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.
“Every girl wants someone to protect them. Sophia has Midnight, Rachel has Delagio, Scarlet has…” she stifled a giggle then hiccupped. “Wow, I think I’m a bit drunk. That’s strange; I’m normally fine with alcohol. Anyway what was I saying?”
“You were saying that every girl needs someone to protect them.”
“Right, and you Mr Eden, are my protection. I look after you, and you look after me.” She made an O shape with her index fingers and thumbs. “It’s a perfect circle.” Settling back against the sofa corner, she closed her eyes. “So, do you agree?” she half mumbled.
“Do I agree to what?”
“Do you agree to protect me?”
I looked at her curled up against the sofa, the shadows from the fire flickering on her soft skin. She looked so utterly angelic that my answer spilled from my lips before I had the chance to stop it.
“I would die to protect you.”
My skin crawled from the epic cheesiness of my line. Did you honestly just say that out loud?
Gabriella opened her eyes and sat up slowly. She leaned forward and placed the softest kiss on the corner of my mouth. A tingling sensation reverberated all the way down my jaw. “That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
I could feel my heartbeat accelerate as her face lingered close to mine. Then she slumped her head down onto my shoulder. “Oh no, the room is spinning. This isn’t good. I think I need to go to bed.”
“I’ll take you up,” I offered. I stood up and lifted her into my arms, like I’d done with Sophia. Gabriella rolled her head against my chest and her right arm dangled at the side. The agents pulled the doors open for me. I had to wait for them to ask two Golems to move, whose solid backs were now blocking the way forward. Outside, I noticed that all of them had returned to their guard posts, heads bowed in their silent prayer.
On the Balcony, Agent Green swept the silver curtain out of my way. “You are welcome to stay in your apartment this evening if you’d like Mr Eden. But if you’d prefer to return home, one of us would be happy to take you.”
I thought about the way Dakin kept glaring at me. How he was one of the people supposedly protecting Mikey.
“Thanks, I think I’d better go home and make sure everything is okay. But I’d like to check something in the library first if you don’t mind?”
Agent Green nodded. “Not a problem at all Mr Eden. I’ll have someone bring a car around to the front shortly.”
I made my way along the corridor, still carrying Gabriella, who was now deep asleep in my arms. When I reached her room, I gently lifted her hand and placed the thumb against the scanner. The latch clicked open and I stepped into her apartment. The lights flickered on.
I placed her down onto the bed and undid the laces of her boots. Slipping them off, I set them next to the wardrobe. I filled a large glass with water and set it down on the table. Lifted the covers up and wrapped them around Gabriella. She moaned softly in her sleep and nudged them up to her chin. The aching feeling in my chest came back again. I brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.
“Goodnight Ella,” I whispered and left the apartment.
The mansion hummed with silence. I rubbed a bit of sleep from my eye as I trudged down the stairs. Agent Green was standing by the front entrance. The other agent was nowhere to be seen. I presumed she would be the one driving me home.
I signed five minutes. The Agent nodded and said something into his wrist microphone.
After a staring contest with the Golem, it stepped out of my way. Inside the library, the fire had been left to its own devices and was beginning to dwindle. Specks of black soot had been coughed out onto the surrounding hearth. The only lighting came from the candles that had been placed around the room earlier. I picked one up and carried it with me as I walked. I knew that what I was looking for had to be in this library — I just didn’t know where. I searched downstairs first, holding the flame close as I ran my fingers over the titles. There were novels by all of the top literary authors throughout the ages. Among others, I saw books by Lawrence, Austin, Nietzsche, Chekov and Dickens. I stopped at the last one and pulled out an old looking copy of Great Expectations. I flipped
