“Say you took her back to her room.” He slipped a phone from his pocket. “I’ll text her to make sure she goes straight there now.” He started tapping the keypad. “Sophia has a mobile?” Delagio raised an eyebrow. “It’s the twenty first century dude. Who doesn’t?” “Fair point.”
“Right, Faru will already be in the Nexus by now, takin’ a different route. We’ve got about one minute from the moment we get there to do this. “You ready?”
“Yes. And I’m really sorry again Del.”
Still typing with one hand, he clapped my shoulder with the other. “Don’t worry about it. You were right to find out what’s goin’ on. This is a big deal.” He looked up, face suddenly drawn. “The Sorrow is the stuff of nightmares. I hope to heck that Faru isn’t right about it headin’ here.”
The elevator stopped and we both rushed through the doors the instant they opened. Luckily the entrance hall was still deserted. Delagio slipped behind a curtained area to the left of the stairs.
I strolled as casually as I could through the Feasting Hall. A few waiters were milling about, collecting the last bits of cutlery from the table. None of them paid me any attention.
I smiled at the agents as I passed between them back into the library. Through sheer luck, Gabriella was busy consoling Midnight, so didn’t notice me slip right up to Rachel — who was leaning against a bookcase, sipping something purple from a champagne flute. I whispered Delagio’s instructions to her. She nodded and shoved her glass into my hand. Within seconds she’d disappeared from the room.
I let out a long sigh of relief. Staring into the glass, I eyed the purple liquid. A large bubble swelled in the centre and burst, releasing an aroma that gave me a head rush.
Maybe not.
I set the glass down on a bookshelf and joined Gabriella, who was sitting on a sofa, arm wrapped around Midnight’s colossal shoulders. The giant looked miserable, which had the effect of making me feel terrible. I decided to take a bit of a chance. “Midnight, Sophia is asking for you,” I said. He jerked his head up. “Really, where is she? Is she okay?” “She’s fine. I took her up to her room.” He stood up and patted me on the arm with a bear paw. “Thanks.”
When he had gone, I took his position on the sofa. A passing waitress lowered her tray and Gabriella picked off two flutes of Champagne, handing one to me. I wanted so badly to tell her what I’d find out, but I couldn’t. I knew she’d be furious for me going behind her back. Not to mention spying on a private meeting between every leader of the HASEA. After being a Guardian for a little over three hours. “Is Midnight okay?” I asked instead, gesturing the glass in the general direction he’d gone in. “He will be. He was just a little bit gutted that she asked for you. He feels like it’s his job to protect her.” “Why?”
Gabriella took a large sip of Champagne and sighed. “Sophia’s mother was a hardcore drug addict. She used to sell her body to feed the habit. One of those clients happened to be an Incubus — that’s how Sophia was conceived. Incubi don’t stick around to raise their offspring, so it was down to the mother. Her only reason for keeping Sophia in the first place was so that she could claim benefits. That poor girl lived the first six years of her life in squalor. She was barely ever fed.” Gabriella rubbed a finger on the side of the glass, as if removing a smudge. “Her Awakening happened as the result of her own mother kicking her down a flight of stairs.”
My stomach lurched. “That’s awful!”
“We didn’t bother with an infiltration; just marched in and rescued her from that cess pit.” Gabriella’s eyes flashed with anger. “That woman was a vile creature. When we brought Sophia in, she was covered in bruises and barely more than a skeleton with skin. It’s a miracle that she turned out so sweet. Most of it was down to Midnight. He joined the Warren soon afterwards and became an instant father to Sophia. Helped her forget everything and become a normal person.” Gabriella laughed. “Well as normal as a half-Witch, half-Chosen Guardian of Earth can be.”
“So what happened to the mother?” I asked.
“Midnight happened.”
A second later, Faru appeared in the library, followed by several other Sages, including Asmund and Etorre. He scanned the room, white eyes shimmering in the firelight. His eyebrows knitted together in a deep frown. I took in a deep breath as he doddered towards us.
Here we go.
I took a quick glance at the window and almost burst out laughing. Delagio and Rachel were sitting in a wooden gazebo swathed in fairy lights, as the rain beat down around them.
Kissing.
In fact, kissing probably wasn’t the right word for it. They were attached to one another as if their separation meant the end of all life. Gabriella followed my gaze and committed to the laugh I hadn’t managed. “Honestly, it’s any excuse for those two,” she chuckled.
More than you know, I thought. The Sages reached us. Faru went to speak, but Asmund barged past and stabbed a finger at us. “Where is your Kinesist?” he demanded. Gabriella frowned and looked at Faru. “Why, what’s he done wrong?” “Please excuse Sage Asmund’s abruptness my dear. There is no need for alarm. I simply wish to ask him a question. That is all.”
Gabriella unwittingly acted out the last part of the plan for me, whilst attempting to keep a straight face. “He’s out there Sage Faru, but you may want to give him a moment.”
The leaders turned their heads to stare through the rain covered window. Sage Asmund cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably on the spot.
Ah,” said Sage Etorre simply.
Faru pressed a finger to either temple. “I don’t see…oh, right.” A a glimmer of a smile appeared on his face. “I believe that he could use some privacy.”
“Shall I tell him you want to speak to him when he comes in?” asked Gabriella.
“No I don’t believe that shall be necessary. Although, perhaps you could suggest that they be a little more discreet with their rendezvous next time,” Faru suggested with a warm smile. He turned to the other Sages. “The hour is growing late; perhaps it is time we retired for the evening. Come, let us join the others and I shall have my Golems show you to your rooms.”
“I think you’re right,” agreed Etorre. “Goodnight you two — don’t stay up too late,” he added with a wink.
We stood up to salute the leaders, who returned the gesture. They exited the library, with Asmund muttering something under his breath about ‘unprofessional conduct.’
Gabriella and I spent the next few hours talking and drinking. I fired dozens of questions at her. At first they were mainly to help distract my thoughts from what I’d overheard in the Temple, but after a while, I forgot everything and just enjoyed listening to her speak. She told me stories of her past missions — some dangerous, some downright hilarious. She explained how the base operated and how to conduct myself on a mission. Lastly, she taught me the rules of the treaty and explained that if I ever forgot I could find them at the back of the HASEA handbook — which reminded me of something I’d forgotten to ask, but decided to save until later. At one point I glanced out of the window and noticed that both Delagio and Rachel were gone. Neither of them had returned to the library. Looks like the plan worked out better than expected, I thought with an internal smile. Slowly the room started to empty of people, until we were the only two left — apart from the agents, who milled about, stoking the fire and talking quietly to each other.
“So how does it feel to be a protector of Earth?” Gabriella asked, nestling herself into the crook of the sofa.
“I’ll let you know after I protect something,” I said, draining the last dregs of yet another glass of champagne and setting it down on the side table. “You heard Sage Etorre, you’ve got me to protect,” she teased, poking a finger into my stomach. “I get the impression you don’t need much looking after.” Gabriella shook her head, sending hair spilling all over her face. She used a finger to hook it away before continuing.