meant before he’d explained. How else could I know that? “I can speak and read any language I want.” “And write,” Gabriella added. “Wow that’s…” “Amazing?” “Handy. Like if this Guardian thing doesn’t work out, I can always get a job as a translator,” I said with a cheeky smile.
We both burst out laughing. It felt good, like when we had just hung out together at school, back when everything had been simple. It seemed crazy to think it had only been a week ago. It felt like I had known this girl for years.
When we had both stopped laughing, Gabriella held out a hand. “I’ll hold onto the guide for you until later.”
“So what happens now?” I asked, passing her the book.
She pointed to a barely noticeable door in the far wall. “The en suite’s through there. Freshen up. I left some clean clothes that will fit you.” Standing up, she headed for another door by the chair. “I’ll wait for you outside. Take as long as you need.”
I took a sip of water, already feeling much better. “Okay,” I answered, “then what?” She turned back to face me. “Then you meet the rest of the team.”
14
After a soothing shower, I changed into the comfortable pair of jeans, woollen jumper and white trainers that Gabriella had laid out for me. Stepping out of the bedroom, I emerged into a luxurious living area. To the left a dining table and chairs stood underneath impressive bay windows. The far wall was home to a large stone fireplace. Flames danced on wooden logs, their smoky scent filling my nose. To the right an archway led off to what must have been the hallway. In the middle of the room the carpet became stairs leading down into a sunken seating area. The space was home to a large red corner sofa and glass coffee table. At the end of the space sat a television, playing an old episode of Family Guy.
By far the most interesting part of the room were the people who occupied it. Gabriella perched on the end of the sofa. Sprawled over the rest of it was a lithe looking man who looked in his mid-twenties. Wavy black hair ran all the way to his neck. Another tuft sprouted from his chin, expertly tapered into a point. He wore a grey waistcoat and a pair of long brown boots, which he rested on the coffee table. A brown
Stetson hat rested on his chest. He was playing idly with a marble, rolling it between his fingers, whilst laughing at the show on TV.
A behemoth of a man stood next to the window. He must have been close to seven foot tall and was as stacked as Arnie in his prime. A tribal tattoo ran from the top of his bald head all the way down one side of his face to the jaw. It covered some kind of scar. His eyes were as dark as shadows, topped by scythe eyebrows. The only contradiction to his intimidating appearance came in the form of a delicate silver locket, threaded through a leather string and hanging from his tree-trunk neck.
Sitting between Gabriella’s legs on a thick shag-pile rug was a sweet looking girl of around nine or ten. She hummed to herself, tapping at a portable Nintendo whilst Gabriella braided a section of her long blonde hair. They all looked up as the door clicked shut behind me. “Hi Alex,” Gabriella said, motioning me over. “Come and meet everyone.” Swallowing a lump of nervousness, I walked over.
“This is the rest of our team, or Orion as we’re more officially known.” She pointed a slender finger at the Spanish looking man. “This is Delagio.” He gave a salute. “The midget by the window is Midnight.” The hulk grunted then fell silent. “And this is Sophia.” I was given a quick grin and then attention returned to the game, tongue poking out with concentration. “Sophia’s actually half Witch, but decided to join us instead of the Coven.” “They smell weird,” Sophia said screwing up her nose. We all laughed. “Uh, nice to meet you all,” I said, feeling my face flush.
Gabriella glanced at her watch. “There is actually one more member of Orion, but they’re running a little late. It’s someone you already know.”
My stomach knotted up. Someone I know? Oh god, please don’t be Tim. I don’t think I could handle that.
A door in the hallway opened. Gabriella peered behind me. “Speak of the devil.”
I turned to see Miss Steele pass under the archway. She surveyed the scene with squinted eyes, then leaned against the wall and crossed her legs. The toe of her thick black heels made a muffled clomping sound on the carpet. “Pixie actually,” she corrected sarcastically. Then she turned her attention to me. “Hello Alexander.”
My throat had dried up. I didn’t think I could manage any more surprises. “H-hi Miss Steele,” I croaked.
“I think Rachel will be okay from now on. But don’t think this means you are getting out of your homework.” She gave a shrill laugh, which bounced off the walls and hurt my ears. I forced out a chuckle. “Right, Alex.” Gabriella’s words cut mercifully through the awkward silence that followed. “You’re probably hungry by now.” My stomach rumbled in agreement. “Let’s find you something to eat. Then we can begin your training.” “Training?”
Rachel raised an eyebrow. “Well you didn’t think we were going to send you straight out into the big bad world without making sure you were ready did you? We have a lot of work to do before your test.”
“Uh, test?”
Gabriella shot my teacher a frown before turning to me. “Before you can be considered fit to become a Guardian, you have to undergo an initiation of sorts. A trial to ensure that you’re mentally and physically prepared. It varies from person to person.” Seeing my expression she added, “Don’t worry, you’ll do fine when the time comes.”
I didn’t share her confidence.
“Okay guys let’s get things moving.” Gabriella snapped her head around to Delagio. “Del, I need you on speed.” To the giant, “Midnight you are on strength…obviously. And Rachel can I have you on combat?”
The Pixie nodded her head. “Not a problem.”
“I’ll take abilities. Let’s do this. Right mia bambina,” she said ruffling Sophia’s hair, “you can go with Midnight if you want.”
“Yay!” shouted the girl and snapped the machine closed. She ran up the stairs to Midnight, who smiled and knelt down. Sophia clambered up his back and wrapped her legs around his neck. He stood up and locked a securing arm around her shins. As the team stirred under Gabriella’s orders, a simple fact became clear. She’s the leader. The notion that I’d expected anything less surprised me more than her impressive position.
I followed the team out of the apartment. Midnight had to duck so Sophia could pass under the doorway successfully. We emerged into an extravagant hallway. The marble floor had been polished to a shine. TV’s flush with the smooth white walls displayed rotating 3D maps of tunnels and rooms, which I figured were schematics of the base. Gabriella motioned for me to follow her to the left. Everyone else headed right. “Tell Midnight I’ll send Alex down in about twenty minutes,” she said to Delagio, who was last out. “Sure thing boss.”
I was surprised to hear a Southern American twang in his accent. It sounded nothing like the voice that had left the message on my phone. He tipped the edge of his hat and turned to follow the others. In the distance, Sophia and Midnight were playing about. She would cover his eyes, and he’d bump into the walls on purpose. Or he’d spin on the spot until she fell into fits of giggles. The sounds of their laughing echoed back up the hallway towards me. Midnight seemed utterly natural with the girl and she didn’t seem at all nervous of him. I wondered if he had children of his own.
Gabriella touched my arm. “Let’s go.”
We passed dozens of doors on our way down the hallway. Each one had a metallic plate with a name embossed on it. I read names like Ivy Affron, Sam Clarke and Jessica Black.
“Each apartment belongs to a resident Chosen,” Gabriella explained. “Alliance Pandemonians have apartments too, but they’re all underground.”
I chuckled as I imagined Vampires unwinding on sofas — sipping blood from challises. Or domesticated Skinshifters sitting around a table playing poker against fairies who buzzed about on silvery wings. It was stupid, but who knew what they did in their spare time? “Your apartment is a work in progress. It should be finished by the time you join officially.” I snapped my head around. “I get a place like yours?” Gabriella laughed. “Of course.
