In this scene from Alitus - Tales of the Chosen, the hero is making his first public appearance in a veil, a head-to-shoulders garment similar to a burqa. Betters are enhanced humans whose pheromones can addict and whose voices put a human in thrall. Now regulated by the imperial government, they must wear an electronic veil that alters their voices and captures their pheromones.
Excerpt
Alitus tilted back his head and set a hand atop the veil to keep it from slipping.
Prentice approached. The android servant and bodyguard of the Empress towered over everyone.
Great. Just what he needed. "What do you want, Prentice?"
"Her Majesty asked me to watch over you." Though never far from the Empress, Prentice did not make his presence obvious. Easy to forget he was there.
"You've watched me. Tell her I don't need a watchdog. I will do my duty."
"Is the veil heavy? You keep lowering your head."
"No." Alitus adjusted the hang across his shoulders and pulled it away from his body in front. "It's hot. I can hardly breathe."
"Perhaps you should turn it on."
"What?" Alitus held the veil against his face so he could better see. "It's hard to hear."
"Touch the inner brim above your right ear."
Alitus stroked one finger along the edge. "There's a series of small bumps."
"Press them from front to back to increase the cooling effect."
Bracing himself for a breeze, Alitus touched the first bump. Instead, the humidity lessened. He took the first deep breath he'd been able to draw since donning the garment. "Thank you."
"The bumps about a finger's width above them adjust visibility. Did no one show you how to operate it?"
"No. I didn't know there was anything else to it." Alitus touched the upper controls; the room's brightness increased by half. He tapped the others in sequence until his view of the veil disappeared. "Is this still opaque?" He held up a hand. "I can see every stitch in my glove."
"You'll be able to see in any lighting, but no one will be able to see you."
"Great. I'll be invisible."
Prentice leaned toward him. "Almost like an android."
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative blog hop hosted by members of Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
Great last line. I find your androids to be among your most interesting characters!
That sounds so cool. To hide in plain sight.
Tweeted.
Thank you! I give them each a little backstory and keep it in mind when writing them.
Once Alitus “gets” how valuable that “invisibility” is, everything changes.
Fascinating last line
Intriguing process, Kayelle. Tweeted.
I like the veil. That is an interesting concept.
Thank you, Maggie!
Hi, Kayelle – looks like you reposted an old link.
That’s okay… it was worth re-reading!
Oops. That was a matter of me not using the right URL >_< Thanks for the catch!
Wow, those covers! Enjoyed the excerpt. I’ve always loved sci-fi and you do it so well, Kayelle. 🙂
Many thanks, Tina!
I love this excerpt. I can’t help thinking of women who are forced to wear burqas and wish they had the opportunity to adjust the temperature and visibility. It also speaks to those in society that we treat as invisible. Well done, Kayelle.
That was my thought when I wrote this. Thanks, Jana!
Hi,
I like your dialogue. It’s cozy. The android is doing his thing very simply, and Altus is learning to wear a burka.
Shalom shalom
Thank you so much, Pat!