Artificial Mates - Chapter 49

I knew I was a bad idea to accept going to a party. The loud thumping music accentuated my slowly growing headache. I had no idea Grant was telling the truth when he said he knew the owner a club. I thought it was some small restaurant or something. Not that! Firstly, Grant said that a car would pick us up and drop us at the venue. When I slipped into my only black dress I never thought I would feel this out of place in this vast ocean of jumping bodies.

-Liliane!

I looked up at Demos standing next to me, multicolor spotlights flashing on his blank face. We were squeezed against the wall away from the dancers. He tipped his head towards the dancefloor where Grant squeezed his way holding a glass in his hand.

“Hey!” he shouted with a smile. He fitted right in with all the cheerful music. He moved his head to the beat as he approached. “Here, for my lady,” he handed me a tall blue drink. Demos caught his wrist.

-Wait, this is alcohol.

I frowned at Demos and took the glass. What was that? I don’t need a bodyguard. It’s cute that he is overprotective yet, it gets on my nerves when he overdoes it. I sighed.

“Relax, Mr. patrol agent. I’m legal. I can drink a couple of these,” I took a sip from the drink, it was sweet and chilled with an after-taste of rum. I smiled at Grant. “Thanks, it tastes divine,” he nodded at me.

-I Knew you will like it. Come I’ll introduce you to my friends at the VIP booth.

“VIP?” I almost choked on my drink. He flashed me a smile, Grant grabbed my hand and dragged me on the dance floor. I struggled to the dumping bodies. Demos came to my rescue and parted the sea of the body to let me through. The lights pulsed to the rapid beat making it literally impossible to focus on walking.

-Let me guide you. Close your eyes.

I clung to Grant’s arm and closed my eyes. He wore a white long sleeves shirt that he said he got from a good friend. It’s crazy how many friends he actually had. I feel like I don’t really know him. And somehow it’s scary. He chuckled making me open my eyes to peek at him. His perfect profile bathed in purple light felt unreal. The music has slowed to some classic house from early 2020.

-We are almost there.

I took a glance over my shoulder at Demos who smiled at me. He was wearing all black while Grant wore all white. They really do contrast with each other.

-You also look good in your black dress.

I quickly looked away with flushed cheeks. I drunk the content of my glass in one sip Demos took the glass from me. We go to the other side of the huge room where who artificial as tall as Demos wearing black suits guarded a red door. Grant nodded at them and they opened the door for me. I gasped at their reaction like Grant actually owns the place.

“What is that?” I narrowed my eyes at him. He flashed me a bright smile with arched eyebrows.

-I told you, a lot of people liked Grant.

I let go of Grant’s arm and went to stand next to Demos. Grant stepped then turned to us.

“Come on, I just know Adrien. He’s nice, there’s nothing fishy with having friends,” I pouted as his flat explanation.

“You get the superstar treatment. It’s a little intimidating,” I clung to Demos’ arm. Grant exhaled and led the way into the dark corridor. Demos pulled me along as he marched forward. When the door closed behind us the music was reduced to a low thumping in the background. There was a different door on both sides of the corridors with only numbers on the golden tags nailed on them. The whole place was lit in red lights running along the walls. As Grant reached for the last door on the left it popped out. A dark-skinned artificial with an elegant suit peeked at us. We smiled at Grant then at me. I recognized him from the welcome party we did for Grant.

“This is Nicolai,” Grant waved towards the guy.

“Hi,” I nodded at him.

“Glad you could come,” he opened the door wider to get us in. “Please, step in,” Grant gave his a quick hug and marched in. Demos pulled me closer to him when we got inside.

“No one is going to steal me away,” I whispered to him as he walked.

-You’re mine. Others need to understand that.

I chuckled at his ridiculous thought. The inside was a small room with a window overlooking the dancefloor and various screens playing music video in the far back. There were four couches where three artificials females sat with one man. I also recognized the girls from Grant’s welcome party. I doubt I’ve ever seen that man.

“Hello,” said the man as he took his arms away from the girls. They were all dress in metallic short dresses and shiny spiky heels. They all moved in sync and eased away from his eyes fixed on Grant.

“At last, we meet,” the man poured himself a drink from the glass table in front of him where a square-shaped bottle rested. the rich golden liquid swirled in his glass as he brought it to his lips.

“Sit down,” he gestured to the couches. Two of the girls got up to sit on another couch. I watched as Grant walked directly to him and sat next to him. Demos pulled me to the one next to them.

“An Adrien Sevdinova, your imate is a great company. I love our conversations together,” he patted Grant on the shoulder.

“Liliane Kerry,” I eyed them with a hint of jealousy. How come other people are actually talking and being around Grant while I wasn’t there. I don’t like that. Grant turned to face me, he reached and squeezed my hand.

“Liliane, she’s a little jealous she doesn’t like sharing,” I gasped at his honesty. I wasn’t expecting he would say my thoughts out loud. I lowered my head feeling terrible since his guy was a stranger and probably someone important too. He laughed at Grant’s comment.

