You fell asleep fully dressed…classy, she thought, rubbing her puffy eyes.
They were somewhere close to London in a place where it was always June. Time was of the essence, but for very different pressing matters. As for now, she was to be Zoey in Optan Wonderland without the grace of the Cheshire cat.
This unusual thread of thoughts was interrupted by a startling noise coming from the bathroom. She silently hopped off the bed, opened the door, and popped her head in, intrigued.
“He brought you here!” She rushed to the ginger kitten that had managed to creep up the bathroom window and fall into the roll top bath, and picked it up. She checked under his pine-tree-shaped tail.
We do have a Cheshire cat after all.
“Ha! I suspected you were a Jazz rather than a Jasmine! Let’s get you some milk!” She ran a bath for herself and while it filled, she poured some milk from the mini fridge on a tea plate and handed it over to Jazz.
γ
Mia woke up to find a closet as beautiful as the one she’d left behind, filled to the brim with clothes not as couture as she was used to wearing. Nothing was remotely okay without Rufus, so she pulled out the first thing she grabbed and didn’t bother to put any makeup on, nor shower for that matter. Her mind fought against all common sense and her whole self was dominated by one thought alone.
As soon as she came out of the bedroom, the smell of fresh coffee invaded every little corner of the corridor, and that was enough to lead her to where everyone was gathered—the terrace. When they’d portalled to the ballroom, she hadn’t noticed the giant arched windows were actually massive doors which opened wide onto a stone terrace overlooking the massive surrounding gardens. The optans were all gathered at a round table packed with pancakes, cupcakes, fresh fruit, tea, and coffee.
“Morning, Mia.” Lilou rushed to her side. “How are you feeling?” The air was fragrant enough not to wish to be anywhere else. It smelled like lilac and jasmine, and the weather was infinitely more pleasant than she’d expected, like a perfect spring.
“I didn’t get much sleep, but thank you, thank you for the clothes, for healing me, for all the hospitality you’ve shown me so far…” For Lilou it was clear that so far was a sign of all the mistrust Beck had planted in her, and it would remain engraved in who she’d become.
Zoey came running in behind her, holding Jazz like the crown jewel that he was.
“Good morning. Jasper, thank you for bringing the kitten. I named him Jazz, I wasn’t sure if you’ve named him already?”
“You named him after Jasper?” Alex nearly broke a laugh. “Jazz is short for Jasper, even I know that!” Beside Alex, Aline and her partner Gerard were chewing on something with blueberry filling, judging by the color of their lips.
“It was not intentional,” Zoey said sheepishly, catching Jasper’s half-smirk. “Morning, Mia. I never got a proper chance to speak to you yesterday, nor to thank you for bringing my friend back and saving all of us.”
“I think we’re all eager to return the favor.” Jasper took a bite of his pancake.
“Coffee to your left, tea to your right, grab a plate of whatever you fancy.” Aline spoke in a pleasant voice. “Goes for the two of you as well.” She raised her mug to greet Sam and Emma, who had joined the breakfast table.
“You made all this?” Emma’s eyes got bigger by the second.
Jasper took another eager sip of his coffee. “Catering service. But it warms my heart you see us capable of this.”
On the other end, Zoey poured herself a cup of tea and nibbled on some fruit as she pulled her chair closer to Sam. She couldn’t get enough of her presence and fought the ongoing instinct to touch her all the time, knowing too well Sam hated when people got grabby.
She had filled them in at the apartment on what she knew of Beck, retracing the steps leading to her escape thanks to Mia—the initially arrogant bitch who’d proven to be more of a victim of Professor Beck than anyone at the breakfast table. She’d known him the longest, at least.
“So optans drink coffee, huh?” Sam gave Lilou a nudge.
“I’d daresay coffee on Earth is slightly better, even!”
“Gerard brought over the new tech, which is supposed to help us track the professor. We sent them your blood samples to analyze and we have the results from Mia’s tracker. Also, Aline brought back some bags with your things, Sam, Emma, they’re in the ballroom,” Jasper announced.
