Free Gambler by S.J. Bryant

Tabryn she
would occasionally drop by to say hello to the children. She'd
never liked Roxanne but she did respect the woman's strength. It
took a lot to stick out your chin after being beaten so many
times.
    Nova grabbed hold of the doorknob on the red
door and pushed it open. The light and noise grew tenfold and she
felt like turning away and slamming the door behind her. Before she
had a chance to turn tail and run, someone grabbed her hand.
    "Well hello there, you. I haven't seen you
around here before. What's your flavour?"
    The girl holding Nova's arm had a pretty
face and pouted lips. She blinked up at Nova with a sly smile and
her busty dress showed off her modified assets. She held her hand
out to the rest of the room.
    It was still early and most of the patrons
had yet to arrive. By midnight, the place would be alive with
activity. As it was, there were only a few groups of people, mostly
working men and women. They eyed Nova with a mixture of curiosity
and greed. As an off-worlder, she would be a good source of
credits.
    There were men and women in various stages
of undress with mods that made them especially appealing to certain
tastes. A woman opened her mouth to reveal a set of pointed
teeth.
    Nova's breath caught in her throat; a
lecheon! But no, it couldn't be, the teeth were fake and there
wasn't a leach lurking behind them. Nova shivered. Who would be
attracted to a lecheon? She forced the memories of her recent
encounter with the coven on Boullion Five away and focused back on
the young girl.
    "I know. There are so many choices," the
girl said with a giggle.
    Nova frowned. "Actually, I'm here to see
Roxanne."
    "Oh." The girl's eyes went wide. "I'm afraid
Mistress Roxanne no longer takes clients."
    "I'm not a bloody client, she's a…… a friend
of mine," Nova said, failing to think of a better word.
    "I see. What's your name?" the girl
asked.
    "Nova," a cracked voice whispered from the
far end of the room.
    Nova looked up with surprise. She could
barely recognise the woman before her. How long had she been away?
Surely not that long? But it looked like Roxanne had aged at least
twenty years compared to the woman in her memory.
    "Roxanne," Nova said.
    "Let her go Kell, we'll have tea out the
back," Roxanne said.
    She turned on her heel and swept back
through the doorway from which she'd come. Her hair glimmered in
its customary bun, but the bright auburn had been replaced with
grey. The woman who had stood so tall and proudly for so long
stooped as she walked. She shuffled along, as slow as an
invalid.
    Nova hurried across the room, ignoring the
curious stares, and caught up with Roxanne. The room had changed
from what she remembered. The furniture was new, or at least newer,
and ornaments decorated the shelves. The staircase leading up to
the bedrooms had been repainted. It was nice, for what it was.
    One thing hadn't changed about Roxanne. She
walked with her head up and her chin out. Her eyes still sparkled
with defiance and bright intelligence as she lowered herself into a
plush armchair and gestured for Nova to do the same.
    Nova sat and stared at the woman who had
been so many things; carer, teacher, task-master.
    "So how is breaking heads?" Roxanne
asked.
    She leant back in her chair and eyed Nova
with curiosity. A very young girl, too young to work in the front
room, appeared and laid out a chipped teapot and two cups. She
poured it with shaking hands and then disappeared, all in complete
silence.
    Nova's heart tugged, she could remember
being that girl. She had scurried into this very room with a pot of
tea. Only she hadn't been so graceful. She'd spilled the tea and in
return Roxanne had backhanded her so hard that she'd stumbled
across the room until she hit the far wall.
    "Easier than breaking hearts," Nova said,
reaching for a cup. She lifted it to her mouth and took a sip. It
was the exact same flavour that Roxanne had kept decades ago. Some
things never changed.
    "Ha!" Roxanne laughed. "Each to