Violent Souls (Blood City Chronicles, Book 1)

Riestovik’s leaders, CEO Prezbigly and CEO Podsteop, arrived in Abakalic a day before the meetings were to begin. They were the most cynical about the idea of jettisoning citizens from each planet who were deemed “unenthusiastic”.

The definition of “unenthusiastic” was left intentionally broad. Maybe you were a political rabble-rouser. Maybe you were no longer usefully productive due to age or mental capacity. Maybe you were an orphan who would be a burden on planet resources. One thing that was clear was moving to the new planet would be more a demand than a suggestion.

Prezbigly was bald, with her company logo tattooed on each side of her head. You could see the bones in her arms and cheeks as she practiced the ancient Riestovikian art of sumba ymbren. This was an extreme form of fasting, left over from the old days when a CEO would refuse food until he or she passed out.  During the time the person was unconscious, it was said it was the ideal time to come up with the best ideas. Prezbigly’s skin was almost translucent, as CEOs saw very little of the outside, preferring to live in their offices. 

Podsteop was strikingly tall. He had to lean down to avoid hitting his forehead on most doorways. He had black eyes, which occasionally sparked red, especially if he was excited. His platinum hair ran down to his buttocks, but he was currently concealing it in a gold dupat he recently received as a gift from Prezbigly.

His company tattoos were imprinted on the back of his hands. The scars up his spine were from brandings he submitted to whenever the company failed to meet profit objectives—margin profits, not cumulative. Podsteop’s company, Podsteop Community and Manufacturing Concern, had the distinction of being the most fined company on Riestovik. This was actually an honor, as it was a sign of fremueac euc feo andet—meaning the company put profits above people.