by Peach, Hanna
Alyx nodded, but her mind was still on Israel. She forced back the sadness that threatened to overwhelm her. Can’t think of Israel now. Later. Deal with Israel later. One thing at a time. Just deal with one thing at a time.
As she stepped from Tobias’s office, she spotted Dianne a little way down the corridor, glaring at her, arms crossed, waiting for her. Great. Another thing to deal with.
Alyx turned to Jordan. “I’ve just got to speak to Dianne for a second. I’ll see you outside.” She ignored his questioning look.
Alyx steeled her resolve and strode over to Dianne. “I’m not leaving,” Alyx said firmly. “It won’t do anyone any good if we run away. I’m staying and I’m going to make things right. If you want to tell Jordan or whoever what you saw, that’s fine. I’m not ashamed.”
Dianne’s mouth dropped open. Alyx turned and flew off before Dianne could reply.
Now, to start making things right.
* * *
“Vix,” Israel grabbed the seraphelle’s arm. He almost had to jog to catch her after she had rocketed out of Tobias’s office.
Vix turned with mild surprise on her face. “What’s up, Israel?”
“That monastery in China. I saw your reaction when Alyx said the name. You know that place, don’t you?”
Vix glanced around her before nodding. She lowered her voice, “If I’m not mistaken, it’s the exact monastery that I lived in.”
Israel frowned. “You don’t sound very happy about that.”
Vix let out an audible sigh. “You don’t understand. These monks, they’re not just some quiet docile mortals living in the middle of nowhere.”
Israel lifted an eyebrow.
Vix continued, “I don’t think we’d be better off removing the Black Stone from them, even if we could. I think the Black Stone is safer left where it is.”
“So tell them what’s going on.”
“They’ll need some sort of proof that the threat is real.”
“So we give them proof of what is coming.”
Now it was Vix’s turn to lift an eyebrow. “We?”
“Yeh, I’m the proof. I’m coming with you.”
Chapter 24
The lights of Florence reflected off the Arno River as Alyx and Jordan flew overhead following Luce, a seraphelle from the local community just south of Florence and their local guide. The giant dome of the main church of Florence, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, and the castle-like clock tower of the Palazzo Vecchio were prominent, breaking through the roofline of this Italian mortal city and shining like beacons against an inky sky.
They landed on the roof of the Galleria dell’ Belle Arti, a gray building. Luce peered over the edge of the building and then turned to face them. To Alyx she looked like a teenager who hadn’t grown into her body yet. Adding to her youthful appearance were her wild auburn locks and a smattering of matching freckles across her nose. But her no-bull attitude, which seemed to be devoid of all humor, gave Alyx the impression that Luce was a lot older than her deceptive looks. Luce had probably seen enough to rub away all the remains of the lightness of life.
“Stay low so we’re not seen from the street,” said Luce. “I shall take you to the hall that houses the statue.” She had a slight accent, her vowels sounding rounded, adding a musical note to her speech. Italian, Alyx guessed based on the fact that this Rogue came from a local community. But it was only a guess. Alyx had never been to Italy in any of her patroles, and she had to try hard not let her sights wander out over this new city. When this was all over, she would come back and explore this city, Alyx promised herself.
Alyx crept along the roof of the Galleria dell’ Belle Arti following Luce’s lead. Despite the late hour, Alyx could see that there were still groups of mortals walking the streets of Florence below.
The jumble of buildings making up the Galleria formed a square around three courtyards of various sizes. This main hall jutted off the smallest courtyard. Soon they found themselves near the roof’s edge on the side of one of the internal courtyards.
“There are windows that run along the underside of the roof,” Luce said. “I’m a MirageWeaver so I can cover us while we have a look inside.”
Alyx and Jordan took either of Luce’s hands. Alyx felt the familiar pop when Luce pushed her mirage out past her. They stepped off the building and floated to window-height.