“If I had an artificial like Grant and Demos I would never let them out of my sight,” he emptied his glass in on go and got to his feet. “Nicolai here is also a Sognare model. He is a beautiful piece of art,” the dark-skinned artificial came to meet the man in the middle of the room. He bowed and turned to us. “He is not just pleasant to the eyes but also runs this club on his own as well as all my artificial staffs. So, I can practice my favorite hobby. Fishing!” he grinned. I rose my eyebrows impressed at Nicolai’s achievement.

“Well, that’s awesome,” I laughed nervously.

“But that’s nothing compared to what Grant can do,” he gave Grant a peek. Ok, I don’t like that way he looks at Grant at all. What the hell!

-Calm down, Liliane. I’ll explain.

“Adrien had a little accident on one of his fishing trips and had a twisted ankle. Went I first visit him weeks ago I helped take his pain away when I touched him,” said Grant as he squeezed my hand. The man laughed and sunk back on the couch.

“You imagine my surprise. I was blown away. I’ve never seen an artificial with this type of option. This is groundbreaking,” he laughed and pulled himself another drink. “I’ve been pestering his with a meeting with you. Miss Kerry, do you see the potential in Grant?” I narrowed my eyes at him. I didn’t know where he was going and I don’t think I like it.

-Liliane, please take your personal feeling aside. Imagine how many I can heal from their misery and pain.

I pulled my hand from him and slowly faced Grant.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” I shook my head. Demos exhaled beside me.

“They want to build a hospital to heal people from the void,” my head snapped back at Demos.

“What? There did that come from?”

-Liliane, I wanted to talk to you about this. It’s not official yet. But we are thinking about it.

I massaged my pulsing temple. This was too much. His hand rubbed my back easing the tension out of me. I thought he did that only for me cause we were mates. I never imagined he would go and help others.

-I’ve helped a few people from our building and the request keep growing. I’m sorry for not telling you.

I glared at him however I couldn’t get angry at him for healing people. What kind of horrible human being would I be? Yet, I felt a pinch of some weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. I wanted Grant to be mine exclusively.

-I am yours, always.

That includes locking you up, I thought. He chuckled softly beside me.

“So, Miss Kerry will you consider my proposal? For the hospital? See I’ve seen him help artificial too…I was wondering if you knew the extension of his abilities? If you haven’t noticed Sognare make unique models. They can have similar faces but each imates are unique with their settings. Yours was made to fit your conditions,” I looked up at the man who grinned. Did he know about the void?

-I told him

I took a deep breath. I can’t believe he just goes away tell strangers about me about us. Oh my god, he must know we are mates and that I’m a sick pervert.

“I sorry, I’m a little too enthusiastic about this project. This must come as a shock for you. I guess you really need Grant for your own treatment,” he set his glass on the table. “I just wanted help,” he shook his head.

“Sir, I… mm… thanks for taking care of Grant. I’m sorry to bother you,” I started.

“No bother at all,” he waved. Demos and Grant turned to me.

“I’ll consider your offer,” I said. “But, right now, I came to relax. I-I didn’t plan to have that kind of talk,” Adrian burst out laughing.

“Yeah, sure, sure! What kinda person am I. Nicolai get the lady a drink will you. All drinks are on me,” he waved a finger at Nicolai we turned to me.

“A second of this blue drink,” I pointed at the glass Demos was holding.

“Sure,” nodded Nicolai. Minutes later, my drink came and the conversation gravitated around Adrien talking about the open sea which I’ve never seen except on VR screen. I sipped my drink as I leaned against Demos watching Grant smile with Adrien. He gave me a side-glance.

-I’ll tell you everything. Just like you opened up to us.

Right! I turned back to the three girls staring at me and Demos. I shifted nervously in my seat. Their eyes followed my movements.

-They are asking what are the dynamics of our relationship.

I ignored Demos and kept sipping my drink.

-Since they are s.e.xbot. They are wondering if we are also.

I coughed as I choked on my drink. Demos smirked at me. What? S.e.x…what?

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I shouted. Everyone turned to me. I wasn’t aware I said that loud. The whole mind talking was getting me confused. “Sorry,” I murmured.

-Liliane are you ok?

I nodded at Grant and he went on with his conversation with Nicolai and Adrian. Damn it, I can’t even hang around normal people anymore. I’m a desperate case. I thought I came here to relax. This is getting boring.

-Do you want to dance?

I turned towards Demos with an eyebrow arched up. Dance? Really? I wasn’t really a dancefloor beast. Lyla could totally own the club. I just randomly sway to the music while praying the spotlights would hide my clumsy moves.

“Do you even know how to dance?” I laughed a little too loud. Once again everyone in the room turned their focus on me. They must think I’m crazy for starting a sentence out of nowhere when no one actually spoke to me. Demos reached for my empty glass and placed it on the table then pulled me to my feet. Grant looked up.

“Demos’ gonna show me how good he is on the dancefloor,” I laughed. I guess the blue drinks were taking effect as I walked back to the main room. Demos hugged me from behind as we struggled on the dancefloor. The DJ switched to a chillout playlist as we swayed to the music. I threw my arms in the air Demos followed me, our bodies brushing against each other. I laughed at the absurdity of dancing with all my problems hanging above my head. I was really insane.

-It’s ok, cut yourself some slack.

He got closer, I placed my arms around his neck and pulled his down against me. Our lips brushing.