In Sam’s eyes, Gerard and Alex looked alike, maybe like distant cousins—both lanky, dark eyes, and light complexions. Gerard, however, had a beard straight out of Hipster Today and was generally more groomed. They were all out of their coveralls and into comfortable clothing, except for Jasper. He wore a dark green shirt and pants topped off with one of his hazel-green waistcoats. It made him look slightly rigid compared to the sweatpants slash yoga pants gathered around the breakfast table.
“It’s 11:30 a.m. now, I’ve lined up some bands for you to keep track of time here and I’d like you to wear them at all times. You’ll see they look like smartwatches to you but made of kalenium.” Jasper raised his sleeve to reveal his. “Look what happens when I call Alex…” He tapped the display twice and spoke Alexandre’s name.
Vibration and light pulsed all over Alex’s own kalenium band and he tapped it twice to answer.
Sam had multiple questions, but this time around, she wouldn’t interrupt Jasper.
“We use the bands for communication, personal algorithms, and to keep track of each other. They also measure your…everything, basically. So if your sugar’s low, it will show up on my intersat and mine alone and your issues will not be publicly exposed unless you’re in any sort of danger. The property is quite big as well, so if you get lost or fall down the stairs, we’ll know where to find you. Think of this as team-building. I know it’s not ideal but we’re doing this to keep you safe. Returning to your lives is not an option while Beck is still out there.”
“We’ll have all our meals together starting tomorrow,” Lilou added. “We’ll hang out during our breaks and try to work on your enhancements to know what you can and cannot do, all this while working to get to Beck in the shortest of time. I calculate not more than four days to be fully prepared.” Lilou pressed her lips into a thin line, scanning Mia. She looked even worse than yesterday.
“Plus, you have a whole mansion to explore, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, sauna, gym, library. We’ll be downstairs at the lab, so tap twice and call our names if you need us.” Alex continued. “I have every confidence you’ll manage to have a decent time despite the situation.”
Mia finished her breakfast in silence. From one prison to another, she thought as the optans got up and left. The girls at least were friendly, and it had been so long since she had girls around, it almost scared her. She saw herself as a caged animal being released for the first time, every step she took holding a different kind of fear. She hadn’t trusted anyone but Rufus in too long.
“So, that was weird!” Mia adjusted her kalenium superwatch.
Emma turned to Mia, swallowing her own fears. “Look, as far as I can see, they seem honest, they’ve given us details they had no real need to and the freedom of choice.”
“I know. We should just go with the flow for now; we don’t really know where we are, Beck’s probably looking for us to complete his mission, and from what I gather, he needs all his altered subjects together—Zoey, Rufus, vegetable boy, and myself. I have to stay focused for him, I need to, and I know I have more chances at getting him back with rather than without the aliens.” Mia acknowledged with a sigh.
Sam couldn’t help but wonder. “Vegetable boy?” She blinked owlishly, adjusting her own kalenium band.
“There’s one other altered survivor. I don’t know his name, but he’s been in a vegetative state at the lab for months on end. He may never wake up for all we know.”
They all got a little silent and a little scared of the unknown. There had been too much of that latel
y, yet it was hard not feeling involved when so much was at stake.
Sam shrugged. “Heck, I really thought I was going to die twenty-four hours ago. I kept thinking about Dad, all the great things my life’s made of, you guys, my job…” Sam pushed her hair back and sighed. “And you know what—never once have I thought of Carlos.”
Zoey smiled softly in return. She remembered the three of them sobbing over cupcakes and broken hearts just one week shy of their current reality.
“Perspective, right?” She winked at Sam.
“Well, if an alien mission is going to make me get over my divorce, I’ll take it! At least we’re all together now, and I’m glad we’re now four, Mia.” Emma finally launched herself at a cupcake. She was not to be the one bringing everybody down, but for a creature of habit like Emma, an alien adventure didn’t rank high. She’d take the comfort of her study over a glorious Victorian mansion any day. In a time loop. Close to London.
