EPILOGUE

Ylena checked her phone and saw that she still had five minutes to spare. She re-adjusted her dark glasses, and loosed a few buttons on her long coat. The Venezuelan sun baked down on the city, making her long, blonde hair appear almost white.

She slipped into the patio of a small riverside bar, and made her way over to the table in the back. Sliding into the seat, she delicately crossed her legs, smoothing the hem of her skirt.

The man sitting across from her was reading a newspaper, not every bothering to look up at her as he finished his article. "I ordered some sangria. I hope you don't mind."

"It will be welcome in this heat."

Done, he folded the paper and dropped it onto the table. "And how is Aureliano?"

The proprietor brought over the chilled pitcher himself, charmed by Ylena's exotic looks, and blushed when she thanked him with a smile. "He's surfing in Brazil. He's discovered a fondness for the sport."

"And more the fool, him." The man sneered.

"So what is it this time, Nikola? Sham artifacts? Government think tank?"

Tesla sipped from his glass, a look of unadulterated pleasure washing over his face. He savored the taste a moment longer before responding. "Private telecommunications contract. I want a lead on what the competition is up to first."

Ylena raised an eyebrow. "Where are they based?"

"Rio de Janeiro."

She chuckled. "In and out like ghosts? Hmm … Brazil is nice this time of year. Aureliano would be able to join us."

Tesla raised his glass and touched it to hers in cheers.

"They all think you're dead."

Nikola buried his face in his glass, fishing for an orange slice. "Good."

Ylena sighed, absently tapping the rim of her glass with the tip of her fingernail. "You don't ever want to go back?"

"The constant sunlight is doing wonders for my mood. And all the bikini girls…"

"I've kept your secrets this whole time," Ylena cut in. "You should be able to trust me at this point. I haven't pressed you for any answers on how you got out alive … or how that thing isn't inside of you anymore. You can at least be honest with me on this."

Nikola sighed, waving his hand dismissively as he looked somewhere off his shoulder. Ylena waited patiently, eyes boring into him. "Kinda? But I dread it too. It was nice when it felt like a home, but … I can never really stay in one place for long."

He frowned and then asked quietly. "Does she miss me?"

Ylena snorted. "Yes. She also wants to kill you with her bare hands."

Nikola laughed, leaning back into his chair. "Some things never change."

A/N

Stay tuned, the cast returns for a sequel which will soon be arriving. I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I enjoyed writing it. The best show of appreciation, of course, is always to leave a review! Cheers.