“I figured you could use a drink after everything that’s happened. I thought it could be a sort of celebration.”
“Sounds fantastic,” I said. Pointing at the bottle I added, “that looks pretty old.”
“It’s a 1907 shipwrecked Heidsieck,” she explained, popping the cork. “It was meant to be shipped to the Russian imperial family in nineteen sixteen, but the boat sank off the coast of Finland. Divers found a case of two hundred in ninety seven. They were being sold for two hundred and seventy five thousand dollars a bottle in Moscow. Faru got a couple sent over for tonight.” She gave a devilish grin. “So let’s enjoy them.”
My jaw unhinged. Gabriella laughed and poured two glasses, which frothed up to the rims. She handed me one. “A toast, to Alexander Eden — self-healer and soon to be Guardian of the Alliance.”
We clinked our glasses together. I took a sip of the cool, crisp liquid and nodded with satisfaction. Gabriella sat down next to me and I felt the mild buzz under my skin. “So how are you feeling about tonight?”
“Apprehensive,” I admitted. “But excited at the same time.” I remembered about the belt. “Oh right, so I pressed this and had a pretty big shock.”
Gabriella threw back her head and laughed. “Were you looking in the mirror by any chance?”
I chuckled. “Maybe.”
“It’s a Kapre belt. They’re extinct Umbra that used demonic magic to forge belts that made them invisible to humans. When the Alliance first caught them, they copied the design. They’re standard issue now, for times when a Guardian needs to get around without being spotted by a human. They can only see us if we talk to them directly. But for some reason if you activate it, you also lose your reflection.”
I squeezed the belt buckle between my fingers. “Pretty useful. For a minute I thought I’d turned into a Vampire or something.”
Gabriella smiled. Then something changed. She fell silent. There was a long pause, while we looked at one another. I could feel the sensations under my skin start to vibrate. After a minute, she took a deep breath. Her face looked solemn. “Alex, can I tell you something?”
I made an intrigued face and set my glass down on the table. “Of course. Anything.”
For a long while Gabriella didn’t say anything. Finally she sighed and squeezed my arm. “Do you remember what I said to you the day I arrived at Chapter Hill, when you asked about me?”
I cast my mind back to the first day, when we’d walked together through the corridors, whilst others watched in confused jealousy. “Yeah, you said it wasn’t a question for then.” Gabriella set her glass down next to mine. “Well I think it’s time I told you something important about me.” I sat up straighter. “okay.”
The look on her face told me what she was going to say was important. She took in several deep breaths as if trying to summon the courage to speak. When she did, the words burst out of her mouth. “I’m a hybrid.” I blinked. “Sorry, what?” “I’m half Umbra.” I stared at her. “You’re joking right?” Gabriella shook her head and then looked at me, biting her lower lip. “But you’re a Chosen. What… I mean, is that even possible?” “It’s a complicated story, but simply put my father was Chosen and my Mother was Umbra.” “I didn’t know Awakenings were hereditary.” “They’re not…it’s extremely rare.”
I ran the palm of my hand down my face, curling the fingers around my lips. “What type of Umbra was she, your mother?” My voice came out muffled from behind my hand.
“A Succubus.” Gabriella leaned over and put a hand on my leg. “But she was a good person Alex. She loved me and my Father.”
I puffed air out of my lips. “Wow. I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting that.”
Gabriella stared down at the floor and shuffled her feet, rocking one of her heels on the thick rug — contemplating something. Then with a lightning speed, she unzipped her jacket and turned away from me, lifting her top up, revealing her bare back. Just below each shoulder blade were two thick patches of reddish skin, slightly mottled like scales and about the size of an outstretched hand.
“What-”
“Umbra skin,” she answered over her shoulder. “It’s where my wings would be if I could grow them.”
I stared at the strange patches of skin. Instinctually I stretched out a hand. I caught myself just in time and froze, hand hovering a few inches from her back. “Can I…” Gabriella turned slightly. Her gaze caught mine. I swallowed hard. “Yes.”
I moved my shaking hand forward and touched my fingertips onto the scales. I was surprised at how soft they felt. They were warm and pulsed as if they had their very own heartbeats. I wasn’t creeped out at all. They were part of Gabriella and that meant I loved them.
As our skin touched, the sensations became a fierce wave of electricity which rolled up my arm and collected at my fingertips. The scales seemed to react to each vibration, changing the speed of their pulsing as if it had become their new heartbeat. Gabriella shivered slightly and let out a soft sigh. I brushed my fingers around, tracing around the area where they met her human skin. For what could have been years, we stayed that way. Finally, Gabriella slowly slipped her t-shirt down and put her jacket back on. She edged around to face me again, her features strained. “So, do you hate me?” The question knocked me for six. “Hate you? Why on earth would I hate you?” She gazed down at her feet again. “Because I’m an abomination.”
I’d never seen Gabriella so vulnerable. Ever since I’d met her, she’d been the one with the confidence. The one who knew where the pieces fit. It was humbling to see her like this — a real person with real insecurities.
“Hey.” I lifted her chin up to face me. “Ella listen to me. You are not an abomination. What you are is the most incredible person I’ve ever met. Don’t let a demented parasite like Rahuman ever let believe otherwise.”
Her face broke into a smile so full of emotion it took my breath away. “You have no idea how relieved I am. I thought you were going to be repulsed.”
I shook my head. “No, I think they are kind of…beautiful.”
Gabriella curled her fingers around my hand and squeezed it. A fresh wave of sparks shot up my arm and made me shudder. I quickly dropped my hand and fumbled my glass from the table.
“So do you look like them if you don’t…you know, feed?” I asked taking a sip.
“No, no. This is how I’ve always looked. I don’t need to drain. I’m basically Chosen, apart from having those patches and Umbra blood. That’s why I don’t use boosters. It also means I’m a bit faster and stronger than a lot of Chosen — and enhances my gift, but that’s it.” She fell silent.
I cleared my throat and pointed to the picture on the mantelpiece. “I’d love to hear more about your parents.”
Gabriella shifted uncomfortably on her seat and sadness seemed to grow behind her eyes. “I want to, but I don’t think I can yet. I- it’s not something I’ve talked about for a really long time.”
It was my turn to squeeze her hand. “That’s fine; you don’t have to tell me a single thing you don’t want to.”
We sat in silence for a while. I watched the flames flicker in the hearth and felt the warmth on my skin. We were so close on the couch that every breath I took was filled with her intoxicating scent. It mixed dizzyingly with the smell freshly washed hair.
“I’m really glad we found you,” Gabriella said suddenly. She brushed a hand against my cheek and the charges lingered after her touch. My heart pounded against my ribcage. Her fingers slipped around the back of my neck and she stroked the hairs, making them tingle.
“I–I uh… I’m glad too,” I stammered. Great, I can talk to any girl now, except the one who matters! I moaned internally.
“You know I think you really are the kindest, sweetest person I’ve ever met,” she whispered, letting her gaze lock with mine. Her pupils seemed to expand. She slid closer to me on the couch.
My heart stalled as she closed the already tiny gap between us. A cage of butterflies opened in my stomach. Is this actually going to happen? Oh my god.
“I do too. Uh — I mean I think you are,” I replied awkwardly. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.
She giggled, her face lighting up. We were so close; I could see the reflection of the fire flickering in her eyes.
Then it felt like there was the smallest amount of pressure on the back of my neck from her hand — a tiny nudge forward. I was a mess inside. KISS HER!! one part of my mind screamed, but the other part yelled right back. No, she doesn’t want you. You’re going to make an idiot of yourself!
For once, I ignored my degrading internal voice and decided to go for it. I inched my head towards hers,