Inside was a center hall that took up all three stories of this building, with corridors and more halls branching off it. Along all of the pale walls at mortal eye level were framed paintings. A particularly large painting took up most of one wall’s length and stretched two mortals high. Dotting the black-and-white tiled floor were various statues, frozen in their states on their pedestals.
In the very center of the hall was the Three Archangels, a black statue of three winged figures joined together by sculpted fire and smoke. It was larger than Alyx expected. She shuddered at the thought of how many weapons the Darkened could make if they were able to get their hands on this statue. One thing was for sure: all of these windows were too small to get the statue out.
Alyx’s breath hitched when a door opened below. A security guard stepped out into the courtyard. Luce shot Alyx a dirty look as if to say, shut up fool. He can’t see us but he can hear us.
Alyx held her breath while the guard finished his cigarette and went back inside.
Once they were back on the roof, Jordan said, “We’ll have to come back during the day so we can get a good look inside.” Turning to Alyx he said, “Fancy a day at the gallery, my dear?”
Alyx nodded and pretended not to notice Jordan’s playful attitude. “That’s a good idea. We can pretend to be tourists.”
“You can both stay at our community tonight,” Luce said. “It is just outside of Florence. It’ll save you a trip back to Aradale.”
Jordan nodded. “Thank you. We are forever grateful.”
* * *
Half an hour south of Florence was the Castelli del Grevepesa, a winery on the gentle plateau of the rolling hills of the Tuscany countryside, marked by rows of vines. When Alyx broke through the mirage, the winery buildings came into view, a large main building with several smaller buildings surrounding it.
Madame Belle Duago, the chief of the community, greeted them at the front of the main building. She had a lovely expressive face, chestnut hair that was wound into a bun and her hands clasped demurely in front of her off-white apron.
“Thank you for letting us stay, Madame Duago. Your hospitality is very generous,” Jordan said as he lowered himself into a graceful bow and kissed the back of her hand.
Alyx could detect a hint of a blush on Madame’s face. Strangely, she realized, she didn’t mind Jordan’s flirting.
“It is no trouble. I will do anything in my power to assist you and Tobias. He has been most generous in sharing his Mirage-guardians with us to help keep our wards up.” Her voice had the same lulling accent as Luce’s. “And please, just call me Belle.”
“Belle,” Alyx repeated. “That is not your Seraphim birth name.”
Belle nodded, “You are correct. It is preferred here that the inhabitants of our community take on a local name. It helps us to blend in more. Luce, you can retire for the evening. Thank you for your help.”
Luce nodded her head and bid her goodnights before making her way down a corridor.
“Come,” said Belle, “I shall give you a quick tour of the grounds first.”
The main building held a large wood-fire stove, a large dining hall with rustic timber benches and table to fit the hundred or so inhabitants of the community. There was also a large living and recreation area with mismatched chairs surrounding tables piled with playing cards and hand-painted board games. Upstairs in the main building was a small library and a plain office area, similar to Tobias’s office. The rest of the main building was comprised of rooms.
Belle led them along a path from the main building to the second largest construction, which turned o
ut to be the winery. The roof was low and made of thick wooden beams. Large wooden barrels crowded the room reaching higher than Alyx even as they lay on their sides.
“You actually make wine here?” Alyx asked as she moved through the small path between the barrels.
“Of course,” said Belle. “This is how we generate an income to survive. All who reside here are required to assist with the harvesting and wine making.” Alyx turned and realized that she and Belle were alone on this path – Jordan was nowhere to be seen.
“Now come,” Belle said as she began to lead Alyx back down the rows, “I shall show you to the room in which you are to stay. As soon as we find young Jordan. Ah, I hear him. Go and grab him, will you, my dear, and meet me out front while I just check on some things.”
Alyx continued to float towards where she could hear Jordan. She frowned, was that another voice? Low and with a hint of agitation. Alyx turned a corner and froze.
