri said.

      “Do you want something to drink?” asked Lathyr.

      Coffee would tweak her nerves even more. “Water would be great.”

      He peeled off and Kiri followed Jenni down the hall to an interior room. It was painted an uninspired beige and was longer than it was wide. To Kiri’s surprise, an actual wooden counter polished to a gloss ran along the wall as a desk setup. Atop the counter, four huge monitors sat. The most comfortable of ergonomic chairs—smelling of new plastic and metal—were placed before the monitors. Several different types of game controllers waited on a floating platform a little lower than the desk under each monitor. All top-of-the-line electronics.

      “Wow, nice setup,” she said.

      “Thanks.” Jenni went to the last chair on the left, sat and swiveled toward Kiri.

      But Kiri’s stare had fixed on several sets of gloves that appeared to have filaments embedded in them, and four wraparound visors.

      “As you can see,” Jenni said easily, “we’re experimenting a bit with virtual reality, also. Put on the visor and you’ll feel as if you’re really in the game. Wear the gloves and your gestures will be translated as powers. For instance, if you want to throw a fireball—”

      “I’ll really act as if I’m throwing a ball.”

      “That’s right.”

      “Hmm.” Kiri stayed where she was.

      “We’d like you to wear the gloves and visor.”

      “This isn’t monitoring my vitals, is it?”

      The line between Jenni’s eyes cleared. “No. Absolutely not. The gloves and the visor are simply to immerse you in a deeper gaming experience.”

      “Uh-huh.”

      “I have your water,” Lathyr said from behind her.

      So Kiri sidled into the room, stood near the third chair. The man offered her a large bottle of fizzy water—the same brand of raspberry that she’d chosen at the block party, and somehow she didn’t think that was by chance. “Thank you.”

      “You are quite welcome.” He did a torso incline thing, then closed the door and the room felt pretty small. Reaching out, he took a pair of large teal gloves and slipped them on, raising a brow at Kiri as he did so. He held a visor by the slim end and twirled it in his fingers.

      “I, um, am pretty simple in my gaming,” Kiri said. “Monitor, keyboard, mouse.”

      “Please,” Jenni said, gesturing to the gloves and visors. She donned some red ones with gold “embroidery” of fiber optic filaments or something. Kiri narrowed her eyes, then blinked. It looked like the pattern might be almost a mathematical algorithm—or, in a different game, a spell—and the design lit up.

      “I thought we were going to have another interview?” Kiri said weakly, looking at Lathyr.

      “That’s so stuffy,” Jenni said.

      It was stuffy.

      “What’s wrong?” asked Jenni.

      Kiri grimaced. “The gloves and visor might interfere with my play.” She swallowed. “I really don’t want to screw this up.” It meant too much to her.

      Lathyr set the visor down and stripped off the gloves. СКАЧАТЬ