Sam spoke in her Scottish pirate voice. “Three broken hearts on a quest to bring two better halves together!” It made them all crack a laugh.
Over the next few hours they got to know each other, their stories, their dramas, the goals they had once this was over and done with. Getting back to the warmth of their parents’ arms was one thing they all had in common.
They took a mansion tour together, walking carefully like in a museum. For Emma, the Green Palace had nothing compared to the second-empire Victorian grandeur on display here. The artwork on the walls, the statues screaming with creative beauty combined perfectly. The modern was so seductively integrated that it didn’t unsettle the charm, every single texture spotless and alluring to the eye. She couldn’t help but surrender to the mélange of mahogany and rosewood covered in rich upholstery and held together by the perfect harmony of time that ceased to move past the month of June.
Art teacher Zoey found style behind each door—Eastlake, Gothic, Art Nouveau, Edwardian—and exactly like the era, design had to show abundance, from the fancy wrought iron lined stairwells to the framed doorways and rich paintings embodying British aristocracy.
Zoey’s eyes hovered over each piece of art with the eagerness of a child in a chocolate factory. Despite the masterpieces being predominantly signed by male artists of the time, the vibrant colors and undeniable accuracy in style pulled her in like a magnet.
“Nerd much?” Sam had caught her staring at a painting up close.
“Sixty-four years of realism and not one art academy for women.”
“Ahh, that old tale. That’s because you’re looking in the wrong drawer, sister. Feminism started in the Victorian era, remember Jane Eyre?” And that alone was one of the many reasons Zoey loved Sam so much. Her badassery, her need to stay simple and humble although she held more answers than questions. That, and the fact that she made zero fuss about Zoey being her newly altered best friend.
When they managed to return to the terrace, lunch awaited warm and inviting. More exploration followed throughout the evening, as the place began to feel more like a retreat than anything else.
Zoey skipped dinner in favor of a walk through the gardens. The verdant canvas spread out like a fine rug with a maze in the center and long paved paths adorned with an abundance of fragrant flower bushes and statues. She took the maze as it wasn’t too dark and left the girls playing cards at the dinner table. It felt safe to hear their voices like a distant background music.
The air was just perfect for a walk, and she thanked heavens that she’d brought enough shirts and t-shirts for four days. Having changed into an oversized long-sleeved shirt, not too loose, not too tight felt a bit like escaping winter. It didn’t perfectly match her trainers but who was there to judge?
A deep breath later, she walked through the wonder of green walls and intricate hedges. The outside was as beautiful as the inside. James would have loved every inch. He’d never rest until he finished exploring and googling the history of the mansion, the owners, the drama, the details. A sigh followed.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her band buzzing. She tapped the screen twice, unsure if that was how she was supposed to.
“Can I join you?” Jasper’s voice broke though.
“Um, I guess so,” she answered, surprised to hear his voice and feeling a tad bit ridiculous talking to a watch.
A gust of wind fanned her curls and made her close her eyes against a flare of blinding blue light. He had been faster than she’d anticipated.
Jasper had changed into a white shirt, light grey pants, and waistcoat, looking like he belonged right there, anchored in Victorian times among the statues decorating the gardens.
“What’s up with you and waistcoats?” She raised an eyebrow.
“What’s up with you and socks?” He pulled a subtle smile in return.
He walked poised, tucking his sandy hair behind his ear and not really making eye contact. The art of conversation was yet to be mastered in this realm, but he was determined not to come across as completely oblivious.
“What would you like to talk about?” He pulled his sleeves up for the challenge.
“The pinnacle of ice breakers! How was your day, Jasper?” She giggled under her breath at Jasper’s obvious lack of flair.
“Um…productive, slightly annoying at times, but progress is on its way. We’re working simultaneously with our team on Opt. Rufus is alive and steady; for whatever reason, Beck did not take off his kalenium band, maybe as a message to Mia, maybe as a message to all of us. Lilou is giving her the good news as we speak…” Jasper was apparently very good at reporting the highlights of the day.
“How do you really know it’s him wearing it?’