Jordan and another seraphelle were huddled together against the brick wall of the winery. She was latte skinned with long raven hair and eyes like a cat. Her body was trapped between Jordan’s arms as he pressed his palms against the wall beside her. Their faces were close. Jordan was looking at her but she was glaring at the ground, her arms folded in front of her generous breasts.
The seraphelle saw Alyx first. “Is this her?” she demanded of Jordan.
He gave her a single nod. She responded by hissing. She pushed away Jordan’s arm and floated out past Alyx, glaring daggers at Alyx as she floated past. Jordan followed but stopped before Alyx to let her float out first.
“And what was that about?” Alyx asked.
Jordan steered Alyx towards the front of the winery. “Rosa and I had... an understanding. I told her we couldn’t see each other anymore. She is upset.”
“An understanding?” Alyx’s voice hitched as her mind raked over what this understanding could have meant.
They had come to the front of the barn where Belle was waiting. Jordan nudged Alyx to hold her questions. In the distance Rosa could be seen storming back to the main buildings, each step pronounced by the roll of her curved hips. An understanding. Of course. With a womanly figure and exotic features like that, it wasn’t a wonder that Jordan had found Rosa attractive enough to come to... an understanding.
Alyx waited for the flush of jealousy to hit her… but it didn’t.
Belle showed Alyx and Jordan to a room in one of the accommodation buildings. It was a simple rustic room with a free-standing closet and a double bed, made homey by a thick-weaved rug that covered most of the rustic wooden flooring.
“I’m afraid I only have one spare room tonight,” she said as Alyx and Jordan moved inside the room. “I hope you don’t mind sharing.”
Jordan and she were to share?
Jordan spoke before Alyx could protest, “We don’t mind.”
“Wonderful. There is a bowl filled with hot water and some towels and soap for you to freshen up with,” Belle indicated the items placed on the chest of drawers. “The Galleria opens to tourists at 9 a.m. and you’ll want to be there first thing before the crowds arrive. Breakfast is served as early as 5 a.m. I’ll see you both in the morning.”
Alyx waited until Belle had closed the door behind her before she spun on her heels so that she could glare at him. “You didn’t even ask me what I thought about sharing.”
Jordan looked a little surprised. “So I made the decision for us. Don’t make a big deal out of it. Besides, you heard Belle. This is their only spare room. Would you have me sleep out in the corridor?” he added lightly.
“I’m sure if you sweet-talked her long enough, Rosa would take you back into her bed.”
Jordan pursed his lips, then a look came over his features as they softened. “Is that what this is about? Oh, beauty,” he stepped forward to grab at Alyx’s hands, “your jealousy is adorable but completely unnecessary. I am not interested in Rosa. I thought I made my feelings for you clear.”
Alyx made an exasperated noise and pulled away from Jordan. Was she jealous? Was that why she was so mad?
No. She knew how jealousy felt and this wasn’t it. She was angry that he didn’t ask her opinion, as if her opinion didn’t matter.
She was also terrified at what Jordan’s reaction would be when she told him about Israel. She had to do it, otherwise Dianne would tell him when they returned.
And a part of her was worried about the possibility of having to tell Israel about her kiss with Jordan; then she would also have to explain why Jordan and she had spent the night in the same bed.
Israel. God dammit, why was she still thinking about Israel? She had obviously messed things up so badly between them that she had destroyed what little hope there had been for them. She had to move on.
Things would be easier if she could just be with Jordan. Things were logical with Jordan. If only she could just... Alyx studied Jordan’s face − handsome, lovely. But looking at him didn’t set her heart alight. If only she could learn to feel about Jordan the way she felt for Israel.
Israel. Why did everything have to come back to Israel?
Jordan stepped towards Alyx, placing his arms around her shoulders. “Little beauty, I’m sorry if I upset you. I promise you, you have nothing to worry about with Rosa.”
“Israel and I were together,” Alyx blurted out.
