Free Alien Devices: Tesla joins crew to prevent alien zombie apocalypse (The Secret War Book 2) by Raven Bond

supposed to be my
subservient maid, remember?”
    Saira smiled at her wickedly, and then gave a deep formal bow.
Abigail sniffed at the mock subservience.
    They entered the unmarked door into a sort of antechamber. Even
here the smells of tobacco, hemp and opium wafted through the air like incense. 
Along their right side ran a high counter behind which sat a bored looking man
with a reader monocle. Directly in front of them stood a living mountain of a
man in an ill-fitting emerald evening suit. His scared swarthy face did not
change expression as he silently held out his hand.
    Abigail placed the white card in his huge paw-like hand. He
glanced at it once and handed it up to the man behind the counter.  Adjusting
his monocle, the counter man placed the card out of sight on the table, where
he must have a concealed wire reader, Abigail thought. He then looked down at
Abigail, then back at the card again. Abigail held her breath.
    “Patrons are allowed one guest,” the monocle wearer said.
    Abigail assumed a languid pose, leaning in to Will, caressing
his arm. “The woman is my servant and is the entertainment for my guest here.”
After looking at them skeptically for a moment, the desk-reader wordlessly handed
the card back to the man-mountain, who in turn handed it back to Abigail.
    “Enjoy your evening, Patron,” the mountain rumbled.
    Gripping the card, Abigail nodded at the giant as he swept back
a heavy red curtain behind him with a bow.
    On the other side of the curtain, they were assaulted by a wave
of music along with a confusion of many voices. A woman, naked save for thigh-stockings
and shoes, appeared at Abigail's side.
    “May I take your cloak, Mistress?” the woman asked in a husky
voice. Abigail nodded her permission, and the woman deftly removed her wrap.
She noticed a man, similarly undressed, perform the same service for Saira.
Taking in Abigail's attire, her coat servant bowed deeply in approval.
    Abigail was dressed in 'New Woman' fashion, her outfit
consisting of a black corset and a length of emerald green silk that had been
gathered into a mock bustle. She was otherwise naked, save for a pair of very
brief bloomers that Saira had fortunately been able to produce, along with
jeweled garters for her stockings. She was the very picture of a modern woman,
loudly proclaiming her freedom from the strictures of Society.
    Saira was wearing two ankle length pieces of white silk, knotted
together at the shoulders, and bound around the waist by a thick black leather
belt.  Open along the sides, her bare arms and legs flashed into view as she
moved. One could easily see that she was covered in black leather bands from
ankles to wrists. It was the perfect 'Grecian servant' costume.  Will had
refused the woman who wanted to take his coat. He leaned in close to be heard
over the noise.
    “While I can appreciate that you both look lovely, I thought I
told you to come armed.” He said with disapproval. 
    “We are.” Saira replied brightly. “Abigail has her sparkie, and
I my knives. Want to know where we hid them?” Abigail fought back a smile at
his nonplussed look. He shook his head decisively
    “Never mind,” he said with a resigned air.  “I'll take your
word for it. What now?”
    Abigail viewed the eclectic crowd gathered in the enormous,
high ceilinged room. Close by were groupings of tables with chairs where
different groups sat drinking and smoking, while watching the rest of the room.
Farther away stood a stage where a woman, dressed much as Abigail was attired,
played madly on a cello, singing in a lilting voice. Her voice, even
un-amplified, fill the space. She was surrounded by drummers and other string
players.
    “My God,” Abigail breathed, clutching Will's arm. “That is Jade
Summer!” She started bouncing in time to the music in spite of herself. Will
looked at the stage and the crowd in front of it. Tall stovepipe hats bounded
up and down like pistons in beat with the