“Kalenium acclimatizes to your body, creating a unique genetic print. It creates a bond to your DNA, so we always know who is who.”
“I don’t know if I’m fully comfortable with you knowing whatever is going on with my body.”
“Don’t forget your emotions!” Jasper playfully picked at his watch, showing her a full display of pop-up graphs.
“I think I should just have a sandwich and try to forget what you just said.”
“Come!” He grabbed her hand and portalled her to the kitchen before she could blink.
They landed right between the massive granite island and the fridge. During her earlier pilgrimage to discover the beauty of this Victorian mansion, they hadn’t managed to reach the kitchen, so Zoey had no idea which side of the home they were on right about now. In shades of white and soft beige, the high, vaulted ceiling held a chandelier branching out in an enormous sway of crystal teardrops. Jasper turned on the light on the extractor hood and spun around to face her. The symmetry of her features lay soft under her freckled canvas and explosion of curls, the harmony of wild and delicate combined. He’d never seen hair like hers before.
The corners of his mouth went slightly up and she half-smiled, mincing her way up to him.
He was a bit weird to communicate with, but also tender and…unusual. She wondered if he chose the light on the extractor hood because that’s what she went for back at her apartment, and watched his features soften under that particular glow.
“Um…I’ll make you a sandwich.” He turned on his heels, opened the fridge, and picked out a few things at full tilt. She hurried to turn the kettle on and prepared two mugs. There they were, doing the same awkward kitchen dance, this time around undisturbed by Rufus. She sighed at the thought of him.
There were more than five different honey jars on display and she grabbed the least familiar looking, took the lid off, and dug in.
“This honey is amazing, you have to try it. It has things in it and it’s pink.” Too eager, Zoey! she hissed at herself between thoughts.
He dug a spoon in too. “It’s rose petal jam, the best of its kind.”
It was a little embarrassing having an optan know jams better than an earthling, but it was nice listening to him, looking at him, how swiftly he moved and the poise his presence carried even as he was s
licing cheese. Her art-pickled brain couldn’t help sketching his anatomy like a hidden code in a Renaissance painting. She hadn’t drawn in so long, yet there he was, inviting visual fantasy with the curve of his jaw.
“Cheese and cucumber sandwich.” Jasper announced, sliding a plate over like a wake-up call.
The beautiful, drawable alien specimen took a seat on the other side of the island, the farthest possible corner from Zoey, and watched her eat while sipping on his tea.
“Do I make you uncomfortable?” she asked, a bit struck by the distance he’d put between them.
“What? No.”
“Are you trying to give me space?” She couldn’t quite read him.
A devilish grin took over his face. “Maybe?”
“The sandwich is great!” she lied, forcing it down. “Do you think I could take some of the rose jam to my room? I’m a midnight snicker.” Zoey confessed with a hamster beam, both cheeks filled with the awfulness of Limburger cheese, James’s favorite. He just had to creep his way into her thoughts at random times, and she sure did her best to push him out as she watched Jasper get up to pour some rose jam into a small jar, a twitch creeping at the corner of his lips once again.
“What?” She jumped and hopped off the stool to get closer.
It felt like walking on air bubbles, observing him as she moved closer, afraid to get too close and scare him away. Anticipating his thoughts was hard, yet something pushed her a step closer. He’d been so good at touching her, so self-assured in his embrace and so quicksandy now…
She stopped before she got too close.
“Ready.” The corners of his mouth quirked up again. “I can walk you to your room now.”
They walked in silence for a few minutes, turning left then right on the endless corridor.
“Where is everybody?” She finally broke the silence and watched him tap his kalenium band in return.
“Have a look.” An image projected right onto the wall. It looked like a layout with red dots moving slowly. “So these three dots are Lilou, Sam, and Emma, currently at the swimming pool; this one here’s Alex in the privacy of his office downstairs; here’s Mia in her bedroom”—he zoomed in—“sound asleep; and these two moving red dots above, well…” He smiled and raised an eyebrow.
Lost in Amber Page 15