A look of shock came over Jordan’s face before it disappeared underneath stoic features. His hands slipped from her shoulders and he nodded for her to continue.
“It was just one night but… it happened. I needed you to hear it from me.” Jordan said nothing. The silence gaped like a canyon, separating them further and further apart. Alyx couldn’t help but fill it. “I’m sorry that I kept this from you. I just… I wasn’t sure how you’d react. I didn’t mean for this…” Alyx waved her arms haplessly around the room.
“Are you still…?”
Alyx shook her head. No. She had hammered the final coffin nail in their relationship by keeping such a big secret from Israel. “It’s over.”
“But you still… care about him.”
It wasn’t a question. Alyx lowered her eyes. She didn’t have to say anything.
When she looked up again, Jordan was staring at her, his features still impassive.
“Say something,” she blurted out.
He studied her face for a moment before he stepped away. “I think that it is best that I find somewhere else to sleep for tonight.”
“I’m sorry,” Alyx said limply.
Jordan nodded. But he still left. Leaving Alyx alone in the room.
Chapter 25
Israel and Vix clung to the branches of a large pine tree somewhere on the Hengduan Mountains of China, just as the sun was beginning to show over the mountains. Through the leaves Israel could see the high stone walls of the monastery, tipped with bright red ornate spikes. Over the spikes he could see a small group of monks walking in procession, some swinging thuribles smoking with incense, others clasping beads in their fingers. Beyond that were the elegant sloped roofs of the monastery buildings edged in red and gold.
“So there’s something I didn’t tell you that I probably should have,” said Vix.
“Okay,” Israel said, his voice full of hesitancy.
“I didn’t exactly leave the Elder on the best of terms.”
Israel clenched his teeth. “Minor detail. I’m sure he has forgotten all about it… right?”
“Sure.” But Vix didn’t sound convinced. Neither of them spoke for a time. They just stayed there, staring at this monastery in the middle of nowhere. If they never came out, how would the others even know where to find this place? Even Vix had some trouble locating her old home in this remote area of China.
“If we get out of this,” Vix said, “we have to convince the others back in Aradale to leave this Black Stone alone without telling them that the Elder is here or revealing that I used to live here.”
“Why?”
“I prom
ised the Elder that I would never reveal his location or existence to any other Seraphim.” She gave Israel a sly side glance. “You and Xiang are not Seraphim, so I didn’t break my promise. The Elder, these monks, they are here are in this remote area for a reason. If other Seraphim knew, they would descend upon this peaceful place like locusts.”
Israel nodded.
You ready?” Vix asked.
Israel swallowed his fears and put on his best bravado-face. “Baby, I was born ready.”
Israel and Vix flew down to the ground and walked towards the great front gate. After pulling on the little bell at the gate, a small piece of wood in the heavy wooden door slid aside and the face of a young monk appeared. He was perhaps in his mid-teens, his shaven head making his dark almond eyes seem all the larger. Vix greeted the boy in what Israel assumed to be the local dialect. He caught the word “Elder” in her speech, which made the boy’s eyes widen further. He bowed and shut the piece of wood.
Vix lowered herself to the ground and folded her legs under her.
“What now?” asked Israel.
“Now, we wait.”
It was perhaps an hour, maybe more, before they heard noise behind the door. The door finally opened, revealing the young boy who had originally greeted them and a procession of half a dozen monks with him. Vix and Israel were let inside and the gate was shut and locked behind them.
They weren’t inside the monastery, Israel realized, but some sort of outer area made up of gardens. A long path through the gardens stretched out in front of them, leading up towards what Israel could see was another wall with another great door.
The young boy chirped something out. Israel followed Vix’s lead as she followed this young monk through the monastery, the older monks flanking their sides and rear. Israel stared at the young boy practically skipping along in front of them. Any minute now, the boy would trip on the hems of his orange robe, which were just a smidge too long for him.
