I stood up and moved towards the Unicorn. As with Gabriella, he pressed his head into my hand. His coat felt softer than the purest cashmere. I ran my fingers through the fine hairs on his muzzle.
I turned to Gabriella and gave her a smile. “I hope you don’t mind sharing a favourite spot.”
We spent most of the morning in the Sanctuary. I saw countless creatures that a week ago I’d never have dreamed could exist. Some cute and some creepy, but each one incredible and unique in its own right. Those that were small and safe enough to be handled, Gabriella carefully picked up to show me. I watched the way her eyes crinkled at the corners as she looked at them. Noticed how she always held them in exactly the right way and acted in the perfect manner so they didn’t become distressed.
She really cares about them.
I’d read somewhere that you could gauge if a person was good or not, by the way they treated animals. If that was anything to go by, then Gabriella was hot on Mother Teresa’s heels.
One of the last animals she showed me was a Welkin — a small fox/catlike creature with yellow fur and two bushy tails that it could move independently. As she passed it over to me, our fingers touched. Neither of us moved. The charges started up, the noise as loud in my ears as a detuned television. My insides buzzed as if they were alive. My heartbeat trebled. When I dared to look up, Gabriella was staring at me. Our fingers stayed pressed together, mine over hers. Underneath, a confused Welkin wriggled about. I tried to speak, but I couldn’t get hold of my voice. The world shifted on its axis and everything slid away.
All I could see was Gabriella.
She didn’t move her gaze, just like that first day in English. Her irises started to expand. Her lips parted slightly.
Those lips. Perfect red lips that you could lose hours kissing…
“Are you guys re-enacting the Lion King or somethin’?”
I turned to see an amused looking Delagio leaning against the inside wall of the barn, a singular silver marble spinning around his hand like a moon in orbit. Instantly, Gabriella snapped her fingers away from mine. A tsunami of disappointment washed over me. My mind whirred in confusion. Did we just have a moment? My rational brain told me that the idea was ridiculous. But why didn’t she move her hand? And the way she looked at me…
The Welkin gave a sharp bark. I looked down to see it writhing about, little paws waggling like it was in a girl fight. I set the animal down and it scurried over to the safety of its pack, sneaking the occasional wounded glance at us.
“Hi Del, what’s up?” said Gabriella.
“Well, Alex here was s’posed to be with me for speed trainin’ bout an hour ago. Scarlett said I’d find y’all here.”
Gabriella glanced down at her watch. “ Mio Dio! I’m really sorry Del, we lost track of time.”
“Hey, no worries boss, I needed ta get some new toys from the armoury anyways.” He turned to me. “So fella, you ready to come test those stilts of yours?” I tried not to let my shoulders sag. “Sure.” “Good stuff. I’ll try not to get you killed,” he winked. “I’d appreciate that.” “Play nice boys”, Gabriella chuckled. I’ll see you later Alex — good luck.”
Delagio and I headed out of the Sanctuary and onto a new path that headed to the far right of the house. The weather outside of the little paradise was miserable. Dark clouds threatened to spill more rain at a moment’s notice. Delagio draped his arm over my shoulder as we walked, his boots making an irritating clomping sound on the gravel. “What happened there?” He asked, pointing to my shredded jumper. “Unicorn.” Ahhhh. “So you like her a lot huh?” he said. His change of track took me by complete surprise. “I’m sorry?”
“You know what I’m talkin’ about.” He flicked his head in the direction we’d come from. “Lil miss sunshine of your life back there. I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
Oh god, is it that obvious? I cringed internally. Externally, I shrugged. “Sorry Del, you’ve got it wrong. We’re just friends.”
“Agghh!” he threw up his hands in mock frustration. “You Brits drive me crazy! Where I come from, we like a girl, we tell them how it is — day or night. Y'all will deny it to your graves. Unless you absorb enough beer to do the drunken shuffle over and attempt to attach y'allself to their faces.”
I snickered and then let out a defeated sigh. “Okay, maybe you’re right. But it makes no difference; she doesn’t see me that way.”
Delagio made a noise like he was pondering. “I’m not so sure buddy. If there’s one thing I know, its women.” He paused to flash a salesman grin. “And I’ve noticed the way she acts around you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well look, you wouldn’t be the first guy to have passed through and wanted to get to know her a little better if you catch my drift.”
“Hey, it’s not like that!” I bit.
“No, I know, I know,” he appeased. “What I’m tryin’ to say is that she never even gave them a second glance. But with you… look — she freaked out after you escaped. She watched over you the entire time you were resting after your mind merge. She tore through a dozen Hiveminds like they was pups when she realised you’d been taken. And that’s not even mentioning the rom-com scene I just walked in on.”
I felt my mouth gape open. “That was a moment?”
“Looked like it to me.” He shrugged. “But hell, what do I know right? I’m just a stupid hick!” We both laughed. It was hard not to like Delagio, even if he was a bit over the top. He’d get on like a house on fire with Tim, I thought.
I could tell that he looked set to ask me more questions about Gabriella. I racked my brain to think of something to deflect the conversation away from me. “So, uh…what’s the deal with Midnight and Sophia? They seem to get on pretty well.” Delagio clicked his tongue. “She reminds him of his daughter.” “Oh right. So he doesn’t get to see his daughter much then?” He paused. “Not any more. No.” His voice sounded sad. Plus his cryptic answer had an air of finality to it. I decided not to press any further.
We walked in silence for a minute or so. Delagio was once again spinning the marble around his hand and through his fingers. He stared at it for a while then looked up, his eyes gleaming. “I almost forgot to ask! What ability did you get?” “Um, none actually.” His eyebrows arched upwards. “No powers — really?” I shrugged. “Well that sucks.” “Yep,” I said sucking in some air and kicking a stone along the path. “Don’t sweat it man. If Rahuman is anythin’ to go by, your still gonna be an absolute badass.” I smiled. “Thanks Del.”
A menacing cloud swallowed the pale sun completely and rain began to pour in thick rods. The addictive scent of damp soil rose from the ground. “Ah damn it!” cursed Delagio. “I bet it’s gonna ruin my hat.” “Shall we go back inside?” He waved a finger in the air. “Sorry bud. I have more hats.”
The path ended. Just beyond, a deep trench had been cut into the ground. We came to the ridge and Delagio jumped down into it. I followed, landing in a large puddle and soaking my trainers and my jean bottoms in dirty water.
“Perfect,” I muttered.
The trench was about three times my height, with about fifteen feet between each wall. It was like a huge scar in the land, snaking into the distance. The beginning of it stood right behind me. A metallic circle about the size of a dinner plate had been set into the compacted mud wall. A black line ran down the middle, suggesting it could open in some way. Next to it was a LED Panel protected by a thin plastic cover.
Delagio stripped the cover off and rolled it into his pocket. Then he tapped his fingers on the screen.
The circle beeped and the sides parted, revealing a pitch black tunnel. I tried to peer in, but Delagio grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
“Probably not such a good idea.”
I cast him a confused look. He breathed in deep. “In about thirty seconds, this hatch is going to release a whole bunch of Venenum.
I thought for a second. No, haven’t read about those.
“Insect Fera,” he continued when I didn’t answer. “They look a bit like giant wasps. Y’all gonna want to run like you owe money. They ain’t strong enough to kill you, but trust me; their stings will make y’all wish you was dead. When you get to the end, there’ll be something you can use to take them out, but not before.”
Without another word, he ran up the side of one of the walls and vaulted backwards off of it, landing safely outside the trench. He pulled a Biomote out of his pocket and tapped a button. Instantly, thick glass walls shot out
